JP2009278575A - Device having temperature informing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a device capable of making sure that only a user himself / herself is notified of an incoming call or information without being noticed by others.
A device (illustrated by a mobile phone 1) includes a temperature notification device 20 that controls a predetermined position on an outer surface to be a temperature outside a human insensitive temperature zone and notifies a user. The temperature notification device 20 generates a stimulus combining a warm spot stimulus and a cold spot stimulus by changing the temperature at a predetermined position in response to the occurrence of the notification event.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a device capable of notifying an incoming call or information according to a temperature change.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in mobile phones, a technology for generating a ringtone or a technology for vibrating is employed to make a user aware of incoming calls or mails. However, the ring tone and vibration sound at the time of incoming call notification may be annoying to the people around.

As a countermeasure, in Patent Document 1, when an incoming call is received, heater heat is generated, or a protruding member of a notification actuator is taken in and out, and a change in outer shape transmitted as pressure to the user (owner) is generated. Thus, a portable device that performs incoming call notification is disclosed.
JP 2004-200743 A

  However, the means for notifying an incoming call with heat described in Patent Document 1 is not necessarily easy to make sure that the incoming call is noticed. For example, if the temperature rises to a certain level as a result of increasing the temperature, the person may become used to the temperature and cannot recognize the incoming call.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation as described above, and is to provide a device that can make sure that only the user himself / herself is notified of incoming calls and information without being noticed by others. And its purpose.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first technical means of the present invention provides a temperature notification device that controls a predetermined position on the outer surface to be a temperature other than a human insensitive temperature zone and notifies a user. The temperature notification device is provided with a warm spot stimulus and a cold spot stimulus by changing the temperature at the predetermined position in response to the occurrence of the notification event. It is characterized by generating a combined stimulus.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the temperature notification device generates a stimulus in which the hot spot stimulus and the cold spot stimulus are combined in time series in response to the occurrence of the notification event. It is characterized by.

  The third technical means includes a temperature sensor that detects contact of a user of the device at the predetermined position in the second technical means, and the temperature notification device detects the contact of the user by the temperature sensor. The stimulus to be applied first is selected from either the warm spot stimulus or the cold spot stimulus in accordance with the measured temperature.

  According to a fourth technical means, the first technical means comprises a plurality of the temperature notification devices for controlling temperatures at different predetermined positions on the outer surface, and the plurality of temperature notification devices receive the occurrence of the notification event. At the same time, different stimuli are generated at at least two of the predetermined positions.

  According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, the temperature other than the insensitive temperature zone is a temperature of 32.5 degrees or less and a temperature of 33.5 degrees or more. Is.

  A sixth technical means includes the communication means according to any one of the first to fifth technical means, and the notification event is an event notified through the communication means. .

  According to the device of the present invention, it is possible to make sure that only the user himself / herself is notified of incoming calls and information without being noticed by others.

  An apparatus according to the present invention includes a temperature notification device that controls a predetermined position on the outer surface to be a temperature other than a human insensitive temperature zone and notifies a user (a user in contact with the apparatus). The temperature notification device included in the device according to the present invention is a device that generates a stimulus due to temperature by such temperature control, such as a temperature generator, a stimulus generator, a heat generator, a temperature change device, a heat source device, a heat source machine, and the like. It can also be called.

  First, the human insensitive temperature zone and other temperature zones will be described. FIG. 1 is a graph and a table for explaining a human insensitive temperature range and a temperature range in which a temperature sensation is felt. FIG. 1A is a graph showing an excerpt from FIG. 23-2 of a document on the Internet whose URL is “http://www.tmd.ac.jp/med/phy1/ptext/somat_2.html”. It is a thing. FIG. 1B is a table showing the temperature sensation for each temperature zone shown in the graph (sensory device that reacts, that is, the sensory point that reacts in each temperature zone).

  As shown in Fig. 1, the main human temperature sensations include cold spots that give a cold sensation, warm spots that give a warm sensation, and pain spots that give a pain sensation. Some temperature ranges are felt. The hot spot temperature is a temperature that can be detected by a hot spot within a human temperature sense, and is in a range of about 33.5 degrees Celsius (hereinafter, omitted) and less than 45 degrees as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the cold spot temperature is a temperature that can be detected at a cold spot within the human temperature sense, and includes a range of less than 32.5 degrees and a range of 45 degrees or more as shown in FIG. Further, when the temperature is around 33 degrees (in the range of 32.5 to 33.5 degrees), neither a warm feeling nor a cool feeling is generated, and the temperature in the vicinity is referred to as an indifferent temperature. Note that the boundary of each temperature zone (for example, 45 degrees) may be determined in advance as to which temperature range it belongs to. For example, the temperature of the hot spot temperature is greater than 33.5 degrees and less than 45 degrees. The cold spot temperature may be regarded as a range of 32.5 degrees or less and a temperature range of greater than 45 degrees.

  The present invention pays attention to such a human sense of warmth, warmth that feels coolness, and coldpoint, and when there is a notification event in the device, a predetermined position (predetermined in the case) The user of the device (user in contact with the device) is notified by changing the temperature of the location within the range of the hot spot temperature and the cold spot temperature. More specifically, the temperature notification device mounted on the device of the present invention is configured to control the predetermined position to be a temperature that gives a warm-point stimulus to a human, and the temperature at which the predetermined position gives a cold-point stimulus to a human. In response to the occurrence of a notification event, notification is performed by generating a combination of warm spot stimulation and cold spot stimulation.

  As described above, in order to give a warm spot stimulus or a cold spot stimulus, it is necessary to control the temperature so that it is outside the human insensitive temperature range. As a preferable example, the insensitive temperature range is defined as a temperature in the range of 32.5 to 33.5 degrees, and the temperatures other than the insensitive temperature range are defined as temperatures of 32.5 degrees or less and 33.5 degrees or more. Based on this, temperature control may be performed. That is, the temperature notification device mounted on the device of the present invention preferably generates a temperature of 32.5 ° C. or less and a temperature of 33.5 ° C. or more by means of temperature control upon occurrence of the notification event. Thus, different stimuli of the cold spot stimulus and the warm spot stimulus are generated, and notification is performed by this stimulus. Such a stimulus should be generated in response to the occurrence of a notification event, as shown in the following examples, and may be generated arbitrarily in response to the occurrence of a notification event, that is, a hot spot stimulus and a cold spot stimulus are randomly generated. You may generate | occur | produce by combining.

  By alternately changing the temperature except around 33 degrees, which is called the insensitive temperature, it is possible to give different types of stimuli to humans, and the recognition rate (detection effect) can be further increased even with the same temperature change. Since the device of the present invention having the above-described configuration performs temperature control suitable for the sense of human warm and cold spots and performs notification of incoming calls and information, the user who is in contact with the device must The notice can be noticed more reliably than when the temperature is simply raised, and the notice is not noticed by others.

  In addition, the temperature is controlled so as to be defined in a range of 33.5 to 45 degrees when giving a warm spot stimulus, and the temperature is defined in a range of 12 to 32.5 degrees when giving a cold spot stimulus. It is preferable to control. The reason why the temperature change of this definition is optimal is that the user feels painful at a very hot temperature or a very cold temperature.

  Hereinafter, as a device according to the present invention, a mobile phone which is an example of a portable device will be described as an example, but the same applies to other portable devices and non-portable devices. is there. When the temperature notification device included in the mobile phone illustrated below is incorporated into other devices, there are devices that need to be different from those of the mobile phone in terms of the location for giving the stimulus and the notification event. An example will be described later.

<Embodiment 1>
2A and 2B are schematic views showing an example of the mobile phone according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing the appearance of the front (front) of the mobile phone, and FIG. 2B is a mobile phone. It is the schematic which shows the external appearance of the back. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a temperature notification device incorporated in the mobile phone shown in FIGS.

  A cellular phone 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an antenna 11 for transmitting and receiving radio waves, a speaker 12 for outputting sound, a display device 13 for displaying menus and input results, and operation keys 14 for receiving key operation input from a user. And a microphone 15 for inputting voice, and a temperature notification device 20 for stimulating the user's hot spot and cold spot and performing temperature control notification. In addition to these configurations, the cellular phone 1 stores a control unit 19 that controls the entire cellular phone, a radio unit 16 that performs communication, a sensed temperature, and the like, as shown in FIG. A storage unit 17 and a vibrator 18 that generates vibration are provided.

  An example of control in the control unit 19 will be given. The control unit 19 receives a user operation from the operation key 14 and issues a command that matches the operation content to another part to be executed. In addition, the control unit 19 receives an incoming call from the wireless unit 16 and outputs a ring tone from the speaker 12, or operates the vibrator 18 to vibrate, or executes both of them. When displaying a menu or the like on the display device 13, the control unit 19 reads the display content from the storage unit 17 or the built-in memory and sends a command to the display device 13. The control unit 19 also controls the storage unit 17 when writing phone book data and various setting values to the storage unit 17 or reading these data from the storage unit 17. The control unit 19 performs various processes such as encoding on voice and video input from the microphone 15 or a camera (not shown) during a call, transmits the processed data by the wireless unit 16, and decodes the voice and video input from the wireless unit 16. Various processes are performed and output to the speaker 12 and the display device 13.

  The control unit 19 in the present embodiment controls the temperature notification device 20 in addition to controlling the processing executed by such a general mobile phone. The control unit 19 controls the temperature notification device 20 to make a notification when a notification event occurs, for example, when an incoming call from the wireless unit 16 is received. Note that when the setting or mode is such that the speaker 12 basically notifies a ring tone or the like, the notification by the temperature notification device 20 does not have to be executed.

  The temperature notification device 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a temperature sensor 21 that senses the temperature of the outer surface of the housing and a thermoelectric conversion element 22 that generates a sense of warmth and coolness. An example of this configuration is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the upper side of the drawing is the back side of the mobile phone 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the temperature notification device 20 is provided near the back surface of the mobile phone 1, for example. Note that the temperature notification device 20 is not limited to this example, and may be disposed so as to perform temperature control at a predetermined position on the outer surface.

  The temperature notification device 20 includes an outer surface (housing outer surface) 26 of the housing of the mobile phone 1, a temperature sensor 21 that senses the temperature of the housing outer surface 26, and a thermoelectric conversion element 22 such as a Peltier element. The thermoelectric conversion element 22 illustrated in FIG. 4 is provided with a thermoelectric material film 23 that performs thermoelectric conversion, and an element upper part 24 and an element lower part 25 so as to sandwich the film. The element upper portion 24 and the element lower portion 25 are formed as upper and lower metal electrode films, respectively.

  The temperature sensor 21 monitors the temperature of the housing outer surface 26 at the time of standby, or the temperature of the housing outer surface 26 that changes due to the thermal sensation and the cold sensation generated by the thermoelectric conversion element 22, and The result is sent to the control unit 19. The control unit 19 feeds back the temperature of the housing outer surface 26 detected by the temperature sensor 21 and controls the thermoelectric conversion element 22 so that the detection result by the temperature sensor 21 becomes a target temperature.

  Based on this control, the thermoelectric conversion element 22 applies a voltage between the element upper part 24 and the element lower part 25 to generate a temperature that gives a hot spot stimulus or a cold spot stimulus. In addition, when the temperature sensor 21 can only be disposed so as to be different from the temperature of the outer surface 26 of the casing, the temperature may be controlled to take into account that amount. In this manner, the thermoelectric conversion element 22 generates a temperature that gives a warm spot stimulus and a temperature that gives a cold spot stimulus (that is, generates a warm feeling and a cold feeling). Note that the configuration of the thermoelectric conversion element 22 is not limited to this example, and it is only necessary to generate a temperature that gives a hot spot stimulus and a temperature that gives a cold spot stimulus. Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, although the example which uses thermoelectric conversion elements, such as a Peltier element, in order to give a cool feeling stimulus or a warm feeling stimulus was described, it is not restricted to this, A small heat pump apparatus, a small heater Other methods may be used as long as they can provide similar effects, such as using a combination device of a small cooling system and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the temperature notification device 20 receives the occurrence of the notification event and performs the notification by generating a stimulus that combines the hot spot stimulus and the cold spot stimulus in time series. The combination in time series is, for example, a combination in which the stimulus generated by the temperature notification device 20 changes with time, such as warm spot stimulation → cold spot stimulus → warm spot stimulus → cold spot stimulus, and timing of change. The number of times and the number of times may be determined arbitrarily. For example, a ringing melody or a vibrator pattern at the time of a voice call or e-mail incoming set by the holder of the mobile phone 1 or a change pattern according to their response time, If the number of times is set, the setting contents are in accordance with the request of the holder of the cellular phone 1, and therefore, an effect of more surely knowing the notification of incoming calls and information can be expected. Of course, the specific content of the notification may be notified based on the timing and number of times of change. For example, when a call is received, each stimulus is shortened to increase the change, and when receiving an e-mail, the stimulus is lengthened so that the change is reduced. it can.

  Note that the control for generating the warm spot stimulation and the cold spot stimulation by the temperature notification device 20 is described as being performed by the control unit 19, but, of course, the temperature notification device 20 includes a control unit and is controlled. In response to the notification command when the notification event occurs from the unit 19, the control unit provided in the temperature notification device 20 controls the thermoelectric conversion element 22 while referring to the temperature detection result in the temperature sensor 21, You may make it the temperature which gives warm spot stimulation or cold spot stimulation.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a time-series combination process of stimuli by the temperature notification device in the mobile phone shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing various examples of the method for determining the target temperature in the process of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 shows an example of a time-series combination process of the warm spot stimulus and the cold spot stimulus in the process of FIG. It is a figure and is a temperature stimulus figure in connection with this embodiment.

  First, a notification such as that the control unit 19 determines that a call or e-mail has been received by the wireless unit 16 or that a notification such as a schedule or an alarm is required according to the information stored in the storage unit 17. This process is started by detecting an event. When a notification event is detected, the control unit 19 determines whether or not the notification method stored in the storage unit 17 in advance is a notification method by generating sound and vibration (step S1). If “YES” in the step S1, the process proceeds to a step S2, and the incoming melody data corresponding to the incoming melody set as the sound to be generated at the time of the incoming call is read from the storage unit 17. Then, a ringing melody represented by the data read out in step S3 is generated from the speaker 12, and the vibrator 18 is operated to generate vibration.

  Next, in step S4, the control unit 19 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the incoming call and information notification by sound and vibration, or whether there is any operation on the operation key 14 or the microphone 15 by the holder of the mobile phone 1. judge. If the determination is NO, the process returns to step S3 and the incoming notification and information notification by the vibration by the speaker 12 and the vibration are continued by the speaker 12 until the determination becomes YES. When the determination in step S4 is YES, the control unit 19 terminates the incoming call and information notification interrupt process.

  As another process, if NO in step S1, the process proceeds to step S5, and the temperature sensor 21 measures the temperature. As a result of the temperature measurement, the controller 19 determines whether or not the mobile phone 1 is carried by a person based on whether or not the temperature of the casing outer surface 26 of the mobile phone 1 is near the body surface temperature of the human body in step S6. To do. In addition, although it describes about the example which determines whether the mobile telephone 1 is carried by the person by whether the temperature of the housing | casing outer surface 26 of the mobile telephone 1 is the body surface temperature vicinity of the human body, As the determination method, other determination methods may be used as long as it is possible to determine whether or not the mobile phone 1 is carried by a person.

  If the determination in step S6 is no, the process proceeds to step S2 and proceeds in the same procedure as described above. If the determination in step S6 is NO, this interrupt process may be terminated and a process that does not notify anything may be employed. If the determination in step S6 is YES, the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 21 in step S7. Subsequently, in step S8, it is determined whether the temperature notification device 20 is controlled to be cooled or warmed.

  In this case, the determination method in step S8 determines that the temperature is controlled to increase in the case where the temperature is lower than the predetermined target temperature, and is controlled to decrease in the case where the temperature is higher than the target temperature. The method for determining the target temperature is shown below. The method for determining the target temperature when the temperature is measured in step S7 for the first time (the method for determining the target temperature according to the present invention) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 21 is equal to or higher than the insensitive temperature and lower than the warm temperature, the target temperature is set to the hot spot temperature. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, if the measured temperature is less than the insensitive temperature and equal to or higher than the cooling temperature, the target temperature is set to the cold spot temperature. In particular, when the measured temperature is outside the range of the insensitive temperature, the insensitive temperature does not pass for a while from the start of the change, and therefore, there is an effect that it is easier to detect the temperature change. As shown in FIG. 6C, when the temperature measured by the temperature measurement by the temperature sensor 21 is lower than the cooling sensation temperature, the target temperature is set to the hot spot temperature. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6D, when the measured temperature is equal to or higher than the warm temperature, the target temperature is set to the cold spot temperature. In all the controls exemplified in FIGS. 6A to 6D, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 21 reaches the target temperature, if the previous target temperature is the hot spot temperature, the next target temperature is used. If the previous target temperature is a cold spot temperature, the next target temperature is controlled by switching the target temperature alternately to the hot spot temperature.

  As described above, the first embodiment includes the temperature sensor that detects the contact of the user of the mobile phone 1 at the temperature change position, and the temperature notification device 20 detects the contact of the user with the temperature sensor. Depending on the temperature, the stimulus to be applied first is preferably selected from either a warm spot stimulus or a cold spot stimulus.

  There are other ways to warm up if the notification type is an incoming call and cool it down if an alarm is received. This has an effect that a plurality of types of events can be clearly distinguished and notified by assigning them by event type. As an example of how to assign, assign items that are related to communication with others, such as incoming calls and emails, to warm up, and those that are not related to communication with others, such as alarms, to cool down. Also good.

  In addition, since it is easier for humans to detect a temperature sensation than stimulating a cold spot, stimulating the cold spot increases the possibility of early detection by stimulating the cold spot early. There is also a method in which the temperature is in the direction to cool down and the others are in the direction to warm up. For example, if a small child who is enthusiastic about playing and does not pay attention to incoming calls, or an elderly person who has a dull temperature sensation, owns the mobile phone 1, it is important to prompt the user to return home quickly. The notification may be performed in a direction to cool down the temperature at which the incoming call is more easily recognized.

  If the determination in step S8 is the direction in which the temperature is cooled (downward direction), the process proceeds to step S9, the temperature notification device 20 performs an incoming call notification, and the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the incoming call and information notification by temperature control, or whether any operation by the owner of the mobile phone 1 has been performed. If the determination is NO, the control unit 19 continues the incoming notification and information notification by temperature control until the determination is affirmed before returning to step S7. When the determination in step S11 is YES, the control unit 19 ends the incoming call and information notification interrupt process.

  If it is determined in step S8 that the temperature is in the direction of warming (in the increasing direction), the process proceeds to step S10, and the incoming notification is performed by warming by the temperature notification device 20. Next, the process proceeds to step S11 and proceeds in the same procedure as described above.

  With reference to FIG. 7, the example of the time-sequential combination process of warm spot stimulation and cold spot stimulation is demonstrated. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the temperature change when the flowchart is executed by giving the conditions that the cold spot temperature = 25 degrees, the warm spot temperature = 35 degrees, the dead temperature = 33 degrees, and the temperature stimulation time interval is 3 seconds. This is an example shown.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, when notifying by a temperature change in step S <b> 5 and subsequent steps in FIG. 4, a cold temperature (step S <b> 9) that stimulates the cold spot of the holder of the mobile phone 1 and a warm temperature that stimulates the hot spot. The effect of making the holder of the mobile phone 1 more surely notice the information notification from the mobile phone 1 by alternately stimulating the hot spot and the cold spot when generating the temperature (step S10) as appropriate. It is an example which raises.

  In this example, the same sensory point can be stimulated intermittently by alternating stimulation, i.e., changing across the insensitive temperature, to prevent human temperature sensation from slowing down by continuing to stimulate the same sensory point. it can. Moreover, since the other sensory points can be stimulated during the time when the sensory points are not stimulated, the effect of making the information and notification from the mobile phone 1 more noticeable increases.

  In this embodiment, in a practical temperature range, it is possible to change over 25 degrees in order to stimulate the cold spot intermittently, and to change over 35 degrees in order to stimulate the hot spot intermittently. Necessary, that is, by making the temperature change range 25 degrees or less to 35 degrees or more, it is possible to obtain a special effect of intermittently stimulating sensory points for both cold and hot spots. .

  Further, when the temperature is measured for the first time, if it is determined that the temperature is extremely low, that is, 12 degrees or less which is equal to or lower than the cooling sensation temperature, the temperature is controlled so as to be warmed up to the temperature. On the other hand, when it is determined that the temperature is extremely high, that is, 45 degrees or more, which is equal to or higher than the warm feeling temperature, the temperature is controlled to cool to the cold feeling temperature. As described above, in this embodiment, the sensory point is stimulated by controlling the temperature in accordance with the temperature change, so even if it is determined as the extreme temperature as described above, the change within a certain range. Safety is also taken into consideration so that control is performed so as to converge.

  About the time interval for stimulating the hot spot, cold spot, and the time interval for not stimulating, the time until the next hot spot temperature is reached after the first hot spot temperature is reached (or the next cold spot temperature is reached after the cold spot temperature is reached). The time interval is adjusted so that T is about 3 seconds, and the time interval until the point temperature is reached is about 3 seconds. Any interval may be used as long as the holder of the mobile phone 1 can notice information and notification from the mobile phone 1 effectively and reliably. Therefore, the time interval is not limited to 3 seconds, and may be set so that it can be increased or decreased for each holder of the mobile phone 1.

  Moreover, although it is the temperature which stimulates a warm spot and a cold spot alternately, what is necessary is just to set to the temperature which a person can perceive easily. In this example, the hot spot stimulation is 35 degrees and the cold spot stimulation is 25 degrees, but the set temperature is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. There is a temperature range that is considered painful, insensitive. Within the temperature range, the temperature may be within the temperature range that can effectively stimulate the hot spot or the cold spot, not the insensitive temperature at which the human does not feel the temperature. Furthermore, it is usually preferable to set the temperature within a temperature range that can stimulate a hot spot or a cold spot, but a pain point temperature at which a person feels pain may be used, particularly when notification is required in an important case.

  In addition, since temperature differentiation can be adjusted in more than 1 minute, changing the temperature at intervals shorter than 1 minute, especially in the vicinity of the dead temperature, prevents the adaptation that occurs especially in the vicinity of the dead temperature, and also provides notification. A special effect of preventing this can be expected.

  Moreover, even if the holder of the mobile phone 1 changes, by enabling the setting of changing the temperature of the hot spot and the cold spot according to the difference of each individual holder of the mobile phone 1, the individual There is an effect that the incoming call notification can be surely performed according to the difference.

  Furthermore, the temperature of the hot and cold spots of the holder of the mobile phone 1 can be changed according to the temperature of the surrounding environment and the temperature of the surrounding environment, for example, a schedule function. By changing the temperature setting in the morning when the body temperature has not risen immediately before waking up, at a lower hot point during daytime activities, at a higher hot point when the body temperature is relatively high, and also by the four seasons Even when the body temperature changes or the surrounding environment changes, there is an effect that the holder of the mobile phone 1 is more surely aware of information and notification from the mobile phone 1. In the first embodiment, since the temperature sensor 21 is installed in the present invention, the biological information such as the body temperature of the holder can be obtained without the holder of the mobile phone 1 being conscious. It is also possible to acquire the trend. For example, it is possible to acquire the body temperature trend of the holder of the mobile phone 1 and notify the temperature change according to the individual trend.

  Further, in step S7 of FIG. 5, by controlling the thermoelectric conversion element 22 in the direction of increasing the temperature if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 21 is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature within the insensitive temperature range, and decreasing the temperature if the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature. In particular, when the detected temperature is outside the range of the insensitive temperature, the time from the start of change to the insensitive temperature becomes longer than when controlling in the opposite direction. There is an effect that it is easy to detect a change.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which one temperature notification device 20 is provided in the mobile phone 1 has been described. However, by providing two or more temperature notification devices 20 and controlling them similarly, the temperature notification device 20 controls the temperature. Since there are a plurality of controllable positions, it is possible to notify when there is a position where the user is in contact with any one of the positions when notification is desired. Of course, each temperature notification device 20 may not perform the same control, or only the temperature notification device 20 that has detected that the user is in contact with the temperature sensor may perform the actual temperature control.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the mobile phone 1 that notifies the incoming call by the temperature notification device 20 instead of the incoming melody data or the vibrator function is described, but the incoming call notification or information notification by the mobile phone 1 by voice or vibration (for example, In response to notifications such as a schedule function, a calendar function, an alarm function, etc., an incoming notification or information notification by the temperature notification device may be performed by changing the temperature change interval.

  For example, in the case of specific incoming melody data, the width of the temperature change is further increased. By doing so, an effect can be expected that it is easy to guess that the incoming call is from a special person set in the specific incoming melody data based on the temperature change range. Here, the special person refers to, for example, a family, a lover, an important customer, a business person, or the like. When the schedule registered by the schedule function is in a meeting, the incoming notification and information notification are performed only at a temperature that can stimulate the cold spot, and the sleepiness can be awakened. Further, in conjunction with the alarm function, the holder of the mobile phone 1 can be individually set as appropriate, such as notifying specific information or incoming calls like Morse code. In addition, if the notification by the incoming melody set by the holder of the mobile phone 1 repeats a certain melody like the ringing bell of an old telephone, the repetition cycle and the temperature change cycle are set. If they are set to match, the interval between the notification by the melody and the incoming notification by the temperature notification device 20 is the same, so the holder of the mobile phone 1 recognizes the correspondence between the content notified by the melody notification and the content notified by the temperature change. The effect that it is easy can be expected. In addition, when the tempo of notification by the set incoming melody is fast, the repetition of the temperature change cycle may be fast, and when it is late, the repetition of the temperature change cycle may be slowed. Due to such repetitive slow relative relationship, it can be expected that the holder of the mobile phone 1 can easily recognize the correspondence between the content notified by the melody notification and the content notified by the temperature notification device.

  Also, if the volume of the incoming melody is set to be large, the temperature change is greatly changed, and if it is low, the temperature change is set to be small, because the notification volume is related to the degree of notification desired. In addition, it can be expected that the correspondence of the importance level of the notification is easy to recognize. For example, it is noticed that the incoming call is from a specially set person because the change is large. Further, by independently setting the range of temperature change and the direction in which the temperature is changed regardless of the setting of the incoming melody and volume, the cellular phone 1 can be used without other people knowing the importance of the incoming call. Only the holders of may be able to distinguish the importance. The setting contents such as the ringing melody repetition cycle and the tempo and volume of the ringing melody are stored in advance in the storage unit 17 or the built-in memory, and the control unit 19 is stored in the storage unit 17 or the built-in memory. It is assumed that the set contents are read and the temperature notification device 20 is controlled as appropriate.

  In the first embodiment, the notification event via the wireless unit 16 that is a wireless communication unit is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and notification notified by a wired communication unit. It does not matter as an event. The same applies to Embodiments 2 and 3 exemplified below.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone has been described. However, as described above, devices to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to this, and notify the user of information or the like. Any other device may be used. For example, a personal computer (especially a mobile PC), a personal computer mouse and keyboard, portable audio, an image browsing terminal, an information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a head mounted display, a wristwatch, glasses, a hearing aid, a pedometer, and the like can be mentioned. Here, a mouse and a keyboard are examples of non-portable devices. The portable device of the present invention can also be applied to a device that is attached to a part of a human as a portable method, such as a hearing aid. In addition, as the device of the present invention, normal glasses or the like themselves cannot be called devices, and devices that can be called devices only after the temperature notification device as described above is provided can also be applied.

  The application method to other portable devices and other non-portable devices is basically the same as that of the mobile phone 1 described above, and the holder touches the outer surface of the object when a notification event occurs. What is necessary is just to comprise so that a temperature stimulus may be given to the position to perform. Note that a notification event is an event that occurs in principle due to the function of the device. For example, on a personal computer, a mouse, a keyboard, a head mounted display, etc., a notification event may be made when an incoming mail or a certain process is completed or an operation that should not be performed. For portable audio, notification events may be when the music ends, fast forward operation, music skip operation, music download completion, or the like. For a wristwatch, an alarm or time signal may be used as a notification event. With respect to the glasses, the temperature may be controlled by connecting to another device (for example, a portable audio device not equipped with a temperature notification device) and receiving a notification event from the device. As for the hearing aid, by notifying when a sound is received, it is possible to listen to the other party when the user is not listening. For the pedometer, a notification event may be made when a predetermined step count is completed. Also, in the second and third embodiments exemplified below, when the temperature notification device provided in the mobile phone is incorporated in another device, it is necessary to make the position for giving the stimulus and the notification event different from those of the mobile phone. Although there are some devices in which this occurs, such a configuration and processing method may be applied in the same manner.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a mobile phone according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the mobile phone of FIG. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described with a focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and the description of application examples that can be similarly applied including application examples to other devices will be omitted.

  Embodiment 2 employs a process for spatially changing a stimulus. It can be said that the temperature notification device according to the second embodiment includes the following spatial stimulus change means. This spatial stimulus changing means is means for simultaneously stimulating a hot spot and a cold spot in different places on the palm of the holder of the holder of the mobile phone 1 when performing notification by temperature change in the first embodiment. By such stimulation, it is possible to enhance the effect of making the holder of the mobile phone 1 notice the information notification from the mobile phone 1 more reliably.

  The mobile phone 1 according to the second embodiment includes four temperature notification devices 20a to 20d that control temperatures at different predetermined positions (four locations) of the casing as illustrated in FIG. About each temperature notification apparatus 20a-20d, the structure is the same as that of the temperature notification apparatus 20 of Embodiment 1, and only the temperature control method differs. Moreover, as illustrated in the configuration of the second embodiment in FIG. 9, each of the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d includes a temperature sensor 21a and a thermoelectric conversion element 22a, a temperature sensor 21b and a thermoelectric conversion element 22b, a temperature sensor 21c and a thermoelectric conversion, respectively. It has the element 22c, the temperature sensor 21d, and the thermoelectric conversion element 22d. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and only the number of temperature notification devices is different. Further, the arrangement of the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d is not limited to the example in FIG. 8 and may be any place where the holder can sense the temperature.

  In response to the occurrence of the notification event, the four temperature notification devices 20a to 20d in the second embodiment perform notification by simultaneously generating different stimuli at at least two positions of each predetermined position. For example, only the thermoelectric conversion element 22a of the temperature notification device 20a may be controlled to a temperature that gives a cold spot stimulus, and the other thermoelectric conversion elements 22b to 22d may be controlled to a temperature that gives a hot spot stimulus. In addition, the thermoelectric conversion elements 22a and 22b may be controlled to a temperature that gives a cold spot stimulus, and the other thermoelectric conversion elements 22c and 22d may be controlled to a temperature that gives a hot spot stimulus, thereby giving notification.

  In this embodiment, an example in which four temperature notification devices are used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of temperature notification devices may be increased or decreased.

  FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts of spatial combination processing of stimuli by the temperature notification device in the mobile phone shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing various examples of target temperature determination methods in the processes of FIGS. 10 and 11, and FIG. 13 is a warm-point stimulus and a cold spot given to the holder's hand by the processes of FIGS. It is a figure which shows an example of the spatial combination of a stimulus, and is a spatial temperature stimulus diagram relating to the present embodiment.

  The processing in steps S21 to S26 is the same as that in the first embodiment. If the determination in step S26 is no, the process proceeds to step S22 and proceeds in the same procedure as in the first embodiment. In the following description, a method for controlling the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d in this order (however, these control times are limited and can be regarded as substantially simultaneous control) will be described. Also good. As described above, the processes (steps S27a to 31a, steps S27b to 31b, steps S27c to 31c, and steps S27d to 31d) for the respective devices 20a to 20d described below are substantially processed simultaneously in parallel. To do.

  If the determination in step S26 is yes, the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 21a in step S27a. Subsequently, in step S28a, it is determined whether the temperature notification device 20a is controlled to be cooled or warmed. A determination method (that is, a method for determining the target temperature) at that time will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (A), in the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d, the target temperature may be alternated between adjacent temperature notification devices. This is because there are few environments where humans receive both warm and cold stimuli at the same time in normal life, so by stimulating different sensory points that are rarely experienced in normal life, the human sense of temperature can be further enhanced. It has the effect of stimulating. As another example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the target temperature of all the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d may be set to the cold spot temperature. Stimulating a cold spot is easier for humans to detect a temperature sensation than stimulating a warm spot, and therefore, stimulating only the cold spot increases the possibility of early detection. As another example, as shown in FIG. 12C, the target temperature of all the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d is set to the hot spot temperature. This has the effect of increasing the detection by stimulating the hot spot when the surrounding environment is very cold or the human body surface temperature is also falling in such an environment. .

  Here, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensors 21a to 21d is lower than the above-described target temperature in the corresponding thermoelectric conversion elements 22b to 22d, the temperature is increased in the direction of increasing the temperature, and the temperature is higher than the target temperature. Is controlled to descend.

  As a result of the determination according to the example of the determination method described above, if the determination in step S28a is a direction to cool the temperature (downward direction), the process proceeds to step S29a, and the incoming notification is performed by cooling by the temperature notification device 20a. Control goes to step S31a. If the determination in step S28a is the direction in which the temperature is warmed (the direction in which the temperature rises), the process proceeds to step S30a, the incoming notification is performed by the temperature notifying device 20a, and the process proceeds to step S31a.

  In step S31a, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the incoming call and information notification by the temperature control, or whether any operation by the owner of the mobile phone 1 has been performed. If the determination is YES, the control unit 19 ends the incoming call and information notification interrupt process.

  When the determination in step S31a is NO, the process proceeds to step S27b, and the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 21b. In step S28b, it is determined whether the temperature notification device 20b is controlled to be cooled or warmed. If the determination in step S28b is in the direction of decreasing the temperature according to the above-described determination method, the process proceeds to step S29b, the incoming notification is performed by cooling by the temperature notification device 20b, and the process proceeds to step S31b. If the determination in step S28b is a direction of increasing the temperature, the process proceeds to step S30b, an incoming call notification is given by heating by the temperature notification device 20b, and the process proceeds to step S31b.

  In step S31b, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the incoming call and information notification by temperature control, or whether any operation by the owner of the mobile phone 1 has been performed. If the determination is YES, the control unit 19 ends the incoming call and information notification interrupt process.

  When the determination in step S31b is NO, the process proceeds to step S27c, and the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 21c. In step S28c, it is determined whether the temperature notification device 20c is controlled to be cooled or warmed. If the determination in step S28c is in the direction of decreasing the temperature according to the above-described determination method, the process proceeds to step S29c, the incoming notification by cooling is performed by the temperature notification device 20c, and the process proceeds to step S31c. If the determination in step S28c is in the direction of increasing the temperature, the process proceeds to step S30c, an incoming call notification is given by heating by the temperature notification device 20c, and the process proceeds to step S31c.

  In step S31c, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the incoming call and information notification by temperature control, or whether any operation by the owner of the mobile phone 1 has been performed. If the determination is YES, the control unit 19 ends the incoming call and information notification interrupt process.

  If the determination in step S31c is NO, the process proceeds to step S27d, and the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 21d. In step S28d, it is determined whether the temperature notification device 20d is controlled to be cooled or warmed. If the determination in step S28d is in the direction of decreasing the temperature according to the determination method described above, the process proceeds to step S29d, the incoming notification is performed by cooling by the temperature notification device 20d, and the process proceeds to step S31d. When the determination in step S28d is a direction to increase the temperature, the process proceeds to step S30d, an incoming call notification is given by heating by the temperature notification device 20d, and the process proceeds to step S31d.

  In step S31d, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the incoming call and information notification by temperature control, or whether any operation by the owner of the mobile phone 1 has been performed. If the determination is YES, the control unit 19 ends the incoming call and information notification interrupt process.

  If the determination in step S31d is NO, the process returns to step S26 and continues the incoming notification and information notification by temperature control while the determination is affirmative.

  An example of the temperature stimulation in the hand of the holder of the mobile phone 1 will be illustrated for the case where the temperature stimulation of FIG. When temperature stimulation as shown in FIG. 12 (A) is performed, when a person holds the mobile phone 1 in his / her hand, the four temperature notification devices 20a to 20d touch the palm 3, and parts 31a and 31d of the palm 3 A cold spot stimulus is received, and parts 31b and 31c of the palm 3 receive a warm spot stimulus. Here, each of the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d gives a stimulus to a position corresponding to each of the hand portions 31a to 31d, and as a result, two warm points and two cold spots of the palm are simultaneously stimulated. .

  In the second embodiment, adjacent temperature notification devices use an example in which target temperatures are alternated, an example in which the target temperature of all temperature devices is a cold spot temperature, and an example in which the target temperature of all temperature devices is a hot spot temperature. However, the control direction may be determined by another method as long as the notification by the temperature change can be effectively performed. For example, in FIG. 13, the control for simultaneously stimulating two hot spots and two cold spots on the palm 3 is exemplified, but the temperature notification device may be increased or decreased as long as the incoming call effect is obtained. The place where the stimulation is performed is not limited to this, and the place is not limited as long as it is a part of the body where the human senses the temperature.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a mobile phone according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the following, the third embodiment will be described with a focus on the differences from the first and second embodiments, and description of application examples that can be similarly applied including application examples to other devices will be omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the location of the temperature notification device is different from that in the first and second embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 14A, the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d of the second embodiment may be provided in the operation key 14 or above or below the operation key 14. As described above, the position of the outer surface that performs temperature control in the temperature notification device includes a position that is hidden inside when folded in the foldable mobile phone 1.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, the foldable mobile phone 1 has four surfaces on the front surface (the back surface of the display portion and in this example the sub display portion is provided) when folded. The temperature notification devices 20e to 20h may be provided, the four temperature notification devices 20i to 20l may be provided on the side portion of the mobile phone 1, and a total of eight temperature notification devices may be provided. The installation position of the temperature notification device in the mobile phone 1 may be any location as long as the temperature can be measured optimally, but the holder of the mobile phone 1 may be placed on the outer surface of the case during a call or email. Since it is often touched by hand, the temperature notification device, such as the temperature notification devices 20e to 20l, is provided at the position that becomes the outer surface in the folded state instead of the position that becomes the inner surface when folded. It can be done more reliably. 14B shows that the cellular phone 1 shown in FIG. 14A is folded, a total of 12 temperature notification devices are provided together with the temperature notification devices 20a to 20d. May be.

  As one of the spatial stimulation methods when a plurality of temperature notification devices are provided in this manner, the devices 20a to 20d, the devices 20e to 20h, and the devices 20i to 20l may be executed independently. That is, the notification itself is possible in each of the devices 20a to 20d, the devices 20e to 20h, and the devices 20i to 20l, and it may be controlled by treating that three locations. This increases the likelihood that the holder will touch and increases the certainty of notification. As another spatial stimulation method, all of the devices 20a to 20l may be combined to form a spatial stimulation, but in that case, not all the devices (or all the devices in place of the positions shown in FIG. 14). It must be installed in a position where the holder may touch the majority of devices) at the same time.

  In addition, when the arrangement example described with reference to FIG. 14 is applied to the first embodiment, twelve pieces other than the example in which one temperature notification device is provided at any position of the temperature notification devices 20a to 20l. The temperature notification devices 20a to 20l may independently notify the temperature, which increases the possibility that the holder will touch and increases the certainty of the notification.

It is a graph and a table | surface for demonstrating the temperature range which feels a human insensitive temperature range and temperature sense. It is the schematic which shows an example of the mobile telephone which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of the mobile telephone of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the temperature notification apparatus integrated in the mobile telephone of FIG. 2 and FIG. It is a flowchart of the time-sequential combination process of the stimulus by the temperature notification device in the mobile phone shown in FIGS. It is a figure which shows the various examples of the determination method of the target temperature in the process of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the time-sequential combination process of the warm spot stimulus and the cold spot stimulus in the process of FIG. It is the schematic which shows an example of the mobile telephone which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of the mobile telephone of FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a spatial combination process of stimuli by the temperature notification device in the mobile phone shown in FIGS. It is a flowchart following FIG. It is a figure which shows the various examples of the determination method of the target temperature in the process of FIG. 10 and FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the spatial combination of the warm spot stimulus given to a holder | retainer's hand by the process of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, and a cold spot stimulus. It is the schematic which shows an example of the mobile telephone which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone, 3 ... Palm, 11 ... Antenna, 12 ... Speaker, 13 ... Display apparatus, 14 ... Operation key, 15 ... Microphone, 16 ... Radio | wireless part, 17 ... Memory | storage part, 18 ... Vibrator, 19 ... Control part, 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, 20g, 20h, 20i, 20j, 20k, 20l ... temperature notification device, 21, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d ... temperature sensor, 22, 22a, 22b, 22c , 22d ... thermoelectric conversion element, 23 ... thermoelectric material film, 24 ... upper part of the element, 25 ... lower part of the element, 26 ... outer surface of the casing.

Claims (6)

A device provided with a temperature notification device that controls a predetermined position on the outer surface to be a temperature other than a human insensitive temperature zone and notifies a user,
The temperature notification device generates a stimulus combining a warm spot stimulus and a cold spot stimulus by changing the temperature at the predetermined position in response to the occurrence of a notification event.   The device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature notification device generates a stimulus in which the hot spot stimulus and the cold spot stimulus are combined in time series in response to the occurrence of the notification event.   The temperature notification device detects a contact of a user of the device at the predetermined position, and the temperature notification device applies a stimulus to be applied first according to the temperature at which the contact of the user is detected by the temperature sensor. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device is selected from a stimulus and the cold spot stimulus.   A plurality of temperature notification devices for controlling temperatures at different predetermined positions on the outer surface, and the plurality of temperature notification devices receive the occurrence of the notification event, and at the same time at at least two positions of each predetermined position; The device according to claim 1, wherein different stimuli are generated.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature other than the insensitive temperature zone is a temperature of 32.5 degrees or less and 33.5 degrees or more.   The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit, wherein the notification event is an event notified through the communication unit.

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