JP4267024B2 - Foldable mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable communication terminal that can fold a casing, and more particularly, to an improvement of a portable communication terminal that can be used in a reverse closed state in which a display surface is folded outward.

  Mobile phones are required to be smaller and lighter from the viewpoint of improving portability. However, considering the operability, there is a limit to downsizing the operation surface. In addition, the screen size of the main display screen is required to be increased. In order to reconcile such conflicting demands, in recent mobile phones, a display case provided with a main display and an operation case provided with operation keys are connected by a hinge, and the display surface and the operation surface are connected. Those that can be folded in opposition have become mainstream.

  Furthermore, not only the first rotating shaft for folding but also a two-axis hinge having a second rotating shaft orthogonal to the first rotating shaft, the operation housing or the display housing can be rotated around the second rotating shaft. Various mobile phones have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). In such a mobile phone, the casing can be folded with the display surface facing outward, so that the user can view the main display screen even in a folded and miniaturized state.

However, in a state where the display surface is folded outward, the operation surface is directed to the inside of the folded housing or the side opposite to the display surface, and the user cannot perform key operations. . For this reason, a mobile phone that can perform an operation input even in the folded state has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a mobile phone in which operation input means is provided in the display surface. Patent Document 3 discloses a mobile phone in which an operation input unit is provided on a side surface of an operation housing.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-30226 JP 2001-251406 A JP 2002-33809 A

  In the case of the mobile phone described in Patent Document 2, since the operation keys are arranged in the display surface, it is necessary to secure an operation key arrangement area in the display surface. In this case, in order to enable various operation inputs, there is a problem that the operation key arrangement area is widened, the size of the main display screen must be reduced, or the display housing must be enlarged.

  Further, in the case of the mobile phone described in Patent Document 3, the operation key is arranged on the side surface of the operation housing. However, since the operation key different from the operation key on the operation surface is provided, the housing The operation method is completely different from the time of deployment, and there is a problem that the operation method is difficult to understand. In addition, there is a problem that an unintended operation input is performed by dropping or touching the mobile phone or by a user's hand holding the mobile communication terminal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the operability of a portable communication terminal that can be folded with its display surface facing outward. In particular, it is an object to provide a mobile communication terminal that can perform the same operation input during folding and unfolding. Furthermore, it aims at providing the portable communication terminal which can suppress that operation input is performed contrary to will.

  A foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a thin operation housing having an operation surface formed on one main surface, a thin display housing having a display surface formed on one main surface, an operation housing and a display housing. A normally open state where both housings are deployed with the operation surface and display surface facing in the same direction, and the main surfaces of both housings facing each other. Foldable mobile communication terminal capable of transitioning between a folded reverse closed state, provided on the end face of the operation casing, and capable of four different operation inputs according to up / down / left / right pressing parts It is configured with.

  With such a configuration, even in the reverse closed state, the user can perform various operation inputs by operating the side multifunction key provided on the end face of the operation housing. In particular, it is provided with a main multifunction key which is provided in the operation surface and allows four different operation inputs according to the up / down / left / right pressing parts, and the side multifunction key performs the same operation as the main multifunction key. If configured to be multi-function keys that can perform the same operation input, the operation method when the casing is expanded and folded is the same, and the user learns the operation method for each terminal state There is no need to understand and learn the operation method easily.

  A foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a thin operation housing having an operation surface formed on one main surface, a thin display housing having a display surface formed on one main surface, an operation housing and a display housing. A normally open state where both housings are deployed with the operation surface and display surface facing in the same direction, and the main surfaces of both housings facing each other. A folding portable communication terminal capable of transitioning between a folded state and a closed closed state, the main multifunctional key being provided in the operation surface and capable of two or more different operation inputs according to the pressed part, and the operation It is provided with a side multifunction key that is provided on the end surface of the housing and can perform the same operation input by performing the same operation as the main multifunction key.

  With such a configuration, even in the reverse closed state, the user can perform various operation inputs by operating the side multifunction key provided on the end face of the operation housing. Further, the same operation input can be performed by performing the same operation as the main multifunction key on the side multifunction key. Therefore, the operation method is the same when the housing is expanded and folded, and the user does not need to learn the operation method for each terminal state, and can easily understand and learn the operation method.

  In addition to the above configuration, the folding mobile communication terminal according to the present invention has the same function as the main multi-function key when the side multi-function key performs both the short press and the long press. It is comprised so that operation input can be performed. With such a configuration, it is possible to more easily understand and learn the operation method.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a terminal state detection unit that detects a connection state of both housings by the movable connection unit, and a detection result by the terminal state detection unit. And input control means for invalidating the operation input by the multi-function key. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the side multifunction key from being operated unexpectedly by dropping or touching the mobile communication terminal or touching the user's hand holding the mobile communication terminal. .

  In addition to the above configuration, the foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes the side multifunction key provided on the movable connecting portion side of the operation housing, and the input control means is configured to be a side multifunction in a normally open state. The operation input by the key is configured to be invalidated. By providing the side multifunction key on the movable connecting portion side of the operation housing, good operability can be obtained for the side multifunction key without changing the portable communication terminal. In this case, there is a high possibility that the user during the call will operate the side multifunction key unexpectedly, but by disabling the operation input by the side multifunction key during the call in the normally open state, It is possible to suppress unintended operation input.

  In addition to the above configuration, the foldable portable communication terminal according to the present invention is configured such that the input control means invalidates the operation input by the side multifunction key during a call in a normally open state. With such a configuration, an erroneous operation is particularly likely to occur, and an erroneous operation can be prevented by disabling the operation of the side multifunction key during a call in a normally open state where the influence is large.

  In addition to the above configuration, the foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a first rotating shaft for folding the two housings and a first rotating shaft that is orthogonal to the first rotating shaft. And a second rotation axis for relatively rotating the two, the operation surface and the display surface can be directed to the opposite direction to make a transition to the reverse open state in which both housings are expanded, the input control means, The operation input by the side multifunction key in the reverse close state and the reverse open state is made valid. With such a configuration, even in the reverse open state where it is difficult to operate the keys on the operation surface while viewing the display surface with the operation surface facing away from the display surface, Function keys can be used.

  A foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a thin operation housing having an operation surface formed on one main surface, a thin display housing having a display surface formed on one main surface, an operation housing and a display housing. A normally open state where both housings are deployed with the operation surface and display surface facing in the same direction, and the main surfaces of both housings facing each other. A folding portable communication terminal capable of transitioning between a folded state and a reverse closed state, the main guide key provided in the operation surface and displaying function assignments on the display surface, and provided in the display surface And a sub guide key associated with the main guide key.

  With such a configuration, even in the reverse closed state, the user can perform various operation inputs by operating the sub guide keys provided in the display surface. In particular, an operation input corresponding to a main guide key provided in the operation surface can be performed.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes two or more main guide keys provided in the operation surface and displaying function assignments on the display surface, and the operation housing. Side guide keys provided on the end surface and associated with some main guide keys, sub-guide keys provided in the display surface and associated with other main guide keys, and operation input by side guide keys Is configured to be invalid in the open state and to be valid in the closed state. With such a configuration, it is possible to perform an operation input by the guide key even in the reverse closed state.

  In the foldable portable communication terminal according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the main guide key includes a central guide key arranged at the center of the main multifunction key, and corresponds to the central guide key. The side guide key is configured to be arranged around the side multifunction key. With such a configuration, the side multifunction key can be reduced in size and the operation casing can be reduced in thickness without significantly reducing operability.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a terminal state detection unit that detects a connection state of both housings by the movable connection unit, and a detection result by the terminal state detection unit. And input control means for invalidating operation input by the guide key in the normally open state. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the side guide key from being operated unexpectedly by dropping or touching the mobile communication terminal or touching the user's hand holding the mobile communication terminal.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the foldable portable communication terminal according to the present invention is configured such that an on-hook function is assigned to the sub-guide key when a call is being made in the reverse closed state. With such a configuration, the call can be terminated in the reverse closed state. Further, it is possible to prevent the on-hook key from being erroneously operated during a call in the reverse closed state.

  In addition to the above configuration, the foldable portable communication terminal according to the present invention is configured such that an off-hook function is assigned to the sub guide key when an incoming call is received in the reverse closed state. With such a configuration, a call can be started in the reverse closed state.

  In addition to the above configuration, the foldable mobile communication terminal according to the present invention is configured such that an off-hook function is assigned to the sub guide key when a number is input in a normally open state and then shifted to a reverse close state. Configured. With such a configuration, it is possible to initiate a call by making a call from the reverse closed state.

  According to the present invention, by providing the side multifunction key and the side guide key on the end surface of the operation casing, it is possible to improve the operability of the portable communication terminal that can be folded with the display surface facing outward. Furthermore, by providing the sub guide key in the display surface, the operability of the portable communication terminal that can be folded with the display surface facing outward can be improved. In particular, in a foldable portable communication terminal that can transition between a state in which the operation surface and the display surface are expanded in the same direction and a state in which the display surface is folded outward, the same operation input is performed for both of these states. It can be performed. Further, it is possible to suppress an operation input unintentionally performed by the user.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention, and shows an external appearance of a foldable mobile phone in a “normally open state”. The normal open state is the most basic terminal state when the mobile phone is used. (A) in the figure is a front view of the mobile phone in the normal open state as viewed from the user side. (B) It is the left view.

  This mobile phone includes an operation housing 1, a display housing 2, and a movable connecting portion 3. Both the operation casing 1 and the display casing 2 are thin casings each having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, and have two main surfaces and end surfaces facing each other. One short side of each of the operation casing 1 and the display casing 2 is connected by a movable connecting portion 3. The movable connecting portion 3 can relatively rotate both housings 1 and 2 around the first rotation axis A1 and the second rotation axis A2.

  That is, if the operation housing 1 is fixed and the display housing 2 is rotated around the first rotation axis A1, the main surfaces of both housings 1 and 2 can be folded facing each other or expanded. be able to. Further, when the operation casing 1 is fixed and the display casing 2 is rotated by 180 ° about the second rotation axis A2, the display casing 2 can be turned over with respect to the operation casing 1. .

  Various operation keys such as a numeric keypad 10, main guide keys 11 to 13, a main multifunction key 14, an off-hook key 15, an on-hook key 16, and a main clear key 17 are arranged on one main surface of the operation casing 1. The main surface is used as an operation surface for a user to perform an operation input. Further, the call microphone 18 is disposed in the vicinity of the casing end on the opposite side to the movable connecting portion 3 within the operation surface. A main display screen 20 including a liquid crystal display panel is disposed on one main surface of the display housing 2, and the main surface is used as a display surface for performing display output to the user. Call receivers 21 and 22 and sub guide keys 23 and 24 are also arranged in the display surface.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a main part of the internal structure of the mobile phone of FIG. 1, in which a main part of the movable connecting part 3 and a terminal state detection sensor are shown. The movable connecting portion 3 includes bearing members 30 and 31 fixed to the operation casing 1, a rotating member 32 rotatably held by the bearing members 30 and 31, and a frame fixed to the display casing 2. The member 33 includes a rotation connecting member 34 that rotatably connects the rotating member 32 and the frame member 33.

  That is, the movable connecting portion 3 is a biaxial hinge that relatively rotates the operation housing 1 and the display housing 2 around the first rotation axis A1 and the second rotation axis A2. If the display housing 2 is rotated about the first rotation axis A1 by the bearing members 30, 31 and the rotation member 32, the mobile phone can be opened and closed. In addition, the display housing 2 can be rotated around the second rotation axis A2 by the rotation connecting member 34. If the display housing 2 is rotated 180 °, the operation housing 1 and the display housing 2 can be oriented differently. it can.

  The magnets 40 and 42 and the magnetic sensors 41 and 43 in the figure are provided for detecting the terminal state by the movable connecting portion 3, and details thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an appearance of the mobile phone of FIG. 1 in the “normally closed state”. The normally closed state is the most basic terminal state when the mobile phone is stored. From the normally open state, the display housing 2 is rotated around the first rotation axis A1, and the display surface and the operation surface are both inside. It is the state folded so as to face each other. (A) in a figure is the front view which looked at the mobile telephone in a normal closed state from the user side, (b) is the left view. A sub display screen 51 smaller than the main display screen 20 is provided on the main surface opposite to the display surface of the display housing 2.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an appearance of the mobile phone of FIG. 1 in the “reverse open state”. The reverse open state is mainly a terminal state when the user himself / herself is photographed with a camera. From the normal open state, the display housing 2 is rotated by 180 ° around the second rotation axis A2, and the display surface and the operation surface are in opposite directions. It is a state of deployment towards In the reverse open state, the mobile phone is used in a state of being rotated horizontally by 90 °. (A) in a figure is the front view which looked at the mobile telephone in a reverse open state from the user side, (b) is the bottom view. A camera 52 and a mobile light 53 are provided on the main surface of the operation housing 1 opposite to the operation surface.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where the mobile phone of FIG. 1 is rotated about the second rotation axis A2. In the normally closed state or the normally open state, the display housing 2 cannot be rotated about the second rotation axis A2. For this reason, first, the first rotation axis A1 is rotated as a center to shift to an intermediate state. Then, the display housing 2 is rotated by 180 ° around the second rotation axis A2. Thereafter, when the two casings 1 and 2 are deployed, the reverse open state shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an appearance of the mobile phone of FIG. 1 in the “reverse closed state”. The reverse closed state is mainly a terminal state when the user himself / herself is photographed with a camera. From the reverse open state, the display housing 2 is rotated around the first rotation axis A1, the operation surface is on the inside, and the display surface is on the outside. It is in the state folded toward (A) in a figure is the front view which looked at the mobile telephone in a reverse closed state from the user side, (b) is the left view.

  Next, each component of the mobile phone shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described. The numeric keypad 10 is an operation key used for telephone number input, e-mail character input, and the like. The guide keys 11 to 13 are assigned with different functions depending on the usage situation, and the function assignments are operation keys that are displayed on the screen, and are also called soft keys or function keys.

  The main multi-function key 14 is an independent operation key that can perform four types of operation inputs by pressing the upper, lower, left, and right pressing parts. The main multifunction key 14 is generally referred to as a direction key because it is suitable for cursor movement, but is not dedicated to cursor movement, and a different function can be assigned to each pressed part. For example, an incoming call history is assigned to the left operation, redial to the right operation, message memo to the upper operation, and shortcut menu display to the lower operation.

  The main multi-function key 14 has a ring shape, and a main guide key 12 which is a separate operation key is arranged at the center thereof. In general, among the operation keys 10 to 17, the main multifunction key 14 is most frequently used, and then the main guide keys 11 to 13 are frequently used. Of the main guide keys 11 to 13, the main guide key 12 used as a determination key is the most frequently used. For this reason, the main guide key 12 is disposed in the center of the main multifunction key 14 in consideration of operability.

  The off-hook key 15 is an operation key operated at the start of a call, and the on-hook key 16 is an operation key operated at the end of the call. The main clear key 17 is an operation key to which a different function is assigned depending on the use situation, but is different from the guide keys 11 to 13 in that the function assignment is not displayed on the main display screen.

  The sub guide keys 23 and 24 provided in the display surface of the display housing 2 are operation keys corresponding to the main guide keys 11 and 13 and are used in the reverse open state and the reverse close state. In these terminal states, since the upper and lower sides of the main display screen 20 are used in the reverse direction, the lower side of the main display screen 20 in the display state, that is, the side opposite to the movable connecting portion 3 in the display surface (main display) Sub guide keys 23 and 24 are arranged on the front end side of the casing with respect to the screen 20. In the normal open state, the operation input by the sub guide keys 23 and 24 is invalid, and an erroneous operation is prevented.

  The call receiver 21 is a receiver that is normally used in a call in an open state, and is disposed on the opposite side of the display screen from the movable connecting portion 3 (at the front end of the housing from the main display screen 20). Yes. On the other hand, the call receiver 22 is a receiver used in a call in the reverse closed state, and is disposed on the movable connecting portion 3 side with respect to the main display screen 20 within the display surface.

  Side keys 25 to 27 are arranged on the end face of the operation casing. These side keys 25 to 27 are arranged on the left side surface of the operation housing 1 and on the movable connecting portion 3 side on the operation housing 1. These side keys 25 to 27 are used in the reverse open state and the reverse close state, and in the normal open state, the operation input is invalidated to prevent a key operation unintended by the user from being performed.

  The side key 25 is a side guide key (so-called determination key) associated with the main guide key 12, and can perform the same operation input as the main guide key 12. The side key 27 is a side clear key associated with the main clear key 17, and can perform the same operation input as the main clear key 17.

  The side key 26 is a side multifunction key associated with the main multifunction key 14. The side multifunction key 26 is an independent operation key that can perform four types of operation inputs by pressing the upper, lower, left, and right pressing parts. If the user performs the same operation on the side multifunction key 26 as in the case of the main multifunction key 14, the same operation input can be performed.

  The main guide key 12 is arranged at the center of the main multifunction key 14, while the side guide key 25 is arranged around the side multifunction key 26. Since the side multi-function key 26 is disposed on the end face of the operation housing 1, the side guide key 25 is separated from the side multi-function key 26 and disposed in the vicinity thereof, so that the operability is not significantly reduced and the cost is reduced. And the operation casing 1 can be made thinner.

  A camera 52 and a mobile light 53 are provided on a main surface different from the operation surface of the operation housing 1. The camera 52 is an image pickup unit composed of a CCD or CMOS image sensor, and a subject is displayed on the main display screen 20 as a finder at the time of shooting. Therefore, when photographing other people or landscapes, it is normally used in the open state or reverse closed state, and when photographing the user himself, it is used in the reverse open state. The mobile light 53 is a flashlight composed of LEDs that are turned on when exposure is insufficient.

  One of the magnet 40 and the magnetic sensor 41 is provided in the operation housing 1 and the other is provided in the display housing 2, and is disposed at positions facing each other in the normal closed state. For this reason, if the magnetic sensor 41 detects the line of magnetic force of the magnet 40, it can discriminate | determine that it is a normally open state.

  One of the magnet 42 and the magnetic sensor 43 is provided on the rotating member 32 in the movable connecting portion 3, and the other is provided on the frame member 33 in the display housing 2, and the operation surface and the display surface face the same direction. Are disposed at positions facing each other. For this reason, if the magnetic sensor 43 detects the line of magnetic force of the magnet 42, it can be determined that it is in the normally open state or the normally closed state, and if it cannot be detected, it is determined that it is in the reverse open state or the reverse closed state. be able to. The magnetic sensors 41 and 43 can be Hall elements, MR elements, or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing one configuration example in the mobile phone of FIG. The main control unit 60 includes a processor that performs main control of the mobile phone. The radio unit 61 is a radio unit that performs radio communication with a cellular radio base station (not shown) via an antenna. The communication control unit 62 controls the wireless communication based on an instruction from the main control unit 60.

  The terminal state detection unit 63 determines the terminal state based on detection signals from the magnetic sensors 41 and 43. If the detection results of the magnetic sensors 41 and 43 are used, it is possible to determine the normal closed state, the normal open state, and other states (that is, the reverse open state or the reverse close state). However, it cannot be determined whether the state is the reverse open state or the reverse close state. The main control unit 60 varies the operations in the input control unit 64, the audio control unit 65, and the display control unit 66 based on the determination result. In this specification, the difference between the operation in the reverse open state or the reverse close state and the operation in the normal open state will be mainly described.

  The input control unit 64 monitors operations by the operation keys 10 to 17 in the operation surface, the sub guide keys 23 and 24 and the side keys 25 to 27 in the display surface, and outputs a key operation signal to the main control unit. . At that time, the operations of the sub guide keys 23 and 24 and the side keys 25 to 27 are invalidated based on the terminal state.

  The operation keys 10 to 17 in the operation surface cannot be used in the normal close state and the reverse close state in which the operation surface is folded inward. Further, in the reverse open state in which the display surface and the operation surface are directed in the opposite directions, the operation keys 10 to 17 cannot be operated while browsing the main display screen 20, and the operability is extremely poor. For this reason, in the normal close state, reverse close state, and reverse open state, the sub guide keys 23 and 24 or the side keys 25 to 27 are used instead of these operation keys.

  The sub guide keys 23 and 24 and the side keys 25 to 27 are associated with operation keys in the operation surface, and the same operation input can be performed by performing the same operations as those keys. it can. That is, the same function as the corresponding key in the operation surface is assigned. Also, when different functions are assigned depending on the operation time, that is, when the functions differ depending on the short press and long press, the functions are assigned to be the same for each of the short press and long press. ing.

  However, since the sub guide keys 23 and 24 and the side keys 25 to 27 may be operated unintentionally by the user in the normally open state, these key operations in the normally open state are performed by the input control unit. 64 is invalidated. In particular, there is a high possibility that the side keys 25 to 27 are erroneously operated during a call in the normal open state, and the erroneous operation during the call has a large influence, so at least during the call in the normal open state, It is desirable to invalidate the operation input by 25-27.

  The voice control unit 65 outputs the received sound to the call receiver 21 or 22, and the transmission sound is input from the call microphone 18 to perform input / output control of the voice signal. When a call is being made in the normally open state, the call receiver 21 is used, and when a call is being made in the reverse closed state, the call receiver 22 is used. Note that the call microphone 18 is used in common in both terminal states.

  The display control unit 66 performs display control of the main display screen 20 and the sub display screen 51. Further, the display image on the main display screen 20 is rotated by 180 ° based on the terminal state. When viewed from the user who holds the operation casing 1 without changing it, when the transition is made between the normal open state and the reverse close state, the main display screen rotates 180 ° and the vertical direction is reversed. For this reason, in the reverse closed state and the reverse open state, the display image in the normal open state is rotated 180 ° and displayed on the main display screen 20.

  Further, the display control unit 66 displays the function assignment to each guide key at the lower end of the main display screen 20. For this reason, in the normal open state, the position of the main guide keys 11 to 13 and the display position of the assigned function in the main display screen 20 match. On the other hand, even in the reverse open state and the reverse close state where the sub guide keys 23 and 24 are used, the display image is displayed by being rotated by 180 °, so that the positions of the sub guide keys 23 and 24 and the main display screen 20 are displayed. The display position of the assignment function matches.

  Next, usage examples of the mobile phone according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of standby in the normally open state. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in standby in the reverse close state. Since the display image of the main display screen 20 is rotated by 180 ° in accordance with the terminal state, the same screen display is performed from the viewpoint of the user in any terminal state. The same function is assigned to the operation keys that can be used in each terminal state.

  When the standby screen is displayed on the main display screen 20, the mail, determination, and camera functions are assigned to the main guide keys 11 to 13, respectively, in the normal open state. Further, incoming call history, redial, message memo, and shortcut functions are assigned to the left, right, up and down operations of the main multi-function key 14, respectively.

  On the other hand, in the reverse closed state, mail, determination, and camera functions are assigned to the sub guide key 23, the side guide key 25, and the sub guide key 24, respectively. Further, incoming call history, redial, message memo, and shortcut functions are assigned to the left, right, up and down operations of the side multifunction key 26, respectively. The same applies to the display of the standby screen in the reverse open state.

  That is, the operations performed using the main guide keys 11 to 13 and the main multifunction key 14 in the normal open state use the sub guide keys 23 and 24 and the side keys 25 and 26 in the reverse open state and the reverse close state. Can be done.

  FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams comparing the states of incoming calls in the normal open state and the reverse closed state. FIG. 10A shows an incoming call in the normal open state, and FIG. 10B shows an incoming call in the reverse closed state. The inside is shown.

  When receiving a call, a menu display function is assigned to the main guide key 12 in a normally open state. In the reverse open state and the reverse close state, a menu display function is assigned to the side guide key 25, and off-hook and on-hook functions are assigned to the sub guide keys 23 and 24, respectively.

  In the reverse closed state, the off-hook key 15 and the on-hook key 16 in the operation surface cannot be used. For this reason, off-hook and on-hook functions that are not assigned to the main guide keys 11 to 13 in the normally open state are assigned to the sub guide keys 23 and 24 during an incoming call in the reverse close state, respectively. Therefore, when an incoming call is received in the reverse closed state, the user can perform an off-hook operation in the reverse closed state and start a call.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams comparing the states during a call in the normal open state and the reverse close state. FIG. 11A shows a call in the normal open state, and FIG. 11B shows a call in the reverse close state. The inside is shown.

  During a call in the normally open state, a menu display function is assigned to the main guide key 12 as in the case of an incoming call. During a call in the reverse open state and the reverse close state, a menu display function is assigned to the side guide key 25, and speaker reception and on-hook functions are assigned to the sub guide keys 23 and 24, respectively.

  Speaker reception is a function for outputting a reception sound from a speaker (not shown), and is a function assigned to the off-hook key 15 during a call in a normally open state, and this function during a call in a reverse close state. Is assigned to the sub guide key 23. Further, an on-hook function is assigned to the sub guide key 24 during a call in the reverse close state. For this reason, the user can perform the on-hook operation in the reverse closed state to end the call. That is, the functions of the off-hook key 15 and the on-hook key 16 can be used in the reverse close state both during a call and during a call.

  In the reverse closed state, the side guide keys 25 to 27 and the sub guide key can be operated. However, since the mobile phone is brought close to the face during a call, only the side guide keys 25 to 27 can be operated. . For this reason, it is more preferable to assign the on-hook function to the sub guide keys 23 and 24 than to assign the on-hook function to the side keys 25 to 27 from the viewpoint of preventing an erroneous operation.

  FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing a comparison of the phone number input state in the normal open state and the reverse close state. FIG. 12A shows the phone number input in the normal open state, and FIG. The state during the telephone number input in the state is shown.

  When the telephone number is being input, the calculator, telephone directory, and submenu functions are assigned to the main guide keys 11 to 13 in the normal open state. In the reverse closed state and the reverse open state, the phonebook and submenu functions are assigned to the side guide key 25 and the subguide key 24, respectively, and the off-hook function is assigned to the subguide key 23.

  In the reverse closed state, the numeric keypad 10 cannot be used. However, the telephone book can be used, and after entering the telephone number in the normally open state, it is possible to shift to the reverse closed state in which a call can be made. For this reason, by assigning an off-hook function different from the function assigned to the main guide key 11 to the sub-guide key 23, the user can perform an off-hook operation in a reverse closed state to make a call.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state at the time of camera shooting in the normal open state. Further, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state at the time of camera photographing in the reverse open state. Similar to the standby mode shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the same function is assigned to the operation keys that can be used in each terminal state during camera shooting.

  When the camera is photographed in the normally open state, the light on / off, camera photographing, and sub menu functions are assigned to the main guide keys 11 to 13, respectively. Further, camera shooting adjustment functions such as zoom down, zoom up, brightness increase, and brightness decrease are respectively assigned to the left, right, up and down operations of the main multifunction key 14.

  On the other hand, when the camera is photographed in the reverse open state, the light on / off, camera photographing, and sub menu functions are assigned to the sub guide key 23, the side guide key 25, and the sub guide key 24, respectively. Also, zoom-down, zoom-up, brightness increase, and brightness decrease functions are assigned to the left, right, up and down operations of the side multifunction key 26, respectively. Note that the same applies to the camera shooting in the reverse close state.

  That is, the operation input performed using the main guide keys 11 to 13 and the main multifunction key 14 in the normal open state is performed by pressing the sub guide keys 23 and 24 and the side keys 25 and 26 in the reverse open state and the reverse close state. Can be used.

  Although examples of functions assigned to short presses of the operation keys have been described in FIGS. 8 to 14, the functions assigned to long presses of these operation keys are exactly the same, and redundant description is omitted. To do.

  Steps S101 to S108 in FIG. 15 are flowcharts showing an operation example of input control related to the side keys in the mobile phone in FIG. First, the terminal state detection unit 63 determines the terminal state (step S101). At this time, if the terminal is in a normally open state, a side key invalidation flag for invalidating the operation input by the side keys 25 to 27 is turned on (steps S102 and S103). In this case, the operation input by the side keys 25 to 27 is invalidated, and the operation input by the key operation not intended by the user is prevented (step S104).

  If the terminal is in the reverse open state or the reverse close state, the side key invalidation flag is turned off, and the operation input by the side keys 25 to 27 becomes valid (steps S105 to S107). On the other hand, if the terminal is in the normally closed state, a closing process for ending the display on the main display screen 20 or the like is performed (step S108).

  Note that the structure and operation for movable connection of the mobile phone described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a case. That is, the mobile phone is composed of an operation housing 1 and a display housing 2 and can be folded, and is normally opened with the display surface and the operation surface extended in the same direction and folded with the display surface facing outward. However, the present invention can be applied to various mobile phones having at least the reverse closed state.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the main multifunction key 14 is provided in the operation surface has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention may be a foldable portable communication terminal provided with a side multifunction key on the end face of the operation housing without providing the main multifunction key. With such a configuration, even in the reverse close state, the user can perform various operation inputs by operating the side multifunction key.

It is the figure which showed an example of the mobile telephone by this invention, and the external appearance in a "normally open state" is shown. It is the figure which showed the principal part about the internal structure of the mobile telephone of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the mobile phone of FIG. 1 in a “normally closed state”. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of the mobile phone of FIG. It is the figure which showed the mode in the case of rotating the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 centering on 2nd rotating shaft A2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of the mobile phone of FIG. 1 in “reverse closed state”. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example in the mobile phone of FIG. 1. It is the figure which showed the mode at the time of standby in a normal open state. It is the figure which showed the mode at the time of a standby in a reverse closed state. It is the figure which compared and showed the mode during the incoming call in a normal open state and a reverse close state. It is the figure which compared and showed the mode during the telephone call in a normal open state and a reverse close state. It is the figure which compared and showed the mode during the telephone number input in a normal open state and a reverse close state. It is the figure which showed the mode at the time of camera photography in a normal open state. It is the figure which showed the mode at the time of camera photography in a reverse open state. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of input control related to side keys in the mobile phone of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation housing | casing 2 Display housing | casing 3 Movable connection part 11-13 Main guide key 14 Main multifunction key 15 Off hook key 16 On hook key 20 Main display screen 23, 24 Sub guide key 25 Side guide key 26 Side multifunction key 63 Terminal State detection unit 64 Input control unit 66 Display control unit A1, A2 Rotating shaft

Claims (3)

A thin operation housing having an operation surface formed on one main surface, a thin display housing having a display surface formed on one main surface, and a movable connecting portion for connecting the operation housing and the display housing. ,
It is possible to transition between the normal open state where both housings are expanded with the operation surface and display surface facing in the same direction, and the reverse closed state where the main surfaces of both housings face each other with the display surface facing outward. In a foldable mobile communication terminal,
An on-hook key provided in the operation surface;
A main guide key provided in the operation surface and displaying function assignments on the display surface;
And a sub Bugaidoki provided on the display plane,
A foldable portable communication terminal characterized in that an on-hook function is assigned to the sub guide key during a call in the reverse closed state, and the same function as the main guide key is assigned during standby in the reverse closed state. . A thin operation housing having an operation surface formed on one main surface, a thin display housing having a display surface formed on one main surface, and a movable connecting portion for connecting the operation housing and the display housing. ,
It is possible to transition between the normal open state where both housings are expanded with the operation surface and display surface facing in the same direction, and the reverse closed state where the main surfaces of both housings face each other with the display surface facing outward. In a foldable mobile communication terminal,
An off-hook key provided in the operation surface;
A main guide key provided in the operation surface and displaying function assignments on the display surface;
And a sub Bugaidoki provided on the display plane,
A foldable portable communication terminal, wherein an off-hook function is assigned to the sub guide key when an incoming call is made in a reverse closed state, and the same function as that of the main guide key is assigned to a standby state in the reverse closed state. . A thin operation housing having an operation surface formed on one main surface, a thin display housing having a display surface formed on one main surface, and a movable connecting portion for connecting the operation housing and the display housing. ,
It is possible to transition between the normal open state where both housings are expanded with the operation surface and display surface facing in the same direction, and the reverse closed state where the main surfaces of both housings face each other with the display surface facing outward. In a foldable mobile communication terminal,
An off-hook key provided in the operation surface;
A main guide key provided in the operation surface and displaying function assignments on the display surface;
And a sub Bugaidoki provided on the display plane,
An off-hook function is assigned to the sub guide key when it is shifted to the reverse close state after entering a number in the normally open state, and the same function as that of the main guide key is assigned when waiting in the reverse close state. A foldable portable communication terminal characterized by that.

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