JP3005533B1 - Portable communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain a folded state according to needs, and to enhance operability and flexibility in use. SOLUTION: A communication device housing 2 including a first housing 2a to a third housing 2c having a function unit including operation units 6, 11, 14 and a display unit 7 on its surface and connected in series. A hinge 1 interposed between two adjacent housings of the first housing 3a to the third housing 2c of the communication housing 2;
Each of the hinges 16 and 17 includes a hinge that can fold the first housing 2a and the third housing 2c on both front and back sides of the second housing 2b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device suitable for use in a mobile communication medium such as a portable telephone radio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the liberalization of the telephone communication business, popularization of various mobile communication media including portable telephone radios has been progressing. 2. Description of the Related Art In general, a mobile phone wireless device of this type of mobile communication medium includes a receiving unit having a speaker, a main unit having an operation unit (key operation unit) and a display unit, and a transmitting unit having a microphone. Things are known.

[0003] In such portable telephone radios, miniaturization of the whole radio is required for convenience of carrying.
On the other hand, in order to display characters, symbols, and the like in displaying data and the like, and to perform good operations in key operations, it is required that the display unit and the operation unit be as large as possible.

[0004] For this reason, by making the radio equipment housing composed of two or three housings foldable,
A communication device designed to reduce the size of a wireless device when carrying the device, and to provide a display and operation unit with a large area when used by arranging a display unit or an operation unit on the entire surface of a single housing. There is.

Conventionally, this type of communication apparatus has been disclosed in
Japanese Patent No. 3342 discloses a portable telephone. This is a first case (central case) having a display unit and a second case (one end side case) having a receiver.
And a third housing (an other end side housing) having an operation unit and a transmission unit, and foldably connects the second housing to the first housing so that the display unit is exposed to the outside. In addition, the third housing is connected so as to be foldable in a direction opposite to the second housing.

[0006] Further, the conventional communication device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
There is also a portable communication device disclosed in JP-163219A. This includes a first housing (central housing) having a display unit, a second housing (one end side housing) having a receiver, and a third housing (transmitting unit and operation unit) having a transmitting unit and an operation unit. And the third housing and the first housing, and the second housing and the first housing are foldably connected so as to cover the display unit.

[0007]

However, in the former case (JP-A-5-83342), the second housing is connected to the first housing in a foldable manner so that the display unit is exposed to the outside. At the same time, the third housing is connected so as to be foldable in a direction opposite to the second housing, while the latter is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-16321
No. 9) has a structure in which the first housing and the third housing and the second housing and the first housing are connected so as to be foldable so that the display unit is covered. Is limited to a single state, and there is a problem that the folded state cannot be obtained according to needs.

In the latter case, since the operation unit is arranged on a single surface of a single housing, the occupied area of the entire operation unit is reduced accordingly and the operability is reduced. Was. Furthermore, since both the former and the latter have a structure in which only a single functional surface is exposed to the outside in the folded state, the communication function cannot be fully utilized at the time of folding, and the degree of freedom in use is reduced. There was an inconvenience.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a portable communication device that can obtain a folded state according to needs and can enhance operability and flexibility in use. Aim.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a portable communication device according to a first aspect of the present invention has a function section including an operation section and a display section on its surface, and is connected in series. A communication device housing comprising three housings, and a hinge interposed between two adjacent housings of the three housings of the communication device housing. of Ri Tona capable hinge folding housing at each end on both sides side of the housing of the central portion, of the housing of the opposite end portions of the
Fold the housing at one end to the front side of the housing at the center.
When folded, the housing at the other end is placed on the back of the housing at the center.
Side foldable, and the housing at one end is centered
When folded to the back side of the housing, the housing at the other end
The body is configured to be foldable on the front side of the central housing . Therefore, a plurality of folded states can be obtained by folding the housing at each end on both the front and back sides of the housing at the center.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable communication device of the first aspect, each hinge comprises a hinge capable of adjusting an angle between two adjacent housings of the housing. Therefore, by adjusting the angle between two housings adjacent to each other, the housing at each end is positioned at a desired angular position with respect to the housing at the center.

The invention described in claim 3 is the first or second invention.
The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is at least one of a side surface and a back surface of at least one of the housings.
Is provided on the surface of. Therefore, the operation unit is exposed on at least one of the side surface and the back surface of the housing, and the occupied area of the entire operation unit is increased.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable communication device according to the first, second, or third aspect, the operation unit on the surface of one of the housings is the other when the communication device housing is folded. It is configured to include an operation unit covered by a housing. Therefore, when the communication device housing is folded, the operation unit on the surface of one housing is covered by the other housing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the portable communication device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the display unit comprises a display unit exposed to the outside when the communication device housing is folded. is there. Therefore, in the folded state of the communication device housing, the display unit is exposed to the outside and visually recognized.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the portable communication device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the display unit is a display unit that is covered by another housing in a folded state of the communication device housing. There is a configuration. Therefore, in the folded state of the communication device housing, the display unit is covered by the other housing.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a side view schematically showing a portable communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. . In FIG. 1, a mobile phone wireless device as a mobile communication device denoted by reference numeral 1 is a communication device housing 2.
And a hinge 3.

The communication device housing 2 includes a first housing 2a, a second housing 2b, and a third housing 2c. The first housing 2a has a wireless unit 4, a speaker unit 5, a first operation unit 6, and a screen unit (display unit) 7. Radio unit 4
Transmits and receives signals through the antenna 8. Speaker unit 5
Outputs a voice, and the first operation unit 6 performs operations such as communication / information confirmation. The display unit 7 displays a destination telephone number, a destination name, a created mail, a communication state, a time and the like at the time of calling or receiving a call.

The second housing 2b includes a control unit 9 and an audio unit 10
And a second operation unit 11 and a first battery unit 12. The control unit 9 controls each unit based on, for example, signals transmitted and received by the wireless unit 4. The audio unit 10 outputs audio,
From the second operation unit 11, a telephone number, a destination name, and the like are input. The first battery unit 12 supplies power to the control unit 9.

The third housing 2c has a microphone section 13, a third operation section 14, and a second battery section 15. The microphone unit 13 inputs voice data, and the third operation unit 14 performs operations such as communication / information confirmation. The second battery unit 15 supplies power to the control unit 9.

The hinge 3 has two hinges 16 and 17. The hinges 16 and 17 are hinges that can fold the first housing 2a and the third housing 2c (housing at each end) on both front and back sides of the second housing 2b (center housing). Each of the one housing 2a to the third housing 2c is interposed between two adjacent housings.

Here, referring to FIG.
An example will be described. The hinge 16 is connected to the second housing 2b.
Main body 16 with elongated hole 16A extending in the thickness direction of
a and a pivot point 16b movable in the elongated hole 16A of the hinge body 16a, and is interposed between the first housing 2a and the second housing 2b. The hinge body 16a is connected to the second housing 2b, and the pivot point 16b is connected to the first housing 2a.

On the other hand, the hinge 17 is also
Hinge body 17 with elongated hole 17A extending in the thickness direction
a and a pivot point 17b movable in the elongated hole 17A of the hinge main body 17a, and is interposed between the second housing 2b and the third housing 2c. The hinge body 17a is connected to the second housing 2b, and the pivot 17b is connected to the third housing 2b.
c.

Thus, the first housing 2a to the third housing 2c
Are connected in series. When the communication device housing 2 is folded, the first housing 2a or the third housing 2c is turned around each of the pivot points 16b and 17b to be folded on both front and back sides of the second housing 2b. .

In this case, when the communication unit casing 2 is folded so that the display unit 7 is exposed to the outside and faces upward, the display unit 7 is visually recognized from above in the folded state of the communication unit case 2. When the communication device housing 2 is folded so that the second operation portion 11 is covered by the first housing 2a or the third housing 2c, the second operation portion 11 is protected when the communication device housing 2 is folded. . Further, when the communication device housing 2 is folded so that the display unit 7 is covered by the second housing 2b, the display unit 7 is protected when the communication device 2 is folded.

In the communication device configured as described above,
By folding the first housing 2a or the third housing 2c on both front and back sides of the second housing 2b, a plurality of folded states can be obtained. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the communication device housing 2 is folded such that the display unit 7 of the first housing 2a is exposed to the outside, the portability of the communication device housing 2 and the display unit 7 Good visibility. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the display unit 7 of the first housing 2a is folded so as to be covered by the second housing 2b, the display unit 7 is protected.

In this embodiment, the first housing 2
Since the first operation unit 6, the second operation unit 11, and the third operation unit 14 are provided on the respective surfaces of the a to third housings 2c, the occupied area of the entire operation unit is increased. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of functional surfaces can be exposed to the outside in the folded state of the communication device housing 2, by exposing a desired functional surface, for example, the operation units 6, 11 to the outside, The communication function can be fully utilized even when the communication device housing 2 is folded.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5D and FIGS. 6A and 6B, the folding adjustment of the casing of the portable communication device during a normal call and a hands-free call will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic views for explaining the bending adjustment of the communication device housing in the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing a folded state at the time of a Humphrey call in the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the angle between the first housing 2a and the second housing 2b and the angle between the second housing 2b and the third housing 2c are α and β, respectively. (1) As shown in FIG. 5A, when the angles α and β are set to 180 °, the entire length and surface area of the communication device housing 2 are maximized.

(2) As shown in FIG. 5 (b), when the angles α and β are set to less than 180 °, the speaker unit 5 and the microphone unit 13 are placed on the user's ear and mouth, respectively. Are combined. In this case, the distance between the speaker unit 5 and the microphone unit 13 is set to a desired distance by finely adjusting the angle α and the angle β.

(3) As shown in FIG. 5C, the angle α is set to an angle of 180 ° or more, and the angle β is set to 18 degrees.
If the angle is set to less than 0 °, that is, if the communication device housing 2 is folded in a zigzag shape, the communication device housing 2 will be folded in a zigzag type during a call waiting or hands-free call as shown in FIG. In addition to being able to easily obtain the folded state, ease of use during hands-free communication and good stability during installation are obtained. In this case, arranging a scanner (not shown) on the second housing 2b simplifies data confirmation and operation on the display unit 7 of the first housing 2a.

(4) When the angles α and β are set to 180 ° or more as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a triangular folded state can be easily obtained as the folded state of the communication device housing 2 during a hands-free call.

In this embodiment, the first housing 2
a to the first operation units 6, 11, 14 on each surface of the third housing 2c.
Is described, but FIG. 7 and FIG.
As shown in (Second Embodiment), an operation unit 61 such as a touch panel is provided on the side and back surfaces of the first housing 2a to the third housing 2c.
To 64 may be provided. Thereby, the occupied area of the entire operation unit is increased, and the operability is improved. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 65 denotes a display unit (screen unit) disposed on the back side of the second housing 2b, and reference numerals 67 and 68 denote the first housing 2a.
And a battery unit disposed on the back side of the third housing 2c.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, of the three housings of the communication device, the hinges interposed between two housings adjacent to each other are provided on both sides of the center housing. Since the hinges at each end are foldable on the side, the housing at each end is folded on both front and back sides of the central housing, so that a plurality of folded states can be reliably obtained, The corresponding folded state can be obtained.

Further, by arranging the operation unit not only on the front surface but also on the side surface and the back surface of each housing, the occupied area of the entire operation unit can be increased, and the operability can be improved. Furthermore, since a plurality of functional surfaces can be exposed to the outside when the communication device housing is folded, the communication function can be fully utilized when the communication device housing is folded, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in use. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a portable communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views showing a folded state of the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic views for explaining bending adjustment of a communication device housing in the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a folded state during a Humphrey call;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a portable communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a portable communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 communication device 2 communication device housing 2a first housing 2b second housing 2c third housing 5 speaker unit 6 first operation unit 7 display unit 11 second operation unit 13 microphone unit 14 third operation unit 16, 17 Hinge

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-5-83342 (JP, A) JP-A-5-227265 (JP, A) JP-A-6-164440 (JP, A) JP-A-10-108 313452 (JP, A) JP-A-9-27837 (JP, A) JP-A-10-319879 (JP, A) JP-A-4-44154 (JP, A) JP-A-7-29978 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04B 1/38 G06F 1/16 H04M 1/02 H04Q 7/32

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication device housing having a function unit including an operation unit and a display unit on its surface and comprising three housings connected in series, and each of the three housings of the communication device housing And a hinge interposed between two adjacent housings, and each of the hinges is a hinge that can fold the housing at each end on both front and back sides of the central housing among the housings. Ri, the central portion of the housing of the one-side end portion of the housing of the opposite end portions
When folded to the front side of the case, the case at the other end
Can be folded to the back side of the central housing.
And the casing at one end is the same as the casing at the center.
When folded on the back side, the housing at the other end is
A portable communication device characterized by being foldable on a front side of a housing . 2. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein each of the hinges comprises a hinge capable of adjusting an angle between two adjacent housings of the housing. 3. The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is provided on at least one of a side surface and a back surface of at least one of the housings. Mobile communicator. 4. An operation unit on a surface of one of the housings, the operation unit being covered by another housing in a folded state of the communication device housing. 4. The mobile communication device according to 2 or 3. 5. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises a display unit exposed to the outside when the communication device housing is folded. 6. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a display unit that is covered by another housing when the communication device housing is folded. .