JP4336361B2 - Mobile device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) that performs wireless communication with a base station, for example.

  In recent years, mobile phones and PHS have exploded in popularity.

  These mobile phones, PHS, and the like (hereinafter referred to as “mobile phone”) generally include a liquid crystal (LCD) display screen and a plurality of operation buttons. In recent years, more and more models having a large LCD display screen have appeared.

  A mobile phone is generally provided with a rechargeable secondary battery, and operates by obtaining power from the secondary battery. The electric power from the secondary battery is used not only to communicate with the mobile phone, but also to illuminate the LCD display screen and the operation buttons. These lights require a significant amount of power.

  One important performance of a mobile phone is how long the mobile phone can be operated after charging without the next charge.

  In general, when one of the operation buttons is pressed, both the LCD display screen and the operation buttons are illuminated, so that the display content on the LCD display screen can be easily checked and the operation buttons can be operated even in a dark place. However, there are models that can be set so that the operation buttons are not illuminated to save power.

  However, if it is set not to illuminate the operation buttons, the operation is performed by hand in a dark place, resulting in a greatly inferior operability even for power saving. Alternatively, if the operation buttons are set so that illumination is performed with emphasis on operability, there is a case where power is consumed wastefully this time.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal that achieves both high operability and low power consumption at a high level.

The portable terminal of the present invention that achieves the above object is
A display for displaying a screen;
An operator operated by the user, a first light for illuminating the display unit,
A second light that illuminates the operator;
An optical sensor that detects the brightness of the outside world,
A light control unit that turns on the first light in response to the occurrence of the predetermined first event and turns on the second light according to the brightness of the external environment detected by the light sensor;
A light emitting element that notifies the occurrence of a predetermined second event by lighting or flashing,
The optical sensor and the light emitting element are arranged at positions close to each other,
It has a window that covers both the optical sensor and the light emitting element, and is provided with a light transmissive member that is used for both the optical sensor and the light emitting element.

  The mobile terminal of the present invention includes a sensor for detecting the brightness of the outside world, and the second light that illuminates the operation element is turned on according to the brightness of the outside world. When the operation is sufficiently possible, the operator is not illuminated, and when the operator is dark and difficult to operate, the operator is illuminated to achieve both reduction in power consumption and good operability.

  Furthermore, for example, many mobile terminals have a function of notifying the occurrence of an event by lighting or flashing, such as a light emitting element for notifying an incoming call is incorporated in a mobile phone. When providing an optical sensor according to the present invention in such a portable terminal, although it is unavoidable to increase the cost due to the optical sensor itself, as described above, by sharing a window and a light transmissive member, The accompanying cost increase can be avoided as much as possible, and the design is better than when a plurality of windows are provided.

  In the portable terminal of the present invention, instead of the light control unit, the first light is turned on according to the brightness of the outside world detected by the optical sensor in response to the occurrence of a predetermined first event. In addition, a light control unit that turns on the second light according to the brightness of the outside world detected by the optical sensor may be provided.

  In this case, it is determined whether or not the first light is turned on, and an external brightness threshold and an external brightness threshold that is used to determine whether or not the second light is turned on. Need not be the same, and it is preferable to employ a threshold suitable for each.

  Here, in the portable terminal according to the present invention, it is preferable that the light control unit turns on the first light to a brightness according to the brightness of the outside world detected by the optical sensor.

  The display unit is difficult to see if it is too dark, but may be difficult to see if it is too bright in a dark place. Therefore, as described above, the first light that illuminates the display unit is lit at a brightness according to the brightness of the outside world, so that the display unit is always easily viewable regardless of the brightness of the outside world. Can do.

  Here, in the portable terminal of the present invention, the light control unit may use the operation of the operation element as the first event, and the light emitting element may receive an incoming call as the second event. You may do.

  As described above, according to the present invention, both good operability and reduction of power consumption can be achieved at a high level.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a mobile phone as an example of the mobile terminal of the present invention.

  The mobile phone 1 includes, as main components, an antenna 10 for transmitting and receiving radio waves, a light emitting unit 20 for informing that there is an incoming LED and charging, and a speaker (see FIG. 2 speaker 100) placed on the ear for listening to voice, LCD display unit 40 for displaying various screens, input operation unit 50 provided with a plurality of keys, and a microphone (FIG. 2). The microphone 110) is disposed and a receiver 60 for picking up a human voice is provided. Further, a battery charging terminal (not shown) is provided below the receiver 60.

  The light emitting unit 20 is formed with a window in which an opening is provided in the cover of the mobile phone 1 and a light transmissive member is fitted in the opening. Inside the window, a green LED 151 and a red LED shown in blocks in FIG. 2 are formed. The two-color LED 150 including the LED 152 and the optical sensor 155 are arranged in a state of being close to each other. The optical sensor 155 detects the brightness around the cellular phone 1. In the upper part of the input operation unit 50, simple pushbutton keys 51, 52, 53 are arranged on the left and right and in the center, and a key 54 having the configuration described below is arranged around the center key 53. ing. That is, the key 54 has a structure in which four portions of an upper portion 54a, a lower portion 54b, a left portion 54c, and a right portion 54d of the key 54 are pressed, and the four portions are pressed. Can be input with different keys.

  In addition, a group 55 in which 3 × 5 = 15 keys are arranged is arranged in a portion below the portion in which the keys 51 to 54 are arranged in the input operation unit 50.

  All these keys 51 to 55 are made of a translucent material, and are illuminated from the inside of the mobile phone 1 by a key backlight 153 shown by blocks in FIG. 2 so that they can be seen in a dark place.

  Further, the LCD display unit 40 is also illuminated by a screen light 154 indicated by a block in FIG. 2 so that the screen displayed there is easy to see.

  FIG. 2 is an internal circuit block diagram of the mobile phone 1 whose appearance is shown in FIG.

  The radio wave received by the antenna 10 is picked up by the wireless transmission / reception unit 70, a signal is taken out, and sent to the signal processing unit 80.

  In addition, when there is an incoming call, the wireless transmission / reception unit 70 notifies the control unit 120 to that effect.

  The signal processing unit 80 separates the signal sent from the wireless transmission / reception unit 70 into an audio signal and an image or character signal, sends the audio signal to the interface unit 90, and sends the image signal or character signal to the control unit 120. send. The interface unit 90 sends the audio signal sent from the signal processing unit 80 to the speaker 100, and the audio is output from the speaker 100.

  On the other hand, at the time of transmission, an audio signal picked up by the microphone 110 is sent to the radio transmission / reception unit 70 via the interface unit 90 and the signal processing unit 80, and the radio transmission / reception unit 70 puts the audio signal on a radio wave. And is sent to the antenna 10 and radiated into the space as radio waves.

  Various sounds and screens are stored in the storage unit 130, and can be additionally stored.

  The LCD display unit 40 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the LCD display unit 40 in FIG. 1, and the input operation unit 50 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the input operation unit 50 in FIG.

  During the standby, the control unit 120 reads out the standby screen from the storage unit 130 and displays it on the LCD display unit 40. When notified from the wireless transmission / reception unit 70 that an incoming call has been received, the control unit 120 receives an incoming melody from the storage unit 130. The read melody is generated from the speaker 100 through the signal processing unit 80 and the interface unit 90, and the green LED 151 of the two-color LEDs 150 is turned on to notify the incoming call by light. Further, upon receiving the incoming call notification, the control unit 120 turns on the screen light 154 to illuminate the LCD display unit 40, and turns on the key backlight 153 when the surroundings are dark.

  Further, the control unit 120 makes a telephone call according to the operation of the input operation unit 50, stores various setting conditions performed according to the operation of the input operation unit 50 in the storage unit 130, or displays on the LCD display unit 40. Control the screen. Further, during charging of a battery (not shown), the red LED 152 of the two-color LED 150 is turned on to notify that charging is in progress.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the light emitting unit 20 of the mobile phone 1 shown in FIG.

  A circuit board 170 is provided in the body 1 a of the mobile phone 1, and a two-color LED 150 and an optical sensor 155 are disposed adjacent to each other on a part 170 a that partially protrudes from the circuit board 170. The body 1a of the cellular phone 1 is provided with an opening 21, in which a window into which a lens 22 made of a translucent light transmissive member is fitted is formed.

  When the green LED 151 or the red LED 152 of the two-color LED 150 is lit, the entire lens shines with the color of the lit LED, and it is understood that the incoming call or charging is performed with the shine.

  The optical sensor 155 is irradiated with external light through the lens 22, and the brightness of the outside world is detected by the optical sensor 155.

  In this embodiment, since the two-color LED 150 and the optical sensor 155 are arranged at positions adjacent to each other and only one lens 22 is used, the lens is compared with the case where the two-color LED 150 and the optical sensor 155 are arranged at different positions. The number 22 is only one, the material cost of the lens, the number of assembling steps can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the design is preferable.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a routine that operates in the control unit 120 of FIG.

  This routine is executed when there is an incoming call to this mobile phone and when any key constituting the input operation unit 50 is operated.

  Here, first, it is determined whether or not the green LED 151 or the red LED 152 of the two-color LED 150 is lit. As described above, lighting of the green LED 151 means incoming call, and lighting of the red LED 152 means charging. The control for turning on the green LED 151 at the time of an incoming call and the control for turning on the red LED 152 during charging are performed by a routine different from the routine of FIG. Detailed description is omitted here.

  When the LED is on, the key backlight 153 is turned on (step a4), and the screen light 154 is turned on.

  That is, the mobile phone of the present embodiment is configured such that both the LCD display unit 40 and the input operation unit 50 are illuminated when an incoming call is received and during charging.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the LED is turned off, the brightness of the outside world is detected by the optical sensor 155 (step a2), and the detected brightness is a predetermined brightness (threshold value). It is determined whether it is brighter or darker than () (step a3). When it is darker than the threshold value, the key backlight 153 is turned on (step a4), and the screen light 154 is also turned on (step a5). On the other hand, when the brightness of the outside world is brighter than the threshold value, the key backlight 153 is turned off (or kept off when it is turned off) (step a5), and only the screen light 154 is turned on (step a6). .

  That is, here, when the input operation unit 50 is operated, both the LCD display unit 40 and the input operation unit 50 are illuminated when the outside world is bright, and only the LCD display unit 40 is illuminated when the outside world is bright. . Therefore, when the external environment is bright, the input operation unit 50 is turned off to reduce power consumption, and when the external environment is dark, the input operation unit 50 is illuminated to ensure good operability.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another routine that can be used instead of the routine shown in FIG.

  In the case of the mobile phone in which the routine of FIG. 5 is executed, the brightness of the LCD display unit 40 by the screen light 154 shown in FIG. 2 can be adjusted by the control unit of the control unit 120. .

  The routine of FIG. 5 is also executed by either an incoming call or an operation of the input operation unit.

  First, it is determined whether or not either the green LED 151 or the red LED 152 of the two-color LED is lit (step b1).

  When it is lit, the LED is turned on once (step b2), the brightness of the outside world is detected by the optical sensor 155 (step b3), the LED turned off at step b2 is turned on again (step b4), and the key back The light 153 is turned on to illuminate each key of the input operation unit (step b5), and the screen light 154 is turned on with a luminance corresponding to the brightness of the outside world detected in step b3, and the LCD display unit 40 is Illumination is performed according to the brightness of the lighting (step b6).

  Here, the LED is turned off once in step b2. If the LED remains turned on, the LED light is reflected or scattered by the lens 22 and incident on the optical sensor 155 in the arrangement shown in FIG. This is because the brightness of the outside world cannot be detected.

  If it is determined in step b1 in FIG. 5 that the LED is turned off, the brightness of the outside world is detected by the optical sensor 155 (step b7), and the detected brightness of the outside world is sufficient for key operation. It is determined whether or not it is bright (step b8). When the outside is dark enough to be inconvenient for key operation, the key backlight 153 is turned on (step b9), and when the outside is bright enough for key operation, the key backlight 153 is turned off (or It remains in an extinguished state) (step b10). In step b11, it is determined whether or not the brightness of the outside world detected in step b7 is sufficiently bright for visual recognition of the screen displayed on the LCD display unit 153 (step b11). The screen light 154 is turned off (or stays off) (step b13), and when the brightness of the outside world is insufficient to see the screen displayed on the LCD display unit 153, the screen light is turned on. 154 is lit at a brightness corresponding to the brightness of the outside world, the LCD display section 40 is illuminated to a brightness corresponding to the brightness of the lighting (step b12), and the screen on the LCD display section 40 is brightness of the outside world. Regardless of the, it is always visible with appropriate brightness.

  The reason why the screen light 154 is turned on with a brightness corresponding to the brightness of the outside world is to eliminate the situation where the LCD display unit 40 becomes too bright and difficult to see when the mobile phone is operated in the dark, for example. By illuminating the LCD display unit 40 with a brightness according to the brightness of the outside world, it is possible to always maintain an easily viewable state.

  In this way, in addition to determining whether to illuminate the input operation unit 50 according to the brightness of the outside world, it is also possible to determine whether to illuminate the LCD display unit 40 according to the brightness of the outside world. In addition, when the LCD display unit 40 is illuminated, the brightness of the illumination may be changed according to the brightness of the outside world.

  In addition, although the above embodiment is an example which applied this invention to the mobile telephone, this invention can be widely applied not only to a mobile telephone but to PHS and other portable terminals.

1 is an external view of a mobile phone which is an example of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an internal circuit block diagram of a mobile phone whose appearance is shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the light emission part of the mobile telephone shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the routine which operate | moves with the control part of FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another routine that can be employed instead of the routine shown in FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 1a Body 10 Antenna 20 Light emission part 21 Aperture 22 Lens 30 Transmission part 40 LCD display part 50 Input operation part 51,52,53,54 Key 55 Key group 70 Wireless transmission / reception part 80 Signal processing part 90 Interface 100 Speaker 110 Microphone 120 Control unit 130 Storage unit 150 Two-color LED
151 Green LED
152 red LED
153 Key backlight 154 Screen light 155 Light receiving sensor

Claims (6)

A display for displaying a screen;
An operator operated by the user;
A first light for illuminating the display unit;
A second light for illuminating the operation element;
An optical sensor that detects the brightness of the outside world,
A light control unit that turns on the first light in response to the occurrence of a predetermined first event and turns on the second light according to the brightness of the external environment detected by the light sensor;
A light emitting element that notifies the occurrence of a predetermined second event by lighting or flashing,
The light sensor and the light emitting element are arranged at positions close to each other,
Covering both said light sensor and the light emitting element, have a window both the combined light transmitting member is deployed between these light sensor and the light emitting element,
The portable terminal characterized in that the light control unit changes a lighting control method of the first and second lights according to whether or not the light emitting element is being lit or blinking . A display for displaying a screen;
An operator operated by the user;
A first light for illuminating the display unit;
A second light for illuminating the operation element;
An optical sensor that detects the brightness of the outside world,
A light control unit that turns on the first light in response to the occurrence of a predetermined first event and turns on the second light according to the brightness of the external environment detected by the light sensor;
A light emitting element that notifies the occurrence of a predetermined second event by lighting or flashing,
The light sensor and the light emitting element are arranged at positions close to each other,
Covering both the light sensor and the light emitting element, and having a window provided with a light transmissive member for both the light sensor and the light emitting element,
In response to the occurrence of the first or second event, the light control unit interrupts lighting or blinking of the light emitting element and performs detection by the light sensor, and after the detection, the interrupted lighting or mobile terminal shall be the feature that is intended to resume the flashing. In response to the occurrence of a predetermined first event , the light control unit turns on the first light according to the brightness of the external environment detected by the optical sensor, and the external environment detected by the optical sensor. The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a light control unit that turns on the second light according to brightness of the light . The portable terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light control unit lights the first light to a brightness according to the brightness of the outside world detected by the light sensor . The portable terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the light control unit sets the operation of the operation element as the first event. The light emitting device, a portable terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the incoming is to said second event.

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