JP4924662B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes an optical sensor for detecting ambient brightness, such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), a PC (Personal Computer), a handheld PC (handheld Personal Computer), and other information portable terminals. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an external light capturing structure corresponding to an optical sensor installed in a housing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mobile phone is provided with an optical sensor that detects ambient brightness and controls lighting of operation buttons according to ambient brightness. In addition, in a camera-equipped mobile phone, the detection output of an optical sensor is used for light emission control of a strobe light source that illuminates a subject.

  An external light detection structure in a conventional mobile phone will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. 1 is a front view of a mobile phone, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. In this cellular phone 2, a light entrance window 8 is formed on the upper side of the display window 6 of the LCD display 4, which is less likely to be gripped by the user, and a light entrance panel 10 colored milky white or the like is formed on the light entrance window 8. It is attached. The light incident panel 10 is a synthetic resin part. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 12 is configured by joining a front housing 14 and a rear housing 16, and an LCD display 4 and an optical sensor 20 are provided on a printed circuit board 18 installed therein. The optical sensor 20 is installed on the upper edge side of the printed circuit board 18. A protective panel 22 that covers the display window 6 of the LCD display 4 is installed at the center of the front housing 14, and the light incident window 8 formed at the upper corner is bent into a crank shape. 10 is attached. The outside light L is guided to the optical sensor 20 in the front housing 14 through the light incident panel 10 and detected. The detection output of the optical sensor 20 is used for ON / OFF control of a light emitting element that constitutes a backlight installed on the back of the operation button 24. When the surroundings are dark, the light emitting element is turned on. When the display of 24 is bright enough to be recognized, the light emitting element is turned off.

  There is known a mobile phone that uses such a light sensor or the like to detect the brightness of the surroundings and enables ON / OFF control of a dial key backlight.

With respect to such a mobile phone, a mobile phone is known in which ambient brightness is detected and dial key backlight ON / OFF control is performed (Patent Document 1). A cellular phone is known in which the illuminance of the surrounding environment is detected by an image sensor, and a liquid crystal backlight is turned on or off according to the detection level (Patent Document 2). Also, a mobile phone is known in which ambient illuminance is detected by a photosensor and an LCD backlight is turned on or off depending on the detection level (Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-74691 JP 2001-223792 A JP 2002-27102 A

  By the way, in order to maintain the light receiving property of the optical sensor without impairing the functions and operability of the cellular phone, as shown in FIG. 1, the light incident window 8 has a front housing 14 on the LCD display 4 side. However, in this case, as a method for attaching the light incident panel 10, for example, an adhesive 26 is provided between the inner wall of the front housing 14 and the light incident panel 10 as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a hook portion 28 is formed on a part of the light incident panel 10, and a protrusion 30 for locking the hook portion 28 is formed on the light incident window 8. There is a method in which the light incident panel 10 is fitted into the light incident window 8 and the hook portion 28 is locked to the protrusion 30 of the front housing 14.

  However, in the case of bonding, it is necessary to apply the adhesive 26, and there is a possibility that the adhesive 26 adheres to a portion where the adhesive 26 should not be applied, such as a light receiving surface. When the adhesion amount of the adhesive 26 is insufficient, a gap is formed between the light incident panel 10 and the light incident window 8, and water or dust may enter the front housing 14 from the gap, There are inconveniences such as dropping of the light incident panel 10.

  Further, in the case of fitting, it is necessary to form the hook portion 28 by resin molding of the front housing 14, and such engagement between the hook portion 28 and the protrusion 30 increases the number of assembling steps. Adjustment of fitting between the light incident panel 10 and the light incident window 8 is necessary. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the gap 32 generated between the light incident panel 10 and the light incident window 8 is left unattended, there is a risk that water or dust may enter the front housing 14 from the gap 32. In order to remove the gap 32, for example, it is necessary to fill with an adhesive or the like. As described above, the use of the adhesive requires an application operation, and there is a possibility that the adhesive adheres to a portion where the adhesive should not be applied, such as a light receiving surface. If the adhesive is not sufficiently bonded, water or dust may enter the front housing 14 from the gap 32 between the light incident panel 10 and the light incident window 8, or the light incident panel 10 may fall off. There is a risk.

  Further, in the front case 14 in which the light entrance window 8 is opened at the upper edge, the light entrance window 8 causes a decrease in strength, and the presence of the light entrance window 8 increases the strength of the front case 14. There is also an inconvenience that the formation of ribs, hooks for fitting the front housing 14 and the rear housing 16 and the like are hindered.

  In addition, since the light incident panel 10 which is a separate component from the front housing 14 is used, there are indications such as inconvenience that the light incident panel 10 is dropped or missing at the time of manufacture, strength reduction of the housing 12, and the like. There are also indications that the installation of the light incident panel 10 hinders the freedom of case design.

  Therefore, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including an optical sensor that detects ambient brightness, and provides an information processing apparatus that simplifies the external light detection structure by capturing external light on the panel side. The purpose.

The present invention also relates to an information processing apparatus including an optical sensor that detects ambient brightness, and a second object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that reduces the number of parts and the number of assembly steps by eliminating the need for a light incident panel. And

To achieve the above first or second object, the information processing apparatus of the present invention includes a housing 42 having a first surface, have a display surface for displaying information, provided within the housing A display (LCD display 64, display surface 72) and a hole ( through- hole 75 ) that is formed facing the first surface and receives outside light entering from the first surface into the housing. and), overlying the said display surface and pores of the display, a protective panel 46 with the installed translucent to said first surface, is provided inside of the housing, transmitted through the protection panel It is the structure provided with the optical sensor 68 which detects the external light incident from the perforation .

With such a configuration, it becomes possible to allow external light to enter the housing through the protective panel, and is provided on the protective panel side installed on the first surface of the housing so as to cover the display surface of the display. Since the external light is taken into the housing from the light entrance window through the protective panel, the external light detection structure is simplified. Further, a conventional light incident panel is not necessary. For this reason, the number of parts is reduced, the number of assembly steps such as mounting of the light incident panel is reduced, it is not necessary to form a light incident window on the corner side of the housing, and the strength of the housing is not reduced. There is no inconvenience that the light incident panel falls off from the light incident window, and the shape of the housing for attaching the light incident panel to the light incident window is not changed. In addition, since a protective panel that is fixed in close contact with the housing is used, entry of water droplets or foreign matter into the housing is prevented.

In order to achieve the first or second object, in the information processing apparatus, the protective panel includes a light-transmitting portion and a light-blocking portion, and the light-transmitting portion is the hole formed in the housing. It is good also as a structure provided in the position corresponding to, and this light-shielding part being provided so that the circumference | surroundings of this translucent part may be enclosed . With this configuration, there is no need to provide an opening in the housing as a light entrance window, and a light blocking portion that blocks light is formed on an existing protective panel, and a light transmitting portion is formed on the light blocking portion to form a light incident window. Then, it is possible to allow external light to enter the housing through the protective panel and detect it with the optical sensor.

In order to achieve the first or second object, the information processing apparatus further includes a speaker provided in the housing, and the optical sensor has a gap between the display and the speaker. It is good also as a structure installed in.

In order to achieve the first or second object, the information processing apparatus includes a light guide member that guides the external light from the hole formed in the housing to the optical sensor. Alternatively, the light shielding portion may be a light shielding film formed on the front surface or the back surface of the protective panel.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

a) Since external light is taken into the housing on the side of the protective panel that covers the display surface of the display, the external light detection structure can be simplified and the amount of light collected can be increased.

  b) Since the conventional light incident panel is not required, the number of parts can be reduced and the mounting thereof is not required, so that the number of assembling steps can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

c) The light incident panel does not fall off or the light incident window for attaching the light incident panel does not change the shape of the case, and external light is introduced through the protective panel that covers the case. This can be prevented, and can contribute to the robustness of the casing without causing a reduction in the strength of the casing.

  d) If the light entrance window is formed in the vicinity of the display window of the display device, it is possible to increase the detection accuracy of the surrounding brightness without preventing outside light from being taken in.

with the configuration of forming the light-transmitting portions in the light shielding portion formed in e) protection panel can be incident external light through the protective panel in the housing.

f) If a light entrance window is formed by providing a through hole in a portion of the housing covered with the protective panel, the strength of the housing can be reduced and external light can enter the housing through the protective panel. it can.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clearer with reference to the accompanying drawings and each embodiment.

It is a figure which shows the conventional mobile phone. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of the mobile phone shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the adhesion fixation of the light-incidence panel in the light-incidence window of the conventional mobile telephone. It is sectional drawing which shows fitting fixation of the light-incidence panel in the light-incidence window of the conventional mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows the attachment state of the light entrance panel with respect to the light entrance window of the conventional mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows the mobile telephone which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows the light-incidence window part of the mobile telephone which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light-incidence window part of the mobile telephone which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light-incidence window part of the mobile telephone which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light-incidence window part of the mobile telephone which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light-incidence window part of the mobile telephone which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the light-incidence window part of the mobile telephone which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
A mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 shows the mobile phone according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, as an information processing apparatus, for example, a display window 44 for displaying images and characters is formed on the front surface of a housing 42 of a mobile phone 40, and a protective panel that covers the display window 44. 46 is installed. The housing 42 and the protection panel 46 are made of, for example, synthetic resin, and the protection panel 46 has translucency. A light incident window 48 is formed on the protective panel 46 adjacent to the display window 44, and external light is taken into the housing 42 from the light incident window 48 through the protective panel 46. An incoming lamp display window 50 and a sound emission hole 52 are provided on the front surface of the housing 42 above the protection panel 46, and a plurality of operation buttons 54 such as a numeric keypad are provided below the protection panel 46. A sound receiving hole 56 is provided. Although not shown, a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode is provided as a backlight on the back side of each operation button 54.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the casing 42 is configured by coupling a front casing 58 and a rear casing 60, and a printed circuit board 62 installed therein has information such as characters and figures. An LCD display 64 is installed as a display for displaying the sound, and a speaker 66 is installed as a sound generation means. An optical sensor 68 is installed on the printed circuit board 62 within the distance between the LCD display 64 and the speaker 66. Yes. That is, the optical sensor 68 is installed in a gap between the LCD display 64 and the speaker 66, and the use efficiency of the space in the housing 42 is enhanced. The display surface 70 of the LCD display 64 is faced to the display window 44 of the front housing 58 and the speaker 66 is faced to the sound emission hole 52 so that necessary display and sound emission are not hindered. . A packing 72 as a buffer member is installed between the LCD display 64 and the inner wall portion of the front housing 58, and a mechanical coupling relationship with elasticity is formed. Intrusion is prevented.

  A recess 74 is formed in the front surface of the front housing 58, and the protective panel 46 is attached in the recess 74. A through hole 75 is formed in a part of the front housing 58 covered with the protective panel 46, that is, a part adjacent to the display window 44. The through hole 75 and the protective panel 46 constitute a light incident window 48. A light sensor 68 is installed on the printed circuit board 62 on the lower surface side of the light entrance window 48. Although not shown, the through hole 75 may be filled with a light guide material capable of transmitting light. Further, the position where the optical sensor 68 is installed does not have to be directly below the light incident window 48, but may be in an area range in which the outside light L incident from the light incident window 48 can be detected. It is good also as a structure which guides the external light L to the light-receiving surface 76 of the optical sensor 68 with a light guide member, and if a light guide member is interposed, the freedom degree of the installation location of the optical sensor 68 will expand.

  According to the mobile phone 40 of this embodiment, the external light L is transmitted through the protective panel 46 covering the display window 44 and the light incident window 48 formed in the front housing 58, that is, through the protective panel 46 covering the light incident window 48. It is guided into the housing 42 and detected by the optical sensor 68. Compared to a conventional mobile phone in which a light entrance window or a light entrance panel is installed at the corner portion of the casing, the external light L is taken in from the protective panel 46 side. It is possible to take a large area.

  The detection output of the optical sensor 68 is ON / OFF control of the light emitting elements constituting the backlight installed on the back of the operation button 54, and in the case of a camera-equipped mobile phone, the strobe light source ON / OFF control, etc. Used for. That is, when the surroundings are dark, the light emitting element is turned on, and when the display of the operation button 54 is bright enough to be recognized, the light emitting element is turned off. This can contribute to suppression of wear.

  Further, if the light incident window 48 is configured by the through hole 75 covered with the protective panel 46 in this way, the formation of the through hole 75, that is, the formation of the light incident window 48 can reduce the strength of the housing 42. Absent. Since the light entrance window 48 is formed in the portion covered with the protective panel 46 and no opening is formed at the corner of the housing 42, the strength of the housing 42 is not reduced. In addition, since the light entrance window 48 is configured by a part of the protective panel 46, a separate light entrance panel is not required, and the light entrance panel is required to be fixed with a fitting structure. Accuracy is not required, and in addition to reducing the number of parts, it is possible to reduce the number of assembling steps such as mounting the light incident panel, thereby reducing costs. Further, since the light incident window 48 is covered with the protective panel 46, there is no risk of the light incident panel falling off as in the prior art, and there is no risk of water droplets or foreign matter entering from the light incident window 48. Furthermore, the influence on the design of the front casing 58 including the light entrance window 48 is extremely small, and the degree of freedom in case design and casing design is increased.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a mobile phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a mobile phone according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, a display portion 78 may be formed by printing or resin molding such as a logo or a pattern on the upper and surrounding areas of the light entrance window 48 of the protection panel 46. If such a display part 78 is formed, the light entrance window 48 can be blocked and the outside light L can be prevented from being taken in, which contributes to an improvement in the detection accuracy of the outside light L.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a mobile phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a mobile phone according to the third embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the single light entrance window 48 is formed on the lower side of the sound emission hole 52. However, in the third embodiment, the light entrance windows 48 are formed at the two left and right sides of the sound emission hole 52. In addition, trapezoidal protrusions 80 and 82 are formed on the protective panel 46 so as to cover the respective light entrance windows 48. An optical sensor 68 is installed corresponding to each light entrance window 48. According to such a configuration, there is no risk that both the light entrance windows 48 are blocked, and the reliability of taking in the external light L is enhanced. In this case, only one of the left and right light entrance windows 48 may be provided.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a mobile phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 shows a mobile phone according to the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the display window 44 of the front housing 58 is expanded to the range of the light receiving surface 76 of the photosensor 68 and the light shielding portion 86 that selectively blocks light on the protective panel 46 that covers the photosensor 68. The light entrance window 48 may be constituted by a light transmitting portion 87 surrounded by the light shielding portion 86. The light shielding portion 86 can be easily realized by mixing a light shielding material or fitting a light shielding resin when molding the protective panel 46 made of synthetic resin.

(Fifth embodiment)
A mobile phone according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows a mobile phone according to the fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, a concave portion 88 surrounding the light entrance window 48 is formed on the surface portion of the protective panel 46, and a light shielding film 90 such as a light shielding paint is formed in the concave portion 88 to constitute the light shielding portion 86. A light entrance window 48 is constituted by a light transmitting portion 87 surrounded by 86. Even with such a configuration, the external light L can be guided to the optical sensor 68 through the protective panel 46.

(Sixth embodiment)
A mobile phone according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows a mobile phone according to the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, a concave portion 92 surrounding the light entrance window 48 is formed on the back surface portion of the protective panel 46, and a light shielding film 94 such as a light shielding paint is formed in the concave portion 92 to constitute a light shielding portion 86. A light entrance window 48 is constituted by a light transmitting portion 87 surrounded by 86. Even with such a configuration, the external light L can be guided to the optical sensor 68 through the protective panel 46.

(Seventh embodiment)
A cellular phone according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 shows a mobile phone according to the seventh embodiment. In this embodiment, a light guide member 96 made of synthetic resin or the like that guides light is installed between the light entrance window 48 formed in the protective panel 46 and the front housing 58 and the optical sensor 68, and the light entrance window 48. The external light L that has entered the light is guided to the optical sensor 68. With such a configuration, the external light L taken in through the protective panel 46 can be guided to a desired position by the light guide member 96, and the degree of freedom of the installation position of the optical sensor 68 is increased. In this case, the light guide member 96 may be installed between the light entrance window 48 and the optical sensor 68 in the fourth, fifth, or sixth embodiment.

  Next, modifications of the embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention described above, other technical extensions, and the like are listed below.

  (1) In the above embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example of the information processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the ambient brightness of a PDA, PHS, PC, handheld PC, other information portable terminal, digital camera, or the like. The present invention can be applied to various types of information processing apparatuses including an optical sensor that detects the above, and is not limited to the mobile phone according to the embodiment.

  (2) In the embodiment, the case where the light entrance window is formed on the protective panel that covers the display surface of the main LCD as the display has been described. However, the protective panel that covers the display surface of the sub LCD installed on the back surface of the cellular phone or the like A similar light entrance window may be formed to guide the external light L to the optical sensor 68 installed in the housing 42.

  (3) When the light entrance window 48 is formed in the light shielding portion 86 of the protection panel 46, a watermark portion made of a logo, a pattern, or the like may be selectively formed by forming means such as printing, molding, or vapor deposition. With such a configuration, the presence of the light entrance window 48 can be hidden.

  (4) If the optical sensor 68 is installed between the LCD display 64 and the speaker 66 on the printed circuit board 62 on which the LCD display 64 and the speaker 66 are installed, the utilization factor of the space in the housing 42 will be described. Can be increased.

  (5) If the detection output of the optical sensor 68 of the embodiment is used for automatic ON / OFF control of operation button illumination and automatic ON / OFF control of camera illumination, the power consumption is reduced and the secondary used for the power source This can contribute to suppression of consumption of batteries and the like.

Next, the following additional notes will be disclosed with respect to the embodiment including the above-described examples. The present invention is not limited to the following supplementary notes.

(Supplementary note 1) An information processing apparatus provided with an optical sensor for detecting ambient brightness in a housing, and a protective panel covering the display surface of the display device installed in the housing,
An information processing apparatus comprising a light incident window on the protective panel side, and configured to allow external light to enter the light sensor in the housing through the light incident window.

(Supplementary note 2) An information processing apparatus including an optical sensor for detecting ambient brightness in a housing and a protective panel covering the display surface of the display device installed in the housing,
An information processing system comprising a light entrance window at a portion of the housing covered with the protection panel, and configured to allow outside light that has passed through the protection panel to enter the light sensor from the light entrance window. apparatus.

  Thus, even if a light entrance window is formed on the housing on the lower surface side of the protective panel, it becomes possible to allow external light to enter the housing through the protective panel in the same manner. Is no longer needed and the objective is achieved as well.

(Additional remark 3) The said optical sensor is installed in the vicinity of the said indicator, and the said light entrance window is provided in the vicinity of the display window of the said housing | casing, The information processing apparatus of Additional remark 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  With such a configuration, a light sensor is installed in a space portion in the vicinity of the display unit, and a light incident window is formed on the protective panel covering the display surface of the display unit. There is no possibility that the external light L is taken in. Therefore, the detection accuracy of ambient brightness is improved.

(Additional remark 4) The said light entrance window is a light transmission part formed in the light-shielding part formed in the said protection panel, The information processing apparatus of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Additional remark 5) The said light entrance window is a through-hole formed in the part of the said housing | casing covered with the said protection panel, The information processing apparatus of Additional remark 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  With such a configuration, if a through hole is provided in a portion of the housing covered by the protective panel to form a light entrance window, external light can enter the housing through the protective panel without reducing the strength of the housing. The light can be detected and detected by an optical sensor.

(Additional remark 6) The said optical sensor is the structure installed between the said display and the said speaker on the board | substrate with which the said display and the speaker were installed, The information of Additional remark 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Processing equipment.

(Additional remark 7) The structure which installs a light guide member in the space part between the said light entrance window and the said optical sensor, and makes the said external light enter the said optical sensor from the said light entrance window through this light guide member The information processing apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2, characterized in that:

(Additional remark 8) The said light-shielding part is a light-shielding film formed in the surface or back surface of the said protection panel, The information processing apparatus of Additional remark 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the information processing apparatus of the present disclosure have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above description, and is described in the scope of the claims or the detailed description of the invention. It goes without saying that various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention disclosed in the above, and such modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be widely used in information processing apparatuses such as portable terminal apparatuses.

2, 40 Cellular phone 42 Case 44 Display window 46 Protection panel 48 Light entrance window 64 LCD display (display)
68 Optical sensor 70 Display surface 75 Through-hole 86 Light-shielding part 87 Translucent part L External light

Claims (5)

A housing having a first surface ;
Have a display surface for displaying the first made to face the surface information, and a display device provided inside the housing,
A hole that is formed facing the first surface and receives external light that enters from the first surface into the housing;
A protective panel having translucency installed on the first surface , covering the display surface of the indicator and the hole ;
An optical sensor that is provided inside the housing and detects the outside light that has passed through the protective panel and entered from the hole;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The protective panel has a light transmitting part and a light shielding part,
2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the light transmitting portion is provided at a position corresponding to the hole formed in the housing, and the light shielding portion is provided so as to surround the periphery of the light transmitting portion. Processing equipment. Furthermore,
A speaker provided inside the housing;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is installed in a gap between the display and the speaker.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light guide member that guides the external light to the optical sensor from the hole formed in the housing.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding part is a light shielding film formed on a front surface or a back surface of the protection panel.

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