JP3934950B2 - Mobile phone - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile phone, and more particularly to a foldable mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Mobile phones including a display unit such as a liquid crystal display and an operation unit including a plurality of push buttons are widely used. In addition to the integrated type, these cellular phones include a foldable type in which the main body is divided into two casings and the casings are configured to be freely opened and closed via hinges.
[0003]
On the other hand, in these,
(1) The display part is a rectangle whose aspect ratio is relatively small,
(2) The character string arranged in the short direction of the casing is folded and displayed on the display unit over a plurality of lines in the longitudinal direction,
(3) The point that the operation unit has push buttons arranged like a numeric keypad,
~ Is common.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the mobile phone of the prior art employs the above-described configuration for the display unit and the operation unit, it is possible to reduce the size of the whole by further progress in circuit mounting technology. There is a problem that further miniaturization cannot be achieved because the parts and the operation part are no longer used.
[0005]
On the other hand, it is common for current mobile phones to exchange e-mails via the Internet. However, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art display, the character string returned is shorter than the display of a personal computer and the text is long. There was a problem that it was difficult to read. In this case, if the size of the character is reduced, the number of characters in the character string increases, but for this purpose, the pixels of the display unit such as a liquid crystal display have to be made highly accurate, which increases the cost and further increases the character size. The problem is that it is too small to be seen.
[0006]
By the way, when an elderly person uses a mobile phone, the problem that the characters on the display portion are small and difficult to see has become apparent. In this case, there is no problem in terms of enlargement of the characters from the viewpoint of cost or technology, but in such a case, the number of characters in the character string in one line becomes extremely small, and the above problem that the sentence is difficult to read is further accelerated. It will be.
[0007]
In addition, in order to push the push button in the current numeric keypad type operation unit separately, the button must be distinguished from the other buttons around the four sides of the button, coupled with restrictions on the size and pitch of the button. There was also a problem that it was very difficult for elderly people to operate.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention was created for the purpose of providing a mobile phone that has solved the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. The main body is divided into two cases, and the cases can be freely opened and closed via hinges. In the foldable mobile phone constructed as described above, each casing is elongated with a short side of one fifth or less of the longitudinal length, a hinge is provided on the short side, and a display portion provided on one casing is short. Is an elongated shape having a length of 1/5 or less of the long side, and the characters displayed there are arranged and displayed in the longitudinal direction, and the operation unit provided on the other housing is also 1/5 of the long side. In addition to the following elongate shape, at least numerical portions in the operation buttons arranged there are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the cellular phone according to the present invention. The electric circuit of this cellular phone is the same as that of a conventionally known cellular phone except for the points described later. That is, the call function unit 20 performs communication control of mobile communication and performs a function of processing a voice signal such as a voice call or a PB tone signal. Here, the call function unit 20 also converts between a voice signal and a digital signal. The display unit 11 is composed of a liquid crystal display, on which numbers such as telephone numbers and text characters such as web pages and e-mails are displayed. The operation unit 15 is for performing a function for a user who operates the telephone to input numbers and commands, and these are performed by operating the push buttons 16. The control unit 21 controls the entire telephone and performs a function of executing a program such as an e-mail or a web browser, and includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. In the figure, reference numeral 17 is a microphone for calling, 14 is a receiver, and 13 is a speaker for sounding a ring tone when an incoming call is received.
[0010]
1 to 3 are views showing an external appearance of the cellular phone according to the present invention when used. This mobile phone is divided into two casings 10A and 10B, and the casings are configured to be openable and closable via hinges 1 provided on the short side. The shape is an elongated shape of 1/5 or less, and here, the short side is exemplified by about one eighth of the long side.
[0011]
The display unit 11 disposed on one housing 10A is desirably disposed on the entire surface of the housing. The display portion 11 has an elongated shape with a short side of 1/5 or less of the long side. The thing of about 1 / minute is illustrated. The characters 12 displayed here are arranged and displayed in the longitudinal direction of the display unit, and in this embodiment, the character string is one line.
[0012]
The operation unit 15 disposed on the other housing 10B is desirably disposed on the entire surface of the housing, and the length of the operation portion 15 is not more than one-fifth of the longitudinal length. The thing of about 1 / minute is illustrated. At least numerical portions in the operation buttons 16 arranged here are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction.
[0013]
In the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1, when the housing is opened around the hinge 1, the display unit 11 is located in the left housing 10 </ b> A, and the operation unit 15 is located in the right housing 10 </ b> B. This arrangement is easy to use for the right-handed user, but difficult to use for the left-handed user. In this case, if the telephone is reversed left and right, the arrangement is reversed, but the display character 12 on the display unit 11 and the operation buttons 16 on the operation unit 15 are reversed in the top and bottom directions. Therefore, in this embodiment, in such a case, the arrangement of the characters 12 displayed on the display unit 11 in accordance with a command by a switching key (specifically, a function selection operation by turning on an operation button such as “* 99”) The direction and the top and bottom can be reversed, and the arrangement direction of the operation buttons 16 arranged on the operation unit 15 is electrically reversed so that it can be easily switched between right-handed use and left-handed use (see FIG. 2). In this case, the numbers and symbols displayed on the operation buttons 16 do not coincide with the electrically inverted substance. In this embodiment, however, the entire display unit 15 is covered so that the direction can be changed and remounted. This problem is solved by making the soft key top 18 removable.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the cellular phone of the present invention is folded. Here, the clip C is placed in one casing 10A so that it can be accommodated in a pocket of clothing by taking advantage of the elongated cellular phone. Arranged on the back of the. Of course, the mobile phone may have a writing tool-like appearance such as a pen.
[0015]
4 to 6 are diagrams showing different embodiments relating to a mechanism for enabling the mobile phone of the present invention to be used for right-handed use and left-handed use. Here, instead of the electrical means described above, the hinge pieces of the hinges can be attached and detached, and the hinge pieces are provided at both ends of each housing. That is, the hinge pieces 50A, 51A and 50B, 51B that can be engaged with the hinge pieces of the other casing are provided at both ends of the casing 10A and the casing 10B, respectively, and these are selectively engaged. The mobile phone can be opened and closed in any direction. FIG. 4 shows a right-handed state in which the display unit 11 is located on the left side and the operation unit 15 is located on the right side by engaging the hinge piece 50A on the right side of the housing 10A and the hinge piece 50B on the left side of the housing 10B. 5 shows a left-handed state in which the operation unit 15 is located on the left side and the display unit 11 is located on the right side by engaging the left hinge piece 51A of the case 10A and the right hinge piece 51B of the case 10B. .
[0016]
FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a hinge employed in the embodiment. Here, elastic protrusions 52A and 52A are provided at both ends of the hinge piece 51A, and elastic protrusions at both ends of the hinge piece 51A are arranged at opposite ends of a pair of hinge pieces 51B and 51B arranged to sandwich the hinge piece 51A. By providing a recess in which 52A and 52A should be press-fitted and fitted, the hinge pieces can be attached and detached with high pressure. In the figure, reference numerals 53A and 53B denote slip rings for electrically connecting the casings when the hinge pieces are engaged with each other.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention configured as described above has the following specific effects.
(1) The display unit and the operation unit are assigned to the left and right of the spread, and these are displayed and operated in the horizontal direction (longitudinal direction), so the operability is good.
(2) Since the number of characters per line of the character string displayed on the display unit is increased, even long sentences such as e-mails are easy to read without wrapping.
(3) Even if the characters displayed on the display unit are enlarged, the number of characters per line in the character string is sufficient, so that a mobile phone that is easy to see even for elderly people is realized.
(4) Since the operation buttons on the operation unit are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction, the size and pitch of the operation buttons can be increased, and there are no other operation buttons on the top and bottom when pushing, making it easy for elderly people to operate A telephone is realized.
(5) Since the whole is slender, a mobile phone with excellent portability is realized.
(6) As shown in the embodiment, if the display unit and the operation unit of the left and right cases of the mobile phone can be electrically reversed, or the body can be opened and closed in any direction by a removable hinge, the right side A handy and left-handed mobile phone is realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone according to the present invention in use.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view in a different use state.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view in a folded state.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a usage state of a different embodiment of the mobile phone of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the same usage state as above.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hinge part.
FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram of the mobile phone according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hinge 10A Case 10B Case 11 Display part 15 Operation part 16 Operation button

Claims (1)

In a foldable mobile phone in which a main body is divided into two casings and the casings are configured to be openable and closable via hinges, each casing has an elongated shape with a short side of 1/5 or less in length. In addition, a hinge is provided on the short side, and the display portion provided on one of the casings is formed in an elongated shape whose short side is one fifth or less of the longitudinal length, and characters displayed there are horizontally written in the longitudinal direction. The operation unit provided on the other casing is also formed in an elongated shape whose short side is one fifth or less of the longitudinal length, and at least the numeric part in the operation buttons arranged there is in the longitudinal direction. Arranged in a row so that it can be written horizontally, and it is possible to reverse the arrangement direction and top and bottom of the characters displayed on the display unit by operating the switching key, and electrically reverse the arrangement direction of the operation buttons arranged on the operation unit mobile telephone, characterized in that the possible.

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