JP2007266706A - Portable terminal device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more efficiently reduce power consumption in a portable terminal device having a power saving mode. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal device having a power saving mode function for suppressing the power consumption to the necessary minimum is provided with an acceleration sensor 27. When the portable terminal device is not in any of a standby state or a calling state, and when the acceleration sensor 27 does not detect a change of posture state for a predetermined period; a control unit 21 determines that an end user has left the portable terminal device, and shifted to a power saving mode to reduce the power consumption. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device and a control method thereof.

  In recent years, functions of mobile terminal devices typified by mobile phones have been diversified, and current consumption and power consumption associated therewith are constantly increasing. As a countermeasure, power saving is achieved by stopping the display of a display such as a liquid crystal or turning off the backlight when the no-operation state continues for a certain period of time in the standby state.

  However, when it is not in the standby state (for example, during operation of the application program), the usage status of the end user cannot be determined, so that the function cannot be stopped. For this reason, even when the end user does not use the application (for example, when an application program is started and left as it is), the battery capacity is consumed wastefully without switching to the power saving mode. Will occur.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-94658 (Patent Document 1) discloses a mobile phone that shifts to a sleep mode when a key operation is not performed for a predetermined time or more even during a call other than the standby state.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-233731 (Patent Document 2) discloses a cellular phone in which the power supply is controlled by the vibration sensor 7 so that the user does not need to turn off and on the power.

JP 2002-94658 A (FIG. 4) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-233731 (FIG. 1)

  With the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, power consumption cannot be reduced when the apparatus is not in a standby state or during a call (for example, during execution of an application program).

  Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the power supply is completely cut off only by the presence or absence of vibration of the mobile phone, it is possible to solve the problem of effectively reducing power consumption when not in a standby state or during a call. Must not.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device and a control method therefor that solve such a conventional problem.

  A first portable terminal device of the present invention includes an acceleration sensor, and shifts to a power saving mode when a change in posture state is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a state that is neither a standby state nor a call state. It is characterized by.

  A second portable terminal device of the present invention is a portable terminal device having a power saving mode function for minimizing power consumption, and the acceleration sensor and the portable terminal device are not in a standby state or a call state. And control means for shifting to a power saving mode when a change in posture is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a predetermined state.

  In the mobile terminal device of the present invention, the predetermined state may be during execution of an application program in the mobile terminal device.

  In the mobile terminal device of the present invention, the acceleration sensor measures acceleration in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and shifts to the power saving mode when the measured value does not change during the predetermined period. May be.

  In the portable terminal device of the present invention, the acceleration sensor measures acceleration in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and power is saved when any measured value does not exceed a predetermined value during the predetermined period. You may make it transfer to mode.

  The third portable terminal device of the present invention includes an acceleration sensor, and turns off the power when no change in the posture state is detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a state where neither the standby state nor the call state is established. It is characterized by that.

  A control method for a first portable terminal device according to the present invention includes an acceleration sensor, and enters a power saving mode when a change in posture is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a state where neither an idle state nor a call state is established. It is characterized by migrating.

  A second mobile terminal device control method according to the present invention is a mobile terminal device control method having a power saving mode function for minimizing power consumption, and measures the posture state of the mobile terminal device by an acceleration sensor. The mobile terminal device shifts to a power saving mode when a change in posture state is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a predetermined state where the mobile terminal device is neither in a standby state nor a call state.

  In the method for controlling a portable terminal device according to the present invention, the predetermined state may be that an application program is being executed in the portable terminal device.

  In the method for controlling a portable terminal device according to the present invention, the acceleration sensor measures acceleration in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and shifts to a power saving mode when the measured value does not change during the predetermined period. You may make it do.

  In the method for controlling a portable terminal device according to the present invention, when the acceleration sensor measures accelerations in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and any of the measured values does not exceed a predetermined value during the predetermined period. Alternatively, the mode may be shifted to the power saving mode.

  The present invention measures the posture state (angle) of a mobile terminal device with an acceleration sensor, and when the gravitational acceleration measurement result of the mobile terminal device has not changed for a predetermined period in a state where the mobile terminal device is not in a standby state or in a call, By judging the above and shifting to the power saving mode, wasteful battery capacity consumption can be prevented.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

  The mobile terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 21, an operation unit 22, a storage unit 23, a display unit 24, a power supply unit 25, a wireless control unit 26, and an acceleration sensor 27. . This embodiment shows an example of a cellular phone device, and only functional blocks related to the present invention are shown in FIG. That is, functional blocks and operations for realizing the original functions (call function, communication function) of the mobile phone device are well known and will not be described in detail.

  The control unit 21 corresponds to a central control unit (control means) of the mobile terminal device, and controls each unit of the operation unit 22, the storage unit 23, the display unit 24, the power supply unit 25, the wireless control unit 26, and the acceleration sensor 27. The control unit 21 can be realized by, for example, a microprocessor. The operation unit 22 is an input part (mainly a key or the like) that receives input from the user.

  The storage unit 23 records information such as measured values read from the acceleration sensor 27, telephone numbers, telephone directory data, and mail addresses. The display unit 24 is a liquid crystal display device or the like and displays information necessary for the user. The power supply unit 25 controls power supply to each unit of the mobile terminal device. The radio control unit 26 controls functions that use radio, such as voice calls and mail transmission / reception.

  The acceleration sensor 27 determines the posture state of the mobile terminal device based on acceleration in the vertical direction (X-axis direction), horizontal direction (Y-axis direction), height direction (Z-axis direction) and gravitational acceleration of the mobile terminal device. Measure the angle of the body when).

  In the present invention, the “power saving mode” means that the functions of the mobile terminal device are maintained in each part of the mobile terminal device such as the control unit 21 and the storage unit 23 when the mobile terminal device of the end user is not used. It refers to the state where only the minimum necessary functions are operated and the power consumption is suppressed.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the “standby state” refers to a state in which no application program or the like is activated in the mobile terminal device and no operation is performed in the standby screen display state.

  In the present invention, the “application program” refers to a general application program (a melody reproduction function, an image display function, a game, etc.) installed in a mobile phone device or the like. These application programs are executed by the control unit 21 (microprocessor or the like) described above, and provide various services and functions to the end user.

  In the present invention, it is determined from the acceleration sensor 27 whether the end user is not using it even in a state where it can only be determined that it is in use, for example, an application program is running, other than the standby state or the call state. By shifting to the power saving mode, wasteful battery capacity consumption under unused conditions is prevented.

  Next, the operation of the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the acceleration sensor 27 is built in the mobile terminal device 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which an embodiment of the present invention is placed on a flat surface (Z-axis reference surface) such as a floor. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the embodiment of the present invention is rotated from the state of FIG. 4 in the plus direction of the X axis. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the embodiment of the present invention is rotated from the state of FIG. 4 in the positive direction of the Y axis.

  The mobile terminal device 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a foldable type as shown in FIG. 3, and the acceleration sensor 27 is built in the lower housing. In FIG. 3, the horizontal direction of the mobile terminal device 2 is the X axis on a plane parallel to the lower casing, the vertical direction of the mobile terminal device 2 is the Y axis on the plane parallel to the lower casing, and is perpendicular to the lower casing. Direction is the Z-axis.

  With reference to the acceleration sensor 27 shown in FIG. 3, the directions of the arrows of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are defined as “plus (+) direction”, and the dotted line plane surrounded by the plus directions of the X axis and Y axis Rotating toward is defined as “rotating in the plus direction (tilting in the plus direction)”.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the mobile terminal device 2 is placed on the floor, the plane is parallel to the X axis and the Y axis, so that these axes are not detected, and only the Z axis has gravity detection. In this case, the measured value of the acceleration sensor 27 is 0G for the X axis, 0G for the Y axis, and -1G for the Z axis.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the portable terminal device 2 is tilted in the positive direction of the X axis from the state where the mobile terminal device 2 is placed on the floor (FIG. 4), the detection output of the acceleration sensor 27 changes. When tilted 90 degrees in the positive direction of the X axis, + 1G is applied to the Y axis.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the mobile terminal device 2 is placed on the floor (FIG. 4) and tilted 90 degrees in the positive direction of the Y axis, + 1G is applied to the X axis.

  In the present invention, the usage status of the mobile terminal device 2 of the end user is determined from the measured value of the acceleration sensor 27, and when it is determined that the mobile terminal device 2 is not in use, the power saving mode is shifted to prevent unnecessary battery capacity consumption. It has a function.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the detailed operation will be described. First, the mobile terminal device 2 generates an interrupt at regular intervals using the timer function (step S201), and determines whether the mobile terminal device 2 is in a standby state or a call state (step S202). As described above, when the application program is being executed, neither the standby state nor the busy state is established. When the portable terminal device 2 is in a standby state or a telephone conversation state, a determination is made to shift to a power saving mode with no operation for a certain period of time (step S210). In step S210, when the condition of no operation for a certain time is satisfied (“YES” in step S210), the process shifts to the power saving mode. That is, the functions used in the display unit 24 are set to the minimum necessary (step S211). Next, the function used in the storage unit 23 is set to the minimum necessary (step S212). Next, the function used in the operation unit 22 is set to the minimum necessary (step S213). Next, the function used in the wireless control unit 26 is set to the minimum necessary (step S214). Next, the function used in the control unit 21 is set to the minimum necessary (step S215).

  In step S202, when neither the standby state nor the telephone conversation state is set (“NO” in step S202), the current gravitational acceleration on the X, Y, and Z axes is read from the acceleration sensor 27 (step S203). In the state shown in FIG. 4 described above, X axis = 0G, Y axis = 0G, and Z axis = −1G are read.

  After the measurement in step S203, the value measured last time is read from the storage unit 23 (step S204) and compared with the value measured this time by the acceleration sensor 27 (step S205). If the current measured value is the same as the previous measured value (“YES” in step S205), a counter (not shown) is counted up (step S208). Next, it is determined whether or not this counter has reached a specified number (step S209). When the specified number of times is reached (“YES” in step S209), the process proceeds to the power saving mode described above (steps S211 to 215). This indicates that the mobile terminal device 2 continues the same posture state (angle) for a predetermined period (the above specified number of times × timer interruption period) except for the standby or call state. Therefore, even if the application program is activated, it is determined that the application program is left unattended, and unnecessary battery capacity consumption is prevented by shifting to the power saving mode.

  If the specified number of times has not been reached (“NO”) in step S209, the next timer interrupt generation (step S201) is awaited.

  In step S205, if the current measurement value is different from the previous measurement value (stored value) (“NO” in step S205), the current measurement value is stored in the storage unit 23 (step S206), and the counter is set. Zero clear is performed (step S207). This means that the posture state of the mobile terminal device 2 has changed. Therefore, the counter is reset and the continuity of the posture state of the mobile terminal device 2 is observed again.

  Since the acceleration acceleration of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis is measured by the acceleration sensor 27, the mobile terminal device 2 is set in the vertical direction by rotating in the plus direction with reference to the X-axis as shown in FIG. However, if it can be fixed in a specific posture, the same measurement value as the previous time can be obtained, and it can be determined that it is not in use, and the mode is shifted to the power saving mode. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the mobile terminal device 2 is stood laterally (by the side) by rotating in the plus direction with respect to the Y axis, similarly, if the mobile terminal device 2 is left in a specific posture, the acceleration sensor At 27, the same measurement value as the previous time is obtained, and it can be determined that it is not used, and the mode can be shifted to the power saving mode.

  To return from the power saving mode, it is determined that the end user has started using the operating unit 22 (such as an input key) or when the opening / closing by the folding hinge of the mobile terminal device 2 is detected by a detection switch or the like. The function of the normal mobile terminal device 2 can be used by canceling the power saving mode.

  Also, even in the power saving mode, not all functions are stopped / restricted, so voice calls and emails can be received, and the power saving mode is canceled using them as a trigger to return to the normal function state. Can return.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the end user leaves the mobile phone terminal while starting an application program or the like, the posture state (angle) of the mobile terminal device is measured from the acceleration sensor, and the past If there is no change in the gravitational acceleration from the history for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that it is currently unused and the power saving mode is entered, so that wasteful battery capacity consumption can be suppressed.
(Other embodiments)
As another embodiment of the present invention, when “YES” in step S209 of FIG. 2 (the counter is not less than the specified number of times), the power of the mobile terminal device 2 may be turned off instead of the power saving mode. .

  As yet another embodiment, after step S203 in FIG. 2, the gravitational acceleration of each of the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis of the acceleration sensor 27 is determined to be unused when the threshold value is not detected for a predetermined period. Then, the mode may be shifted to the power saving mode (steps S211 to S215). Here, the threshold means each specified value (predetermined value) for the gravitational acceleration of the acceleration sensor 27 on the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, and all three measured values are below this specified value. If the mobile terminal device 2 is left unattended for a predetermined period, it is determined that the mobile terminal device 2 is left unattended. Conversely, if even one absolute value of the measured values of the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis exceeds the threshold during the predetermined period, it is determined that the posture of the mobile terminal device 2 has changed, and the mode does not enter the power saving mode. .

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment, It can implement in various deformation | transformation in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

It is a main functional block diagram of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention. In one Embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the state in which the acceleration sensor 27 is incorporated in the portable terminal device 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which set | placed one Embodiment of this invention on planes, such as a floor. It is a figure which shows the state which rotated one Embodiment of this invention to the plus direction of the X-axis from the state of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the embodiment of the present invention has been rotated from the state of FIG. 4 in the positive direction of the Y axis.

Explanation of symbols

2 mobile terminal device 21 control unit 22 operation unit 23 storage unit 24 display unit 25 power supply unit 26 wireless control unit 27 acceleration sensor

Claims (11)

A portable terminal device comprising an acceleration sensor, wherein the mobile terminal device shifts to a power saving mode when a change in posture state is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a state where neither an idle state nor a call state is established. A portable terminal device having a power saving mode function for minimizing power consumption,
An acceleration sensor;
Control means for transitioning to a power saving mode when the mobile terminal device is in a predetermined state that is neither a standby state nor a call state and no change in posture is detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period;
A portable terminal device comprising: 3. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined state is that an application program is being executed in the portable terminal device. The acceleration sensor measures acceleration in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and shifts to a power saving mode when the measured value does not change during the predetermined period. The portable terminal device as described in any one. The acceleration sensor measures acceleration in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and shifts to a power saving mode when any of the measured values does not exceed a predetermined value during the predetermined period. Item 4. The mobile terminal device according to any one of Items 2 to 3. A portable terminal device comprising an acceleration sensor, wherein the power is turned off when a change in posture state is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a state where neither an idle state nor a call state is established. A method for controlling a portable terminal device, comprising: an acceleration sensor; and a transition to a power saving mode when a change in posture is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period in a state where neither an idle state nor a call state is established. A method of controlling a portable terminal device having a power saving mode function for minimizing power consumption,
Measure the posture state of the mobile terminal device by an acceleration sensor,
When the mobile terminal device is in a predetermined state that is neither a standby state nor a call state, and the change of the posture state is not detected by the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period, the mobile terminal device shifts to a power saving mode
A method for controlling a portable terminal device. 9. The method of controlling a mobile terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined state is that an application program is being executed in the mobile terminal device. The acceleration sensor measures acceleration in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and shifts to a power saving mode when the measured value does not change during the predetermined period. The control method of the portable terminal device as described in any one. The acceleration sensor measures acceleration in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and shifts to a power saving mode when any of the measured values does not exceed a predetermined value during the predetermined period. Item 10. The method for controlling a mobile terminal device according to any one of Items 8 to 9.

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