KR100447881B1 - Method for power consumption reduction by controlling keypad back light and mobile phone implementing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power saving system of a mobile communication terminal. Particularly, in a relatively long-running program such as a game or IrDA, the present invention relates to controlling a light emitting unit of a keypad to reduce current consumption by turning off all light emitting units of a keypad or turning on only a specific area. By a power saving system.

In addition, according to the present invention, in a mobile communication terminal including a control unit, a display unit, a memory, a key input unit, an audio unit, a receiver unit, a duplexer, a power supply unit, when the on-control signals of the plurality of keypad light emitting units are inputted from the control unit, A key input unit which turns on the light emitting unit and turns off the input light emitting unit when an off control signal of the light emitting unit of the plurality of keypads is input; And when the game mode is selected by the user's key operation, proceeds to the game mode and, when the game is in progress, outputs an on control signal for the light emitting part of the key required for the game to the key input part and controls off of the light emitting part of the remaining keys. Outputting a signal to the key input unit, and when the data transmission mode is selected by a user's key operation, a power saving by keypad light emitting unit control including a control unit for outputting off control signals of all key light emitting units to the key input unit during data transmission An apparatus is provided.

Description

Power saving method by controlling keypad light emitting part and mobile communication terminal adopting the method {Method for power consumption reduction by controlling keypad back light and mobile phone implementing the same}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power saving system of a mobile communication terminal. Particularly, in a relatively long-running program such as a game or IrDA, the present invention relates to controlling a light emitting unit of a keypad to reduce current consumption by turning off all light emitting units of a keypad or turning on only a specific area. The present invention relates to a power saving method and a mobile communication terminal adopting the method.

Recently, with the development of information and communication technology, the number of users of mobile phones is increasing rapidly, and in order to meet the needs of various user groups, mobile phone manufacturers are conducting research efforts to embed various functions and make mobile phones lighter and smaller.

At this time, the capacity and size of the battery is an important factor to be considered in order to make the mobile phone light and small, and the research on methods that can be used for the same battery for a long time is being actively conducted.

On the other hand, the keypad is provided as a communication terminal such as a mobile phone is used as a switch device for signal generation and various function settings, such a keypad has a key printed with numbers or letters, this key is the front of the terminal Assembled in an operable state in the housing.

In most cases, the dome switch installed on the printed circuit board is located on the bottom of the keypad of the mobile phone, and the dome switch is elastically deformed by pressing the keys constituting the keypad, and the signal is generated by contacting the contacts provided on the printed circuit board. Or perform additional functions provided in the mobile phone.

As a material for manufacturing the keypad, plastic, silicone rubber, or a film having a predetermined thickness is used, and the shape and shape of the keypad are also manufactured in various forms.

By the way, in the keypad according to the prior art, the execution time is longer in comparison with other menus in the case of a game or IrDA, but the light emitting parts (LEDs) of all keypads are used during game or data transmission even though the keys except the arrow operation keys are rarely used. Since it is supposed to maintain the on state there was a problem that unnecessary power consumption occurs.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the light emission of the keypad to reduce the current consumption by turning off the light emitting portion of all the keypad or by turning on only a specific portion in a relatively long-running program such as a game or IrDA. It is an object of the present invention to provide a power saving system by secondary control.

1 is a perspective view showing a general keypad.

2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the keypad.

FIG. 3 is a layout view of the LED in FIG. 2.

4 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal having a power saving function by controlling a keypad light emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart of a power saving method by controlling a keypad light emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: control unit 102: key input unit

104: display unit 106: memory

108: transmitter 110: receiver

112: audio unit 114: duplexer

According to the present invention, a control unit, a display unit, a memory, a key input unit, an audio unit, a receiving unit, a duplexer, and a power supply unit in the mobile communication terminal, the on-control signals of the plurality of keypad light emitting unit from the control unit A key input unit to turn on the input light emitting unit when input, and to turn off the input light emitting unit when an off control signal of the light emitting units of the plurality of keypads is input; And when the game mode is selected by the user's key operation, proceeds to the game mode and, when the game is in progress, outputs an on control signal for the light emitting part of the key required for the game to the key input part and controls off of the light emitting part of the remaining keys. And a control unit for outputting a signal to the key input unit and outputting off control signals of all key light emitting units to the key input unit during data transmission when the data transmission mode is selected by the user's key operation.

The present invention also provides a mobile communication terminal including a control unit, a display unit, a memory, a key input unit, an audio unit, a receiver unit, a duplexer, and a power supply unit. A key input unit which turns on the light emitting unit and turns off the input light emitting unit when an off control signal of the light emitting units of the plurality of keypads is input; If the user selects "IrDA / In-Game LED OFF" menu by the user's key operation, it keeps switching to "IrDA / In-Game LED OFF" mode and proceeds to the game mode when the game mode is selected by the user's key operation. In this case, the on control signal for the light emitting part of the key required for the game is output to the key input part, and the off control signal for the light emitting part of the remaining keys is output to the key input part, and the data transmission mode is selected by the user's key operation. And a control unit for outputting the off control signals of all the key light emitting units to the key input unit during data transfer in the data transfer mode.

In addition, the present invention, the first step of switching to and holding the "IrDA / in-game LED OFF" mode when selecting the "IrDA / in-game LED OFF" menu according to the user's menu selection key operation; A second step of, when the user selects the game mode in the standby mode, proceeds to the game mode, turns on only the light emitting unit of the key necessary for the game progress, and proceeds to the standby mode when the game is finished; And a third step in which the user selects the data transmission mode in the standby mode, proceeds to the data transmission mode, turns off the light emitting part of the key during the data transmission, and proceeds to the standby mode after the data transmission is completed.

Referring to FIG. 1, a power saving system by controlling a keypad light emitting unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as follows.

1 is a perspective view showing a general keypad, Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the keypad, Figure 3 is a layout view of the LED in Figure 2.

In general, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the keypad 10 includes a pad 10 having a plurality of pressing parts 12 protruding from each other, and a pad 10 attached to the pad 10 to prevent the pressing part 12 from being pressed. It consists of a base plate 14 for closing the electronic circuit (not shown) having a dome deformed along, the pad 10 and the base plate 14 is made by bonding with an adhesive.

The pad 10 is made of a silicon plate, and a symbol, letter, or number is printed or imprinted on the plane of the pressing part 12 protruding to one side thereof so as to be recognized by a user. An indentation portion 12a of a predetermined depth is formed on the opposite side of the protruding side of the pressing portion 12, and the dome of the base plate 14 is pressed by pressing the pressing portion in the middle portion of the recessing portion 12a. The protrusion 12b which pushes and deforms is formed.

The base plate 14 has a two-layer structure in which an adhesive tape 20 is bonded to the plastic sheet 18. The plastic sheet 18 has holes 18a formed at predetermined intervals. The metal dome 22 is attached to the adhesive tape 20 via 18a. The metal dome 22 is elastic in the form of a plate bent in a convex mirror (or concave mirror) shape, and is attached to the adhesive tape 20 so that the convex surface faces the protrusion 12b.

The adhesive tape 20 is attached to the bottom surface of the pad 10, the outer surface of the plastic sheet 18 to illuminate symbols, letters, or numbers engraved on the plane of the pressing portion 12 in a dark place. An LED (Light Emitting Diode) 24 is coupled.

As shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of the LEDs 24 are disposed between the holes 18a and 18a.

When operating the keypad configured in this way, when the pressing part 12 is pressed, the projection 12b presses the center part of the metal dome 22, and the metal dome 22 touches the intermediate part P, and a signal is input. When the pressing part 12 is released, the signal input is interrupted by the elastic force of the metal dome 22 and the signal input is stopped, and the pressing part 12 and the metal dome 22 are returned to their original state.

On the other hand, if the surroundings are dark when the keypad is operated, the power is supplied to the LED 24 by the control of the control unit and the lid of the mobile phone, and the LED emits light, thereby illuminating the pressing part 12 of the keypad. . Therefore, the user can operate the keypad correctly even in the dark.

4 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal equipped with a power saving function by controlling a keypad light emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 100 controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal. The memory 106 stores a predetermined program for controlling the overall operation of the terminal, and stores data input and output when the overall operation of the terminal is performed by the controller 100 in a predetermined area. The duplexer 114 communicates with the base station through the antenna AT, and separates a transmitted / received signal. The receiver 110 receives a radio signal input through the antenna AT under predetermined control, receives the radio signal separated by the duplexer 114, amplifies, filters, and outputs a weak signal. do. The transmitter 108 receives a predetermined control to filter, amplify, and transmit a radio signal output from the audio unit 112 to be described below through the duplex 114 and transmit the antenna through the antenna AT. The audio unit 112 modulates the voice signal input through the microphone MIC into a wireless signal under the control of the controller 100, and demodulates the wireless signal received through the receiver 110 to voice the speaker SP. It sends out as a signal. In addition, when a ring signal is generated from a base station, the ring unit detects the ring signal and transmits the ring signal through a ringer. The key input unit 102 includes a plurality of numeric keys, and generates corresponding key data when the user presses a predetermined key and outputs the corresponding key data to the controller 100. The display unit 104 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying a variety of information, is controlled by the control unit 100, and the key data generated by the key input unit 102 and various information of the control unit 100. The signal is received and displayed.

Now, the operation of the mobile communication terminal equipped with a power saving function by controlling the light emitting unit of the keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, when the user selects the “IrDA / In-Game LED OFF” menu using the menu selection key through the key input unit 102, the controller 100 stores the selected menu in the memory 106.

Here, the "IrDA / In-Game LED OFF" menu allows only the light emitting portion of the arrow keys used in the game to be turned on among the plurality of light emitting portions of the key input unit 102 when the game mode is set, and to turn off the light emitting portions of the remaining keys. Menu.

Of course, this function can be set by the user's choice, but can be supported by default.

When the "IrDA / In-Game LED OFF" menu is selected and the user selects a game mode and proceeds with the game, the controller 100 turns on only the light emitting part of the arrow key used in the game and turns off the rest.

In this case, when use of different keys is required according to the type of game, the controller 100 turns on the light emitting units of the other keys.

Of course, the control unit 100 may turn on all the keys, but may turn on the light emitting unit for each key pressed by the user to maintain the state.

In addition, in the case of IrDA, the controller 100 turns off all LEDs because no key operation is required during data transmission.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a power saving method by controlling a keypad light emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the " IrDA / in-game LED OFF " menu is selected according to the user's menu selection key operation (step S112), the mode is switched to " IrDA / in-game LED OFF &quot; mode and maintained (step S114).

Next, it is determined whether the game mode / data transfer mode is in progress in the " IrDA / In-game LED OFF " mode (step S116).

As a result of the determination, if the game mode is selected (step S120), if the game is selected (step S122), it is determined whether or not the entire key is required for the game progress (step S124).

As a result of the determination, if the whole key is necessary for game play, after the whole key is turned on (step S126), it is determined whether the game is finished (step S128), and if the game is finished, it is determined whether the game mode / data transfer mode is in progress. The process is repeated from (Step S116).

On the other hand, as a result of the determination, if only some keys (especially arrow keys) are required for game progress, the light emitting portion of the required key is turned on and the light emitting portion of the other key is turned off (step S130).

Next, it is determined whether there is an input of another key signal (step S132), if there is an input of another key signal, the key signal of the corresponding key is turned on (step S134), and it is determined whether the game is finished (step S136), If this is completed, the process is repeated from the process of determining whether the game mode / data transfer mode is in progress (step S116).

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and should be interpreted by the appended claims.

According to the present invention as described above, it takes at least 5-10 minutes for the user to play the game and play more time while traveling or in the car, and there is an effect of preventing power loss.

In addition, according to the present invention, in the case of IrDA, it takes at least 1-2 minutes to transmit the melody and animation, and there is an effect of preventing power loss during that time.

Claims (6)

In the mobile communication terminal comprising a control unit, display unit, memory, key input unit, audio unit, receiving unit, duplexer, power supply unit, When the controller selects the "IrDA / In-Game LED OFF" menu using the menu selection key through the key input unit, the controller stores the selected menu in the memory, and when the game mode is selected by the user's key operation, the game proceeds to the game mode. And turning on the light emitters of the keys required for the game and turning off the light emitters of the remaining keys when the game is in progress. If the data transfer mode is selected by the user's key operation, all the key emitters are turned off during data transmission. The method of claim 1, The control unit selectively controls the light emitting unit of the key only when the "IrDA / in-game LED OFF" menu is selected by the user's key operation. A first step of switching to the " IrDA / in-game LED OFF " mode when the " IrDA / in-game LED OFF " menu is selected according to the user's menu selection key operation; Step 2-1 of proceeding to the game mode when the user selects a game mode in the standby mode; Step 2-2 of determining whether a total key is required for game progress if the game is selected in the game mode; As a result of the determination of step 2, if all keys are required for game progress, after turning on all keys, it is determined whether the game is over, and if the game is over, steps 2-3 and step 2-2; As a result of the determination, if only a portion of the key is required for the game progress, the second step comprising a second step to proceed to the standby mode by determining whether the game is finished after turning on the required key and off the remaining key; And When the user selects the data transmission mode in the standby mode, the method proceeds to the data transmission mode, the power saving method by the control of the keypad light emitting unit comprising a third step of proceeding to turn off the light emitting part of the key during data transmission, and proceeds to the standby mode after the data transmission is completed . delete The method of claim 3, wherein The required key of step 2-4 is an arrow key. The method of claim 3, wherein If only some of the keys are required for game play in steps 2-4, after turning on the necessary keys and turning off the remaining keys, Determining whether there is an input of another key signal; If there is an input of another key signal, turning on the key signal of the corresponding key and determining whether the game is finished; And If the game is over, the power saving method by the control of the keypad light emitting unit further comprising the step of proceeding to the standby mode.