JP4456049B2 - Portable electronic device with activation sensor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a two-element electronic device such as a foldable radio telephone having an activation sensor.

  Many electronic devices are composed of two elements such as a base and a cover so as to protect the parts on the base with the cover. Electronic devices include portable and non-portable devices, including but not limited to wireless telephones, PDAs, portable computers, game consoles, audio and video players, still cameras or video cameras. Some of these include a display screen on the cover or base, and the screen is protected from damage if the cover is closed.

  A foldable mobile phone, also called a clamshell mobile phone, or flip phone, is a popular design. The foldable design in which the base and the cover are connected by a hinge allows the mobile phone to be made compact, and when it is closed, the cover protects the keyboard and display screen. Some other mobile phones employ a sliding cover that provides similar functionality.

  When the cover is closed, the operation mode of the mobile phone can be switched to a “standby” state in which the screen and other power consuming functions are turned off to save battery power. In order to detect whether the cover is open or closed, a mechanical switch on the hinge has been used conventionally. More recently, Hall effect sensors that detect that the cover has been closed have been used. However, mechanical switches are prone to malfunctions when used for a long period of time, and Hall effect sensors that use magnetic fields may cause interference with wireless communication of telephones.

  The radio telephone is switched on when the cover is open.

  Some portable radiotelephones can be operated in speakerphone mode. When operated in speakerphone mode, the need for physical contact with the telephone is reduced, which is convenient when the user wants to use the telephone without touching it. However, to switch the portable radio telephone from the normal operation mode to the hands-free operation mode, it is necessary to perform the operation through the menu function of the mobile phone, touch a designated shortcut key, or perform a physical operation.

The present invention is generally an electronic device including a base and a cover. Objects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the invention.

  An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention detects a first element, a second element movable relative to the first element, and a position of the second element relative to the first element. And a position sensor operable to. The electronic device operates in a first mode or a second mode depending on the position of the second element relative to the first element.

  One embodiment of the present invention operates to detect a base, a cover that can be moved between an open and closed configuration relative to the base, and the position of the cover The present invention relates to a foldable wireless telephone (also referred to as a clamshell mobile phone or a flip phone) that includes a sensor that performs the above-described operation. The radiotelephone operates in a start-up mode when the cover is in an open configuration, and operates in a standby mode or an off mode when the cover is in a closed configuration. As an option, it is possible to provide a proximity sensor that detects the presence of a human body on the side of the wireless telephone in the arrangement in which the cover portion is opened. The wireless telephone operates in a hand-held mode when a human body is detected near the telephone, and operates in a hand-off mode when no human body is detected.

  The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention itself, together with its recommended mode of use and further objects and advantages, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the examples, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  While the present invention is applicable to many different types of embodiments, the specification and figures illustrate and describe one or more specific embodiments in detail. However, this disclosure is to be taken as an example of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the following description, like reference numerals are given to the same, similar, or corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

  The present invention generally includes, but is not limited to, wireless phones, PDAs, portable computers, game consoles, audio and video players, still cameras and video cameras, and electronic devices that are not portable or non-portable It relates to the device. The electronic device is operable in a first mode and a second mode and includes two elements, a first element and a second element. The second element can be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration with respect to the first element. The device also includes a processing circuit operable to control operation of the device and a photoelectric sensor operable to detect an arrangement of the second element relative to the first element. The electronic device operates in a first mode when the second element is in an open configuration and operates in a second mode when the second element is in a closed configuration.

  Reference to “closed arrangement” includes partially closed arrangement and fully closed arrangement, and reference to “open arrangement” includes partially open arrangement and fully open arrangement. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention is intended to determine whether the second element is in a first range or second range arrangement relative to the first element. It can be used for.

  The second element may be movably coupled to the first element (eg, by a hinge, swivel or slide), or may be separable.

  Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on an embodiment of a foldable wireless telephone, but the present invention is not limited to a wireless telephone, but includes two or more elements (portions). Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to other electronic devices.

  An example of a foldable wireless telephone is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, a foldable radiotelephone 100 includes a first element 102 that is a base in this embodiment, and a second element 104 that is a cover in this embodiment. The first element, or base 102, includes a keypad 106 and a menu access device 108 for entering information into the wireless telephone and selecting functions of the wireless telephone. The second element, that is, the cover unit 104 includes a screen 110 for displaying a telephone function and other information. In one embodiment, the screen is a touch panel that can be used to enter user information and select telephone functions. The cover portion further includes a speaker 112 for generating sound. The cover part is attached to the base part by a hinge 114, and the telephone part can be used by moving the cover part to the open position (position shown in the figure), or the cover part can be moved to the closed position. It can be covered.

  A foldable phone is also called a clamshell cell phone or flip phone.

  In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cover portion is movably coupled to the base portion.

  In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cover is separable from the base.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the radiotelephone is equipped with a photoelectric sensor operable to detect whether the cover is in an open arrangement or a closed arrangement. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the photoelectric sensor includes a photoemitter 116 disposed in the cover portion and a photodetector 118 disposed in the base portion. In yet another embodiment, a photoemitter is placed in the base and a photo detector is placed in the cover.

  In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the radiotelephone includes a proximity detector or proximity sensor 120 that can be placed in the cover (as shown) or in the base. When the cover part is opened, the proximity detector 120 detects whether a human body is in the vicinity of the radio telephone. If a body is detected, it is assumed that the body part is the user's head and the radiotelephone operates in normal handheld mode. If no human body is detected, it is assumed that the wireless telephone is being used in the release mode. In this release mode, the loudspeaker is activated and the volume level generated by the telephone is increased. In addition, the acoustic echo canceller circuit may be activated to reduce feedback from the loudspeaker to the microphone of the wireless telephone. Thus, the wireless telephone automatically switches from the hand-held operation mode to the hand-off operation mode without any user operation. As an option, a mechanism that allows the user to disable the automatic mode selection function may be provided.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of the wireless telephone. FIG. 2 depicts a radiotelephone 100 that includes a cover portion 104 in an arrangement that is open to the base 102. In this embodiment of the invention, light 202 is emitted from photoemitter 116. The photoemitter 116 can be, for example, an infrared LED. When the cover unit 104 is opened, the light detector 118 does not receive the light 202 and the wireless telephone is in an activated state.

  FIG. 3 depicts the radiotelephone 100 with the cover 104 in an arrangement that is almost closed with respect to the base 102. As the cover 104 is closed, the light 202 is received by the photodetector 118 and the radio telephone is switched off or put into standby mode.

  In one embodiment, the photo detector detects that the photo emitter is less than 15 mm from the photo detector.

  The photoemitter is not a continuous light beam but may generate a series of pulses to reduce power consumption.

  A side view of a wireless telephone according to still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the cover 104 of the radiotelephone 100 is in an arrangement opened from the base 102, so that the radiotelephone is in an activated state. In FIG. 4, the user 402 is further in the vicinity of the wireless telephone 100. Proximity sensor 120 senses the presence of the user and signals the wireless telephone to operate in normal mode, i.e., handheld mode. In this mode of operation, the loudspeaker 404 is in a turned off state.

  The proximity sensor can be, for example, an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, an eddy current sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor. The photoelectric sensor or ultrasonic sensor emits a beam 406 that is reflected by the user 402.

  When the user moves away from the side of the wireless telephone as shown in FIG. 5, the proximity sensor 120 cannot sense the presence of the user and instructs the wireless telephone to operate in the release mode, that is, the speakerphone mode. Send a signal to In the speakerphone operation mode, the loudspeaker 404 is activated and a sound field 502 is emitted. In addition, other circuits such as an acoustic echo canceller or other microphone may be activated. In another hand-off operation mode, an external speaker and a microphone (such as headphones) may be activated.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, proximity sensor 120 has a measurement range of less than 60 mm.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the base portion 102 and the cover portion 104 of the radio telephone 100. A photoemitter 116 ′ in the base 102 emits light from the opening 604. When the cover 104 is in the closed position as shown, the light 608 from the photoemitter is reflected from the reflective surface 606 on the cover 104. The light reflected by the reflecting surface 606 is detected by the photodetector 118 '. The light from the photo emitter 116 ′ is prevented from reaching the photo detector 118 ′ directly by the opaque barrier 602. When the cover portion 104 is in the open arrangement, only a small amount of light reaches the photo detector. Even when an obstruction such as a user's finger covers the opening, the intensity of light received by the photodetector is smaller than the intensity received when the cover is closed. In operation, the photodetector generates an electrical signal relating to the intensity of the received light. By comparing the level of the electric signal with the threshold level, it is determined whether the cover portion is in an open arrangement or a closed arrangement.

  The package in which the photo emitter 116 ′, the photo detector 118 ′, and the opaque barrier 602 shown in FIG. 6 are integrated can function as the proximity detector 120 shown in FIG. 1.

  As indicated by arrow 608, the light emitted from the photoemitter 116 'may pass through the emitter lens and be received by the photodetector 118' through the receiver lens. The emitter lens and receiver lens may be aligned with the reflective surface 606 to maximize the reflected light received by the photodetector.

  In another embodiment, the photo emitter 116 ', the photo detector 118' and the opening 604 may be provided in the cover portion, and the reflective surface 606 may be provided on the base portion.

  Returning to FIG. 1, in a further embodiment, a proximity detector 120, such as the proximity detector described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the photoemitter 116 is not necessary. The photo-emitter 116 ′ of the proximity detector 120 is used to determine whether the radio telephone 100 is open or closed instead of the photo-emitter 116. When the cover 104 is closed as shown in FIG. 3, the light is received by the photodetector 118 and the wireless telephone is switched off or put into standby mode. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the proximity sensor 120 detects the presence of a human body, which causes the wireless telephone to switch between a hand-off mode and a normal hand-held mode. Thus, proximity detector 120 is a dual purpose proximity detector that provides both the proximity detector and emitter functions.

  In still other embodiments, neither the photo emitter 116 shown in FIG. 1 nor the photo detector 118 is required. As described in the last embodiment above, photoemitter 116 is replaced with a proximity detector such as proximity detector 120 described with reference to FIG. In addition, the photodetector 118 is replaced with a reflective surface 606 in FIG. As described earlier in the description of the embodiment of FIG. 6, the proximity detector 120 is used together with the reflective surface 606 to determine whether the radiotelephone 100 is open or closed. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the proximity sensor 120 detects the presence of a human body, whereby the radio telephone 100 switches between a hand-off mode (speaker phone mode) and a normal hand-held operation mode. The intensity of light received by the photo detector 118 ′ is the smallest when the telephone is open and there is no human body, and more when there is a human body (blocking the photo detector 118 ′). Larger and largest when the radiotelephone 100 is closed. Photodetector 118 'generates an electrical signal relating to the intensity of the received light. Thus, the level of this electrical signal is compared to the first and second threshold levels, so that the phone is open, or in the open state, the human body is present, i.e. in the vicinity or closed. It is determined whether or not.

  Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. FIG. 7 depicts a radiotelephone 100 having a cover portion 104 in an arrangement that is partially open with respect to the base 102. A protrusion or stud 702 exits from the hinge 114 and moves with the cover portion 104. The small proximity sensor 704 is disposed on the circuit board 706 in the base and is in the vicinity of the hinge 114. The proximity sensor 704 operates so as to detect when the protrusion 702 comes near the proximity detector.

  FIG. 8 is a side view of a radiotelephone having a cover portion 104 in a closed configuration with respect to the base 102. The protrusion 702 in this case is very close to the proximity detector 704 and is detected by the detector. As a result, it is detected that the cover is closed, and the radio telephone is switched to the standby mode.

  In yet another embodiment of the present invention, proximity detector 704 is provided in cover portion 104 and protrusion 702 is provided on base portion 102.

  In yet another embodiment of the present invention, proximity detector 704 is a photo detector and protrusion 702 is a photo emitter.

  A block diagram of a wireless telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 9, the radio telephone 100 includes a base portion 102 and a cover portion 104. Base 102 includes a high frequency transceiver 902 coupled to an antenna 904. The high frequency transceiver is coupled to processing circuit 906. Processing circuit 906 also receives audio information from microphone 908 and keyboard 106. The processing circuit controls the display driver circuit 912 to drive the display screen 110 in the cover unit 104. Processing circuit 906 also controls speakerphone circuit 916 to drive speakerphone loudspeaker 404 in cover 104 or base 102. The processing circuit 906 further sends the audio signal to the loudspeaker 112 in the cover unit 104. The photoemitter 116 in the cover unit 104 emits light such as infrared rays that the photo detector 118 in the base unit 102 receives. In operation, when the photodetector 118 detects light, a signal is sent to the display driver circuit 912 and the processing circuit 906 to instruct the operation state to enter standby mode. The proximity sensor 120 provided on either the cover unit 104 or the base unit 102 detects when a human body (such as a user's head) is in the vicinity of the wireless telephone. If no body is detected, a signal is sent to the processing circuit 906 and the speakerphone driver circuit 916, and an instruction is given to put the operating state into the release mode.

  While specific examples of the present invention have been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Changes can be made.

  Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications, substitutions, and variations are possible in light of the above description. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1 is a diagram depicting a wireless telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the open state of the radio telephone based on one embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the closed state of the radio telephone based on one embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the open state of the radio telephone based on other embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the open state of the radio telephone based on other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the radio telephone based on other embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the open state of the radio telephone based on other embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the closed state of the radio telephone based on other embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the radio telephone based on one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Electronic device (wireless telephone)
102 First element (base)
104 Second element (cover part)
114 Hinge 116 Photoemitter / Infrared LED of photoelectric sensor
116 ′ Proximity Sensor Photoemitter 118 Photoelectric Sensor Photodetector / Photodiode / Second Photodetector 118 ′ Proximity Sensor Photodetector 120,704 Proximity Sensor 402 Human Body 602 Opaque Barrier 606 Reflection Area (Reflection Surface)
702 Protrusion 906 Processing circuit

Claims (2)

A wireless telephone operable in a start-up mode that is a first mode and a standby mode that is a second mode, wherein the first mode includes a handheld mode and a release mode,
The first element,
A second element movable relative to the first element;
A processing circuit for controlling the operation of the wireless telephone ;
Detecting the position of the second element relative to the first element, and depending on the position of the second element relative to the first element, the operation of the radiotelephone is determined according to the first mode or the second A photoelectric sensor to switch to the mode,
When the operation of the wireless telephone is the first mode, the presence of a human body that is in proximity to the wireless telephone is detected, and when the human body is detected, the hand-held mode is selected, A proximity sensor that selects the release mode when no body is detected, and
The proximity sensor includes a photo emitter, a photo detector and an opaque barrier integrated in a package disposed in the second element;
The photoelectric sensor is composed of a photo emitter and a second photo detector disposed in the first element, whereby the proximity sensor further operates as a photo emitter of the photoelectric sensor. Wireless phone to do. A wireless telephone operable in a start-up mode that is a first mode and a standby mode that is a second mode, wherein the first mode includes a handheld mode and a release mode,
The first element,
A second element movable relative to the first element;
A processing circuit for controlling the operation of the wireless telephone ;
Detecting the position of the second element relative to the first element, and depending on the position of the second element relative to the first element, the operation of the radiotelephone is determined according to the first mode or the second A photoelectric sensor to switch to the mode,
When the operation of the wireless telephone is the first mode, the presence of a human body that is in proximity to the wireless telephone is detected, and when the human body is detected, the hand-held mode is selected, A proximity sensor that selects the release mode when no body is detected, and
The proximity sensor includes a photo emitter, a photo detector and an opaque barrier integrated in a package disposed in the second element;
Radiated by the photoemitter when the photoelectric sensor is comprised of a reflection area of the proximity sensor and the first element, and the second element is in a closed position relative to the first element; The radiotelephone characterized in that the photodetector of the proximity sensor is arranged to receive light reflected by the reflection area of the first element.

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