JP2014093537A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus that is able to determine whether a cover part is removed from an electronic apparatus body.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus 1 comprises an electronic apparatus body, a cover part, a light-emitting part 31, a light-receiving part 32, an optical filter part 41, and a control unit 35. The cover part is attached to the electronic apparatus body. The light-emitting part 31 and the light-receiving part 32 are placed on the electronic apparatus body. The optical filter part 41 is placed on the cover part at a position facing the light-emitting part 31 and the light-receiving part 32, and transmits light with a prescribed wavelength. The control unit 35 controls the electronic apparatus to communicate with another electronic apparatus via light radiated by the light-emitting part 31 and transmitting through the optical filter part 41. The optical filter part 41 is able to reflect part of the light radiated by the light-emitting part 31 toward the light-receiving part 32. The control unit 35 determines that the cover part is not attached to the electronic apparatus body if the intensity of light received by the light-receiving part 32 is less than a prescribed value in the case where light is radiated by the light-emitting part 31.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device in which a cover is attached to an electronic device main body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Electronic devices such as mobile phones include a type including an infrared communication unit and a window unit that allows infrared light to pass through a cover unit at a position facing the infrared communication unit (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-109164 A

The infrared communication unit of the electronic device described in Patent Document 1 is intended to communicate with other electronic devices. That is, the infrared communication unit is used only for communication with other electronic devices.
By the way, in recent electronic devices, there is a type in which an antenna for communication is arranged in a cover (housing). When the cover portion is removed from the electronic device main body, the electronic device cannot communicate. For this reason, the electronic device needs to know that the cover part is removed when the cover part is removed from the electronic device main body.

  An object of this invention is to provide the electronic device which can determine that the cover part is removed from the electronic device main body.

  The electronic device includes an electronic device main body, a cover unit, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, an optical filter unit, and a control unit. The cover part is attached to the electronic device body so as to cover at least a part of the electronic device body. The light emitting unit is disposed in the electronic device main body and emits light. The light receiving unit is disposed in the electronic device main body and receives light. The optical filter unit is disposed at a position facing the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit in the cover unit, and can transmit light having a predetermined wavelength. The control unit controls to communicate with another electronic device via light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the optical filter unit. The optical filter unit can reflect a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit. When the light emitted from the light emitting unit emits light from the light emitting unit and the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value, the control unit determines that the cover unit is not attached to the electronic device body. .

  The electronic device includes an electronic device main body, a cover unit, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, an optical filter unit, and a control unit. The cover part is attached to the electronic device body so as to cover at least a part of the electronic device body. The light emitting unit is disposed in the electronic device main body and emits light. The light receiving unit is disposed in the electronic device main body and receives light. The optical filter unit is disposed at a position facing the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit in the cover unit, and can transmit light having a predetermined wavelength. The control unit controls to communicate with another electronic device via light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the optical filter unit. The optical filter unit can reflect a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit. When the control unit causes the light emitting unit to emit light with a predetermined light emission pattern used for determining that the cover unit is attached to the electronic device main body, the light received by the light receiving unit is If it does not correspond to a predetermined light emission pattern, it is determined that the cover part is not attached to the electronic apparatus body, which determines that the cover part is not attached to the electronic apparatus body.

  The cover part preferably includes an antenna part for wireless communication. It is preferable that the electronic device main body includes a communication unit that is connected to the antenna unit when the cover unit is attached to the electronic device main body.

  The control unit preferably stops the operation of the communication unit when it is determined that the cover unit is not attached to the electronic device main body.

  The light emitting unit preferably emits infrared light. The light receiving unit preferably receives infrared light.

  When an application that uses the communication unit is activated, the control unit emits light from the light emitting unit, and when the intensity of light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value, It is preferable to determine that the cover portion is not attached.

  When the power of the electronic device is turned on, the control unit emits light from the light emitting unit, and when the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value, the cover unit is attached to the electronic device main body. It is preferable to judge that it is not.

  It is preferable that the communication unit can communicate with a base station. The control unit emits light from the light-emitting unit when in an out-of-service state in communication with a base station, and the cover unit is attached to the electronic device body when the intensity of light received by the light-receiving unit is less than a predetermined value. It is preferable to determine that is not attached.

  When an application that uses the communication unit is activated, the control unit emits light from the light emitting unit in a predetermined light emission pattern that is used to determine that a cover unit is attached to the electronic device body. Preferably, when the light received by the light receiving unit does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it is determined that the cover unit is not attached to the electronic device main body.

  When the power of the electronic device is turned on, the control unit emits light in a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that a cover unit is attached to the electronic device body from the light emitting unit, and the light receiving unit If the light received by the light does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it is preferable to determine that the cover part is not attached to the electronic device body.

  It is preferable that the communication unit can communicate with a base station. When the control unit is out of service in communication with the base station, the control unit emits light with a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that the cover unit is attached to the electronic device body from the light emitting unit, If the light received by the light receiving portion does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it is preferable to determine that the cover portion is not attached to the electronic device main body.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electronic device which can determine that the cover part is removed from the electronic device main body can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the smart phone which concerns on embodiment. It is a rear view which shows the external appearance of the smart phone which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating a smart phone main body and a cover part. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of a smart phone. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a smart phone.

  Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Below, a smart phone is demonstrated as an example of an electronic device.

  The external appearance of the smartphone 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the smartphone 1 has a housing 20. The housing 20 includes a front face 1A, a back face 1B, and side faces 1C1 to 1C4. The front face 1 </ b> A is the front of the housing 20. The back face 1 </ b> B is the back surface of the housing 20. The side faces 1C1 to 1C4 are side surfaces that connect the front face 1A and the back face 1B. Hereinafter, the side faces 1C1 to 1C4 may be collectively referred to as the side face 1C without specifying which face.

  The smartphone 1 includes a touch screen display 2, buttons 3A to 3C, an illuminance sensor 4, a proximity sensor 5, a receiver 7, a microphone 8, and a camera 12 on the front face 1A. The smartphone 1 has a camera 13 on the back face 1B. The smartphone 1 has buttons 3D to 3F and an external interface 14 on the side face 1C. Hereinafter, the buttons 3A to 3F may be collectively referred to as the button 3 without specifying which button.

  The touch screen display 2 includes a display 2A and a touch screen 2B. The display 2A includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL panel (Organic Electro-Luminescence panel), or an inorganic EL panel (Inorganic Electro-Luminescence panel). The display 2A displays characters, images, symbols, graphics, and the like.

  The touch screen 2B detects contact of a finger, a stylus pen, or the like with respect to the touch screen display 2. The touch screen 2B can detect a position where a plurality of fingers, a stylus pen, or the like is in contact with the touch screen display 2.

  The detection method of the touch screen 2B may be any method such as a capacitance method, a resistive film method, a surface acoustic wave method (or an ultrasonic method), an infrared method, an electromagnetic induction method, and a load detection method. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, a finger that the touch screen 2B detects contact with the touch screen display 2 or a stylus pen or the like may be simply referred to as a “finger”.

  The smartphone 1 determines the type of gesture based on the contact, contact position, contact time, or number of contacts detected by the touch screen 2B. The gesture is an operation performed on the touch screen display 2. The gesture discriminated by the smartphone 1 includes touch, long touch, release, swipe, tap, double tap, long tap, drag, flick, pinch in, pinch out, and the like.

  The smartphone 1 operates according to these gestures that are determined via the touch screen 2B. Therefore, operability that is intuitive and easy to use for the user is realized. The operation performed by the smartphone 1 according to the determined gesture differs depending on the screen displayed on the touch screen display 2.

  The button 3 is operated by the user. The button 3 includes buttons 3A to 3F. The controller 10 detects an operation on the button by cooperating with the button 3. The operation on the button is, for example, click, double click, push, and multi-push.

  For example, the buttons 3A to 3C are a home button, a back button, or a menu button. For example, the button 3D is a power ON / OFF button of the smartphone 1. The button 3D may also serve as a sleep / sleep release button. For example, the buttons 3E and 3F are volume buttons.

  The illuminance sensor 4 detects illuminance. For example, the illuminance is light intensity, brightness, luminance, or the like. The illuminance sensor 4 is used for adjusting the luminance of the display 2A, for example.

  The proximity sensor 5 detects the presence of a nearby object without contact. The proximity sensor 5 detects that the touch screen display 2 is brought close to the face, for example.

  The receiver 7 outputs the audio signal transmitted from the controller 10 as audio. The microphone 8 converts the voice of the user or the like into a voice signal and transmits it to the controller 10. The smartphone 1 may further include a speaker in addition to the receiver 7. The smartphone 1 may further include a speaker instead of the receiver 7.

  The camera 12 is an in-camera that captures an object facing the front face 1A. The camera 13 is an out camera that captures an object facing the back face 1B.

  The external interface 14 is a terminal to which another device is connected. The external interface 14 is a general-purpose terminal such as a universal serial bus (USB), a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a mobile high-definition link (MHL), a light peak (thunderbolt), and an earphone microphone connector. Also good. The external interface 14 may be a dedicated terminal such as a dock connector.

  The smartphone 1 according to the present embodiment can determine that the cover unit 40 has been removed from the smartphone body 30. A specific configuration will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the smartphone body 30 and the cover unit 40.
The smartphone 1 includes a smartphone body 30 as an electronic device body and a cover unit 40.
The smartphone body 30 is provided with a light emitting unit 31 and a light receiving unit 32. The light emitting unit 31 emits light. The light emitting unit 31 emits infrared light, for example. The light receiving unit 32 receives light. The light receiving unit 32 receives, for example, infrared light. The light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are used for infrared communication, for example. The light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are preferably arranged close to each other.

  The cover unit 40 is attached to the smartphone body 30 so as to cover at least a part of the smartphone body 30. That is, the cover unit 40 constitutes the back face 1 </ b> B of the smartphone 1. For example, the cover part 40 is a battery lid.

The cover unit 40 includes an optical filter unit 41 and an antenna unit 42.
The optical filter unit 41 is disposed at a position facing the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 in the cover unit 40. The optical filter unit 41 transmits light. The optical filter unit 41 transmits light in a wavelength band including the wavelength of light emitted by the light emitting unit 31 and the wavelength of light received by the light receiving unit 32. When the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are used for infrared communication, the optical filter unit 41 transmits infrared rays. The optical filter unit 41 reflects part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 31 toward the light receiving unit 32. The optical filter unit 41 reflects light in a wavelength band including the wavelength of light emitted from the light emitting unit 31 and the wavelength of light received by the light receiving unit 32. When the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are used for infrared communication, the optical filter unit 41 reflects infrared rays. As an example, if the incident light is 100%, the optical filter unit 41 transmits 95% of light and reflects 5% of light. Since the optical filter unit 41 transmits 95% of the incident light, the smartphone 1 can communicate with other smartphones through the transmitted light.

  The antenna unit 42 is used for communication when the smartphone 1 performs communication. The antenna unit 42 radiates radio waves by being fed from a communication unit 34 described later. In the case shown in FIG. 3, one antenna portion 42 is disposed on the cover portion 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and a plurality of antennas may be arranged on the cover unit 40.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the smartphone 1.
The smartphone main body 30 includes a communication unit 34 and a control unit 35.
The communication unit 34 is connected to the antenna unit 42 when the cover unit 40 is attached to the smartphone body 30. That is, the communication unit 34 is connected to the antenna unit 42 via the contact unit 33 (see FIG. 3).

  When the light is emitted from the light emitting unit 31, the control unit 35 determines that the cover 40 is not attached to the smartphone body 30 when the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit 32 is less than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is a value lower than the intensity when the light reflected by the optical filter unit 41 is received by the light receiving unit 32 and higher than the intensity when the light receiving unit 32 does not receive the light. is there. The predetermined value is set as appropriate.

  When the control unit 35 determines that the cover unit 40 is not attached to the smartphone body 30, the control unit 35 stops the operation of the communication unit 34. When the cover unit 40 is not attached to the smartphone body 30, the communication unit 34 is not connected to the antenna unit 42. Even if the communication unit 34 is operated when the communication unit 34 and the antenna unit 42 are not electrically connected, the communication unit 34 cannot perform communication. Therefore, the control unit 35 does not operate the communication unit 34 when the cover unit 40 is not attached to the smartphone body 30.

  Next, the operation of the smartphone 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the smartphone 1.

  In step ST <b> 1, the control unit 35 emits light from the light emitting unit 31. When light is emitted from the light emitting unit 31, a part of the emitted light is reflected by the optical filter unit 41 and received by the light receiving unit 32. Further, the light not reflected by the optical filter unit 41 passes through the optical filter unit 41 and is emitted to the outside of the smartphone 1.

  In step ST2, the control unit 35 determines whether the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit 32 is less than a predetermined value. When the light intensity is less than the predetermined value (YES), the control unit 35 determines that the cover unit 40 is not attached to the smartphone body 30, and advances the process to step ST3. When the light intensity is not less than the predetermined value (NO), the control unit 35 determines that the cover unit 40 is attached to the smartphone body 30 and ends the process.

  In step ST <b> 3, the control unit 35 stops the operation of the communication unit 34 because the antenna unit 42 disposed in the cover unit 40 and the communication unit 34 are not connected. The control unit 35 ends the process after step ST3.

According to such a smart phone 1, the following effects are produced.
That is, when the smartphone 1 emits light from the light emitting unit 31 and the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit 32 is less than a predetermined value, the smartphone body 30 determines that the cover unit 40 is not attached. To do. Thereby, the smartphone 1 can determine that the cover unit 40 is removed from the smartphone body 30.

  The smartphone 1 includes a wireless communication antenna unit 42 in the cover unit 40. If the antenna unit 42 is disposed on the cover unit 40 and the cover unit 40 is removed from the smartphone body 30, the smartphone 1 cannot communicate. The smartphone 1 can determine whether the cover unit 40 is attached to the smartphone body 30 to determine whether communication is possible or communication is not possible.

  When the smartphone 1 determines that the cover unit 40 is not attached to the smartphone body 30, the smartphone 1 stops the operation of the communication unit 34. When the cover unit 40 is not attached to the smartphone main body 30, the antenna unit 42 and the communication unit 34 are not connected. For this reason, the communication part 34 cannot communicate. In this case, since the smartphone 1 stops transmission and reception by the communication unit 34, the communication unit 34 can be prevented from operating in a state where the antenna unit 42 is not connected.

  In addition, the smartphone 1 emits infrared light from the light emitting unit 31 and causes the light receiving unit 32 to receive the infrared light. Thereby, since the smart phone 1 can utilize the components utilized for infrared communication for the mounting | wearing detection of the cover part 40, compared with the case where a new component is mounted for the detection of the cover part 40, it is low-cost. Can be realized.

  When the smartphone 1 (control unit) emits light from the light emitting unit 31, the cover unit 40 is attached to the smartphone body 30 when the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit 32 is less than a predetermined value. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the smartphone 1 (control unit) radiates light according to a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that the cover unit is attached to the smartphone body. In this case, if the light received by the light receiving unit does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it may be determined that the cover unit is not attached to the smartphone body. In addition, when the smartphone 1 (control unit) emits light according to a predetermined light emission pattern used for determining that the cover unit is attached to the smartphone body, the light received by the light receiving unit is If the light emission pattern is supported, it may be determined that the cover is attached to the smartphone body.

  When the application using the communication unit is activated, the control unit radiates light from the light emitting unit, and if the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value, the cover unit is attached to the smartphone body. You may decide not to. In addition, when an application using the communication unit is activated, the control unit emits light with a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that the cover unit is attached to the smartphone body from the light emitting unit, and receives the light. If the light received by the part does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it may be determined that the cover part is not attached to the smartphone body. Here, the application using the communication unit is a browser, a mailer, a telephone application, or the like.

  When the power of the smartphone is turned on, the control unit determines that the cover is not attached to the smartphone body when the light emitted from the light emitting unit and the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value. May be. In addition, when the power of the smartphone is turned on, the control unit emits light with a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that the cover unit is attached to the smartphone body from the light emitting unit, and the light received by the light receiving unit If it does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it may be determined that the cover part is not attached to the electronic device main body.

  Note that the communication unit may be able to communicate with the base station. When the control unit is out of service in communication with the base station, the cover is attached to the smartphone body when the intensity of the light emitted from the light emitting unit and received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value. You may decide not to. Further, when the control unit is out of service in communication with the base station, the control unit emits light with a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that the cover unit is attached to the smartphone body from the light emitting unit, and the light receiving unit If the light received by the light does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it may be determined that the cover is not attached to the smartphone body.

  Note that the smartphone 1 may perform a predetermined notification when the control unit determines that the cover unit is not attached to the smartphone body. Here, as the predetermined notification, the smartphone 1 may cause the light emitting element to emit light according to a predetermined light emission pattern, may cause the vibration element to vibrate according to a predetermined vibration pattern, and a cover portion is attached to the smartphone main body. May be displayed on the touch screen display.

  The optical filter unit 41 transmits light in a wavelength band including the wavelength of the light emitted by the light emitting unit 31 and the wavelength of the light received by the light receiving unit 32, but the optical filter unit 41 includes the light emitting unit 31. Transmits light in a wavelength band including the wavelength of light to be emitted and the wavelength of light received by the light receiving unit 32 and does not transmit light in a wavelength band other than the light in the wavelength band, or other than light in the wavelength band The ratio of transmitting light in the wavelength band may be lower than that in the wavelength band.

  The smartphone 1 has a mode in which it communicates with other electronic devices via light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the optical filter unit, and whether or not the cover unit is attached to the smartphone body by the light emitted from the light emitting unit. You may have two modes of the mode which judges whether. The light emitted in one mode is not detected or invalid in the other mode, so that malfunction can be prevented.

  When the smartphone 1 communicates with another electronic device via light emitted from the light emitting unit and passing through the optical filter unit, the light receiving unit receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit and receives the light. When the intensity of light is less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the cover is not attached to the smartphone body, and when the intensity of the received light is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the cover is attached to the smartphone body. You may judge. With such a configuration, when the smartphone communicates with another electronic device via light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the optical filter unit, whether the cover unit is attached to the smart body or not. Can be judged.

1 Smartphone (electronic equipment)
30 Smartphone body (electronic device body)
31 Light-emitting unit 32 Light-receiving unit 34 Communication unit 35 Control unit 40 Cover unit 41 Optical filter unit 42 Antenna unit

Claims (11)

An electronic device body,
A cover part mounted on the electronic device body so as to cover at least a part of the electronic device body;
A light emitting unit disposed in the electronic device main body and emitting light;
A light receiving unit disposed in the electronic device body for receiving light;
An optical filter unit arranged at a position facing the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit in the cover unit and capable of transmitting light of a predetermined wavelength;
A control unit that controls to communicate with other electronic devices via light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the optical filter unit,
The optical filter unit can reflect a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit,
When the light emitted from the light emitting unit emits light from the light emitting unit and the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value, the control unit determines that the cover unit is not attached to the electronic device body. Electronics. An electronic device body,
A cover part mounted on the electronic device body so as to cover at least a part of the electronic device body;
A light emitting unit disposed in the electronic device main body and emitting light;
A light receiving unit disposed in the electronic device body for receiving light;
An optical filter unit arranged at a position facing the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit in the cover unit and capable of transmitting light of a predetermined wavelength;
A control unit that controls to communicate with other electronic devices via light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the optical filter unit,
The optical filter unit can reflect a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit,
When the control unit causes the light emitting unit to emit light with a predetermined light emission pattern used for determining that the cover unit is attached to the electronic device main body, the light received by the light receiving unit is An electronic device that determines that the cover portion is not attached to the electronic device main body that determines that the cover portion is not attached to the electronic device main body if the predetermined light emission pattern is not supported. The cover unit includes an antenna unit for wireless communication,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device main body includes a communication unit that is connected to the antenna unit when the cover is attached to the electronic device main body. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit stops the operation of the communication unit when it is determined that the cover unit is not attached to the electronic device main body. The light emitting unit emits infrared light,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving unit receives infrared light. When an application that uses the communication unit is activated, the control unit emits light from the light emitting unit, and when the intensity of light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value, The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein it is determined that the cover portion is not attached. When the power of the electronic device is turned on, the control unit emits light from the light emitting unit, and when the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined value, the cover unit is attached to the electronic device main body. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the electronic device is determined not to be used. The communication unit can communicate with a base station,
The control unit emits light from the light-emitting unit when in an out-of-service state in communication with a base station, and the cover unit is attached to the electronic device body when the intensity of light received by the light-receiving unit is less than a predetermined value. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the electronic device is determined not to be attached. When an application that uses the communication unit is activated, the control unit emits light from the light emitting unit in a predetermined light emission pattern that is used to determine that a cover unit is attached to the electronic device body. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein if the light received by the light receiving unit does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it is determined that the cover unit is not attached to the electronic device main body. When the power of the electronic device is turned on, the control unit emits light in a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that a cover unit is attached to the electronic device body from the light emitting unit, and the light receiving unit The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein if the light received by the light does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it is determined that the cover portion is not attached to the electronic device main body. The communication unit can communicate with a base station,
When the control unit is out of service in communication with the base station, the control unit emits light with a predetermined light emission pattern used to determine that the cover unit is attached to the electronic device body from the light emitting unit, The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein if the light received by the light receiving unit does not correspond to the predetermined light emission pattern, it is determined that the cover unit is not attached to the electronic device main body.

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