JP4013965B2 - Mobile terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone or a small information terminal, and more particularly to a mobile terminal device with improved operability.

  Mobile terminal devices typified by mobile phones tend to be preferred to be smaller in size if they have the same function from the viewpoint of portability. However, the smaller the size, the smaller the size of the operation unit or operation tools such as key switches or button switches (hereinafter collectively referred to as key switches), and the number of key switches decreases. There is a problem that sex does not necessarily improve. Therefore, a proposal has been made to improve operability using an acceleration detector (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 8 shows a proposal according to Patent Document 1. In this proposal, the motion of the hand 101 or the finger 102 is detected by the acceleration detector 103 attached to the wrist, and a trigger signal 104 corresponding to the detected motion is generated from the trigger signal generator 105. Then, the trigger signal 104 is input to the command generation circuit 106, the command 107 corresponding to the mode of the trigger signal 104 is output, and the command 107 is input to the telephone transmission / reception circuit 108 so that the telephone transmission / reception operation is performed. I have to.

In this proposal, an acceleration detector is similarly attached to the ear part of the operator, and when the teeth are meshed, the acceleration transmitted through the jaw bone and the surface of the skin is detected in the same way. Also disclosed is a technique for generating a command based on the above principle and performing a transmission / reception operation of a telephone. In this case, a telephone transmission / reception operation is performed by a time-series tooth meshing operation by the operator.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-200610 (paragraphs 0012, 0013, and 0049, FIGS. 1 and 5)

  However, in this proposed technique, it is necessary for the operator to attach an acceleration detector to a part where movement of a hand or a tooth such as an arm or an ear is detected. Therefore, as shown in this proposal, it becomes an effective proposal when the mobile terminal device itself is downsized to a size such as a wristwatch or a hearing aid. However, it is effective for a normal mobile phone or PDA (personal digital assistants). In the case of a device of a size that can be held and operated, such as a device, a detector such as a bracelet or an ear cover is required. For this reason, there arises a problem that it is complicated and it is difficult to manage because it is necessary to transmit and receive signals between apparatuses wirelessly and two power sources are required. In addition, there is a problem that when a device for wearing on the body is forgotten, the function as an auxiliary input device cannot be achieved.

  Further, in the case of a portable terminal device of a size worn by the operator as described above, there is a risk that the transmission / reception operation of the device may be performed without permission by movement of the wrist or teeth. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to require the operator to perform a special action that cannot occur daily during operation. For this reason, not only is the number of commands to be operated limited, but there is also a problem that the operation is not suitable for urgently required operations or operations that are required in an emergency because of the special operation.

  The use of a command is effective for an instruction to start or stop a certain process, but is not necessarily suitable for an analog instruction to perform a certain process for an arbitrary time length. Therefore, there is a problem that the application range is limited even if it is applied to various instructions of an actual mobile terminal device.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to carry a newly determined operation without performing a special key operation without having to wear it directly on the body, and can carry out an analog amount instruction relatively easily. It is to provide a terminal device.

In the present invention, (b) an operation unit that performs various operations, (b) an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration, (c) a liquid crystal display, and (d) a backlight as a light source that illuminates the liquid crystal display from the back. And (e) an operation start detecting means for detecting the operation start of the operation unit, and (f) a time when the operation start detecting means detects the operation start, and a predetermined time during which the time measurement is being performed. A backlight lighting timing means for turning on the backlight, and (g) the detection output of the acceleration sensor is the first signal when the backlight lighting timing means finishes timing the predetermined time and the lighting of the backlight is finished. an acceleration sensor sensing monitoring means for monitoring whether exceeds a threshold, when it is determined that exceeds the first threshold mentioned above is (h) the acceleration sensor senses the monitoring means, the first threshold A duration measuring means for measuring the sum of the times exceeding the first threshold value until a predetermined short time elapses without exceeding (ii) a duration measured by the duration measuring means. And a lighting time calculation means for calculating the lighting time when the backlight is restarted according to the length of the backlight, and (nu) acceleration sensor detection monitoring when the detection output of the acceleration sensor exceeds the first threshold value. A light receiving sensor detection monitoring means for determining whether the detection output of the light receiving sensor is darker than a second threshold when the means is determined; When it is determined that the darkness is equal to or less than the threshold value , the portable terminal device is provided with backlight lighting restarting means for restarting the lighting of the backlight for the time calculated by the lighting time calculating means for restarting lighting.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily execute a predetermined process even in a place where an input operation is difficult such as a crowded place or a dark place.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a mobile phone as an example of a mobile terminal device in an embodiment of the present invention. This mobile phone 11 has a display unit 13 formed of a liquid crystal display on the surface of the device main body 12 as in a normal mobile phone, an input unit 14 formed of keys and key LEDs (light emitting diodes) for emitting these keys, a microphone 15 and A speaker 16 is arranged. An acceleration sensor 18 is disposed inside the apparatus main body 12. The acceleration sensor 18 is a commercially available triaxial acceleration sensor, and is a package having a size of about 7 mm in height and about 1 cm in width and depth when mounted on a substrate (not shown). The acceleration sensor 18 can detect accelerations in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions. Depending on the apparatus, the acceleration in the biaxial direction may be detected. Such an acceleration sensor is used, for example, for detecting acceleration at the time of a collision in an airbag device. In the present embodiment, the acceleration when the mobile phone 11 is directly shaken or a container (not shown) such as a bag accommodating the mobile phone 11 is shaken is detected. In the vicinity of the display unit 13, a light receiving sensor 19 for detecting the brightness around the cellular phone 11 is arranged.

  FIG. 2 shows a main part of the circuit configuration of the cellular phone. The mobile phone 11 includes a control unit 21 for performing various controls. The control unit 21 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21C, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 21R that stores a control program, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 21A that stores various data. The control unit 21 includes a radio unit 22 that performs radio transmission / reception, an A / D converter 23 that performs analog / digital (A / D) conversion on detection outputs of the input unit 14 and the acceleration sensor 18, and a predetermined drive circuit (not shown) or It is connected to the display unit 13, the microphone 15, the speaker 16, the light receiving sensor 19, the backlight 25, the open / close detection circuit 26, and the vibrator 27 through an interface circuit.

  Here, the backlight 25 is a light source that illuminates the liquid crystal display that constitutes the display unit 13 from the back side, but in this embodiment, the key switch that constitutes the input unit 14 is also illuminated by light emission of a diode (not shown). ing. The open / close detection circuit 26 includes a sensor for detecting opening / closing of the apparatus main body 12, and detects whether the open / close state is present. Examples of such a sensor include a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, and a microswitch. Vibrator 27 is a vibration generating means that vibrates instead of ringing sound and notifies this when mobile phone 11 is set to a so-called manner mode. The A / D converter 23 is a circuit that inputs the three-axis analog output detected by the acceleration sensor 18 and converts it into a digital signal corresponding to the detected output. That is, the acceleration sensor 18 and the A / D converter 23 constitute an acceleration detection circuit that detects vibration and vibration. The control unit 21 detects that the mobile phone 11 has been intentionally shaken when the acceleration detection circuit detects “shake” stronger than the vibration that normally occurs in daily life. In this embodiment, when a predetermined shake is detected, the backlight 25 is turned on according to the duration time.

FIG. 3 shows the lighting control of the backlight in the mobile phone of this embodiment. When the operator opens the apparatus main body 12 as shown in FIG. 1 from the folded state to use the mobile phone 11, the opening / closing detection circuit 26 is detected to be opened (step S31: Y), and the control unit Interrupt the CPU 21C. Thus, the CPU 21C determines that the mobile phone 11 has shifted to the original use state, and turns on the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit (step S32). At the same time, the operation of a software timer that counts time by counting a clock signal (not shown) is started, and counting of a predetermined time t ₁ is started (step S33). When the acceleration detection circuit configured by the acceleration sensor 18 and the A / D converter 23 in the present embodiment is configured by hardware that is independently supplied with power, the time when the backlight 25 is turned on. Thus, control is performed so that power is supplied also to this circuit.

If key input is performed by the input unit 14 before the time t ₁ is counted (step S34: Y), processing based on pressing of the key switch is executed (step S35). Such an operation is performed in a normal case.

And if a state of the operator does not perform any operation for some reason to continue (step S34: N), the control unit 14 when the counting time t ₁ is completed (step S36: Y), in order to save power consumption Then, the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are turned off (step S37). However, when the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are extinguished in this way, it is difficult for the operator to start the key input after that, particularly in a place where the surroundings are dark.

  In such a case, in the mobile phone 11 of the present embodiment, the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are turned on again when the operator shakes the apparatus main body 12 relatively strongly. That is, when the operator performs such an operation, the control unit 21 measures the duration when the intensity of the detection output of the acceleration sensor 18 exceeds a predetermined value (step S38: Y) (step S39). ). And this is stored in RAM21A in the control part 21 shown in FIG.

At this time, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the detection output of the light receiving sensor 19 is darker than a predetermined threshold value (step S40). When it is determined that the surrounding is darker than a certain level (Y), the software timer measurement time is based on the time t _D when the acceleration of the acceleration sensor 18 stored in the RAM 21A is continuously detected. (Step S41). The reset time t ₂ is given by the following equation (1), for example.

t ₂ = t ₃ + Ct _D (1)
Here, the symbol C is a coefficient indicating the magnification. The time t ₃ is an arbitrary time set at the time of shipment from the factory, and may be, for example, about half the time t ₁ or may be substantially the same as the time t ₁ .

  Thereafter, the process returns to step S32 to turn on the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L. Therefore, when the operator shakes the mobile phone 11 with a swing width corresponding to the time to be turned on when the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L are turned off, the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L are turned on again by the length corresponding to the swing. Light. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform operations such as key input and reading of an e-mail to be read.

  If the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L are turned off again by taking time to read the mail or the like (step S36: Y), the mobile phone 11 may be shaken again with the required width.

  In this embodiment, the light receiving sensor 19 is disposed to prevent unnecessary lighting of the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L. However, the light receiving sensor 19 is not prepared and the operator shakes the apparatus main body 12 even in a bright place every time. The backlight 25 and the key LED 14L may be turned on. In the case where the light receiving sensor 19 is arranged, it is also possible to prevent the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L from being turned on when the open / close detection circuit 26 detects that the apparatus main body 12 is opened in a bright place.

First modification

  FIG. 4 shows a first modification of the present invention. In the previous embodiment, the swing width (or distance or time swung) by the holder of the mobile phone 11 at one time is measured, and based on this, the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L are turned on again. Although the time is set, in this first modification, it is possible to shake a plurality of times in a short time, and based on the integrated value, the time that can be further set can be adjusted over a wide range. It is.

That is, as in step S38 in FIG. 3, when the holder first shakes the mobile phone 11 shown in FIG. 1 (step S38: Y), the duration is measured as the first value (step S38). S51). Next, the control unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 monitors whether the mobile phone 11 is shaken again before the relatively short time t ₄ has passed (steps S52 and S53). If it is shaken (step S53: Y), the process returns to step S51 to measure the second duration. Then, it is monitored whether the mobile phone 11 is shaken before the relatively short time t ₄ passes. In this way, when the holder shakes the mobile phone 11 continuously a plurality of times, each duration is measured.

When the cellular phone 11 is not shaken after the time t ₄ has passed, the CPU 21C in the control unit 21 obtains the sum of the respective durations written in the RAM 21A (step S54), and uses this as a whole. As a typical duration, the lighting time of the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L is set using the above-described equation (1).

  Depending on the location, the width of the mobile phone 11 may be limited. According to this modification, even in such a situation, for example, by swinging the wrist a plurality of times, it is possible to set the same duration as when the arm is largely swung.

Second modification

  FIG. 5 shows an overview of the flow of processing for electronic mail of the mobile terminal device in the second modification of the present invention. When performing work related to e-mail, the owner of the mobile phone 11 shown in FIG. 1 operates the input unit 14 to display a top menu for performing various e-mail operations on the display unit 13 (step S61). In the top menu, various items such as “new e-mail creation”, “reception of e-mail”, “edit address book”, and the like are displayed. The owner of the mobile phone 11 operates the input unit 14 (FIG. 2) as necessary to move the cursor (steps S62 and S63), and selects this in a state where the cursor displays a desired item. (Step S64: Y), the selected item is executed (Step S65). Such a hierarchical processing procedure is stored in advance in the ROM 21R of the control unit.

FIG. 6 shows the flow of processing when an item for creating a new mail and its transmission processing is selected as an example of the processing in step S65. In this initial state, the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are lit. Or control unit 21 the acceleration by the acceleration sensor 18 is sensed (step S71), or whether there is operation of the input unit 14 (step S72), or a predetermined time t ₅ without sensing or input thereof is performed It is monitored whether it has passed (step S73). If there is an operation of the input unit 14 (step S72: Y), a process corresponding to the operation input is executed because a new mail is being created or transmitted (step S74). Then, unless there is an input for instructing the creation of the new mail and the end of the transmission process (step S75: N), the process returns to step S71. If there is an instruction to create a new mail and terminate the transmission process (step S75: Y), a process for returning to the top menu is performed (step S76).

On the other hand, in the case where the input from the input unit 14 is not performed or the input remains interrupted despite the selection of the new mail creation and transmission processing items (step S72: N), When the time t ₅ has passed (step S73: Y), it is confirmed whether the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are turned on for power saving (step S77). If they are lit, they are extinguished (step S78: Y), and the process returns to step S71 . If the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are turned off at this time (step S77: N), the process immediately returns to step S71.

  It is assumed that the acceleration sensor 18 senses an acceleration of a predetermined level or higher at a certain time when such control is performed (step S71: Y). In this case, the control unit 21 checks whether the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are designated to be lit (step S79). If both of them are not lit (N), they are lit (step S80), and the process returns to step S71 in a state where a new mail can be created and transmitted without any trouble. At this time, the lighting time of the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit may be adjusted according to an aspect in which acceleration such as an integral value of acceleration of the acceleration sensor 18 or an acceleration duration is added.

On the other hand, when both the backlight 25 and the key LED 14L of the input unit are lit in step S79 (Y), the owner has shaken the mobile phone 11 not to light them. Therefore, the control unit 21 checks the new mail creation status (step S81). This check includes two checks, that is, whether or not some information is entered as the mail text, and whether or not at least one destination is entered. If these are both entered (Y), it is determined that the action of the owner is an email transmission, and the email transmission operation is executed (step S82). Depending on the control program, at this stage, a message “Can I send an email?” Is displayed on the display unit 13, and transmission is performed when the owner shakes the mobile phone 11 again within a predetermined time t _6. You may come to do. In this case, if the mobile phone 11 is not shaken even after the time t ₆ , the detection result of the acceleration sensor 18 is ignored as a malfunction.

  If the e-mail is transmitted in step S82, the process returns to the top menu (step S76). Therefore, if the owner writes the text of the e-mail, fills in the address, shakes his wrist shortly, or lightly touches the hand holding the mobile phone 11 against the body or desk, etc., so that the transmission work is performed. The completion of transmission can be confirmed by confirming at a predetermined time that the process has been performed and the display has returned to the top menu.

  In step S81, if no e-mail text is entered or no address is entered (N), the contents are temporarily stored in the RAM 21A shown in FIG. 2 (step S81). S83), returning to the top menu. This is to simplify the process when the owner of the mobile phone 11 gives up creating a new mail and discards the contents. However, there is also a situation where the owner gives a shock to the mobile phone 11 for some reason to sense the acceleration. In this case, the acceleration is detected by shaking the mobile phone 11 again as described above, and the e-mail is sent. You may make it return a process to the state which is producing.

Third modification

FIG. 7 shows a main part of processing of a portable terminal device having a customization function for the detection output of the acceleration sensor as a third modification of the present invention. As described in the above embodiments and modifications, various functions can be realized by detecting the acceleration of the mobile phone 11 by the acceleration sensor 18 shown in FIG. However, depending on the owner of the mobile phone 11, it may be more convenient to change to a different function in each work scene, and the relationship between the lighting time of the backlight 25 and the acceleration duration is also in the formula (1). There is a case where it is desired to change the magnification factor C or the time t ₃ .

  Therefore, in this third modification, the apparatus is provided with a customization mode that can be customized with respect to acceleration. When the mobile phone 11 shown in FIG. 1 is set to the customization mode (step S91: Y) and the corresponding key setting mode is further selected (step S92: Y), this is realized when acceleration is detected. The key type of the input unit 14 corresponding to the function to be displayed is displayed for confirmation, and the key of the input unit 14 after change or the function after change can be set (step S93). The RAM 21A includes a table (acceleration operation association storage means) that compares each state of the mobile phone 11 when acceleration is detected and a function that is realized instead of operating the input unit 14. A default value is set at the time of shipment from the factory, and this can be customized by the owner of the mobile phone 11. For example, it is possible to change to a function convenient for the owner of the mobile phone 11 such as a transmission process of putting the electronic mail in the transmission box shown in step S82 of FIG. 6 or a process of discarding the electronic mail itself. If operations such as determining specific items in the menu, sending / receiving e-mails, and sending / receiving e-mails are stored in this table in correspondence with each situation, acceleration can be achieved by shaking the mobile terminal device or giving an impact to it. Can be detected, and necessary processing can be easily taken according to the operation state of the apparatus at that time.

When the owner selects a time adjustment mode for changing the relationship between the lighting time of the backlight 25 and the acceleration duration (step S94: Y), the current value in the equation (1) is displayed and the magnification is set. The coefficient C and the time t ₃ can be newly input as numerical values or can be changed graphically (step S95). Of course, in a predetermined case, it is also effective to provide a function that can restore these default values as factory default values.

  In the embodiment and the modification, the foldable mobile phone 11 has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a non-foldable mobile phone. Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied to various controls such as lighting relations of other mobile terminal devices and output of ringtones.

It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance of the mobile telephone as an example of the portable terminal device in the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the principal part of the circuit structure of the mobile telephone of a present Example. It is a flowchart showing control of the backlight point etc. in the mobile phone of the present embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process of the acceleration duration in the 1st modification of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the outline | summary of the flow of a process about the electronic mail of a portable terminal device in the 2nd modification of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process when the item of the preparation of the new mail in the 2nd modification and the transmission process is selected. It is a flowchart showing the principal part of the process of the portable terminal device provided with the customization function with respect to the detection output of an acceleration sensor as the 3rd modification of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the conventional apparatus using an acceleration detector.

Explanation of symbols

11 Cellular Phone 13 Display Unit 14 Input Unit 14K Key 14L Key LED
18 Acceleration sensor 21 Control unit 21A RAM
21C CPU
21R ROM
25 Backlight 26 Open / close detection circuit

Claims (1)

An operation unit for performing various operations;
An acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration;
A liquid crystal display,
A backlight as a light source for illuminating the liquid crystal display from the back;
Operation start detecting means for detecting the operation start of the operation unit;
When this operation start detecting means detects the start of operation, the time measurement is started, and the backlight lighting time measuring means for lighting the backlight for a predetermined time during which the time measurement is performed,
Acceleration sensor sensing for monitoring whether the detection output of the acceleration sensor has exceeded a first threshold value in a state where the backlight lighting timing means has finished counting a predetermined time and has finished lighting the backlight. Monitoring means;
When the acceleration sensor detection monitoring means determines that the first threshold value has been exceeded, the first threshold value until a predetermined short period of time elapses without exceeding the first threshold value. A duration measuring means for measuring the sum of the times exceeded;
A lighting restart lighting time calculation means for calculating a lighting time at the time of restarting lighting of the backlight according to the length of the duration measured by the duration measuring means;
When the acceleration sensor detection monitoring means determines that the detection output of the acceleration sensor exceeds the first threshold value, it is determined whether the detection output of the light receiving sensor is darker than a second threshold value. A light receiving sensor sensing and monitoring means,
Back light lighting resumption means for resuming lighting of the backlight for a time calculated by the lighting time calculation means for resuming lighting when the light receiving sensor detection monitoring means determines that the darkness is equal to or less than a second threshold value. A portable terminal device comprising:

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