JP4407554B2 - Foldable mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for suppressing an excess of a communication fee due to communication using a foldable mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone configured to be foldable by a hinge portion.

  With the widespread use of mobile communication terminals such as mobile wireless telephones, the frequency of use of wireless communication by mobile communication terminals is increasing, and an excessive communication fee may be reached unconsciously. Therefore, the user sets the upper limit of the call charge and communication charge on the portable wireless terminal, and when the set upper limit of the call charge and communication charge is exceeded, the user is alerted by an electronic sound or display by LED, LCD, etc. The method or means such as limiting the use of the terminal for a certain period after the upper limit is exceeded is used.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the use limit frequency of a mobile phone is stored in a use limit storage unit of a detachable ID chip, and used based on a call charge count signal sent from a public base station when a call starts. The use limit frequency stored in the limit storage unit is subtracted by the subtraction means, and when the use limit frequency becomes “0”, the use of the mobile phone is prohibited in advance by the call prevention means or the call interruption means. Communication is possible only within the set communication charges.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the usage fee limit set in advance in the mobile communication terminal by the user is used as a reference, and when the accumulated communication fee reaches the set usage fee limit, the mobile communication terminal is set in the dial lock state. This facilitates self-management of call charges by users.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-098244 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-224881

  However, in the method in which the user sets the upper limit of the call charge or communication charge in the portable wireless terminal and the upper limit of the set call charge or communication charge is exceeded, the method is displayed by the electronic sound or LED, LCD, etc. If these displays are ignored or missed, a call or communication can be executed by a normal operation, and thus the communication restriction function does not always work effectively.

  On the other hand, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in the case of a method of restricting the use of the portable wireless terminal when the upper limit of a preset call charge or communication charge is exceeded, the communication restriction action is reliably executed. However, if the user himself / herself was not aware of the accumulated usage amount, the terminal could not be used suddenly, and the communication was interrupted. Even if a situation in which a call or communication must be performed by a wireless terminal occurs, a situation in which the portable wireless terminal cannot be used may occur, which may be inconvenient.

  In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a function that prevents a mobile wireless terminal user from overusing communication charges due to a call using the mobile wireless terminal and data communication, etc. Is to provide an unrestricted means.

  Another object of the present invention is to realize a step-by-step excess notification that allows a user to be surely aware of a communication fee from a preset time point.

  2. Description of the Related Art Recent mobile communication terminals such as mobile radio telephones have a first housing in which input keys for inputting numbers or characters are arranged on the front surface, and an information display unit such as an LCD is arranged on the front surface. The main housing is configured to be foldable with a hinge portion or the like (hereinafter referred to as a foldable mobile communication terminal).

  The present invention pays attention to the foldable mobile communication terminal, and the usage fee of the mobile terminal set by the user in advance for the foldable mobile communication terminal exceeds the sum of the call charge and communication charge from the set time. After that, by restricting the maximum angle at which the folding portable communication terminal can be opened by the hinge part to an angle smaller than before the excess, it is difficult for the user to use the terminal. It is a feature.

  That is, the present invention provides a first case in which an input key for inputting numbers or characters is arranged on the front surface thereof, and a second case in which an information display unit such as an LCD is arranged on the front surface. And a foldable mobile communication terminal having a hinge portion that foldably couples the first and second housings, and a use upper limit setting for setting the use upper limit value of the terminal in the foldable mobile communication terminal Output limit control means for outputting a control signal indicating that the upper limit value has been exceeded when the integrated value of the call charge and communication charge due to use of the terminal exceeds the use upper limit value, and output from the use limit determination means Opening angle limiting means for limiting a maximum opening angle of the folding portable communication terminal by the hinge to a smaller opening angle than that before the control signal is input when the control signal is input. Characterized in that was.

  According to the foldable mobile communication terminal of the present invention, after the use upper limit amount preset in the mobile communication terminal is exceeded, the angle at which the mobile communication terminal can be opened is limited. It is possible to easily know that the communication fee has been exceeded, and it is possible to prevent the user from overusing the communication charge.

  In addition, since the opening angle of the foldable mobile communication terminal by the hinge portion is limited after the upper limit is exceeded, it becomes difficult to perform communication operations using this mobile terminal. This has the effect of suppressing this.

  Further, in the case of the present invention, since calls and communications with the mobile communication terminal are not restricted even after the upper limit is exceeded, the problem that the mobile communication terminal cannot be used when an emergency call or communication occurs after the upper limit is exceeded. Does not occur.

  FIGS. 1-3 is a schematic block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention, FIG. 1 (a), (b) is a side view of the state which closed the foldable portable communication terminal of this embodiment by the hinge part, 2 (a) and 2 (b) are side views of the foldable portable communication terminal of the present embodiment opened at a maximum angle by a hinge portion, and partially enlarged cross sections thereof. FIG. 3 shows a partially enlarged cross section of the foldable mobile communication terminal of this embodiment as viewed from the front side.

  The foldable mobile communication terminal of the present embodiment includes a first housing 1 in which input keys for inputting numbers or characters are arranged on the front surface 4, and an information display unit such as an LCD is provided on the front surface 5. It has the structure which has the 2nd housing | casing 2 arrange | positioned in this, and the hinge part 3 which couple | bonds this 1st and 2nd housing | casing 1 and 2 so that folding is possible. Other functions and configurations (camera function, or a display unit is also provided on the back surface of the housing 2) may be provided in this terminal, but are omitted because they are not directly related to the present invention.

  When this foldable portable communication terminal is not used, it is normally in a folded state as shown in FIG. 1, and when used, an information display part is usually arranged around the hinge part 3 as shown in FIG. The second casing 2 is operated with the maximum angle opened. As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge portion 3 in the present embodiment is integrated with the first housing 1 in which the operation input portion is disposed, or a portion that is integrally fixed, and the information display portion is disposed in the first portion. 2, and a part that is integrally fixed to the housing 2, and is configured to rotate around a rotation shaft (hinge shaft) 11.

  The second housing 2 is provided with a semicircular protrusion (hereinafter referred to as a control plate) 12 centered on the rotation shaft 11 at a predetermined position in the direction of the rotation shaft 11. A stopper 13 is disposed on the first housing 1 side. The stopper 13 is provided at a position away from the rotary shaft 11 of the hinge portion 3 by a predetermined distance smaller than the radius of the control plate 12, and is usually provided in a direction parallel to the rotary shaft 11 of the hinge portion 3. When the opening angle of the first and second casings 1 and 2 by the hinge portion 3 is limited, the tip portion of the hinge portion 3 is moved to the hinge portion 3 by an actuator. By being urged in the direction protruding from the provided hole onto the rotation surface of the control plate 12, the tip of the stopper 13 acts so as to contact the edge of the control plate 12.

  As a result, the protrusion of the control plate 12 and the tip of the stopper 13 come into contact with each other while the second casing 2 is being opened from the state in which the foldable portable communication terminal is closed, and the second casing 2 is moved further. Acts to prevent opening. That is, the stopper 13 has a function of limiting the rotation range of the rotary shaft 11, and when the stopper 13 is operated, the second housing 2 in which the information display unit is arranged can be opened only halfway. .

  FIG. 4 shows an example of functional blocks of the foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present embodiment. The normal mobile communication terminal includes an antenna 31, a transmission / reception circuit unit 32, amplifiers 38 and 39, a speaker 40 as a receiver, a transmission A microphone 41, a control unit 30 for controlling various operations of the mobile communication terminal, a memory unit 36 for storing various information and various control programs executed by the control unit 30, a key input unit 34, an information display unit 35, etc. Have. Further, in the present embodiment, a hinge rotation angle limiting mechanism 33 is provided, and the memory unit 36 is controlled by the control unit 30 to execute a hinge rotation angle limiting operation in the hinge rotation angle limiting mechanism 33. A program is also stored.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a first example of the structure of the stopper 13 that is a component of the hinge rotation angle limiting mechanism 33. The chip 22 functioning as a stopper is stored in a pipe-shaped stopper guide 21 inserted in a hole provided in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft 11 of the hinge portion 3, and the actuator 23 and the actuator are behind the chip 22. An electrode 24 for applying a charge is disposed. As the actuator element, a shape memory alloy, a piezo element, an ion exchange resin, or the like can be used. These actuator elements are generally well known.

  When the stopper is in operation, electricity is applied to the actuator 23 and the actuator 23 is expanded and deformed, so that the tip 22 protrudes out of the stopper guide 21, that is, out of a hole provided in parallel with the rotary shaft 11 of the hinge portion 3. Then, the side surface of the chip 22 is brought into contact with the edge of the control plate 12 to function as a stopper. Or, conversely, the actuator 23 is controlled in the direction of contraction when applied, so that the stopper operation is released, and when the stopper is operated, the actuator 23 is deenergized so that the chip 22 protrudes outward from the stopper guide 21. An arrangement method may be used.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a second example of the structure of the stopper 13. In the structure shown in FIG. 6, a magnetic body 25 is attached to the back surface of the chip 22, a spring 27 is placed behind the chip, and an electromagnet 26 is fixed to the bottom surface of the stopper guide 21. By applying electricity to the electromagnet 26 in advance so that the polarity of the electromagnet 26 is different from that of the magnetic body 25, the chip 22 is kept behind the stopper guide 21 and applied to the electromagnet 26 during operation. The tip 22 can be pushed out of the stopper guide 21 by the spring 27.

  Or conversely, the tip 22 is usually held behind the stopper guide 21 by the spring 27 without applying electricity to the electrode 24, and the magnetic body 25 and the electromagnet 26 are energized in the same polarity during operation. Thus, the magnetic body 25 and the electromagnet 26 may be repelled to push the tip 22 out of the stopper guide 21 against the spring force of the spring 27.

  FIG. 7 is a side view of the foldable mobile communication terminal when the stopper is operated in the present embodiment and a partially enlarged cross section thereof, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The user sets in advance an upper limit of the sum of call charges and data communication charges for a certain period of time in the foldable mobile communication terminal. And when a user's start of use of a portable communication terminal is detected (S1, YES), the upper limit set in advance by the user is compared with the total communication charge of the terminal (S2, S3).

  As means for detecting the user's terminal use start, a method of determining the moment when the terminal housing is opened by mounting a magnetic sensor such as a Hall element at the tip of the terminal in the folded state, or in the folded state There is a method of detecting the torque of the hinge part due to the movement when the user starts to open the terminal.

  As a means for knowing the accumulated amount of the call charge and communication charge, there is a method of counting the communication time on the communication terminal side and multiplying the accumulated time by the unit charge. As another means, there is a method of notifying the terminal from the radio base station side. Since the radio base station side can easily know the total amount of the user's call charges and communication charges, by notifying the radio base station side of the upper limit set in advance by the user, the radio base station There is also a method of transmitting a signal to that effect from the side to the mobile communication terminal.

  If the total usage amount of the terminal is less than or equal to the limit amount (S3, NO), the process proceeds to normal processing without doing anything, but if the total communication fee is larger than the limit set by the user (S3, YES) The actuator is operated (S4). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the chip 22 is protruded from the hole of the hinge portion 3 by the actuator arranged at the position of the stopper 13, and the second housing 2 where the information display portion is arranged is being opened. The protrusion of the control plate 12 and the tip of the chip 22 collide, and the second housing 2 cannot be opened any more.

  Since the angle at which the foldable mobile communication terminal can be opened is narrowed, the user can confirm that the integrated value of the call charge and the communication charge has exceeded a preset use upper limit value. Also, if you use it ignoring this confirmation, it becomes difficult to use this foldable mobile communication terminal because the opening angle is narrowed, so there is an effect of suppressing unnecessary use after exceeding the upper limit of use. is there.

  FIG. 9 is a side view of the foldable mobile communication terminal during operation of the stopper showing the second embodiment of the present invention and a partially enlarged cross section thereof, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. The basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, the number and positions of stoppers are further devised.

  That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9B, in addition to the stopper 13, a stopper 14 that restricts the rotation angle different from the stopper 13 is newly provided in the hinge portion 3. When the stopper 14 is operated, the end of the control plate 12 and the side surface of the stopper 14 come into contact with each other at the opening angle position shown in FIG. As a result, the foldable portable communication terminal can be opened only to the state shown in FIG. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The user sets in advance an upper limit of the accumulated amount of call charges and data communication charges for a certain period of time in several levels in this foldable mobile communication terminal. In the case of this flow, an example is shown in which two levels are set. When the user's start of using the mobile communication terminal is detected (S11, YES), each upper limit value set in advance by the user is compared with the total communication charge of the terminal (S12, S13, S14).

  If the total communication fee of the terminal is larger than the limit amount A set by the user (S13, YES), the comparison is then made with the limit amount B having a larger usage amount (S14). When the total usage amount is less than or equal to the limit amount A (S13, NO), nothing is performed and the process proceeds to normal processing. However, when the limit amount A <total usage amount <the limit amount B (S13, YES, S14, NO) ), The actuator A is operated (S15). When the total usage amount is equal to or greater than the limit amount B (S14, YES), the actuator B is operated (S16).

  In the case of this embodiment, when the actuator A is arranged at the position of the stopper 13 and the actuator B is arranged at the position of the stopper 14, the angle at which the folding portable communication terminal can be opened is narrowed as the integrated communication fee increases. it can.

  As described above, the condition of the upper limit of the communication fee set by the user is set at several levels, and the maximum angle at which the folding portable communication terminal can be opened according to the arrival level is more stringent. If set to be in the direction, the user can get an estimate of the current accumulated communication fee only from the angle at which the terminal can be opened, and more severe terminal operation will be forced each time the stage is exceeded. Moreover, the use suppression effect after exceeding an upper limit can further be improved.

  In the above embodiment, when the total communication fee of the terminal exceeds the limit set by the user, the maximum angle at which the folding portable communication terminal can be opened is limited. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, when a mobile phone with a camera function receives a shooting prohibition signal in the shooting restriction area, the maximum angle at which the folding mobile communication terminal can be opened is limited to make camera shooting difficult. Thus, the present invention can be implemented as a means for recognizing that a specific use restriction is applied to the foldable mobile communication terminal, such as recognizing that it is a photographing prohibited area.

It is the side view which shows the closed state of the foldable portable communication terminal which shows embodiment of this invention, and its partially expanded cross section. It is the side view which shows the state which opened the foldable portable communication terminal of this embodiment to the maximum angle with the hinge part, and its partially expanded cross section. It is a partially expanded cross section when the hinge part of the foldable portable communication terminal of this embodiment is viewed from the front. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the foldable portable communication terminal of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st example of the stopper which is a component of the hinge rotation angle limiting mechanism of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the 2nd example of the stopper which is a component of the hinge rotation angle restriction | limiting mechanism of this embodiment. It is the side view of the foldable portable communication terminal at the time of stopper operation in this embodiment, and its partially expanded cross section. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of this embodiment. It is the side view of the foldable portable communication terminal at the time of stopper operation | movement in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and its partially expanded cross section. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st housing | casing 2 2nd housing | casing 3 Hinge part 4 Front surface of 1st housing | casing 5 Front surface of 2nd housing | casing 11 Rotating shaft 12 Control board 13,14 Stopper 21 Stopper guide 22 Tip 23 Actuator 24 Electrode 25 Magnetic body 26 Electromagnet 27 Spring 30 Control unit 31 Antenna 32 Transmission / reception circuit unit 33 Hinge rotation angle limiting mechanism 34 Key input unit 35 Display unit 36 Memory unit 38, 39 Amplifier 40 Speaker 41 Microphone 41

Claims (12)

A first housing;
A second housing;
A hinge portion that foldably couples the first and second housings;
Use limit determination means for determining whether the integrated value of the communication usage fee exceeds a preset upper limit; and
By the use limit determining means, when the accumulated value is determined to exceed the upper limit, the maximum opening angle between the first housing and the second housing by the hinge portion, the integration folding portable communication terminal, wherein the Ru with the opening angle limiting means for limiting to a small opening angle, the than before the value is determined to exceed the upper limit. The opening angle limiting means is
Provided on one of the first housing side or said second housing side of the hinge portion, and a control plate which is formed as a semicircular protrusion around the rotation axis of the hinge portion,
Provided on the other of said first housing side or said second housing side of said hinge portion, said moving said in a direction parallel to the rotation axis in the small predetermined distance than the radius of the control plate from said rotary shaft folding portable communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a and a stopper operates to prevent further rotation of the hinge when it is contact with the end of the control plate . The opening angle limiting means is
Provided on one of the first housing side or said second housing side of the hinge portion, and a control plate which is formed as a semicircular protrusion around the rotation axis of the hinge portion,
Provided on the other of said first housing side or said second housing side of said hinge portion, said rotary shaft said at from the rotation axis smaller predetermined distance than the radius of the control plate, and at a position spaced a predetermined angle from each other characterized in that it comprises a plurality of stopper operates to prevent further rotation of the hinge when it is contact with an end portion of the control plate moves in a direction parallel to the The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 1. The stopper is provided with a pipe-shaped stopper guide, a rod-shaped chip stored in the stopper guide, and behind the rod-shaped chip, and the control is performed by moving the chip in a direction parallel to the rotation axis. folding portable communication terminal according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it is configured with an actuator to the plate and the abutment or disengagement contact, by. The actuator features an actuator element made of shape memory alloy, a piezo element or ion-exchange resin, and means for expansion or contraction deformation of the actuator element by applying a charge to the actuator element, that is constituted by The foldable mobile communication terminal according to claim 4. The actuator includes: a magnetic body fixed to the back surface of the chip; an electromagnet fixed to the bottom surface of the stopper guide by releasing a spring between the magnetic body; and controlling energization to the electromagnet. folding portable communication terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that it is configured with means for changing the distance between the said magnetic electromagnet, by. A first case in which input keys for inputting numbers or letters are arranged on the front surface;
A second housing in which an information display unit such as an LCD is disposed on the front surface;
A hinge portion that foldably couples the first and second housings;
Usage upper limit setting means for setting the upper limit of communication usage fee;
And a use limit determining means for outputting a signal indicating the upper limit value exceeded when the integrated value of the communication charges exceeds the above upper limit value,
A predetermined control signal is input when a signal indicating that the upper limit value has been exceeded is output from the use limit determination means, and when the predetermined control signal is input , the first casing and the hinge by the hinge portion A folding portable communication terminal comprising: an opening angle limiting unit that limits a maximum opening angle of the second casing to an opening angle smaller than that before the control signal is input .   The usage limit determination means counts the communication time, obtains the accumulated time, and multiplies the obtained accumulated time by a unit communication fee to monitor the accumulated value of the communication usage fee, and the accumulated value is the upper limit. 8. The foldable mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein a signal indicating that the upper limit value has been exceeded is output when a value is exceeded.   The use upper limit setting unit has a function of notifying the radio base station side of the upper limit set by the user, and the use limit determining unit sends a signal indicating that the upper limit value of the foldable mobile communication terminal has been exceeded. 8. The foldable mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein a signal indicating that the upper limit value has been exceeded is output when received from the radio base station. The usage upper limit setting means has means capable of setting the upper limit value of the communication usage fee in a plurality of levels from a low level to a high level, and the usage limit determination means depends on the terminal Each time the integrated value of the communication usage fee exceeds each level of the plurality of stages, there is means for outputting a control signal indicating that each upper limit value has been exceeded, and the opening angle limiting means exceeds the upper limit value. And a means for limiting an opening angle so that an angle at which the folding portable communication terminal can be opened becomes narrower as the upper limit level of the control signal indicating that the operation has been increased. folding portable communication terminal according to any one of 7 to 9.   The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 10, comprising the stopper according to claim 3.   A shooting section;
  A receiving unit for receiving a photographing prohibition signal output from the outside,
  When the receiving unit receives the photographing prohibition signal, the opening angle limiting unit is configured to determine a maximum opening angle between the first casing and the second casing by the hinge unit by using the photographing prohibiting signal. The folding portable communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the opening angle is limited to a smaller opening angle than before reception.

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