JPH09311747A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to set an optional determination time of key input as to an operation key that the user selects by selecting a specified operation key out of operation keys and making the operation of the selected operation key effective. SOLUTION: In the electronic equipment, a specified operation key (opration key for key protection) is selected by a key selecting means out of the operation keys for the operation of the electronic equipment main body. As for this specified operation key, a key determination time is set individually by a key determination time setting means. Consequently, the specified key operation is operated continuously for the set key determination time and then the operation is determined. Operation keys which can be protected are, for example, a call key 42, function keys 43, an on-hook key 54, which are not covered with a key protection lid 51. Consequently, the electronic equipment is obtained which is easy to use.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device suitable for application to a mobile phone, a notebook personal computer or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic device that improves usability by allowing a user to arbitrarily set a fixed time at the time of key input for a predetermined operation key selected by the user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In electronic devices such as mobile phones and notebook personal computers, in order to prevent data loss due to erroneous operation of a very important operation key, for example, an operation key for turning on / off a power source. The operation is configured not to be confirmed unless the operation key is continuously operated for a certain time or longer.

[0003]

Conventionally, as described above, when the operation key is continuously operated for a certain period of time or more to confirm the operation, if the same device is used, the time determined by the specification is always used. The operation had to be continued for only (for example, 2 seconds), and the fixed time could not be changed. However, this fixed time often feels too long or, on the contrary, too short, depending on the sense of each user and the specification situation. It is also a fact that there are considerable differences between individual important operation keys.

Therefore, the present invention provides an electronic device in which the user can arbitrarily set the confirmation time at the time of key input for the operation key selected by the user.

[0005]

An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of operation keys for operating the operation of the body of the electronic device, and a key selection means for selecting a predetermined operation key from the plurality of operation keys. The key selecting time setting means for setting the key fixing time for making the operation valid for the operation key fixed by the key selecting means.

In the electronic device, the key selection means selects a predetermined operation key (an operation key for key protection) from a plurality of operation keys for operating the operation of the electronic device body. Then, with respect to the predetermined operation key, the key fixing time setting means individually sets the key fixing time. The operation of the selected predetermined operation key is confirmed by continuing the operation for the set key confirmation time.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a simplified portable telephone 10 as an embodiment.

The telephone 10 includes a microcomputer 11 for controlling the entire system (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer"), a transmitting / receiving antenna 12, and the antenna 1.
2 is down-converted to a π / 4 shift QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shim).
ft Keying) signal, a radio section 13 for up-converting a π / 4 shift QPSK signal output from a digital modulation / demodulation section described later to obtain a transmission signal of a predetermined frequency, and an output from the radio section 13 The π / 4-shifted QPSK signal is demodulated to obtain received data, and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Acces
s) a digital modulation / demodulation unit 14 for modulating transmission data output from the processing unit to obtain a π / 4 QPSK signal.

Further, the telephone set 10 selects preset downlink slot data from the received data (time-division multiplexed data of a plurality of slots) output from the digital modulator / demodulator 14, and divides it into control data and compressed voice data. At the same time, it has a TDMA processing unit 15 that multiplexes compressed audio data output from an audio codec unit, which will be described later, and control data output from the microcomputer 11 into a preset upstream slot.

The telephone 10 has a TDMA processing unit 15
Decoding processing (including error correction processing) is performed on the compressed audio data output by the above to obtain a reception audio signal, and compression encoding processing (including error correction code addition processing) is also performed on the transmission audio signal. ) To obtain compressed voice data, and this voice codec unit 16
It has a speaker (receiver) 17 to which a received audio signal is supplied, and a microphone (speaker) 18 for supplying a transmission audio signal to the audio codec section 16.

The telephone 10 has a voice codec section 1
6, the DTMF (Dual Tone) obtained as the received voice signal
Multiple frequency) signal is converted into key data corresponding to special input keys of “*” and “#” and numeric keys of “0” to “9”, and supplied to the microcomputer 11.
The key data corresponding to the special input keys of “*” and “#” and the numeric keys of “0” to “9” output from DT
A DTMF modulator / demodulator 19 which converts the MF signal into an MF signal and supplies the MF signal to the audio codec 16 as a transmission audio signal;
A conversion format storage unit 20 for converting key data output from the F modem unit 19 into character data. The conversion format storage unit 20 is connected to the microcomputer 11.

Further, the telephone set 10 records the received voice signal obtained by the voice codec section 16 in the answering machine mode, and records the received voice signal and the prerecorded response message (voice signal) by a key described later. A voice recording / playback unit 21 for reproduction by operation of the input unit or control of the microcomputer 11, a vibration generation unit 22 for vibrating the telephone body by control of the microcomputer 11 when a call is received when the vibration mode is set, and a vibration mode. When there is no setting, the microcomputer 11
And a ringing tone output unit 23 that outputs a ringing tone under the control of. Here, the audio recording / reproducing unit 21 has, for example, a semiconductor memory as a recording medium of the audio signal. The operation of the audio recording / reproducing unit 21 is controlled by the microcomputer 11,
A signal indicating the operation state of the audio recording and reproducing unit 21 is supplied from the audio recording and reproducing unit 21 to the microcomputer 11.

Further, the telephone 10 gives an instruction to make a call,
Enter a call key for answering an incoming call, a call end key for ending a call, a function key for switching to a phonebook registration mode, an answering machine mode, a vibration mode, a key fixing time setting mode, a telephone number, etc. A key input section provided with a ten-key pad, a special input key, a recording key for operating the recording / playback of the voice recording / playback section 21, a playback key, a volume control key for adjusting a receiving sound, a ringing tone, and the like. 24
have. The key input unit 24 is connected to the microcomputer 11, and the key operation of the key input unit 24 is monitored by the microcomputer 11.

In the above-mentioned key fixing time setting mode, the user can select an operation key for key protection and set the key fixing time of the operation key. As a result, with respect to the operation key selected as the operation key for key protection, the operation is confirmed by continuing the operation for the set key confirmation time.

The telephone 10 has a nonvolatile memory 25 for storing telephone directory data, redial data, character message data transmitted from the other party, mode setting information, and the like; Timer section 28 that counts time from an arbitrary point in time
And a liquid crystal display (LCD) 26 for displaying the state of the system, the telephone number of the other party at the time of calling, a text message transmitted from the other party, and the like. The liquid crystal display 26 is driven by an LCD driver 27 controlled by the microcomputer 11.

2 and 3 show the appearance of the telephone 10, and the parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

An antenna 12 is provided at the upper end of the telephone body 40.
Is arranged. Further, a sound passage hole 41 for guiding sound from the built-in speaker to the outside is formed above the main body 40, and the liquid crystal display 26 is disposed below the sound passage hole 41. further,
The microphone 18 is arranged below the main body 40. A call key 42, a function key 43, and an end key 44 are horizontally arranged below the liquid crystal display 26 in the center of the main body 40. The end key 44 is a power on / off key when pressed for a long time.

Further, below the keys 42 to 44, left, right, up and down cursor movement keys 45, a registration key 46 for shifting to a telephone book registration mode, a clear key 47 for clearing input data, and a ten key 48. , Special input key 4
9, 50 are arranged. Here, the cursor movement key 4
The "↑" key which constitutes 5 also serves as a key for starting a search of redial data or telephone directory data, and "↓"
The key is also used to shift to a character transmission mode during a telephone call and to confirm received character data.

The main body 40 is provided with a key protection lid 51 which is openable and closable with the arrangement portion of the microphone 18 as a fulcrum. When the key protection lid 51 is closed, the keys 45 to 50 are covered. Therefore, the keys 45-5
Operation 0 must be performed with the key protection cover 51 opened. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the key protection cover 51 is removed.

The voice recording / reproducing unit 2 is provided on the side of the main body 40.
Recording key 5 for operating recording and playback of 1 (see FIG. 1)
2 and a reproduction key 53, and a volume adjustment key 54 for adjusting the volume. The volume adjustment key 54 is
The configuration is such that the volume increases when the side is pressed, and decreases when the side is pressed.

Next, the operation of the telephone 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

Since the control channel is out of synchronization when the power is turned on, the control channel transmitted from the base station is received and synchronization with the control channel is established.
Thereafter, location registration that the user is in the area of the base station is performed. This location registration is done using the call channel. After the location registration is completed, it returns to the control channel reception state and enters the standby state.

In the telephone 10 shown in FIG. 1, the telephone number of the other party is input by operating the keys of the key input unit 24 (numerical keypad 48 or the like), or the call key 42 is pushed after the redial data or the telephone directory data is retrieved. When operated, first, the telephone number data or the like is supplied as control data from the microcomputer 11 to the TDMA processing unit 15 and transmitted to the base station through the control channel. As a result, the line connection with the other party is established, and a call is made possible.

Here, the communication is performed using the communication channel. At the time of the line connection processing, the communication frequency and the slot position data of the communication channel are transmitted as control data from the base station using the control channel, and the TDMA processing is performed. The data is supplied from the unit 15 to the microcomputer 11. The microcomputer 11
The radio section 13 is controlled based on the communication frequency data so that the transmission / reception frequency matches the communication frequency of the communication channel, and the slot selected by the TDMA processing section 15 is set based on the slot position data. Therefore, the call is made using the call channel notified from the base station.

When the base station uses the control channel to transmit call data as control data, the TDMA processing unit 15 supplies the call data to the microcomputer 11, and when the incoming call is detected, the microcomputer 11 issues a ring tone. The output unit 23 is controlled to output a ringing tone, or the microcomputer 11 controls the vibration generator 22 to vibrate the telephone body 40.

With this calling operation being performed,
When the call key 42 is operated and there is a response, the microcomputer 11
Response data is more control data than the TDMA processing unit 15.
And transmitted on the control channel to the base station. As a result, the line connection with the other party is established, and a call is made possible. Also in this case, the communication is performed using the communication channel notified from the base station.

In the talking state, the compressed voice data transmitted through the talking channel is output from the TDMA processing unit 15. The compressed audio data is supplied to the audio codec 16 and subjected to an encoding process, and then converted into an analog signal. Then, the received audio signal output from the audio codec section 16 is supplied to the speaker 17 and the speaker 1
7 outputs a sound.

The transmission audio signal output from the microphone 18 is supplied to the audio codec 16 and converted into a digital signal, and then subjected to a compression encoding process to form compressed audio data. Then, the audio codec section 16
The output compressed audio data is supplied to the TDMA processing unit 15 and transmitted to the other party through a communication channel.

In this case, "↓" of the cursor movement key 45
By operating the keys, ten keys 48 and special input keys 4
Character data can be transmitted by using the characters 9 and 50. In this case, the DTMF signal corresponding to the operated key is DT
The audio codec section 16 is output from the MF modulation / demodulation section 19.
Is supplied as a transmission audio signal.

Further, as described above, the calling data is TDM.
When an incoming call is supplied from the A processing unit 15 to the microcomputer 11 and an incoming call is detected, when the answering machine mode is set, a ringing tone is output only for a predetermined time, and the telephone is automatically answered to be in a call ready state. . Then, after a response message to the effect that the received voice signal is recorded is transmitted to the calling side, the recording of the received voice signal is started by the voice recording / reproducing unit 21.

When the other party sends character message data by a DTMF signal during voice recording or during a call, the key data output from the DTMF modulator / demodulator 19 is stored in a conversion format under the control of the microcomputer 11. It is converted to character data by referring to the section 20, and the character data is written in the character message area of the non-volatile memory 25. When the character data is written in the non-volatile memory 25 as described above, the character message based on the character data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 26 and confirmed by long-pressing the “↑” key of the cursor movement key 45. It becomes possible.

Next, the operation when the function key 43 is used to shift to the key fixing time setting mode will be described. In this fixed time setting mode, the microcomputer 11 operates as shown in FIG.
The operation of the system is controlled according to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step ST1, the liquid crystal display 26
Is controlled so that a message "Which key should be set?" Is displayed to prompt the user to select an operation key for key protection. Then, step ST2
Then, the timer 1 is started, and it is determined in step ST3 whether or not the operation key is selected. In this case, the operation key is selected, for example, by operating (pressing) the corresponding operation key. Further, the timer 1 is composed of the timer unit 28, and is reset at the time of start. The same applies to the following timers 2 to 5.

If no operation key is selected in step ST3, it is determined in step ST4 whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed by referring to the timer 1. If 10 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step ST3 to continue determining whether or not the operation key has been selected. On the other hand, when 10 seconds have passed, the process proceeds to step ST27 to cancel the key fixing time setting mode.

Next, when the operation key is selected in step ST3, in step ST5, it is determined whether or not the selected key is an operation key capable of setting a key fixing time, that is, an operation key capable of key protection. To determine. The operation keys that can be key-protected are, for example, the call key 42 and the function key 4 which are not covered with the above-mentioned key protection lid 51.
3, the end call key 44 and the like.

If the key selected in step ST5 is not a key for which the key fixing time can be set, the liquid crystal display 26 is controlled to display the message "This key cannot be set", and the process returns to step ST1. Then, in step ST5, when the selected key is a key for which the key fixing time can be set, the process proceeds to step ST7, and the liquid crystal display 26 is displayed with "key touch input is 1 and numeric keypad numeric input is 2". Control "to display the message" Start. Timer 2 is started in step ST8. "

Then, in step ST9, it is determined whether or not there is a key operation of "1" or "2". When there is no key operation, it is determined in step ST10 whether or not 30 seconds have elapsed by referring to the timer 2. When 30 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step ST9 and continues to determine whether or not there is a key operation. On the other hand, when 30 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step ST27 to cancel the key fixing time setting mode. If there is a key operation in step ST9,
In step ST11, key touch input (“1” key)
Or it is a numerical value input (“2” key).

If the numerical input is made in step ST11, the liquid crystal display 26 is controlled to display the message "Please input the number of seconds with the ten keys" in step ST12, and the timer 3 is started in step ST13. Let Then, in step ST14, it is determined whether or not the numeric keypad is operated. When there is no numeric keypad operation,
In step ST15, it is determined with reference to the timer 3 whether 10 seconds have elapsed. If 10 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step 14 to continue determining whether or not the ten key has been operated. On the other hand, when 10 seconds have passed, the process proceeds to step ST27 to cancel the key fixing time setting mode.

In step ST14, when the numeric keypad is operated and the set number of seconds Ta is input, step ST1
At 6, it is determined whether Ta <T1. T1 is the preset upper limit of the key confirmation time. Ta <T1
If not, the process returns to step ST12 to prompt the user to re-enter the number of seconds using the ten keys. On the other hand, when Ta <T1, the key confirmation time is set to Ta in step ST17, and the key confirmation time setting mode is canceled in step ST27. Further, when Ta <T1 is not satisfied, the key confirmation time may be set to T1.

When the key touch input is made in step ST11, control is performed in step ST18 so as to display the message "Please continue to operate the key for the desired time" on the liquid crystal display 26, and then step ST1.
At 9, the timer 4 is started. And step S
At T20, it is determined whether or not there is a key operation. When there is no key operation, it is determined in step ST21 whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed with reference to the timer 4. If 10 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step ST20 to continue determining whether or not there is a key operation. On the other hand, when 10 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step ST27 and the key fixing time setting mode is released.

When there is a key operation in step ST20, the timer 5 is started in step ST22, and it is determined in step ST23 whether the key operation is continued. When the key operation is completed, step ST24
Then, the key touch duration time (operation duration time) Tb is measured with reference to the timer 5.

Next, in step ST25, it is determined whether Tb <T1. If Tb <T1 is not satisfied, the process returns to step ST18 to prompt the key touch input again. On the other hand, when Tb <T1, step ST2
In step 6, the key confirmation time is set to Tb, and step ST27
Use to cancel the key fixing time setting mode. Also, Tb <
When it is not T1, the key fixing time may be set to T1.

As described above, in the operation according to the flow chart of FIG. 4, in the key fixing time setting mode, after selecting the operation key for which the key fixing time can be set, the key fixing time is numerically input by operating the ten keys. It can be set, or can be set by the time when the key operation is actually continued.

Although the above-described embodiments apply the present invention to a simple mobile phone, the present invention can also be applied to other portable terminal devices and electronic devices such as notebook personal computers. Of course.

[0045]

According to the present invention, since the user can arbitrarily set the fixed time at the time of key input with respect to the predetermined operation key selected by the user, it is possible to obtain a user-friendly electronic device. Further, by setting the fixed time at the time of input to the time input with the ten-key pad, it becomes possible to perform accurate time setting.

Further, by setting the fixed time at the time of input to the time when the operation key is actually continuously operated, it becomes possible to set the time in which the user's operational feeling is emphasized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a simplified mobile phone as an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the simplified mobile phone (with a key protection cover removed).

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a simplified mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control in a key confirmation time setting mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 simple mobile phone 11 microcomputer 12 antenna for transmission / reception 13 radio section 14 digital modulation / demodulation section 15 TDMA processing section 16 voice codec section 17 speaker 18 microphone 19 DTMF modulation / demodulation section 20 conversion format storage section 21 voice recording / reproducing section 22 vibration generating section 23 Ringer Output Section 24 Key Input Section 25 Nonvolatile Memory 26 Liquid Crystal Display Section 27 LCD Driver 28 Timer Section

Front page continued (72) Inventor Yoshito Takeshima 1-21-1 Ikenohata, Taito-ku, Tokyo Aiwa Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ryoji Terada 1-2-11 Ikenohata, Taito-ku, Tokyo Iwa Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of operation keys for operating an operation of an electronic device main body, a key selection means for selecting a predetermined operation key from the plurality of operation keys, and an operation key selected by the key selection means. An electronic device comprising: a key fixing time setting means for setting a key fixing time for validating an operation. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the key fixing time setting means sets the key fixing time to a time input with a ten-key pad. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the key fixing time setting means sets the key fixing time to a time when the operation key is actually continuously operated. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the key fixing time setting means does not set a time exceeding a predetermined time as the key fixing time.