JP3585100B2 - Mobile phone - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile telephone such as a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) telephone or a mobile telephone, and more particularly to a telephone function when a voltage of a battery used as a power supply drops.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the mobile phone is carried and used by a user, a battery such as a lithium ion battery is used as a power source. This battery is rechargeable, but of course the voltage drops as the operating time of the telephone increases. When the battery voltage drops, for example, the operation of the telephone becomes unstable.
[0003]
Therefore, conventionally, the battery voltage is monitored by an A / D converter or the like, and when the battery voltage falls below a certain voltage, the user is notified of the low voltage by an alarm or display, and the phone is forcibly forced to operate. The power is off.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the power of the telephone is immediately turned off after the detection of the low voltage of the battery, it is needless to say that the telephone cannot be used thereafter, which is very inconvenient.
[0005]
As another example of the prior art, there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-145342 and Japanese Patent No. 268772 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-48515). These are radio selective call receivers, which attempt to back up received information with the remaining battery voltage when the voltage of the battery used as the power supply drops.
[0006]
However, depending on the user of the mobile phone, it is important to back up the information when the battery voltage drops.However, there are cases where it is desirable to give priority to outgoing calls even if the number of calls and call time are limited. Technology cannot meet the diverse needs of mobile telephone users.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and since the user can select a telephone function that can be used after the battery voltage is reduced, it is possible to answer and use various demands of a mobile telephone user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile telephone which can extend the usable time of the telephone after the battery voltage is reduced by selecting and limiting the telephone function, and which is very convenient.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Mobile telephone of the present invention, in a mobile phone that uses batteries as a power source, means for detecting that the battery voltage drops to a predetermined voltage, that effect when the decrease in battery voltage is detected by the means Means for notifying the user of the operation , means for selecting a telephone operation function that can be used after the battery voltage has dropped, means for storing the operation function selected by this means, and that the battery voltage drop has been detected by the detection means. Means for enabling the telephone to operate with the operation function selected by the selection means and stored in the storage means , wherein the selection means displays a selectable telephone operation function on a display unit and operates the key. A desired operation function is selected by an operation .
[0010]
In the mobile phone of the present invention, the selection means, some operational functions of the phone, limited operating function, or you can select the normal operation function. In the mobile telephone according to the present invention, when the battery voltage drops to a predetermined voltage during a call, the disconnection process is performed during the call, and then the function selection mode is set, or the mobile phone becomes operable with the operation function already selected. . On the other hand, when the battery voltage drops to the predetermined voltage during the information input, the previously input information is saved, and then the mode is changed to the function selection mode, or the operation can be performed with the already selected operation function.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of a mobile phone according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the mobile phone according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an MPU for controlling the entire telephone, and includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 1a, a ROM 1b, a RAM 1c, a clock source 1d, and an I / O port 1e. The CPU 1a executes a process specified in accordance with a program that defines an operation processing procedure stored in the ROM 1b, in synchronization with a clock supplied from the clock source 1d, for information stored in the RAM 1c, data and signals from other units, and the like. Execute using The CPU 1a is connected to other parts via the I / O port 1e, and exchanges signals and data.
[0012]
The key 2 is used for inputting a telephone number, setting various operation modes, and the like. The display unit 3 is composed of an LCD and displays various information and the state of the telephone. The vibration motor 4 operates and vibrates at the time of an incoming call or at the time of a successful call and at the time of occurrence of an error, and informs them. The RF transmission / reception circuit 5 amplifies and frequency-converts a signal received from the antenna 10 and outputs a demodulation signal to a baseband IC (hereinafter referred to as BBIC), and amplifies and frequency-modulates a voice modulation signal from the BBIC. And a transmission circuit that converts the signal and outputs the signal to the antenna 10 as a transmission signal. The BBIC 6 is controlled by the CPU 1a, and modulates and demodulates audio signals and RF signals. The audio signal output from the BBIC 6 is amplified by the AF circuit 7 and drives the speaker 8. On the other hand, the audio signal from the microphone 9 is amplified by the AF circuit 7, input to the BBIC 6, modulated to be a high-frequency signal, and radiated as a radio wave from the antenna 10 via the RF transmitting and receiving circuit 5. The ringer 11 sounds at the time of an incoming call and at the time of a key operation, etc., to notify them.
[0013]
The battery 12 is a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery, and supplies a power supply voltage to each of the above units. A voltage detector 13 is provided to detect the voltage of the battery 12, and output data of the voltage detector 13 is supplied to the CPU 1a via the I / O port 1e. Battery 12 is connected to charging terminals 12a and 12b.
[0014]
In the mobile telephone configured as described above, the user can select a telephone function that can be used after the voltage of the battery 12 drops, and the telephone can operate with the selected function after the voltage of the battery 12 drops. Become. This will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0015]
In the mobile telephone shown in FIG. 2, the voltage of the battery 12 is detected by the voltage detector 13, and the output data of the voltage detector 13 is supplied to the CPU 1a via the I / O port 1e. Accordingly, when the voltage of the battery 12 drops to a predetermined low voltage, the CPU 1a detects a voltage drop (low voltage) as shown in step S1 of FIG. Then, the CPU 1a proceeds to step S2 to determine whether or not the user is currently talking, and if the user is talking, rings the ringer 11 to notify the user that the voltage of the battery 12 has dropped to a predetermined voltage (hereinafter referred to as low voltage detection). Then, after a few seconds, for example, the in-call disconnection process (step S4) is executed. Then, the process proceeds to step S5, where the CPU 1a determines whether or not the user has already selected the function after the battery voltage has dropped. If the function has not been selected, the CPU 1a displays the "function selection screen" in step S6. In the "function selection screen", the CPU 1a reads out the telephone function that can be used after the battery voltage drops from the RAM 1c and is displayed on the display unit 3 while the telephone function is stored in the RAM 1c. To select a desired function.
[0016]
For example, the following functions are stored in the RAM 1c.
[0017]
1. 1. Phonebook reading / registration 2. Creation and storage of text messages such as e-mail 3. Read text messages such as mail 4. Creation, storage and transmission of text messages such as mail Outgoing calls only (number and call duration are limited)
6. 6. Recording and playback of voice memos Clock 8. 8. Redial / incoming call history display Normal operation (normal function)
When the “function selection screen” is displayed, the above functions are read out from the RAM 1 c and displayed on the display unit 3. At this time, all the functions 1 to 9 cannot be displayed on the display unit 3 at one time due to the size of the display unit 3, so all the functions are displayed on the display unit 3 by switching or scrolling. When the number of characters in the function name is large, abbreviated display is used. The user operates the numeric key 2 corresponding to the number of the desired function among the above 1 to 9 while watching the display on the display unit 3, whereby the desired function is selected. Now, if the number key 2 of “1” is operated, the function of “read / register phonebook” is selected, and if the number key 2 of “5” is operated, the number of calls and the call time are limited. Only "function is selected. If the number key 2 of “9” is operated, there is a possibility that the battery voltage may be lost immediately, but “normal operation (normal function)” in which all functions operate without limitation is selected. The outgoing / incoming operation processing and the text message (mail) transmission processing, of course, greatly reduce the battery consumption (large power consumption), and greatly limit the number of times and the talk time.
[0018]
Then, the selected function is stored in the RAM 1c by the CPU 1a. Therefore, after the battery voltage drops, the mobile phone can operate with the selected function under the control of the CPU 1a (step S7).
[0019]
On the other hand, if the CPU 1a determines that the function has already been selected in step S5 as described above, the process proceeds to step S8 instead of step S6, and "confirmation" of the already selected function is performed. In this “confirmation”, the function selected already is read out from the RAM 1 c and displayed on the display unit 3. Then, if the function already selected by the display on the display unit 3 is sufficient, the approval key 2 is operated to proceed to step S9, where the already selected function becomes operable after the battery voltage drops. . On the other hand, when it is desired to select a function different from the already selected function displayed on the display unit 3 in step S8, the disapproval key 2 is operated. Then, after step S8, the “function selection screen” of step S6 described above is displayed, and a new function can be selected as described above. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7, where a new selection is performed after the battery voltage drops. It becomes operable with the set function.
[0020]
The above is the case where it is determined that the call is in progress in step S2 when the battery voltage drops to the predetermined low voltage. However, if it is not determined that the call is in progress in step S2, the process proceeds to step S10 after step S2 and the mail It is determined whether or not a text message such as is being created. If it is determined in step S10 that the text message is not being created, the process proceeds to step S11 to notify the user of the low voltage detection, and then proceeds to step S5 to select the function after the battery voltage is reduced. Is determined. Then, as described above, the function is selected in step S6, or the selected function is confirmed in step S8, and if the selected function is changed to a new function, the new function is selected in step S6. Thereafter, the respective selected functions become operable after the battery voltage drops (steps S7 and S9).
[0021]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the text message is being created, the process proceeds to step S12 instead of step S11 to notify the user of the detection of the low voltage, and then proceeds to step S13 to save the text message being created ( (Stored in the RAM 1c) and the end is automatically performed. Thereafter, as described above, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether the function selection after the battery voltage drop has been performed. In step S8, the selected function is confirmed. When the selected function is changed to a new function, a new function is selected in step S6, and the selected function becomes operable after the battery voltage drops ( Steps S7 and S9).
[0022]
During the text message creation, after the user is notified of the low voltage detection (step S12), the text message being created is automatically stored in the RAM 1c (step S13). Then, in step S6, if "4. Create / save / send a character message such as mail" is selected, or in step S8, "4. Create / save a character message such as mail" If it is confirmed that "Send" is selected, the text message can be continuously created even after the battery voltage drops and the entire text message can be transmitted, which is very convenient.
[0023]
Note that the above is a case of a text message of an e-mail. However, even when the telephone directory is registered or in other cases, when the battery voltage drops, the information input so far is automatically saved in the RAM 1c.
[0024]
As described above, according to the mobile telephone, since the user can select a telephone function that can be used after the battery voltage drops, the mobile phone user can respond to various requests after the battery voltage drops. be able to. For example, if the user wants to read and register the phonebook after the battery voltage drops, make the operation possible, and if he wants to make a call even if the number of calls and call time are limited, the operation is possible. Although there is a possibility that the voltage may be lost immediately, if a normal operation (normal function) is desired, it can be set to enable the operation. Also, if the user selects and limits the telephone function after the battery voltage drops, the current consumption can be reduced, so that the usable time of the telephone after the battery voltage drop can be extended.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the mobile telephone of the present invention, the user can select a telephone function that can be used after the battery voltage drops, so that usability after the battery voltage drops is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of a mobile phone according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a mobile phone according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a Microcomputer (CPU)
2 key 3 display unit 12 battery 13 voltage detection unit

Claims (4)

In a mobile phone using a battery as a power source,
Means for detecting that the battery voltage has dropped to a predetermined voltage,
Means for notifying the user of a decrease in battery voltage detected by the means when the decrease in battery voltage is detected;
Means for selecting a phone operating function that can be used after the battery voltage drops;
Means for storing the operation function selected by this means;
Means for enabling the telephone to operate with the operation function selected by the selection means and stored in the storage means when the battery voltage drop is detected by the detection means ,
The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means selects a desired operation function by a key operation while a selectable telephone operation function is displayed on a display unit . 2. The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein the selection means can select a partial operation function, a restricted operation function, or a normal operation function of the telephone. When the battery voltage during a call has dropped to a predetermined voltage after the call during the cutting process is performed, it becomes the function mode, or to become operable to claim 1, wherein already the selected operating function A mobile telephone as described. When the battery voltage drops to a predetermined voltage during information input, after the already input information is saved, the function selection mode is set, or the operation can be performed with the already selected operation function. 2. The mobile telephone according to 1.

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