JP5556228B2 - Power saving method, apparatus and program for small electronic device having display unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a small electronic device having a display unit and an operation unit, such as a mobile phone or a portable music player, and more particularly to current reduction during use of the small electronic device.

  In a small electronic device having a display unit such as a mobile phone or a portable music player, since the battery capacity is limited, reduction of current consumption becomes a very important problem. In particular, the current consumption of the display unit and the backlight for the display unit is greatly related to the usage time of the device, and various means are considered for reducing the current consumption.

  In this regard, in order to reduce the current consumption of the display unit and the backlight for the display unit, for example, the ambient brightness is sensed by using an illuminance sensor, and the backlight adjusts the display unit to the optimum illuminance. A means for reducing current consumption is described in Patent Document 1.

JP-A-4-343529

  As described above, the means described in Patent Literature 1 can reduce the amount of current of the backlight. However, in order to further extend the usage time of the apparatus, it is desirable to completely turn off the display unit and the display unit backlight.

  In addition, the user operates while viewing the display screen when operating the mobile phone or the portable music player, but does not see the display except during the operation. That is, it is desirable to turn off the display unit and the display unit backlight that consume a large amount of current except during operation.

  In particular, small electronic devices are often carried in bags or pockets because they are small. Then, when the button is pressed in the bag or pocket, it is assumed that the user has performed an operation, and the display unit and the display unit backlight are turned on, resulting in wasted current consumption.

  On the other hand, a small electronic device having a wireless communication device such as a mobile phone obtains information by connecting to the Internet or the like. However, the acquisition of information data is affected by the communication speed of the wireless communication system and the size of information data on the screen. A communication time longer than a certain time is required. In this regard, for the user, this communication time is a waiting time, and as a device, only a display such as “communication” and “information acquisition” is displayed on the screen. It is useless to turn on the display backlight.

  That is, it can be said that a plurality of problems as described below cannot be solved by a general technique.

  Here, the first problem is to reduce the current consumption of the display unit and the backlight for the display unit that consume a large amount of current in order to prolong the usage time of the device.

  The second problem is that it is desirable to turn on the display unit and the backlight for the display unit only at the minimum necessary level. This means that we want to solve this problem.

  The third problem is that it is desired to eliminate unnecessary current consumption by turning on the display unit and the display unit backlight only when the user needs information from the display unit. As a specific example, for example, when a mobile phone is put in a bag and an e-mail comes, even if the display is in the bag, the user cannot see the display, and the display unit and the backlight for the display unit in the meantime The current consumption is wasteful.

  Therefore, the present invention reduces the current during use by controlling the display unit and the backlight for the display unit in a small electronic device having a display unit and an operation unit such as a mobile phone or a portable music player, and uses the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a power saving method, a device thereof, and a program thereof for a small electronic device having a display unit capable of extending the time.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an illumination unit that can be turned on and off, a distance measuring sensor that measures the presence / absence of an object in the distance and a distance to the object, and an input that receives an operation from the outside And an electronic device having a timer that counts up to a predetermined time , when the input unit accepts an external operation, the timer starts counting and the ranging sensor starts measuring and, as a result of the distance measuring sensor was measured, there is an object on the distance, and, when the condition is satisfied when the is in the range of distance to the object is set in advance upper and lower limits determination and to light the lighting portion, without lighting the predetermined processing is performed while the illumination unit according to the operation when receiving an operation from the user. If not meet the above conditions, the timer is Before timeout, there is provided electronic equipment if not the condition is met again, characterized in that turns off the illumination unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a lighting unit that can be turned on and off, a distance measuring sensor that measures the presence / absence of an object in the distance and a distance to the object, and an input that receives an operation from the outside And a timer that counts up to a predetermined time, in a power saving method performed by an electronic device, the timer starts counting when the input unit accepts an external operation, and the distance measurement sensor starts a measurement result of the distance measuring sensor was measured, there is an object on the distance, and the condition in the case that is in the range of distance to the object is set in advance upper and lower limits If the condition is not satisfied and the condition is not satisfied, when an operation from the user is accepted, a predetermined process corresponding to the operation is performed, but the illumination unit is not turned on. , By serial timer times out, it is provided a power saving method characterized by turning off the illumination unit when not the condition is satisfied again.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, an illumination unit that can be turned on and off, a distance measuring sensor that measures the presence / absence of a distant object and a distance to the object, and an input that receives an operation from the outside Part, and a timer that counts up to a predetermined time, in a power saving program installed in an electronic device, as a result of measurement by the distance measuring sensor, there is an object in the distance, and When the distance to the object is within a range in which an upper limit and a lower limit are set in advance, it is determined that the condition is satisfied, and the illumination unit is turned on, and when the condition is not satisfied, an operation from the user the without lighting the predetermined processing is performed while the illumination unit according to the operation when receiving, by the time the timer times out, if not the condition is met again and electronic apparatus turns off the illumination unit Power saving program for causing a computer to function are provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to control the unnecessary lighting of the backlight by using the distance measuring sensor, to reduce the current during use, and to extend the usage time of the device. It becomes possible.

It is a block diagram showing the basic composition of the 1st and 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the example which implement | achieved the small electronic device 100 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention as a mobile telephone. It is a flowchart figure showing the operation | movement of the general technique relevant to this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure showing the operation | movement of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure showing the operation | movement of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  First, an outline of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In order to solve the above-described problem, the embodiment of the present invention includes a distance measuring sensor in the embodiment of the present invention, detects whether the operation of the operation unit is an intentional operation by the user, and displays the display unit and Controls turning on / off of the display backlight. Further, even during the operation by the user, the display unit and the display backlight for the standby time that are useless for the user are controlled to be turned on and off. That is, it provides means for controlling unnecessary lighting of the backlight and extending the usage time of the small electronic device. The above is the outline of the embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
In the following, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a small electronic device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  1, a small electronic device 100 according to the present invention includes an antenna 101, a wireless communication unit 102, a control unit 103, a display unit 104, a display backlight 105, a key input unit 106, a key input unit backlight 107, and a clock circuit 108. And a sound notification unit 109, a distance measuring sensor 110, a notification LED (Light Emitting Diode) 111, a peripheral circuit 112, and a battery 113. The display backlight 105 and the key input unit backlight 107 correspond to the “illumination unit” of the present invention.

  The antenna 101 and the wireless communication unit 102 have a function for the small electronic device 100 to transmit / receive data to / from the outside. As a specific example for realizing the present embodiment, when the small electronic device 100 is a mobile phone, the antenna 101 and the wireless communication unit 102 are realized by a wireless circuit that matches a known wireless telephone communication system.

  Moreover, when realizing this embodiment, it is not always necessary to provide all of the components shown in FIG. For example, in the case of a portable music player or a portable game machine as an example of the small electronic device 100, the antenna 101 and the wireless communication unit 102 may be realized by a wireless circuit compliant with a standard such as a wireless LAN system or Bluetooth (registered trademark). However, there is no need for a wireless circuit. In the case of a portable music player or a portable game machine, the notification LED 111 may not be provided.

  The control unit 103 has a function for controlling the operation of the small electronic device 100. The control unit 103 includes a series of devices, and specifically includes hardware such as a memory and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for storing and processing a program (software) for control. . These programs, CPU and memory are not shown.

  In addition, for driving control of the display unit 104, the display unit backlight 105, the key input unit 106, the key input unit backlight 107, the sound notification unit 109, the distance measuring sensor 110, the notification LED 111, and the peripheral circuit 112. In the following description, the drive circuit and the control means are also included in the control unit 103 (however, they are included in the control unit 103 for convenience of explanation, but may be configured by independent devices or ICs other than the control unit 103). Good).

  The control unit 103 executes various operations of the small electronic device 100 in response to a key input operation by the key input unit 106 from the user, and the display unit 104 performs screen display according to the operation. The display unit backlight 105 is controlled by the control unit 103 and is turned on and off together with the display unit 104. The display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 may be configured as a single device by organic electroluminescence (organic EL: Organic Electro-Luminescence) or the like, but will be described as separate devices in the present invention.

  The key input unit 106 receives a key input operation from the user. The key input unit backlight 107 is a light source for operating the key input unit 106 in the dark, and is turned on and off by the control unit 103. In the present invention, the lighting and extinguishing are controlled in the same manner as the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105, but may be controlled separately depending on the specifications and configuration of the device 100.

  The clock circuit 108 is used to control the operation clock of the CPU (not shown in the drawing as described above) in the control unit 103, the lighting of the display unit 104, the display unit backlight, and the key input unit backlight 107. Configured as a timer.

  The sound notification unit 109 is realized by a speaker or the like, and emits sound by the control unit 103 and a drive circuit (not shown) according to the operation of the small electronic device 100.

  The distance measuring sensor 110 is a sensor for measuring a distance by infrared rays or the like, and is mounted on the same surface as the display unit 104 of the small electronic device 100, so that the object from the distance measuring sensor 110 (display unit 104) to a distant object can be obtained. Measure distance.

  Here, FIG. 2 shows an example in which the small electronic device 100 is realized as a mobile phone. Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the display unit 104 and the distance measuring sensor 110 are mounted on the same surface. For convenience of explanation, the distance measuring sensor 110 is expressed as a single device, but the distance measuring sensor 110 may be composed of a plurality of devices. Further, the shape and size are not particularly limited.

  The measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is used for control of the control unit 103. Specifically, the control unit 103 controls the turning on / off of the display unit 104, the display unit backlight 105, and the key input unit backlight 107 according to the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110.

  Here, how to handle the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is arbitrary, but for example, it may be handled as “valid” and “invalid”. In this case, the setting is preferably made effective when an object is about 10 to 80 cm from the display unit 104 of the small electronic device 100.

  This is because it is preferable that the user operates the small electronic device 100 while looking at the display unit 104 at about 10 to 80 cm. This can be determined by the visibility of the display unit 104 and the length of the user's hand. On the other hand, when the size is 10 cm or less, the display unit is too close to be seen by the user, and when the small electronic device 100 is put in a bag or a pocket, an object far away from the distance measuring sensor 110 (display unit 104) is displayed. This distance is considered to be almost 0 cm, and it is preferable to set the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 to be invalid in these situations (less than 10 cm or 80 cm or more).

  Moreover, when there is no object about 10-80 cm, it can be considered that the display part is not visually recognized and operated by the user, and it is considered that the length of the human hand is exceeded at 80 cm or more. Therefore, it can be considered that the user is not visually recognizing. Even in this situation, the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is set to be invalid.

  The notification LED 111 is turned on and off by the control unit 103 and a drive circuit (not shown) according to the operation of the small electronic device 100. The peripheral circuit 112 is a vibrator, a camera lens, or the like, and may be omitted depending on the small electronic device 100. The battery 113 is a power source for the small electronic device 100.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is not a flowchart of the present embodiment, but a flowchart illustrating the operation of a general technique that is described for comparison with the present embodiment.

  3, the small electronic device 100 waits for an operation from the user, that is, the key input unit 106 receives an input (No in step S201 in FIG. 3).

  When the control unit 103 detects an input to the key input unit 106 (Yes in step S201 in FIG. 3), the control unit 103 initializes the t second timer that operates using the clock of the clock circuit 108, and then sets the t second timer. The display 104 and the display backlight 105 are turned on (step S202 in FIG. 3).

  Here, the t second timer counts the time from a key input operation once accepted until the next key input operation, and waits for the key input operation until the t second timer times out (No and No in step S203 in FIG. 3). No in step S204). In a general technique, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned on together with a key input operation, and when there is no key input operation before timeout (Yes in step S203 in FIG. 3), the display unit 104 and display unit The backlight 105 is turned off (step S205 in FIG. 3) to reduce current consumption. However, in a general technique, when there is a key input operation (No in step S204), whether the key input operation is an operation intended by the user or the small electronic device 100 is accidentally placed in a bag or pocket. Regardless of whether the key is pressed, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned on (step S202 in FIG. 3). Therefore, wasteful current consumption has been performed.

  Subsequently, other operations will be described. The control unit 103 counts the timer until the t-second timer is set in advance (t seconds) (step S203 in FIG. 3), and detects whether there is a key input operation during the t-second timer count (step S204 in FIG. 3). ). If there is a key input operation in step S204 in FIG. 3 (Yes in step S204 in FIG. 3), a predetermined process according to the key input operation is executed, and the process in step S202 is performed. When there is no key input operation before the time-out of the t-second timer, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned off (step S205 in FIG. 3), and input standby to the key input unit 106 is performed (step S201 in FIG. 3). ).

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  4, the small electronic device 100 waits for an operation from the user, that is, the key input unit 106 accepts an input (step S301 in FIG. 4). When detecting an input to the key input unit 106, the control unit 103 initializes a t-second timer that operates using the clock of the clock circuit 108, and activates the t-second timer (step S302 in FIG. 4).

  Here, the t-second timer counts the time until the key input operation of the key input unit 106 from the user, and the key input unit 106 waits for the key input from the user until the t-second timer times out.

  In the first embodiment, when the control unit 103 detects that the key input operation is valid according to the measurement result by the distance measuring sensor 110 by the key input operation, the control unit 103 determines that the key input operation is performed by the user. The backlight 105 is turned on.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 103 detects that the measurement result by the distance measuring sensor 110 is invalid, it is not a key input operation by the user, that is, the small electronic device 100 is accidentally pressed in a bag or pocket. The display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are not turned on. Thereby, useless current consumption can be prevented.

  The control unit 103 determines from the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 whether the key input operation performed in step S301 is intentional by the user (step S303 in FIG. 4).

  If it is detected in step S303 in FIG. 4 that the key is invalid, it is determined that the key input operation is not performed by the user, that is, the small electronic device 100 has been accidentally pressed in a bag or pocket (No in step S303 in FIG. 4). The control unit 103 counts the timer until the t-second timer is set in advance (t seconds) (step S304 in FIG. 4), and detects whether there is a key input operation during the t-second timer count (FIG. 4). Step S305).

  If it is detected in step S305 in FIG. 4 that there is a key input operation (Yes in step S305 in FIG. 4), predetermined processing according to the key input operation is executed, and processing in step S302 is performed. This is considered to be the case where the user is operating without looking at the display, for example, and the device 100 can be operated without turning on the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105, and the user is not viewing the display. Therefore, it is not necessary to turn on the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105, and wasteful current consumption can be prevented.

  If there is no key input operation in step S305 in FIG. 4 (No in step S305 in FIG. 4) and the t-second timer has timed out in step S304 (Yes in step S304 in FIG. 4), it is not intentional by the user. It can be determined that the key has been accidentally pressed, and input standby to the key input unit 106 is performed (step S301 in FIG. 4).

  In step S303 of FIG. 4, when it is detected that the key is valid, it is determined that the key input operation is performed by the user (Yes in step S303 of FIG. 4), and the control unit 103 turns on the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 ( FIG. 4 step S306).

  The control unit 103 counts the timer until the t-second timer is set in advance (t seconds) (step S307 in FIG. 4), and detects whether there is a key input operation during the t-second timer count (step S309 in FIG. 4). ).

  If it is detected in step S309 in FIG. 4 that there is a key input operation (Yes in step S309 in FIG. 4), predetermined processing according to the key input operation is executed, the t second timer is initialized, and the t second timer is set. Operate (step S310 in FIG. 4).

  The control unit 103 determines from the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 whether the key input operation performed in step S309 is intentional by the user (step S311 in FIG. 4).

  If it is detected as invalid in step S311 in FIG. 4 (No in step S3 in FIG. 4), it is determined that the key input operation is not performed by the user, that is, the small electronic device 100 is accidentally pressed in a bag or pocket. Then, the control unit 103 counts the t-second timer until a preset time (t seconds) (step S307 in FIG. 4) and detects whether there is a key input operation during the t-second timer count (FIG. 4). Step S309).

  When it is detected in step S309 in FIG. 4 that there is a key input operation (Yes in step S309 in FIG. 4), a predetermined process according to the key input operation is executed, and the process in step S310 is performed. For example, the user does not see the display when the next key is input (Yes in Step S309) after the user operates while looking at the display when the first key is input (Yes in Step S301 in FIG. 4). The small electronic device 100 can be operated without turning on the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 and the user is not watching the display. It is not necessary to turn on the backlight unit 105, and wasteful current consumption can be prevented.

  In step S309 in FIG. 4, when there is no key input operation (No in step S3 in FIG. 4) and the t-second timer has timed out in step S307 (Yes in step S3 in FIG. 4), it is not intentional by the user. It can be determined that the key has been accidentally pressed, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned off (step S308 in FIG. 4), and input standby to the key input unit 106 is performed (step S301 in FIG. 4).

  When it is detected as valid in step S311 in FIG. 4, it is determined that the key input operation is performed by the user (Yes in step S311 in FIG. 4), and the control unit 103 turns on the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 ( FIG. 4 step S306).

  Thereafter, while the user continues the key input operation while looking at the display unit 104, steps S306 to S311 are repeated. When the user is viewing the display unit 104 by the distance measuring sensor 110, the display unit 104, the display unit When the display backlight 105 is turned on and the user is not looking at the display unit 104, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned off. In this way, when the user is not looking at the display unit 104, it is possible to prevent unnecessary current consumption by turning off the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105.

  In the above description, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned on and off. However, the target may be controlled as the key input unit backlight 107. Further, the display unit 104, the display unit backlight 105, and the key input unit backlight 107 may be controlled. That is, for the small electronic device 100 provided with the key input unit backlight 107, the current consumption can be further reduced by controlling the lighting and extinction in the same manner as the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105. is there.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the key input operation is performed in the small electronic device 100, the control unit 103 detects the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110, so that the key input operation is performed by the user. It is possible to determine whether the operation is intentional or whether the small electronic device 100 is accidentally pressed in a bag or pocket.

  As a result, when the user is viewing the display unit 104, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned on, and when the user is not viewing the display unit 104, the display unit 104 and the display unit are displayed. The backlight 105 is turned off. In this way, when the user is not looking at the display unit 104, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned off to prevent unnecessary current consumption, thereby extending the life of the small electronic device 100. This can be done and the convenience to the user is improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the operation of another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The configuration of the small electronic device 100 in the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the small electronic device 100 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In recent years, not only mobile phones but also portable music players and portable game machines are equipped with an antenna 101 and a wireless communication unit 102, and the number of small electronic devices 100 having a communication function is increasing. The second embodiment prevents useless current consumption by controlling the turning on / off of the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 during internet browsing or wireless communication between the small electronic devices 100 in the small electronic device 100. To do.

  In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the small electronic device 100 is in a state of waiting for an input operation by the user or waiting for the next input operation after being operated by the user.

  When the control unit 103 detects a wireless communication start operation of the device 100 (Yes in step S401 in FIG. 5), the control unit 103 activates the distance sensor 110 and detects the measurement result of the distance sensor 110 (step S402 in FIG. 5).

  If the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is valid (Yes in step S401 in FIG. 5), the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned on (step S403 in FIG. 5), and whether there is a communication interruption operation by the user. It detects (step S405 in FIG. 5).

  On the other hand, if the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is invalid in step S402 (No in step S401 in FIG. 5), the display unit 104 and the display backlight 105 are turned off (step S404 in FIG. 5), and the process proceeds to step S405. Transition.

  If there is no communication interruption operation by the user (No in step S405 in FIG. 5), it is detected whether or not the wireless communication has ended (step S406 in FIG. 5), and if the wireless communication has not ended (step in FIG. 5). No in S406) The process returns to step S402, and the above processing is repeated thereafter.

  When the wireless communication is finished in step S406 (Yes in step S406 in FIG. 5), the control unit 103 initializes the t-second timer, activates the timer (step S407 in FIG. 5), and detects the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor. To do. Also in step S405, when there is a communication interruption operation by the user (Yes in step S405 in FIG. 5), the process proceeds to step S407. Here, the t-second timer is used to activate the distance measuring sensor 110 for a certain period of time and detect whether or not the user is looking at the display unit 104.

  In step S408, if the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is valid (Yes in step S408 in FIG. 5), the control unit 103 turns on the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 (step S409 in FIG. 5). The display unit 104 and the display backlight 105 are turned on until the t-second timer times out (No in step S410 in FIG. 5). If the time out has occurred (Yes in step S410 in FIG. 5), the display unit 104 and display unit The backlight 105 is turned off and the process shifts to a key input waiting state (step S413 in FIG. 5).

  In step S408, when the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is invalid (No in step S408 in FIG. 5), the control unit 103 turns off the display unit 104 and the display backlight 105 (step S411 in FIG. 5). The measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 is detected until the t second timer times out (No in step S412 in FIG. 5). If a time-out occurs in step S412, (Yes in step S412 in FIG. 5), the process shifts to a key input waiting state (step S413 in FIG. 5).

  Here, in the flow of steps S408 to S413, when there is a key input operation by the user, processing is performed according to the flow of FIG. 4 in the first embodiment. That is, the key input operation results in “Yes in step S301 in FIG. 4”, and the process proceeds to step S302 in FIG. If the key input operation is an operation for instructing the start of wireless communication, the processing after step S402 in FIG. 5 of this embodiment is performed. That is, the key input operation results in “Yes in step S401 in FIG. 5”, and the process proceeds to step S402 in FIG.

  In the above description, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 have been turned on and off. However, the target may be controlled as the key input unit backlight 107 as in the first embodiment. Further, the display unit 104, the display unit backlight 105, and the key input unit backlight 107 may be controlled. That is, for the small electronic device 100 provided with the key input unit backlight 107, the current consumption can be further reduced by controlling the lighting and extinction in the same manner as the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105. is there.

  Furthermore, the current measurement is further reduced by detecting the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor 110 using the start, interruption, and end of wireless communication as a trigger, and controlling the ON / OFF of the functions and components of the device 100. Is possible.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the start, stop, and end of wireless communication are used as triggers to control the lighting of the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 according to the measurement results of the distance measuring sensor. Reduce current consumption. For example, in the case of a mobile phone, when sending an e-mail or viewing a WEB site with a browser, the screen during communication is equivalent to no useful information for the user, and the life of the device 100 is considered to be extended. In addition, when information useful for the user is not displayed, when the user does not look at the display unit 104, or in both cases, the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 are turned off to be useless. This is because it is desirable to prevent current consumption.

  That is, according to the present invention, wasteful current consumption is reduced by detecting the measurement result of the distance measuring sensor using the start, interruption, and end of wireless communication as a trigger, and controlling the display unit 104 and the display unit backlight 105 to be turned on and off. It is possible to prevent the device 100 from being used for a longer time.

  The power saving device for a small electronic device having a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention can be realized by hardware. However, in order to cause a computer to function as a power saving device for a small electronic device having the display unit. This program can also be realized by reading and executing the program from a computer-readable recording medium.

  The power saving method for a small electronic device having a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention can also be realized by hardware, but a computer-readable recording medium for causing a computer to execute the method This can also be realized by reading from and executing.

  Moreover, although the above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation in the form is possible.

  A part or all of the above-described embodiment can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto.

(Supplementary note 1) In an electronic device having an illumination unit that can be turned on and off, and a distance measuring sensor that measures the presence or absence of an object in the distance and the distance to the object,
As a result of the measurement by the distance measuring sensor, it is determined that the condition is satisfied when the object in the distance is present and the distance to the object is within a range in which an upper limit and a lower limit are set in advance. And the lighting unit is turned on.

(Appendix 2) In the electronic device described in Appendix 1,
An input unit that accepts external operations;
A timer that counts up to a predetermined time;
Is further provided,
When the input unit accepts an operation from the outside, the timer starts counting and the distance measuring sensor starts the measurement. The electronic device is turned on and turns off the illumination unit when the condition is not satisfied again before the timer times out.

(Appendix 3) In the electronic device described in Appendix 1,
A communication unit for communicating with other electronic devices, a timer for counting up to a predetermined time,
Is further provided,
When the communication unit starts communication, the distance measuring sensor starts measurement, and as a result of performing the measurement, the illumination unit is turned on only when the condition is satisfied, and when the communication is completed or When the communication is interrupted, the measurement is restarted, and the illumination unit is turned on only when the condition is satisfied as a result of the measurement and the timer has not timed out. Electronic equipment.

(Supplementary Note 4) In the electronic device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3,
The electronic device, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating a display unit for presenting information to a user included in the electronic device.

(Appendix 5) In the electronic device according to any one of Appendixes 1 to 3,
The electronic device, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating an input unit for receiving an operation from a user included in the electronic device.

(Supplementary note 6) In the electronic device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5,
An electronic apparatus that controls either a sound notification section that emits sound or a vibrator that vibrates the electronic apparatus, or a combination thereof, along with the lighting section being turned on or off.

(Supplementary note 7) In a power saving method performed by an electronic device having an illumination unit that can be turned on and off, and a distance measuring sensor that measures the presence or absence of an object in the distance and the distance to the object,
As a result of the measurement by the distance measuring sensor, it is determined that the condition is satisfied when the object in the distance is present and the distance to the object is within a range in which an upper limit and a lower limit are set in advance. The power-saving method characterized in that the illumination unit is turned on.

(Appendix 8) In the power saving method described in Appendix 7,
An input unit that accepts external operations;
A timer that counts up to a predetermined time;
Is further provided,
When the input unit accepts an operation from the outside, the timer starts counting and the distance measuring sensor starts the measurement. The power-saving method, wherein the lighting unit is turned off when the condition is not satisfied again before the timer is timed out.

(Appendix 9) In the power saving method described in Appendix 7,
A communication unit for communicating with other electronic devices, a timer for counting up to a predetermined time,
Is further provided,
When the communication unit starts communication, the distance measuring sensor starts measurement, and as a result of performing the measurement, the illumination unit is turned on only when the condition is satisfied, and when the communication is completed or When the communication is interrupted, the measurement is restarted, and the illumination unit is turned on only when the condition is satisfied as a result of the measurement and the timer has not timed out. Power saving method.

(Supplementary Note 10) In the power saving method according to any one of Supplementary Notes 7 to 9,
The power-saving method, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating a display unit for presenting information to a user included in the electronic device.

(Supplementary Note 11) In the power saving method according to any one of Supplementary Notes 7 to 9,
The power-saving method, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating an input unit for receiving an operation from a user included in the electronic device.

(Supplementary note 12) In the power saving method according to any one of supplementary notes 7 to 11,
A power-saving method, wherein the lighting unit is turned on or off, and a sound notification unit that emits a sound or a vibrator that vibrates the electronic device or a combination thereof is controlled.

(Supplementary note 13) In a power saving program mounted on an electronic device having an illumination unit that can be turned on and off, and a distance measurement sensor that measures the presence or absence of an object in the distance and the distance to the object,
As a result of the measurement by the distance measuring sensor, it is determined that the condition is satisfied when the object in the distance is present and the distance to the object is within a range in which an upper limit and a lower limit are set in advance. A power saving program for causing a computer to function as an electronic device for lighting the illumination unit.

(Appendix 14) In the power saving program described in Appendix 13,
An input unit that accepts external operations;
A timer that counts up to a predetermined time;
Is further provided,
When the input unit accepts an operation from the outside, the timer starts counting and the distance measuring sensor starts the measurement. A power-saving program that turns on and turns off the illumination unit when the condition is not satisfied again before the timer times out.

(Appendix 15) In the power saving program described in Appendix 13,
A communication unit for communicating with other electronic devices, a timer for counting up to a predetermined time,
Is further provided,
When the communication unit starts communication, the distance measuring sensor starts measurement, and as a result of performing the measurement, the illumination unit is turned on only when the condition is satisfied, and when the communication is completed or When the communication is interrupted, the measurement is restarted, and the illumination unit is turned on only when the condition is satisfied as a result of the measurement and the timer has not timed out. Power saving program.

(Supplementary Note 16) In the power saving program according to any one of Supplementary Notes 13 to 15,
The power-saving program, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating a display unit for presenting information to a user included in the electronic device.

(Supplementary Note 17) In the power saving program according to any one of Supplementary Notes 13 to 15,
The power-saving program, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating an input unit for receiving an operation from a user included in the electronic device.

(Supplementary note 18) In the power saving program according to any one of Supplementary notes 13 to 17,
A power-saving program characterized by performing control of one or a combination of a sound notification unit that emits a sound and a vibrator that vibrates the electronic device, along with turning on or off the illumination unit.

  The present invention is suitable for, for example, a display unit at the time of key input, display unit illumination, and lighting on / off control of an input unit illumination in a small electronic device such as a cellular phone or a PHS (Personal Handyphone System).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Antenna 102 Wireless communication part 103 Control part 104 Display part 105 Display part backlight 106 Key input part 107 Key input part backlight 108 Clock circuit 109 Sound notification part 110 Distance sensor 111 Information LED
112 Peripheral circuit 113 Battery

Claims (6)

A lighting unit that can be turned on and off, a distance sensor that measures the presence of a distant object and the distance to the object, an input unit that accepts external operations, and counts up to a predetermined time An electronic device having a timer to
When the input unit accepts an operation from outside, the timer starts counting and the distance measuring sensor starts measuring,
Results the distance measuring sensor was measured, there is an object on said distance, and determines that the condition is satisfied when the is in the range of distance to the object is set in advance upper and lower limits The lighting unit is turned on, and when the condition is not satisfied, when an operation from the user is accepted, a predetermined process corresponding to the operation is performed, but the lighting unit is not turned on until the timer times out In addition, when the condition is not satisfied again, the electronic device is turned off. The electronic device according to claim 1 ,
The electronic device, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating a display unit for presenting information to a user included in the electronic device. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The electronic device, wherein the illumination unit is a backlight for illuminating an input unit for receiving an operation from a user included in the electronic device. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An electronic apparatus that controls either a sound notification section that emits sound or a vibrator that vibrates the electronic apparatus, or a combination thereof, along with the lighting section being turned on or off. A lighting unit that can be turned on and off, a distance sensor that measures the presence of a distant object and the distance to the object, an input unit that accepts external operations, and counts up to a predetermined time A power saving method performed by an electronic device having
When the input unit accepts an operation from outside, the timer starts counting and the distance measuring sensor starts measuring,
Results the distance measuring sensor was measured, there is an object on said distance, and determines that the condition is satisfied when the is in the range of distance to the object is set in advance upper and lower limits The lighting unit is turned on, and when the condition is not satisfied, when an operation from the user is accepted, a predetermined process corresponding to the operation is performed, but the lighting unit is not turned on until the timer times out In addition, when the condition is not satisfied again, the lighting unit is turned off. A lighting unit that can be turned on and off, a distance sensor that measures the presence of a distant object and the distance to the object, an input unit that accepts external operations, and counts up to a predetermined time In a power saving program installed in an electronic device having a timer to
As a result of the measurement by the distance measuring sensor, it is determined that the condition is satisfied when the object in the distance is present and the distance to the object is within a range in which an upper limit and a lower limit are set in advance. The lighting unit is turned on, and when the condition is not satisfied, when an operation from the user is accepted, a predetermined process corresponding to the operation is performed, but the lighting unit is not turned on until the timer times out In addition, a power saving program for causing a computer to function as an electronic device that turns off the illumination unit when the condition is not satisfied again .

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