JP3895670B2 - Stackable mobile terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable mobile terminal whose snooze function is kept on being operated when a user does not awake from sleep and setting of the snooze function is easily released after the user awakes. <P>SOLUTION: In the foldable mobile terminal 30, a first cabinet 32 at least having a display part 11 is openably/closably linked with a second cabinet 34 at least having a main operation part 16. The main operation part 16 is covered by the first cabinet 32 at a closed state and exposed to the outside at an opened state. It is constituted by a control part 62 which sets/releases an alarm function and the snooze function and which performs control so as to display a snooze setting/release selection picture 70 by which the setting or the release of the snooze function on the display 11 is selected when the first and second cabinets 32, 34 are set from the closed state to the opened state during actuation of the snooze function, and a speaker part 13 which generates an alarm sound by the alarm function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), and more particularly, to an overlapped mobile terminal device including a plurality of casings connected to each other so as to be superposed on each other.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-215218 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-141984 [Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-135380 A [Patent Document 4]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-288860
Conventionally, for example, there is a foldable portable terminal device having a folded structure as a portable terminal device that further improves the portability of the portable terminal device. In particular, a foldable portable phone 2 as shown in FIG. 9 is generally known. Yes.
[0004]
This overlap type mobile phone 2 is provided with a display surface 12 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying output information and a speaker 13 on an inner surface 10 of one housing 4, and an inner surface of the other housing 6. 14 is provided with a main operation unit 16 and a microphone 15.
[0005]
The main operation unit 16 has a cross key 18 that can be designated in the up, down, left, and right directions so that an item displayed on the display surface 12 can be selected. Various other keys are arranged.
[0006]
Further, as a structure different from such a stackable mobile phone 2, it is a case where the portable terminal device is folded or in a state corresponding to this in order to improve the portability of the mobile terminal device and the operability thereof. In addition, there is a display that allows a display surface such as an LCD to be viewed.
[0007]
As such a portable terminal device, for example, there are stacked portable terminal devices as described in Patent Literature 1, Patent Literature 2, and Patent Literature 3. In the state in which the two casings to be connected are opened, these overlapping portable terminal devices display a display such as an LCD provided in one casing as in the posture of the overlapping portable telephone 2 shown in FIG. The face is facing outward.
[0008]
However, unlike the stackable mobile phone 2, such a conventional stackable mobile terminal device has a structure in which one casing can be folded and folded while being twisted by 180 degrees at the connecting portion of the two casings. Thus, the two casings can be overlapped so that the display surface of the LCD or the like faces outward.
[0009]
Further, as another conventional overlap type portable terminal device, there is one described in Patent Document 4. In this overlap type portable terminal device, one housing provided with a display surface such as an LCD and the other housing provided with an operation unit are overlapped with the display surface and the operation unit directed in the same direction. In the state, they are connected by a shaft provided in a direction penetrating these two casings.
[0010]
Such an overlap type portable terminal device can be opened by an operation in which one casing expands a fan around the axis with respect to the other casing, and the display surface of the LCD or the like faces outward. In this state, the two casings can be stacked.
[0011]
These conventional portable terminal devices are equipped with various functions, and one of the functions includes an alarm function that can use a snooze function described later. is there.
[0012]
The alarm function is to make an alarm sound from the speaker part of the stackable mobile terminal device at the time set by the user. The alarm sound that sounds at the set time will automatically stop after a certain period of time. It has become. In addition, any specific key in the main operation unit has a role of alarm stop so that the user can detect the alarm sound and stop it without waiting for it to stop automatically. Yes.
[0013]
When the snooze function is set together with the alarm function setting, the alarm sound that sounds at the set time by the alarm function is automatically stopped after a certain period of time, or is temporarily stopped by pressing a specific key on the main operation unit. However, the snooze function starts to sound again after a predetermined time.
[0014]
The alarm sound that starts to sound again can be stopped automatically after a certain period of time or can be stopped by pressing a specific key on the main control unit, but it will be stopped unless the snooze function is canceled. Later, it will start to ring as many times as the predetermined time elapses.
[0015]
Such a snooze function can be used to prevent the user from going to sleep twice or to let the user know that it is a predetermined time, and the alarm sound will start to sound again unless the snooze function is canceled. Therefore, it is convenient for surely awakening the user from sleep or notifying that it is a predetermined time.
[0016]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, after the user is completely awakened or noticed that it is a predetermined time, there is no need to sound the alarm again with the snooze function. There was a problem that could not be released immediately.
[0017]
In other words, when canceling the setting of the snooze function, the overlapped portable terminal device must be opened from the closed state so that the main operation unit can be used, and the display unit such as an LCD can be used for standby. When a plurality of operations by the main operation unit are performed from a state where the screen or the like is displayed, the snooze setting release selection screen 70 for releasing the snooze function as shown in FIG. 7 must be displayed. Don't be.
[0018]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, as an operation until the snooze setting release selection screen 70 is displayed on the display unit, the overlapped portable terminal device is opened from the closed state (arrow f), and the display unit The selection screen of various functions is displayed (arrow i), and the items of the clock function are selected and determined (arrow j) by operating the main operation unit while confirming the items on the selection screen, and then the main operation unit. It was necessary to repeat the same operation (arrows k and l).
[0019]
It is troublesome for users who have just been awakened from sleep, and troublesome for those who are in a hurry to realize that the predetermined time has passed. It was.
[0020]
Therefore, the present invention continues to operate the snooze function when the user is not awake from sleep, or when the user is unaware that it is a predetermined time, and after the user awakes from sleep or at a predetermined time. It is an object of the present invention to provide an overlapped portable terminal device that can easily cancel the operation of the snooze function after realizing that there is.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
A first housing having at least a display unit and a second housing having at least a main operation unit are connected to be openable and closable,
The main operation unit is a stacked portable terminal device that is covered with the first housing in a closed state and exposed to the outside in an open state,
Sets and cancels the alarm function and snooze function, and sets or cancels the snooze function on the display unit when the first and second housings are opened from the closed state during the operation of the snooze function. A control unit that controls to display a snooze setting release selection screen that can select
And a speaker unit that generates an alarm sound by the alarm function.
[0022]
According to the overlap type mobile terminal device of the present invention, when it is desired to cancel the operation of the snooze function, the user can easily display the snooze setting release selection screen by opening the overlap type mobile terminal device. The operation of the snooze function can be canceled. In addition, the operation of opening the stackable mobile terminal device is difficult enough to be performed only after the user wakes up from sleep by the alarm sound, and it is not after realizing that the time set by the alarm sound has come. The original purpose of the snooze function is not impaired.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a stacked portable terminal device according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 are diagrams which are referred to in order to describe the overlap type mobile phone 30 according to an embodiment of the overlap type mobile terminal device of the present invention. In the overlap type mobile phone 30 shown in these drawings, the same parts as those in the conventional overlap type mobile phone 2 are described with the same reference numerals, and redundant description of the same configuration as the conventional one is omitted. .
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stackable mobile phone 30 according to the present embodiment includes a first casing 32 and a second casing 34, and the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are arranged. It is connected via a shaft 36 provided in the penetrating direction.
[0026]
The stackable mobile phone 30 includes the second casing 34 of the first casing 32 so that the display surface 12 can be seen from the outside even when the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are stacked. A display unit 11 such as an LCD is provided on the opposite surface.
[0027]
Further, on the surface of the second housing 34 on the first housing 32 side, as shown in FIG. 3, the main operation unit 16 can be selected so that items displayed on the display surface 12 can be selected. There are arranged a cross key 18 that can be directed in the left and right direction, a numeric keypad 20 that can input numbers and characters, and other various keys 22.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 can be operated even when the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are stacked. The side surfaces 38 and 40 are provided with a side key 42 and a three-way lever 44 as auxiliary operation units.
[0029]
Reference numerals 13a and 13b are speakers arranged on the surface of the first housing 32 on which the display unit 11 is arranged so as to sandwich the display unit 11 up and down. When the alarm function is set, an alarm sound is generated at a predetermined time. Reference numeral 15 denotes a microphone for transmission provided on the surface of the second housing 34 on which the main operation unit 16 is disposed.
[0030]
Further, the stackable mobile phone 30 is configured so that the first housing 32 is centered on the shaft 36 from the state where the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are overlapped, as indicated by an arrow a in FIG. By rotating 180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the main operation unit 16 provided in the second housing 34 can be seen to the outside and can be opened. Further, at this time, the display surface 12 rotates in a state in which the display surface 12 faces substantially the same direction as the main operation unit 16, so that the display surface 12 can be seen from the outside even when the overlapping mobile phone 30 is opened.
[0031]
Note that the overlap type mobile phone 30 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the first housing 32 rotates around the shaft 36, but as another embodiment, a rail or the like is provided. It is good also as a structure which the 1st housing | casing 32 slides in the direction shown by the arrow b with respect to the 2nd housing | casing 34 from the state shown in FIG.
[0032]
Alternatively, the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 may be connected to each other so that the connecting portion can perform only the folding operation, or the connecting portion can be folded and twisted. A structure that can be operated together may be used.
[0033]
In the present invention, the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is referred to as an “overlapping state” or a “closed state”, and the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is referred to as an “open state”. Then, changing from the “closed state” to the “open state” is referred to as “opening operation”, and changing from the “opening operation” to the “closed state” is referred to as “closing operation”.
[0034]
Next, the main operation unit 16, the side key 42, the three-way lever 44, and the like will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the stackable mobile phone 30 includes a cross key 18, a numeric keypad 20, and various other keys 22 provided on the first housing 32 side of the second housing 34 in the open state. The main operation unit 16 can be operated. At this time, in order to prevent malfunction, the operation performed using the side key 42 and the three-way lever 44 is made invalid.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 5, the three-way lever 44 used in the closed state can rotate in the upward direction (arrow c direction) and the downward direction (arrow d direction) in the figure, and the center direction (arrow e direction). ) Can be pushed into.
[0036]
Therefore, in the closed state, when a selection screen or the like for selecting an item such as the function of the overlapable mobile phone 30 is displayed on the display surface 12, the operation of the three-way lever 44 is performed as shown in FIG. Since it can be assigned to selection of an item when it rotates in the upward direction (arrow c direction) and downward (arrow d direction), and it can be assigned to determination of the selected item when pushed in the center direction (arrow e direction). Similar to the cross key 18 of the section 16, it can be used for an operation on a selection screen or the like.
[0037]
When the alarm function is used, the operation when the three-way lever 44 is pushed in the center direction (arrow e direction) in FIG. 5 is assigned to the operation for stopping the alarm sound.
[0038]
The side key 42 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 can be pushed, and in the case where the wrong item is determined by the three-way lever 44 as an operation on the selection screen or the like. By pressing the side key 42, this determination can be canceled to return to the previous display screen.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the side key 42 is not particularly used for an operation for stopping the alarm sound. However, like the three-way lever 44, the side key 42 is used for an operation for stopping the alarm sound. It may be possible to set.
[0040]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the lap-type mobile phone 30 according to the present embodiment includes a camera 46, a mirror 48, and a recording microphone 50 on the back surface thereof. It can operate even in the open state or in the closed state.
[0041]
FIG. 6 shows a circuit diagram of the superposition type mobile phone 30, and various function units indicated by reference numeral 60 operate under the control of the control unit 62. In this circuit diagram, the state detection means 64 (open / close state detection unit) is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, but the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are in a closed state or opened. It detects whether it is in a state and outputs a signal to that effect to the control unit 62. Such a state detection means 64 may be provided with a contact point that conducts by the rotation of the first housing 32, or may be provided with a mechanical switch or a sensor.
[0042]
The state detection means 64 outputs an L signal (Low signal) to the control unit 62 when the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are in the closed state, so that the state detection unit 64 is slightly opened from the closed state. It is good also as a structure which outputs H signal (High signal) to the control part 62 in the state of opening fully.
[0043]
Further, the L signal is output to the control unit 62 when the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are in the closed state or until they are fully opened, and the H signal (High signal) when the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are fully opened. May be output to the control unit 62.
[0044]
Alternatively, the state detection means 64 may be configured to detect three states, that is, a closed state, an open state, and an intermediate state therebetween, and to output these to the control unit 62.
[0045]
Further, when the snooze function is operated together with the alarm function, the control unit 62 receives a signal indicating that the state is changed from the closed state to the open state from the state detecting unit 64, and displays the display surface 12 as shown in FIG. The control is performed so as to display a snooze setting cancellation selection screen 70.
[0046]
Next, based on FIG. 8, an operation for releasing the operation of the snooze function of the overlapping mobile phone 30 will be described.
[0047]
When both the alarm function and the snooze function of the overlap type mobile phone 30 are set and are in the closed state, the alarm sound that is sounded at the set time by the alarm function causes the three-way lever 44 to move toward the center (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5). It can be temporarily stopped by pushing in the direction e). As in the case of the conventional snooze function, the alarm sound starts to sound as many times as the predetermined time elapses even if it is temporarily stopped unless the setting of the snooze function is canceled.
[0048]
When the user wakes up from sleep by an alarm sound or notices that a predetermined time has come, and performs an opening operation to release the operation of the snooze function (arrow h in FIG. 8), the state detection means 64 Detects this, and outputs a signal to that effect to the control unit 62. And the control part 62 displays the snooze setting cancellation | release selection screen 70 as shown in FIG.
[0049]
Therefore, the user does not need to perform many operations (arrows f, i, j, k, and l in FIG. 10) for canceling the operation of the snooze function in the conventional overlap type portable terminal device, and the opening operation ( In FIG. 8, simply by performing the arrow h), it is possible to immediately perform an operation for canceling the setting of the snooze function.
[0050]
Further, when the overlap type mobile phone 30 is in an open state when an alarm sound is generated by the alarm function, the alarm may be temporarily stopped by a specific key for stopping the alarm in the main operation unit 16. it can.
[0051]
Then, in order to cancel the operation of the snooze function, the snooze setting cancellation selection screen 70 is displayed on the display surface 12 by performing a number of operations (arrows i, j, k, and l in FIG. 8) as in the prior art. The snooze setting cancellation selection screen 70 can be displayed on the display surface 12 by once performing a closing operation (arrow g in FIG. 8) and further performing an opening operation (arrow h in FIG. 8). Therefore, an operation for canceling the operation of the snooze function can be performed immediately.
[0052]
Note that the opening operation of the stackable mobile phone 30 usually has to be performed by holding the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 by hand, and therefore must be performed after the sleeping user has been awakened by an alarm sound, for example. It is difficult to do so, and you can only do it after you notice that the alarm is sounding at the set time. Therefore, the original purpose of the snooze function is not impaired by this opening operation.
[0053]
In the present embodiment, the snooze setting release selection screen 70 is displayed on the display unit 11 when the state detection unit 64 detects that the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 have changed from the closed state to the open state. Is displayed, but when the opening operation is started from the closed state of the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 by the state detection means 64, the snooze setting release selection screen 70 is displayed on the display unit 11. It does not matter if it is
[0054]
Further, in the embodiment according to the present invention, an example in which the auxiliary operation unit of the stackable mobile phone 30 is disposed on each of the side surfaces 38 and 40 of the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 has been described. The first housing 32 and the second housing in a closed state such as the surface of the first housing 32 on which the display unit 11 is disposed and the end surface adjacent to the surface of the second housing 34 on which the main operation unit 16 is disposed. What is necessary is just to arrange | position on the surfaces other than the surface which the body 34 mutually opposes.
[0055]
In addition, the overlap type portable terminal device according to the present invention has the same technical idea even if it is constituted by three or more cases including the overlap type portable terminal device as shown in FIG. It goes without saying that it can be applied on the basis of.
[0056]
Furthermore, although the mobile phone has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be similarly applied to other types of mobile terminal devices such as PDAs.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the overlap type mobile terminal device of the present invention, when the operation of the snooze function is to be canceled, the snooze setting release selection screen is displayed immediately by performing the operation of opening the overlap type mobile terminal device. Therefore, the user can easily cancel the operation of the snooze function without impairing the original purpose of the snooze function.
[0058]
Therefore, for example, when the snooze function is set and the alarm sound is used to wake up, the user can fully wake up from sleep and, after waking up, perform the operation of opening the stackable mobile terminal device, The function can be easily released.
[0059]
In addition, when the snooze function is set and the alarm sound is used for time notification such as a meeting or going out, the user can notice that the predetermined time has been reached, and after noticing the overlap type portable terminal device, By performing the opening operation, the operation of the snooze function can be easily canceled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a closed state of a stacked cellular phone 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a left side view of the stackable mobile phone 30 in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing an open state of the lap-type mobile phone 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a rear view of the stackable mobile phone 30 in FIG. 3;
5 is a partially enlarged view of a second housing 34 showing the three-way lever 44 in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit of the stackable mobile phone 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram showing a snooze setting release selection screen 70 displayed on the display surface 12 of the overlapping mobile phone 30 in FIG. 3. FIG.
8 is a diagram showing an operation path until a snooze setting release selection screen 70 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional overlap type mobile phone 2;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation path until a conventional snooze setting release selection screen is displayed.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Folding type mobile phone 4, 6 Case 10 Inner side surface 11 Display unit 12 Display surface 13, 13 a, 13 b Speaker 14 Inner side surface 15 Microphone 16 Main operation unit 18 Cross key 20 Numeric keypad 22 Key 30 Stackable mobile phone 32 First housing Body 34 Second housing 36 Axis 38, 40 Side surface 42 Side key 44 Three-way lever 46 Camera 48 Mirror 50 Recording microphone 60 Various functional units 62 Control unit 64 Status detection means 70 Snooze setting release selection screen

Claims (3)

A first housing having at least a display unit and a second housing having at least a main operation unit are connected to be openable and closable,
The main operation unit is a stacked portable terminal device that is covered with the first housing in a closed state and exposed to the outside in an open state,
Sets and cancels the alarm function and snooze function, and sets or cancels the snooze function on the display unit when the first and second housings are opened from the closed state during the operation of the snooze function. A control unit that controls to display a snooze setting release selection screen that can select
And a speaker unit for generating an alarm sound by the alarm function. An open / closed state detector for detecting open / closed states of the first and second housings;
When the open / close state detection unit detects that the first and second housings have changed from the closed state to the open state during the operation of the snooze function, the control unit displays the snooze on the display unit. 2. The overlapping portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to display a setting cancellation selection screen. At least one auxiliary operation part on a surface other than the mutually opposing surfaces of the first and second housings in the closed state;
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the alarm sound to be stopped when operated by the auxiliary operation unit when an alarm sound is emitted from the speaker unit. 2. The stacked portable terminal device according to 2.

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