JP3615395B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Electronic devices such as general mobile phone devices and electronic notebooks are provided with a storage element capable of storing basic information for operating the device and personal information including daily schedules. In many of these electronic devices, various techniques are applied to prevent others from opening the casing of the electronic device and reading the contents stored in the storage element without the user's permission. ing. For example, a technology for sealing the housing using a special screw that has a star-shaped uneven surface on the screw head and cannot be removed by a normal screwdriver, or covering the memory element with epoxy resin There are techniques such as fixing and protecting (see, for example, JP-A-8-184608).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the method of sealing the case with the special screw, it is difficult to completely protect the information on the storage element because the information on the storage element can be stolen by destroying only the case. Further, in the method of covering the memory element with the epoxy resin, the temperature of the memory element rises and there is a possibility that the performance of the memory element is lowered.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is for solving such problems, and includes information storage means for storing information, a timer button, a timer for measuring a predetermined time after the timer button is operated, and light detection for detecting light. Means and control means for controlling to erase information stored in the information storage means in response to light detection by the light detection means,
The control means controls the information stored in the information storage means not to be erased even if it is determined that the light detection means detects light while the timer is measuring a predetermined time. It is characterized by doing.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a first embodiment of a cellular phone device to which the present invention is applied.
[0006]
The apparatus according to this embodiment includes a main circuit unit 1, a power generation unit 2, and an interface 3 that connects them.
[0007]
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100 of the main circuit unit 1 controls each circuit described below based on a control program described later. The memory 101 includes, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and stores information such as an authentication ID (Identification) and a control program corresponding to each telephone device. The numeric keypad 102 is used for inputting a telephone number, a personal identification number described later, and the like. The power supply circuit 103 includes a diode for preventing backflow, a regulator for converting the voltage from the battery 104 into a voltage for operating the telephone device, and the like.
[0008]
The power generation unit 2 includes a photovoltaic element 200, a switch 201, and a trigger button 202. The photovoltaic element 200 is made of, for example, a solar cell, and generates a power signal when receiving light. The switch 201 is a switching circuit made of, for example, a transistor. The trigger button 202 is a button for instructing the switch 201 to be closed.
[0009]
A basic circuit of a telephone device such as a transmission / reception circuit for transmitting / receiving radio waves is not shown because it is not directly related to this embodiment.
[0010]
A substrate having each circuit shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1 is usually provided in a sealed housing that does not reach light. The numeric keypad 102 and the trigger button 202 are provided on the outer surface of the casing.
[0011]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described below.
[0012]
The trigger button 202 is connected to the interface 3. When the button is pressed, a pressing signal is sent to the CPU 100 via the interface 3.
[0013]
The CPU 100 is connected to the interface 3, the memory 101, the numeric keypad 102, and the power supply circuit 103, and sends a control signal for closing the switch 201 to the switch 201 via the interface 3 in response to the detection of the signal. .
[0014]
The switch 201 has one end connected to the interface 3 and the other end connected to the photovoltaic device 200. Further, the switch 201 is closed according to the control signal. Note that once the switch 201 is in the closed state, the switch 201 maintains that state unless a personal identification number (to be described later) is input.
[0015]
As described above, the photovoltaic device 200 generates power when receiving light and outputs a power signal. This power signal is sent to the CPU 100 via the switch 201 and the interface 3 when the switch 201 is in the closed state.
[0016]
When the CPU 100 receives the power signal, it sends a control signal to the memory 101 so as to erase the contents stored in the memory 101.
[0017]
When the memory 101 receives the control signal, it erases the stored information.
[0018]
As described above, in this embodiment, when the casing is opened and the photovoltaic element 200 receives light, the information stored in the memory 101 is erased.
[0019]
However, when the telephone device casing must be opened to repair the telephone device, when the photovoltaic element 200 detects light, it is stored in the memory 101 against the user's will. Is deleted.
[0020]
In order to cope with such a situation, in the apparatus according to the present embodiment, the CPU 100 opens the switch 201 by inputting the same password as the password previously stored in the memory 101 from the numeric keypad 102. To control. Specifically, when the CPU 100 detects the password entered from the numeric keypad 102, the CPU 100 compares the entered password with the password stored in the memory 101. If they match, the CPU 201 opens the switch 201. In order to do so, a control signal is sent to the switch 201.
[0021]
As described above, in the apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prohibit the erasure of the contents stored in the memory 101 even when the casing is opened by inputting the password.
[0022]
Note that each circuit of the above-described mobile phone device is driven by power supplied from the battery 104. Therefore, when the output voltage of the battery 104 decreases, each circuit cannot operate. When the casing is opened in such a state, even if a power signal is output from the photovoltaic device 200, the CPU 100 cannot erase the contents of the memory 101. Therefore, when the output voltage of the battery 104 is lowered, the output from the photovoltaic element 200 may be used as driving power for each circuit. Thus, even when the output voltage of the battery 104 is lowered, the CPU 100 or the like can perform a normal operation and erase the contents of the memory 101 when the housing is opened.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a second embodiment of the cellular phone device to which the present invention is applied.
[0024]
The difference from the first embodiment is that a timer 203 and a timer button 204 are added instead of the trigger button 202.
[0025]
The timer button 204 controls the timer 203 to start timing.
[0026]
The timer 203 starts measuring a predetermined time in response to pressing of the timer button 204.
[0027]
The substrate having each circuit shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 is provided in a normally sealed housing that does not reach light, as in the first embodiment. The numeric keypad 102 and the timer button 204 are provided on the outer surface of the casing.
[0028]
The same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
[0029]
Next, the operation of the telephone device of the second embodiment will be described below.
[0030]
When the timer button 204 is pressed, the timer 203 starts measuring a predetermined time, and then when the timer 203 finishes measuring the predetermined time, a signal is sent from the timer 203 to the CPU 100 via the interface 3. When the CPU 100 receives a signal from the timer 203, it sends a control signal to the switch 201 via the interface 3 to close the switch 201.
[0031]
It should be noted that once the switch 201 is closed, as in the first embodiment, the switch 201 is kept closed unless a personal identification number is input.
[0032]
Similarly to the telephone device of the first embodiment, when the light detection element 200 detects light, the device 200 outputs a power signal. At this time, if the switch 201 is in the closed state, the power signal is supplied to the CPU 100 via the interface, so the CPU 100 erases the stored contents of the memory 101 based on the power signal.
[0033]
On the other hand, the switch 201 is kept open for a predetermined time (timed time of the timer 203) after the timer button 204 is pressed, and is closed when the predetermined time elapses.
[0034]
Therefore, by setting the time measured by the timer 203 to a period (for example, a few days) from the end of the assembly of the telephone device to shipping, or a period until it is arranged in the store (for example, several weeks), If a malfunction is found in the apparatus within the period, the casing can be opened and repaired without entering a personal identification number.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a telephone device, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to electronic devices such as personal computers and electronic notebooks. In this embodiment, a solar cell is used as the photovoltaic element. However, for example, a photodetector element capable of detecting infrared rays may be used.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the electronic device of the present invention has a function of detecting light when the casing is opened, and erasing information stored in the program memory in response to the detection. Therefore, you can not only prevent the information in the memory from being taken out by opening the housing, but also set the timer time to the period from the end of the telephone device assembly to shipment or until it is arranged in the store By doing so, if a malfunction is found in the apparatus within the above period, the casing can be opened and repaired without inputting a personal identification number.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone device according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telephone device according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Main circuit part 2 Power generation part 3 Interface 100 CPU
101 Memory 102 Numeric Keypad 103 Power Supply Circuit 104 Battery 200 Photovoltaic Element 201 Switch 202 Trigger Button 203 Timer 204 Timer Button

Claims (1)

Information storage means for storing information, a timer button, a timer for measuring a predetermined time after the timer button is operated, a light detection means for detecting light, and the information storage means according to light detection of the light detection means And control means for controlling to erase the information stored in
The control means controls the information stored in the information storage means not to be erased even if it is determined that the light detection means detects light while the timer is measuring a predetermined time. An electronic device characterized by that.

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