JPH1117791A - Portable radio information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To selectively use the operating parts of various kinds without damaging operability and portability as a portable radio information terminal. SOLUTION: This terminal is provided with a 1st casing 1 having a radio circuit part and a 2nd casing 2 having an information processing operating part to be freely attachably and detachably connected to the 1st casing 1, the 1st casing 1 is equipped with a recessed mounting part 3 for mounting the entire 2nd casing 2 even in the state of turning either the front or the rear surface toward the side of the 1st casing and a liquid crystal touch panel 4 and a key operating part 5 are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the 2nd casing 2 so that any operating part of the 2nd casing 2 can be exposed outside in the state of mounting the 2nd casing 2 at the mounting part 3 of the 1st casing 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable wireless information terminal such as a portable telephone, and more particularly, to a second housing provided with two different types of information processing operation units of a liquid crystal touch panel operation unit and a key operation unit. By storing in a first housing having a wireless circuit unit in a detachable manner and exposing different types of operation units to the outside of the first housing, without impairing the operability and portability as a portable wireless information terminal, The present invention relates to a portable wireless information terminal that can be selectively mounted on different wireless infrastructures by enabling different types of operation units to be selectively used and by allowing an information processing operation unit to be separable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a portable radio information terminal such as a portable telephone, a radio circuit section and a key operation section are integrally provided in one housing. Therefore, in such a mobile phone or the like, the key operation unit cannot be removed and replaced with a liquid crystal touch panel, or used as an input means of another device.

In the personal digital assistant-containing device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-129530, different types of liquid crystal touch panel operation unit and key operation unit are provided by connecting a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and a mobile phone. There has been proposed a portable wireless information terminal including the two operation units. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing such a conventional portable wireless information terminal, and FIG.
Shows a state where the PDA and the mobile phone are separated from each other, and (b) shows a state where the PDA and the mobile phone are combined.

The portable wireless information terminal shown in FIG. 1 includes a first housing 11 having a wireless circuit section and constituting a mobile phone, and a second casing having a data processing operation section 13 such as a liquid crystal touch panel and constituting a PDA. The second housing 12 is detachably connected to the side surface of the first housing 11.

According to such a portable radio information terminal, P
The different functions of DA and mobile phone can be integrated and used, and the information processing operation unit can also be equipped with two different operation units of the liquid crystal touch panel and key operation unit, and the user can select the operation unit arbitrarily It was also possible to use it.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional portable intelligent terminal, when the second housing 12 is mounted on the first housing 11 as shown in FIG.
In order to talk with the earpiece of the first housing 11 in contact with the ear, the external shape of the entire terminal becomes too large, and it is difficult for the user to hold and talk with the hand. For this reason, when the second housing provided with the liquid crystal touch panel is mounted on the first housing, there is a problem that a normal voice call cannot be performed as a mobile phone.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and has a second information processing operation unit having two different types of information processing operation units, a liquid crystal touch panel operation unit and a key operation unit. The two housings are separably housed in a first housing provided with a wireless circuit unit, and by exposing different types of operation units to the outside of the first housing, operability and portability as a portable wireless information terminal. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable wireless information terminal capable of selectively using different types of operation units without deteriorating the information processing function and capable of being attached to another wireless infrastructure by making the information processing operation unit separable. I do.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable wireless information terminal, comprising: a first housing having a radio circuit; and a detachably connected to the first housing. And a second housing having an information processing operation unit, wherein the first housing has the second housing facing any one of the front surface and the back surface toward the first housing. Along with providing a mounting portion that allows the entire second housing to be detachably mounted,
On the front surface and the back surface of the second housing, different types of operation units are provided, and further, an opening communicating with the outside is formed in the mounting unit, and the second housing is mounted on the mounting unit of the first housing. In a state in which is mounted, at least one of the different types of operation units provided on the front surface and the back surface of the second housing is configured to be exposed to the outside through an opening of the mounting unit.

According to the portable wireless information terminal of the present invention having such a configuration, for example, the entire second housing provided with different types of information processing operation units, such as a key operation unit and a liquid crystal touch panel operation unit, is constructed by By mounting on the mounting portion of one housing, it is possible to mount an arbitrary operation portion that the user wants to use so as to come out of the surface of the first housing. Thus, even when the second housing having the information processing operation unit is mounted on the first housing having the wireless circuit unit, the outer shape of the entire portable wireless information terminal does not change, and ordinary voice communication as a mobile phone is performed. Can be used without hindrance.

In addition, the portable wireless information terminal can be separated into a first housing constituting the radio section and a second housing constituting the information processing operation section. It is also possible to use the body by attaching it to another wireless infrastructure that the user wants to use (for example, PHS, mobile phone, etc., which have different frequency bands and systems).

Further, the portable wireless information terminal according to the second aspect is configured such that the opening of the mounting portion is opened on one surface side of the front surface or the back surface of the first housing.

According to the portable wireless information terminal of the present invention having such a configuration, one of the different types of information processing operation units provided in the second housing is mounted so as to be exposed to the outside from the first housing. Any operation unit can be used by the user.

Further, the portable wireless information terminal according to a third aspect of the present invention is configured such that the opening of the mounting portion is opened on both front and rear surfaces of the first housing.

According to the portable wireless information terminal of the present invention having such a configuration, it is possible to mount the second housing with different operation units always being exposed on the front and back surfaces of the first housing. It is possible to arbitrarily select and use two types of different operation units simply by inverting one housing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, at least one of the different types of operation units includes:
The configuration is a liquid crystal touch panel.

According to the portable radio information terminal of the present invention having such a configuration, a liquid crystal touch panel can be used as an operation section even in a terminal such as a mobile phone having a key operation section. Can select and use a desired operation unit as desired.

Further, the portable radio information terminal according to claim 5 is configured such that the first housing and the second housing are connected by transmitting and receiving an infrared signal.

According to the portable radio information terminal of the present invention having such a configuration, the connection between the detachable first housing and the second housing can be achieved by transmitting and receiving infrared signals, so that a special The signal connection between the first and second housings can be easily and reliably performed without providing a fitting structure or the like.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a portable radio information terminal according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable wireless information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a first housing and a second housing are separated. FIG.
3A and 3B are perspective views showing a second housing of the portable wireless information terminal shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second housing is mounted on the first housing of the portable wireless information terminal shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. Status,
(B) is a state in which the back side is the top side.

As shown in these drawings, the portable wireless information terminal according to the present embodiment includes a first housing 1 having at least a wireless circuit section, and an information processing device detachably connected to the first housing 1. And a second housing 2 having an operation unit.

The first housing 1 constitutes a main body of a portable wireless information terminal provided with a wireless unit (not shown), and a receiver 9 is provided at an upper part. And, in this first housing 1,
As shown in FIG. 1, a second housing 2 having an information processing operation unit
A mounting portion 3 having a concave shape is formed so that the device can be mounted.

The mounting portion 3 is formed on the front surface side of the first housing 1, and even if the second housing 2 faces either the front surface or the back surface toward the first housing 1, The whole body 2 can be detachably mounted. As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting portion 3 is formed in a concave shape in which the front side of the first housing 1 is opened so as to communicate with the outside. The operation unit of the second housing 2 attached to the body 1 can be exposed.

On the other hand, the second housing 2 is provided with different types of operation sections on the front and back sides, respectively. That is, the second housing 2 is provided with a liquid crystal touch panel unit 4 on one surface side and a key operation unit 5 provided with buttons, a display unit 8 and the like on the back surface side as an information processing unit. They are arranged so that they have a front-to-back relationship. The second housing 2 has the same shape on the front and back, and any one of the front surface and the back surface of the second housing 2 is attached to the mounting portion 3 of the first housing 1. It can be attached even when facing one side.

Thus, when the second housing 2 is mounted on the mounting portion 3 of the first housing 1, at least one of the different types of operation units 4 and 5 provided on the front and back surfaces of the second housing 2. One is exposed to the outside through the opening of the mounting portion 3. Therefore, when the second housing 2 is mounted on the mounting section 3, the user can arbitrarily select which of the surfaces comes to the surface.

Although not particularly shown, the connecting means for connecting the second housing 2 and the mounting portion 3 has a structure in which both can be fitted in a press-fit state, or the second housing 2 and the mounting portion 3 can be fitted together. To
By providing uneven guides that engage with each other,
Both can be detachably connected.

A transmission section 10 is provided below the second housing 2. The transmitting section 10 is used when transmitting as a mobile phone, and is provided on the lower surface of one surface of the second housing 2 and the lower surface thereof, as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are connected by an infrared signal. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, an infrared light emitting section 6 is provided at the upper end of the mounting section 3 of the first housing 1, and the upper end of the second housing 2 corresponds to the infrared light emitting section 6. An infrared light receiving section 7 is provided at the position. Thus, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are connected by transmitting and receiving signals of the infrared light emitting unit 6 and the infrared light receiving unit 7.

The infrared light emitting section 6 and the infrared light receiving section 7 are reliably connected to each other even if the front or rear surface of the second housing 2 is directed toward the first housing 1. In addition, the infrared light emitting section 6 is located at the center of the upper end of the
It is preferable that the infrared light receiving section 7 is disposed at the center of the upper end of the second housing 2.

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the first housing 1 is provided with the infrared light emitting unit 6 and the second housing 2 is provided with the infrared light receiving unit 7. Infrared light emitting section 6
May be provided on the second housing 2 side, and the infrared receiving section 7 may be provided on the first housing 1 side. Further, a mechanical connector may be used instead of the connection means based on the infrared signal composed of the infrared light emitting section 6 and the infrared light receiving section 7.

According to the portable wireless information terminal of the present embodiment having such a configuration, first, the second housing 2 is provided with different operation units of the key operation unit 5 and the liquid crystal touch panel operation unit 4. The user can arbitrarily put out the operation unit desired to be used on the surface and attach it to the first housing 1.

As a result, even when the liquid crystal touch panel 4 is mounted on the front surface, the outer shape of the first housing 1 does not change. And can be performed without any trouble.

The second housing 2 has a liquid crystal touch panel 4 as an information processing operation section, and a key operation section 5 on the back thereof.
Is provided, the user can arbitrarily select and attach and use the operation unit desired to be used according to the scene, and can arbitrarily select the operation unit according to the user's preference.

Further, the portable wireless information terminal is provided with a first housing 1 forming a wireless unit and a second housing 2 forming an information processing operation unit.
It is possible to attach the second housing 2 for performing information processing operation to another wireless infrastructure that the user wants to use and use it, and the user can select the wireless infrastructure. There is also an effect.

The form wireless information terminal of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the mounting unit 3 may be an opening on any one surface side of the first housing 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first housing 1 may be opened on both front and rear surfaces. By doing so, both the liquid crystal touch panel unit 4 and the key operation unit 5 of the second housing 2 can always be exposed.

Also, the above-described receiving section 9 and transmitting section 10 can be provided on both the front and back surfaces of the first housing 1 and the second housing 2. In this way, the user can operate and talk regardless of the front and back of the terminal.

[0036]

As described above, according to the portable radio information terminal of the present invention, the second housing provided with two different types of information processing operation units of the liquid crystal touch panel operation unit and the key operation unit is provided with a radio circuit. By storing the different types of operation units outside the first housing in a separable manner in the first housing provided with the unit, the operability and portability of the portable wireless information terminal can be maintained without impairing the type. Different operation units can be selectively used, and the information processing operation unit can be separated so that it can be used by attaching to another wireless infrastructure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable wireless information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a first housing and a second housing are separated.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a second housing of the portable wireless information terminal shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A shows a state viewed from one side and FIG.

3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a second housing is mounted on a first housing of the portable wireless information terminal shown in FIG. 1; FIG. (B) is a state in which the back side is the top side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the portable wireless information terminal of the present invention, in a state where a first housing and a second housing are separated.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional portable wireless information terminal;
(A) shows a state in which the PDA and the mobile phone are separated, and (b)
Indicates a state where the PDA and the mobile phone are combined.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st housing 2 2nd housing 3 Mounting part 4 Liquid crystal touch panel 5 Key operation part 6 Infrared light emitting part 7 Infrared light receiving part 8 Display part 9 Receiver part 10 Transmitter part

Claims (5)

[Claims] A first housing having a wireless circuit section; and a second housing having an information processing operation section detachably connected to the first housing. Even when the second housing has any of the front surface and the rear surface facing the first housing, a mounting portion is provided that allows the entire second housing to be removably mounted. On the front surface and the back surface, different types of operation units are provided, further, an opening communicating with the outside is formed in the mounting unit, and in a state in which the second housing is mounted on the mounting unit of the first housing. A portable wireless information terminal, wherein at least one of the different types of operation units provided on the front surface and the back surface of the second housing is exposed to the outside through an opening of the mounting unit. 2. The portable wireless information terminal according to claim 1, wherein an opening of the mounting portion is opened on one of a front surface and a back surface of the first housing. 3. The portable wireless information terminal according to claim 1, wherein an opening of the mounting portion is opened on both front and rear surfaces of the first housing. 4. The portable wireless information terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the different types of operation units provided on the second housing is a liquid crystal touch panel. 5. The portable wireless information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first housing and the second housing are connected by transmitting and receiving an infrared signal.