JP5166995B2 - Mobile device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of wireless communication with a base station.

  In recent years, portable terminals such as PHS (Personal Handy phone System) and mobile phones have become widespread, and there has been a demand for miniaturization and weight reduction along with improvement in communication quality and communication rate. In addition, the manufacturers of such portable terminals are spread in Japan and overseas, and the shapes and functions of the portable terminals are diverse. Recently, a mobile terminal that is decorated around the operation unit of the mobile terminal and has an aesthetic appearance along with its function has come to be seen.

For example, a technique is disclosed in which decorations are provided on the top and bottom of the key top part (transparent resin part) of the pushbutton switch member so that decorations such as characters, symbols, and patterns on the display unit can be visually recognized in three dimensions (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-079214 A

  In recent years, miniaturization and weight reduction while maintaining the existing functions of the mobile terminal as described above have reached a certain limit, and the user's interest is toward the shape and exterior of the mobile terminal. For this reason, thin portable terminals are generally demanded with emphasis on the portability of portable terminals, but it is extremely difficult to make them thin significantly due to the restriction of the height of internal components. Here, it has been studied to devise the coloring of the mobile terminal and give it a faint coloring, but there is a limit to the expression of thinness depending only on such coloring.

  In addition, coloring only on the surface of the mobile terminal results in a monotonous exterior as a whole, which promotes tiredness of the mobile terminal.

  Even if characteristic coloring is realized, the large display unit and the operation unit that is easy to input are more conspicuous than the coloring in appearance, resulting in a loss of aesthetics.

  In view of these problems, the present invention improves the appearance of the exterior while maintaining strength, and improves the sense of luxury and desire to purchase by integrally decorating the user interface such as the display unit and the operation unit. The object is to provide a portable terminal capable of the above.

In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the present invention includes a housing provided with a display unit that displays an image and an operation unit including a plurality of operation keys that accept user input, and a display unit of the housing And a decorative layer formed by laminating a base layer that forms a pattern, a transparent member, and a surface layer that forms a pattern correlated with the pattern of the base layer, on the surface on which the operation unit is arranged , key top portion corresponding to said operation key of said transparent member is a mark indicating its function is characterized that you have been formed by the unevenness of the transparent member.

According to the said structure , aesthetics can be improved, maintaining the intensity | strength by the transparent member of the decoration part formed over the portable terminal front surface. Further, the decorative part itself is not recognized integrally with the main body due to the light transmittance of the transparent member, but is recognized as an accessory on the surface, and can be recognized by the user so as to be thinner and lighter than the actual size.

  In addition, by applying a pattern that correlates to both the base layer and the surface layer across the transparent member, it is possible to cause a change in appearance according to the stereoscopic effect and the viewing angle in the decorative part, It is possible to enhance the palatability from the harmony of the pattern of the base layer and the pattern of the surface layer and its unexpectedness.

Furthermore, the pattern is applied to both the base layer and the surface layer on the front surface of the mobile terminal including the operation unit in an integrated and continuous (seamless) manner, so that the presence of the operation unit can be made unaware. Specifically, it is possible to give the user a feeling like a work of art without recognizing the user as a portable terminal. In this way, it is possible to improve the sense of quality and the user's desire to purchase.
In particular, the key top portion corresponding to the operation key of the transparent member has a mark indicating its function formed by the unevenness of the transparent member. In this way, by forming a mark indicating the function of the operation key, for example, a number or the like with a transparent member like other parts, it is possible to have an aesthetic appearance even through the region of the operation unit, and from its light transmittance It is possible to prevent the user from being strongly aware of the presence of the operation unit.
In addition, a decoration part may be superimposed on the operation part. As a result, an aesthetic appearance can be achieved through the region of the operation unit.

  The transparent member may be dyed in the same color as the pattern of the base layer and the surface layer.

  With this configuration, the transparent member is also adapted to the pattern of both the base layer and the surface layer, the appearance changes due to further three-dimensional effect and viewing angle in the decorative part, the pattern of the base layer and the pattern of the surface layer However, it is possible to further harmonize both sides of the transparent member and improve the sense of quality and the user's desire to purchase.

  The display unit is arranged on the same side as the operation unit, and can display an image having a pattern correlated and continuous with the pattern of the decoration unit.

  With this configuration, when the power is turned on or in standby, the display unit can display a pattern that is correlated and continuous with the pattern of the decoration unit, and both the base layer and the surface layer extend over the front surface of the mobile terminal including the display unit. By providing the pattern integrally and continuously (seamlessly) on the layer, it becomes possible to make the user less aware of the presence of the display unit in addition to the operation unit.

  As described above, the present invention can improve the aesthetics of the exterior while maintaining the strength, and can improve the sense of luxury and the desire to purchase by integrally decorating the user interface such as the display unit and the operation unit. It becomes.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiment are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

(PHS terminal 100)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a PHS terminal 100 as a mobile terminal, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the PHS terminal 100. The PHS terminal 100 mainly includes a housing 102 and a decoration unit 104. The housing 102 includes a terminal control unit 110, a terminal memory 112, a display unit 114, an operation unit 116, and a voice input unit 118. The voice output unit 120 and the terminal wireless communication unit 122 are configured.

  In addition, although a PHS terminal is mentioned here as a portable terminal, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and a cellular phone, a notebook personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a music player, a car navigation system, a portable TV, a game Various electronic devices capable of wireless communication, such as devices, DVD players, and remote controllers, can also be used as portable terminals.

  The terminal control unit 110 manages and controls the entire PHS terminal 100 using a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU). Furthermore, the terminal control unit 110 performs a call function, a mail transmission / reception function, an imaging function, a music playback function, and a TV viewing function using the program in the terminal memory 112. The terminal memory 112 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like, and stores a program processed by the terminal control unit 110, audio data, and the like.

  The display unit 114 includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence), etc., and is stored in the terminal memory 112 or provided from an application relay server (not shown) via the base station 124, An application GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be displayed. The operation unit 116 includes a plurality of operation keys that accept user inputs, a movable switch (hardware switch) such as a cross key, and a joystick, and accepts user operation inputs.

  The voice input unit 118 includes voice recognition means such as a microphone, and converts the user voice input during a call into an electrical signal that can be processed in the PHS terminal 100. The audio output unit 120 includes a speaker, and converts the audio signal of the other party received by the PHS terminal 100 into audio and outputs it. Also, a ring tone, an operation sound of the operation unit 116, an alarm sound, etc. can be output.

  The terminal wireless communication unit 122 performs wireless communication with the base station 124. As such wireless communication, in order to realize simultaneous bidirectional communication, a communication path is divided on a time axis, and transmission and reception are alternately performed on a TDD (Time Division Duplex) that performs transmission and reception alternately. The time division multiple access (TDMA) time-division is used for the time slots (TDMA / TDD system). Further, adoption of ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses) STD T95 and PHS MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) is under consideration as next-generation PHS communication standards that enable high-speed digital communication.

  The decorative portion 104 includes a base layer, a transparent member, and a surface layer.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the decoration unit 104. As shown in FIG. 3, in a region including at least the operation unit 116 on the surface of the housing 102 on which the display unit 114 and the operation unit 116 are arranged, a base layer 130 as a decoration unit 104, a transparent member 132, a surface layer 134 are stacked in that order.

  The underlayer 130 forms a predetermined pattern, in this embodiment, a floral pattern that matches the tone of the casing 102, and the surface layer 134 correlates with (correlates with) the pattern of the underlayer 130, A similar color pattern is formed. The foundation layer 130 and the surface layer 134 are located on the back surface and the surface of the transparent member 132, respectively.

  The base layer 130 and the surface layer 134 may be attached to the transparent member 132 by sticking or printing, and may be brought into contact with the housing 102 together with the decorative portion 104, or may be directly laminated on the housing 102. . The thickness of the underlying layer 130 and the surface layer 134 thus formed is about 10 microns.

  The transparent member 132 is formed from a plastic such as an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, polyethylene terephthalate, or polystyrene, and supplements the strength of the front surface of the PHS terminal 100.

  As described above, the transparent member 132 of the decorative portion 104 formed over the front surface of the PHS terminal 100 can improve the beauty while maintaining its strength. In addition, due to the light transmittance of the transparent member 132, the decorative part itself is not recognized integrally with the main body, but is recognized as an accessory on the surface, and can be recognized by the user so that it is thinner and lighter than the actual size. .

  In addition, the decorative layer 104 can be changed in appearance in accordance with the three-dimensional effect and the viewing angle by applying a pattern that correlates to both the base layer 130 and the surface layer 134 with the transparent member 132 interposed therebetween. It is possible to improve the palatability from the harmony of the pattern of the base layer 130 and the pattern of the surface layer 134 and its unexpectedness.

  Furthermore, the pattern is applied to both the base layer 130 and the surface layer 134 in an integrated and continuous (seamless) manner across the front surface of the PHS terminal 100 including the operation unit 116 so that the presence of the operation unit 116 is not conscious. In theory, it is possible to give the user a feeling like a piece of art without causing the user to recognize the PHS terminal 100. In this way, it is possible to improve the sense of quality and the user's desire to purchase.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the transparent member 132 is dyed in the same color as the pattern of the base layer 130 and the surface layer 134. Such dyeing is done by mixing a dye with a transparent material.

  With this configuration, the transparent member 132 is adapted to the patterns of both the base layer 130 and the surface layer 134, and the appearance of the decorative portion 104 is further changed depending on the three-dimensional effect and the viewing angle. The pattern of the surface layer 134 is further harmonized with both surfaces of the transparent member 132, and it is possible to improve the sense of quality and the user's desire to purchase.

  In addition, the key top portion corresponding to the operation key of the transparent member 132 is formed by the concave and convex portions of the transparent member 132, and the mark indicating the function cannot be identified depending on the color.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the shape of a portion of the transparent member 132 corresponding to the operation key 150. In particular, FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the portion, and FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. Here, a key top portion 152 corresponding to each operation key 150 of the operation unit 116 is arranged via a simple waterproof silicone rubber 154 and is independently displaced according to the outer shape of each operation key 150.

  Here, priority is given to aesthetics so that marks indicating the function of the operation keys 150, for example, numbers, cannot be recognized by color. The operation keys 150 functioning as number input when inputting a telephone number are conventionally arranged in the same sequence, and even if the number itself is not consciously displayed, the user can potentially position the number. It has recognized. Therefore, even if the key top portion 152 corresponding to the operation key 150 used for inputting numbers is formed of the transparent member 132 like the surroundings, it can perform its function.

  In this way, by forming a mark indicating the function of the operation key 150, for example, a number or the like with the transparent member 132 in the same manner as other parts, it is possible to have an aesthetic appearance through the region of the operation unit 116, and the light. Due to the transparency, it is possible to prevent the user from being strongly aware of the presence of the operation unit 116.

  In addition, the display unit 114 can display a pattern image correlated and continuous with the pattern of the decoration unit 104.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a display example of the display unit 114. Here, a pattern correlated and continuous with the pattern of the decoration unit 104 is displayed on the display unit 114 when the power is turned on or in standby.

  With this configuration, the pattern is applied to both the base layer 130 and the surface layer 134 in an integrated and continuous (seamless) manner across the front surface of the PHS terminal 100 including the display unit 114, in addition to the operation unit 116. The presence of the display unit 114 can be made more unaware of the user.

  With the PHS terminal 100 described above, it is possible to improve the appearance of the exterior while maintaining strength, and to enhance the sense of luxury and the desire to purchase by integrally decorating the user interface such as the display unit 114 and the operation unit 116. It becomes possible.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the decorative portion is stacked on the front surface of the housing is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the decorative portion can be stacked on the side surface or the back surface of the housing.

  In the above-described embodiment, a straight-type PHS terminal is exemplified as the mobile terminal, but the shape is not limited to such a shape, and the foldable terminal in which the display unit and the operation unit are arranged on the same side in use. It can also be applied to sliding terminals and flip terminals.

  The present invention can be used for a portable terminal capable of wireless communication with a base station.

It is the functional block diagram which showed the hardware constitutions of the PHS terminal as a portable terminal. It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance of the PHS terminal. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the decoration part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the shape of the part corresponding to the operation key of a transparent member. It is the perspective view which showed the example of a display of a display part.

Explanation of symbols

100 ... PHS terminal (mobile terminal)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 ... Case 104 ... Decoration part 114 ... Display part 116 ... Operation part 130 ... Underlayer 132 ... Transparent member 134 ... Surface layer 150 ... Operation key 152 ... Key top part

Claims (4)

A housing provided with a display unit for displaying an image and an operation unit including a plurality of operation keys for receiving user input;
A decoration in which a base layer that forms a pattern, a transparent member, and a surface layer that forms a pattern that correlates with the pattern of the base layer are stacked in this order on the surface of the housing on which the display unit and operation unit are arranged And
With
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein a mark indicating the function of the key top portion corresponding to the operation key of the transparent member is formed by unevenness of the transparent member . The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein a decoration part is also superimposed on the operation part . The portable terminal according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the transparent member is dyed in the same color as the pattern of the base layer and the surface layer. The display unit is disposed in the surface of the operation portion and the same side, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image can be displayed in correlation and continuous pattern on the pattern of the decorative portion Mobile device.