JP2003198668A - Portable equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To prevent useless consumption of charging power of a battery while performing a lighting operation so that it can be confirmed even in darkness. An illumination mode is set by turning on an illumination button (5a) of an operation unit (5). In this illumination mode, if the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 11 is less than the threshold and the surroundings are dark, the incoming call lamp 3 blinks, and the operation keys of the display screen 4a and the operation unit 5 are brightly blinking. Therefore, by attaching the mobile phone 1 in this illuminated state to the waist of the user or the like, the presence of the user can be easily recognized even in darkness. In addition, when the user enters a bright place in such a lighting state, the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 11 becomes equal to or larger than the threshold, and the illumination of the incoming lamp 3, the display screen 4a, and the operation keys of the operation unit 5 disappears. As a result, useless illumination is avoided, and useless power consumption due to this can be suppressed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable device equipped with a lighting unit that emits light according to the surrounding environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable telephone is provided with an illuminating device such as an incoming call notification lamp which blinks together with a ring tone when an incoming call is received, and an illuminating device for illuminating a display screen and operation buttons of an operating section when an incoming call is received. . However, such a lighting device is provided as means for notifying the user that an incoming call has been received. The incoming call lamp also has the function of notifying the charging status of the battery,
In addition, the illumination device of the display unit and the operation unit also has a function of facilitating the operation even in a dark place.

On the other hand, as an additional function, a mobile phone equipped with an illumination device for making a driver of an automobile or a bicycle recognize the presence of a pedestrian at night is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-224287. Is disclosed in. This is to provide a lighting unit on the display unit and the operation unit of the mobile phone, and further to the transmitting / receiving antenna, and to make the lighting unit and the lamp for incoming call notification blink in a predetermined pattern by a predetermined operation of the operation unit. . Alternatively, by setting the time, the lights are continuously lit for the set time.

According to such a portable telephone, in a dark place, by operating the operating portion to blink or continuously turn on the illumination device (hereinafter, simply referred to as "lighting"), the illumination is turned on even from a distance. Since the user can see it, a user of the bicycle or automobile can easily recognize his / her own existence by carrying this mobile phone on his / her waist while the lighting device is in a lighting state, and a traffic accident can occur. It is useful for prevention and crime prevention.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional mobile phone, when the lighting device is caused to perform the lighting operation,
Even if the surroundings become bright, the blinking or lighting operation continues as it is unless the operation is stopped. As a course where the user walks, there are not only dark places at night, but also places where the surroundings are bright and lighting by a lighting device is not necessary due to lighting in a store or the like, and in such a place, the user inadvertently operates the lighting device. If the cancel operation is forgotten, useless lighting operation is performed as it is, and moreover, battery charging power is wasted.
It is troublesome to perform an operation for stopping the operation of an illumination device that has been operated for illumination during walking, and it is often forgotten.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a portable device capable of preventing unnecessary consumption of battery charging power while performing lighting operation.

Further, in the conventional mobile phone described above, the illumination operation of the illumination device cannot be started unless the operation section is operated. Therefore, for example, if the mobile phone is left somewhere, it will take time and effort to find the mobile phone in the event of a power failure. In order to prevent this, it is sufficient to operate the operation unit and leave the lighting device in the lighting operation state, but as a matter of course, the charging power of the battery is wastefully consumed unless a power failure occurs. become.

Another object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, to provide a portable device capable of starting lighting with a sudden change in the surrounding environment and preventing unnecessary consumption of battery charging power. Especially.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an illuminating means, a control means for controlling the illuminating means, and an illuminance detecting means, the control means detecting the illuminance detecting means. The configuration is such that the illumination means is turned on and off according to the illuminance.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned other object, the present invention comprises an illumination means, a control means for controlling the illumination means, and an illuminance detecting means, and the control means presets the illuminance detected by the illuminance detecting means. The time value of the detected illuminance when the detected illuminance becomes less than the first threshold value by comparing the temporal change value of the detected illuminance value with the preset second threshold value. When the change value is equal to or more than the second threshold value, the illumination means is operated for a predetermined time set in advance to perform illumination.

Further, the present invention comprises illumination means, control means for controlling the illumination means, and illuminance detection means, and the control means compares the detected illuminance of the illuminance detection means with a preset first threshold value. In addition, the time when the detected illuminance is equal to or greater than the first threshold value is measured, the measured time is compared with a preset second threshold value, and the measurement when the detected illuminance is less than the first threshold value is performed. When the time is equal to or more than the second threshold value, the illumination means is operated to illuminate, and the detected illuminance is the first
When the measurement time when it is less than the threshold value of is less than the second threshold value, the illumination means is not operated.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a first embodiment of a mobile device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a mobile phone of this embodiment, 2 is a control unit, 3 is an incoming call notification lamp,
4 is a display unit, 5 is an operation unit, 6 is a microphone, 7 is a battery,
Reference numeral 8 is a speaker, 9 is a transmitting / receiving unit, 10 is an antenna, 11 is an illuminance sensor, 12 is a display illuminating device, and 13 is an operating unit illuminating device. In addition, here, a mobile phone will be described as an example of the mobile device.

In the figure, in the mobile phone 1, electric power is supplied to each part from the battery 7, and a reception signal from the transmission / reception part 9 via the antenna 10, an operation signal at the operation part 5, a detection output from the illuminance sensor 11, etc. Based on the above, the control unit 2 controls each unit. The display unit 4 has a display unit illumination device 12 for illuminating its display screen (not shown), and the operation unit 3 has an operation unit for illuminating its operation button (not shown) brightly. Illumination devices 13 are provided respectively, and the illuminance sensor 11 is the mobile phone 1
Detects the brightness (illuminance) around the.

When an incoming signal is received by the transmitter / receiver 9 via the antenna 10, the controller 2 activates the speaker 8 to generate an incoming tone (a vibrator (not shown) may be activated) and an incoming call is received. The notification lamp 3 is blinked to notify the user that there is an incoming call. In addition, the display illumination device 12 and the operation portion illumination device 13 are operated to activate the display portion 4.
The operation unit 5 is illuminated as described above to facilitate the operation, especially when there is an incoming call at night. When the call starts, the control unit 2 turns off the incoming call notification lamp 3 and
When the call ends, the display unit lighting device 12 and the operation unit lighting device 13 stop lighting.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the front surface of the mobile phone 1 in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 4a is a display screen, 5a is an illumination button, and portions corresponding to FIG. Attached.

Next, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. On the front surface of the mobile phone 1, a display screen 4a of a display unit 4 is provided on the upper side thereof.
A speaker 8 and an incoming call notification lamp 3 are provided on the upper side thereof, and an operation section and a microphone 6 are provided on the lower side thereof. Operation part 5
Includes operation keys and letters, numbers, and
Dial buttons for inputting symbols, various function keys, etc. are provided, but in the first embodiment, an illumination key 5a is further provided. An illuminance sensor 11 is provided on the upper right side of the mobile phone 1, for example.

The illumination key 5a is for operating illumination devices such as the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 regardless of whether or not there is an incoming call. That is, when the illumination key 5a is turned on, the control unit 2 captures the detection result of the illuminance sensor 11 and the ambient brightness (illuminance) of the mobile phone 1 is set in advance and is equal to or less than the illuminance threshold L _th. It is determined whether or not it is, and it is detected whether or not the surroundings are dark. The illuminance is this illuminance threshold L _th
When the surroundings are bright as described above, the control unit 2 controls the mobile phone 1
The held to remain at that time, but when the illuminance becomes dark surroundings below this intensity threshold L _th, the control unit 2 flashes the incoming notification lamp 3, The display unit lighting device 1
2 and the operation unit lighting device 13 are started to operate and blink,
The display screen 4a is made brighter and each operation key of the operation unit 5 is made brighter.

Although the illumination key 5a is provided as a dedicated operation key in the operation section 5, the present invention is not limited to this, and the existing operation key in the operation section 5 may also be used. Good.

In FIG. 2, the illuminance sensor 11 is illustrated as protruding from the side surface of the mobile phone 1, but this is illustrated for convenience of explanation.

As a result, in darkness, it is possible to recognize the presence of the mobile phone 1 from a long distance by the light of the operation keys of the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display screen 4a, and the operation unit 5. By attaching the mobile phone 1 to the waist or the like of the user, it is possible to clearly inform the driver of a bicycle or an automobile that the user is present.

When the user walks on the street or the like with the mobile phone 1 attached to his waist or the like, and enters a shopping street or the like on the way, the surroundings become bright and the illuminance sensor 1
When the detected illuminance of 1 becomes _{equal to} or more than the above-mentioned illuminance threshold L _th , the control unit 2 detects this and stops the illumination operation of the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13, and turns off the light. Then, when it passes through a place with a bright environment such as a shopping street and becomes dark again, the control unit 2 detects it from the illuminance sensor 11, and the incoming call notification lamp 3 and the display illumination device 12,
The operation unit lighting device 13 is operated to return to the above-mentioned blinking lighting state.

Next, the operation relating to the illumination of the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The mode set when the illumination key 5a is operated to perform the illumination operation of the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 will be referred to as an illumination mode hereinafter.

In the figure, when the illumination mode is not set (steps 100 and 101), when there is no incoming call (step 106), the process returns to step 100 via step 109, and accordingly, steps 100, 101,
A series of operations 106 and 109 are performed and the system is in a standby state. Also, if there is an incoming call in such a state (step 10
6), the control unit 2 (FIG. 1) performs the operation of canceling the illumination mode (that is, the operation of turning off the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display unit illumination device 12, and the operation unit illumination device 13) (step 107: If the lighting mode is not set, this operation may be omitted), and a series of control operations (for example, a call) for the incoming call notification are performed (step 108). When this operation is completed, the process returns to step 100 and the above-mentioned standby state is entered.

In the standby state, when the illumination key 5a of the operation unit 5 is operated to request the illumination mode (steps 100 and 101), the control unit 2 sets the illumination mode (step 102) and the illuminance sensor. 11 (FIG. 1) captures the detection illuminance is compared with a preset intensity threshold L _th (step 103). Then, when the detected illuminance is _{equal to} or higher than the illuminance threshold L _th , the illumination mode in which the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 are blinked is executed (step 104), but the detection is performed by the illumination threshold L _th. When it is less than, the execution of the illumination mode is interrupted, and the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, the operation illumination device 1
3 is prevented from blinking (step 105), and the process returns to step 100.

After that, since the illumination mode is set (step 100), when there is no incoming call (step 106), the process proceeds to step 110 via step 109, at which time the illumination key 5a is operated again to illuminate. If there is a mode release request, the control unit 2 releases it (step 111) and enters the standby state from the step 100, but if there is no illumination mode release request (step 110), the control unit 2 captures the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 11 and compares it with a preset illuminance threshold L _th (step 103). When the detected illuminance is _{equal to} or greater than the illuminance threshold L _th , the incoming call notification lamp 3 and the display illumination device 12 are displayed. The illumination mode for blinking the operation unit illumination device 13 is executed (step 104), but when the detection is less than the illuminance threshold L _th ,
The execution of the illumination mode is interrupted, the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 are turned off (step 105), and the process returns to step 100. As a result, when the mobile phone 1 enters a bright place such as a shopping street while operating the illumination key 5a to execute the illumination mode, the control unit 2
Interrupts the execution of the illumination mode, and turns off the incoming call lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13.

When the illumination mode is set (step 100: In this case, even when the illumination mode for blinking the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 is being executed, Also, if an incoming call is received while the execution of this mode may be suspended (step 10)
6) Then, the control unit 2 cancels the set illumination mode (step 107). When the incoming call operation is started and ended (step 108), step 10
It returns to 0 and enters the above standby state.

FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the blinking pattern of the incoming call lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 in the illumination mode.

[0028] FIG. 4 (a) incoming call notification lamp 3, the display unit illumination device 12 and the operating unit illumination device 13 is lit at the same time, there is shown a blinking pattern in the case of off, the time t ₁
Represents the cycle of this blinking pattern, and time t ₂ (<t ₁ ) represents the lighting period. The times t ₁ and t ₂ can be set arbitrarily, but as an example, they may be set as the repeating cycle of the ringing tone (and thus the repeating cycle of the vibration of the vibrator).

Further, FIG. 4B shows a blinking pattern when the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12 and the operation illumination device 13 are turned on at different timings. That is, assuming that these blinking periods are t ₀ , the period t ₀
When the inner time t _a by incoming notification lamp 3 lights, in the next time t _b, the display unit illumination device 12 is lit, further in the next time t _c, the operation unit illuminating device 13 is turned on. In this case, like _{t a = t b = t c} = t 0/3, the time t _a, t _b, to be able to arbitrarily set the t _c, also in FIG. _{4 (b), t a +} t b Although + is a t _c = t _0, the time t _a, t _b, may also be partially overlapped between the lighting time of the front and rear shown in t _c, it may be separated in reverse.

As described above, in the first embodiment,
When the surroundings become dark while the illumination button 5a is in the ON state, this environmental change is detected from the detection output of the illuminance sensor 11, and the incoming call notification lamp 3 and the display screen 4a are automatically detected.
The operation keys of the operation unit 5 are illuminated respectively, and the mobile phone 1 can be provided with a function as a marker light indicating its presence. However, even if such an illumination state is set, when the surroundings become bright, the illuminance is reduced. This environmental change is detected from the detection result of the sensor 11, and the illumination of the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display screen 4a, and the operation keys of the operation unit 5 is automatically stopped while the vehicle is passing through this bright place. It is possible to eliminate the wasteful consumption of the electric power of the battery 7 without requiring the user to operate.

Next, a second embodiment of the mobile phone according to the present invention will be described.

This second embodiment also has the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and has the function of the illumination mode in the first embodiment executed by operating the illumination key 5a. , It also has the functions described below.

That is, in the second embodiment having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, even when the illumination key 5a is not turned on (that is, even when the above illumination mode is not set), the control unit Reference numeral 2 captures the detected illuminance L of the illuminance sensor 11 in a predetermined cycle. However, at this time, the control unit 2 compares the detected illuminance L with the above-mentioned illuminance threshold L _th to determine whether the surroundings have become dark, and calculates the time change dL / dt of the detected illuminance, L <L _th (1) and the surroundings become dark, and the detected illuminance changes with time dL /
The threshold value (illuminance change threshold value) d in which the absolute value of dt is set in advance
When L _th or more, that is, when dL / dt ≧ dL _th (2) and it suddenly becomes dark, the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation portion illumination for a predetermined time T _1. Device 1
3 is continuously turned on (it may be made to blink, but here, it is continuously turned on).

As a result, when a power failure occurs when the mobile phone 1 is placed somewhere indoors, the surroundings of the mobile phone 1 suddenly become dark, and the above formula (1),
If the condition (2) is satisfied at the same time, the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display unit lighting device 12, and the operation unit lighting device 13 will be continuously lit for a predetermined time T _1, and the location of the mobile phone 1 will be known during that time and it will be easy to search. .

When the predetermined time T ₁ has passed, the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display unit lighting device 12, and the operation unit lighting device 13 are turned off, but the power failure is canceled even within the predetermined period T1. When it becomes bright again after that, L ≧ L _th (3), and the control unit 2 turns off the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 regardless of the condition of the above equation (2). Let

By the way, not only when there is a power outage, but when the mobile phone 1 is stored in a pocket, a bag, or the like, the surroundings of the mobile phone 1 suddenly become dark. Therefore, as described above, In addition, the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 are continuously turned on for a predetermined time T ₁ .

However, in some cases, the cell phone 1 stored in a pocket, a bag, or the like may be taken out and stored again in order to confirm whether or not the cell phone 1 is stored therein. For phone 1,
When it is closed again, the brightness around it suddenly changes and becomes dark, and the incoming call notification lamp 3 and the display unit lighting device 1 again.
2. The operation unit lighting device 13 is continuously turned on for a predetermined time T ₁ .

Therefore, in the second embodiment, in order to eliminate such useless lighting, the control unit 2 operates as follows.

That is, the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illuminating device 12, and the operation illuminating device 13 can be operated from the state in which the brightness around the mobile phone 1 is dark whether or not the predetermined time T ₁ has elapsed. When changing to a bright state in which the light is turned off, the control unit 2 performs a time counting operation from that point, and then measures the time t until the state (that is, the dark state again) that satisfies the formula (1) is satisfied. Then, this measured time t is compared with a predetermined time T ₂ set in advance, and when t ≦ T ₂ (4), it is not darkened by a power failure, a light, etc. It is determined that it should be put out from a bag or bag and immediately closed and no lighting is required. As a result, the control unit 2 maintains the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display unit lighting device 12, and the operation unit lighting device 13 in the off state as they are.

Next, the above operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0041] In the figure, the cellular phone 1, so far in a light environment, assuming that gone time t ₁ in a pocket or bag, in the time t _1, the above formula (1), (2 ) Is satisfied, the control unit 2 continuously lights the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 for a predetermined time T ₁ . After that, assuming that the user takes out the mobile phone 1 from the pocket or bag at the time t ₂ and put it in the pocket or bag again at the time t ₃ , the time t = t ₃ −t ₂ taken out is obtained by the above formula (4). ) Is satisfied, the control unit 2 does not turn on the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display unit lighting device 12, and the operation unit lighting device 13 from time t ₃ .

When the mobile phone 1 is taken out of the pocket or bag at time t ₄ , the above formula (3) is satisfied, so the control unit 2 controls the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation unit. If the illuminating device 13 is kept in the off state as it is, and the mobile phone 1 is used by the user and then stored in a pocket, a bag, or the like again at time t ₅ , the time t = t ₅ −t used. _{When 4} does not satisfy the above formula (4), the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display illumination device 12, and the operation illumination device 13 are continuously turned on. Although this lighting is useless lighting, it is automatically turned off after the elapse of a predetermined time T ₁ , so that useless turning off is performed to a necessary minimum (that is, the time required to search for the mobile phone 1 in the event of a power failure, etc.). Can be suppressed.

As described above, in the second embodiment, even if the place where the mobile phone is placed cannot be known due to darkness, the mobile phone itself emits the illumination light.
You can find it right away, or if you don't need to look for a cell phone, leave it alone and the light will automatically turn off after a certain amount of time, requiring minimal power consumption. You can keep it to the limit.
Further, even when the mobile phone is put in and taken out with a pocket, a bag, or the like, unnecessary lighting can be eliminated as much as possible, and in this respect, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

The second embodiment is shown in FIGS.
Although the configuration shown in (1) is used, the configuration may be such that the illumination mode function in the first embodiment is not provided except for the illumination key 5a.

Further, in the second embodiment, in the above operation, the incoming call notification lamp 3 and the display illumination device 12,
Although the operation unit lighting device 13 is continuously turned on, it may be turned on and off.

In each of the above embodiments, the illuminance sensor 11 is provided above the right side surface of the mobile phone 1 as shown in FIG. 2, but the incoming call notification lamp 3, the display screen 4a, and the operation unit 5 are provided. If the position is not affected by the illumination light of the operation key,
Moreover, it goes without saying that it can be arranged at any position as long as it can detect a change in ambient brightness.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a mobile phone has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a small electronic device such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) that can be carried by an individual. It goes without saying that it is applicable to all (portable devices).

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the lighting mode to operate the lighting device is set,
Since the lighting device is operated or stopped according to the change of the ambient brightness, it is possible to suppress the wasteful power consumption of the lighting device and to effectively use the lighting device. It will be.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily search even in the dark, and when illumination is unnecessary, such as simply putting in and taking out with a pocket or bag, do not illuminate. Thus, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a specific example of the configuration of the front surface of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of an illumination pattern in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing an operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the mobile device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 mobile phone 2 control unit 3 Incoming call notification lamp 4 Display 5 Operation part 7 battery 10 antennas 11 Illuminance sensor 12 Display illumination device 13 Operation unit lighting device

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 3K073 AA13 AA49 AA50 AA75 AA83                       BA28 BA36 CD01 CF13 CF18                       CG06 CJ17                 5K027 AA11 BB01 FF22                 5K067 AA34 AA43 BB04 EE02 FF24                       KK17

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An illumination means, a control means for controlling the illumination means, and an illuminance detection means, the control means performing on / off control of the illumination means according to the detected illuminance of the illuminance detection means. A mobile device characterized by: 2. An illumination means, a control means for controlling the illumination means, and an illuminance detecting means, wherein the control means compares the detected illuminance of the illuminance detecting means with a preset first threshold value. At the same time, the time when the detected illuminance is equal to or greater than the first threshold is measured, the measured time is compared with a preset second threshold, and when the detected illuminance is less than the first threshold, When the measured time is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the illumination means is operated to perform illumination, and the measured time when the detected illuminance is less than the first threshold is less than the second threshold. The portable device is characterized in that the illumination means is not operated when