JP2002064599A - Foldable mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable mobile communication terminal that allows a user to able to see an optical display section in various directions at all times independently of the opening/closing of a cover. SOLUTION: The foldable mobile communication terminal has a 1st case 2, a 2nd case 4 and a hinge section 16-26 that engages with the 1st case and the 2nd case in an opening/closing enabled way, and an antenna 6 placed on the hinge section side of the 1st case 2. The hinge is provided with a phosphor that is lighted in response to a prescribed operation of the foldable mobile communication terminal, seen by a user in both the opening/closing states of the foldable mobile communication terminal, and seen at least in a projection direction of the antenna in the closing state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foldable portable communication terminal, and more particularly, to a portable communication terminal having a main body (first housing).
The present invention relates to a portable communication terminal attached to the folding hinge side of the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The demand for portable communication terminals has explosively increased. Among them, a foldable portable communication terminal has the advantages that it can be reduced in size when not in use and has improved portability. The number tends to increase. In a portable communication terminal in which an antenna protrudes and is attached to a folding hinge side of a main body, the optical display unit needs to be visible from outside even when the lid (second housing) is closed or opened. Becomes When the lid is closed and put in the pocket, for example, it is necessary to notify the user of an incoming signal, and when the lid is opened, for example, it is necessary to notify the user of e-mail reception or battery exhaustion. Become.

Heretofore, there has been a portable communication terminal in which an antenna is mounted so as to protrude from a far end of a cover far from a folding hinge portion of the portable communication terminal, and an optical display is attached to the far end of the cover. . Also disclosed is a portable communication terminal in which an optical display unit composed of small LEDs is attached to a folding hinge side.

[0004]

However, when the optical display unit of the portable communication terminal is attached to the far end of the lid, when the portable communication terminal is put in a pocket with the lid folded, Since the antenna is located above, the optical display unit comes under the pocket, the optical display unit is invisible to the user, and there is a problem that the incoming call display cannot be seen.

If an optical display unit composed of small LEDs is attached to a hinge, if the lid is opened and closed, the optical display unit may be visible or invisible due to the influence of the lid. The part had to be attached to either the left or right hinge fixing part of the lower housing. In such a mobile communication terminal, it is difficult for the user to always see the optical display unit from various directions regardless of whether the lid is opened or closed.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to solve the problem regardless of whether the lid is opened or closed.
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable communication terminal that allows a user to always see the optical display unit from various directions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable communication terminal capable of changing a lighting pattern for each operation mode.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a first housing, a second housing, a first housing and a second housing are provided.
And a hinge portion for opening and closing the casing of the first casing, wherein a protruding antenna is provided on the hinge section side of the first casing. It emits light in accordance with the operation of the mobile communication terminal, and is configured to include a light emitter disposed on the hinge portion so as to be visible in both the open and closed states of the mobile communication terminal and in the closed state at least from the direction in which the antenna projects. Is done.

[0009] The luminous body of the present invention preferably has the same shape as that of the hinge portion, and is composed of a light guide piece.
The light-emitting body is mounted on the first or second housing, and light is supplied to one end of the light-emitting body from a light-emitting element mounted inside the first or second housing, respectively. Is done.

The luminous body of the present invention is configured such that light is supplied from a luminous element embedded at one or both ends of the light guide piece. Further, the light-emitting body can be constituted by a light-emitting element that emits light by itself.

[0011] The illuminant is configured to be attached to the center of the hinge.

The illuminant is configured to change a lighting pattern in accordance with a predetermined operation of the foldable portable communication terminal. The lighting pattern includes a pattern in which a light emitting color of the light emitting body is changed, and a blinking cycle of the light emitting body is changed. The predetermined operation mode includes a mode corresponding to an incoming call, an incoming mail, a content download, a battery exhaustion, and the like.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram of a portable communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where a cover is opened, as viewed obliquely from above. In FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal 1 includes a lower housing (main body) 2 and an upper housing (lid) 4.
The lower housing 2 includes an antenna 6, an input unit 12, and a microphone 1.
4, including a first hinge fixing part 16, an optical display part 20, a hinge cover 22, and a second hinge fixing part 26. The upper housing 4 includes a receiving section 8, a display section 10, a first hinge movable section 18, and a second hinge movable section 24.

The structure of the foldable portable communication terminal of the present invention will be briefly described. In FIG. 1, the optical display unit 20
Other than that, there is no difference from the conventional mobile communication terminal, and therefore, the description of the parts other than the optical display unit 20 is omitted here. Since the optical display unit 20 of the present invention is formed in a curved shape substantially the same as the peripheral shape of the hinge cover 22, the optical display unit 20 can detect from a considerably wide range of directions. This structure is described in detail in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable communication terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention when the upper housing (lid) 4 is removed from the main body, as viewed from obliquely above. In FIG.
The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the foldable portable communication terminal of the present invention is configured such that one end of the upper housing 4 is disposed between the hinge fixing portion 16 provided at one end of the lower housing 2 and the second hinge fixing portion 26. The first hinge movable part 18 and the second hinge movable part 24 provided on the upper housing 4 are engaged with each other, so that the upper housing 4 can be opened and closed with respect to the lower housing 2. Hinge cover 22
Is a portion that simply covers a space through which a flexible board or a cord for electrically interfacing between the upper housing 4 and the lower housing 2 passes, and is directly involved in the engagement between the upper housing 4 and the lower housing 2. It is not the part to do.

As shown in the drawing, the optical display section 20 of the present invention comprises a first hinge movable section 18 and a second hinge movable section 24 which are respectively connected to a first hinge fixed section 16 and a second hinge fixed section 26. When the hinge cover 2 is
It is formed so as to have the same horseshoe shape as the shape of No. 2. Thus, when the upper housing 4 is open,
The optical display unit 20 can be viewed from the front of the lower housing 2 (the surface on which the input unit 12 is mounted), and when the upper housing 4 is closed, the upper surface of the lower housing 2 (the antenna is mounted). The optical display section 20 can be seen from the (face) direction. Of course, the optical display unit 20 can be viewed from an oblique direction other than these surfaces.

It is to be noted that the optical display unit 20 is not limited to one, but may be used by arranging a plurality of optical display units 20 side by side, each of which is used for receiving an incoming call, receiving an e-mail, downloading an EMD, and notifying a remaining battery level. it can. Further, by changing the color of the optical display unit 20, it is possible to respond to incoming calls, mail reception, EMD or content data download, battery remaining amount notification, and the like. Further, by changing the blinking cycle of the optical display unit 20, it is possible to correspond to incoming call, mail reception, EMD download, battery remaining amount notification, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a view of the portable communication terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention in a state where the lid is closed, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG.
, The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 3, the optical display unit 20 of the present invention is formed in a curved shape substantially the same as the peripheral shape of the hinge cover 22. Therefore, even when the upper housing 4 is closed, the optical display unit 20 can detect from a wide range of directions such as the front, top, and oblique directions of the portable communication terminal.

FIG. 4 is an end view showing in detail the mounting state of the optical display unit in the portable communication terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In FIG.
The lower housing 2 has a substrate 30 incorporated therein, an LED 32 and an optical display unit 20 attached to a part of the substrate 30. The light emitted from the LED 32 is supplied from one end A of the optical display unit 20,
Looks bright from one end A to the other end B. The other end B of the optical display unit 20 is fixed to the support member 34. The one end A and the other end B are appropriately determined according to the configuration of the hinge portion of the mobile communication terminal. In order to make the optical display unit 20 shine, a method is used in which the inner surface of the optical display unit 20 is scratched and light supplied from one end A is scattered at the scratched portion, or the optical display unit 20 is made of a material containing a scattering substance. There is a method such as manufacturing, but the method is not particularly limited.

In FIG. 4, the shape of the optical display section 20 is formed to be substantially the same as the peripheral shape of the hinge cover 22, but the surface of the optical display section 20 is not necessarily the same.
It is not necessary to make the same height as the peripheral surface of the second, and the surface of the optical display unit 20 may protrude from the peripheral surface of the hinge cover 22 or vice versa.

In FIG. 4, the LED 32 is provided on the substrate 30, and the light from the LED 32 is transmitted to the optical display unit 20.
However, the LED 32 is not mounted on the substrate 30 but is mounted or embedded on one end A of the optical display unit 20 and power is supplied from the substrate 30 to the LED 32 via the power supply line. Good. In FIG. 4, the optical display unit 20 is illustrated as being supported by the support member 34, but the optical display unit 20 is supported by the lower housing 2 at a portion other than the support member 34 or the substrate 30. Is also good.

Further, in FIG. 4, the LED 32 is shown as being attached to one end A of the optical display unit 20,
The LED 32 may be attached to the other end B of the optical display unit 20. In this case, one end A of the optical display unit 20 is connected to the substrate 3
0, or may be supported by another support member (not shown) or a portion other than the substrate 30. With such a structure, it is possible to make the one near the other end B of the optical display unit 20 brightly shine.

The LEDs 32 may be attached to or embedded at both ends A and B of the optical display section 20. In this case, the optical display unit 20 is supported by a portion other than the support member 34 or the substrate 30.

In the hinge structure according to the first embodiment, the optical display section 20 includes a hinge cover 22 which is a Kamaboko-shaped part attached to the main body (lower housing 2) of the hinge section.
Since the optical display unit 20 is mounted between the first hinge movable unit 18 and the first hinge movable unit 18, the optical display unit 20 is configured to be located substantially at the center of the housing.

Further, in the hinge structure of the first embodiment, since the antenna is arranged on the hinge portion side of lower housing 2, when the portable communication terminal is put in a breast pocket or the like,
The optical display unit 20 appears at the upper end of the breast pocket, and the user can surely check the optical display unit 20.

The optical display unit 20 according to the first embodiment has
Since the hinge cover 22 is formed in substantially the same shape as the peripheral edge, the optical display unit 20 can be viewed from the front side or the top side of the portable communication terminal when the lid (upper case 4) is closed. When the is opened, the optical display unit 20 can be viewed from the front side of the portable communication terminal.

Further, in the portable communication terminal having the structure of the first embodiment, the optical display unit 20 not only notifies the incoming call,
For example, when mail is received in standby mode or when the battery level is low, it lights up or flashes in a different color from the incoming call to notify the reception status and battery level. .

Further, the optical display unit 20 according to the first embodiment
Unlike a conventional light source, it is not a point light source but a curved shape that is substantially the same as the peripheral shape of the hump-shaped hinge cover 22, so that the intensity of light can be changed according to the distance from the LED light source.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 5 is a diagram of the portable communication terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention when the cover (upper housing 4) is removed from the main body, as viewed obliquely from above.
In the second embodiment, the optical display unit 20 is
It is configured to be attached to. In the optical display unit 20 according to the second embodiment, the shape of the optical display unit is the first.
Of the hinge movable portion 18 or the second hinge movable portion 24. With such a configuration, in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the optical display unit 20 can be viewed from various directions regardless of whether the upper housing 4 is opened or closed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the optical display unit 20 and the LED 32. FIG. 6A shows the optical display unit 2.
0 is attached to the tip of the upper housing 4 and its optical display unit 20
LED 32 is attached or embedded at one end of the
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure for supplying power to an ED 32 via a power supply line 36. Such a structure has a feature that the optical display unit 20 can be attached to the upper housing 4 even when the thickness of the upper housing 4 is small.

FIG. 6B shows a state in which the optical display unit 20 is attached to the tip of the upper housing 4, and LEDs 32 are attached or embedded at both ends of the optical display unit 20, and each power supply line 36 is connected to each LED 32. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure for supplying power via the power supply. In such a structure, since two LEDs 32 are attached to the optical display unit 20,
The entire optical display unit 20 can be made to shine brighter.

FIG. 6C shows a state in which the optical display section 20 is attached to the tip of the upper housing 4 and the center of the optical display section 20 is L.
The ED 32 is attached, and the power supply line 36 is connected to the LED 32.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure for supplying power via the power supply. In such a structure, the light from the LED 32 is
Since the light is supplied from the center of 0, the center of the optical display unit 20 can be made to shine brighter.

FIG. 6D shows that the optical display unit 20 is attached to the tip of the upper housing 4, a light supply unit 38 is provided in the middle of the optical display unit 20, and the LED 32 is attached to the light supply unit 38. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure for supplying power to an LED 32 via a power supply line 36. In such a structure, since the LED 32 is attached to an arbitrary point of the optical display unit 20, an arbitrary portion of the optical display unit 20 can be designed to shine brighter.

FIG. 6E shows a state in which the optical display section 20 is attached to the tip of the upper housing 4, and the LED 32 supported by the support section 40 attached to the substrate 42 in the upper housing 4 is connected to the optical display section 20. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure in which power is supplied to the LED 32 via a power supply line 36 inside the LED 32. In such a structure, the light of the LED 32 is supplied to the optical display unit 20 through a space, and the optical display unit 20
Light can be diffused to make it shine.

FIG. 6F is a view showing a structure in which the optical display unit 20 is attached to the tip of the upper housing 4 and power is supplied to the optical display unit 20 via the power supply line 36. The optical display unit 20 does not supply light from the LED,
By making the entire optical display unit 20 a bright light emitting element, the process of attaching the LED to the optical display unit 20 can be reduced. Further, in the optical display section 20, a luminous pattern of the entire optical display section 20, for example, bright spots on the optical display section 20 can be arranged in a dotted line, a dashed line, and the like.

In Embodiment 2, FIG.
The optical display unit 20 shown in FIGS. 6A to 6F is displayed so as to be mounted on the upper housing 4, but may be mounted on the lower housing 2 described in the first embodiment. it can.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Regardless of whether the lid is opened or closed, the user can always see the optical display unit of the portable communication terminal from various directions.

Further, according to the present invention, since the optical display section can be placed at the center of the hinge section, the optical display section can be arranged at a very conspicuous position.

Further, according to the present invention, the color and / or the lighting pattern of the optical display unit can be changed for each operation mode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a portable communication terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a cover is opened, as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the portable communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the lid is removed from the main body, as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the portable communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a lid is closed, as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 4 is an end view showing in detail an attached state of the optical display unit in the portable communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a portable communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention when a cover is removed from a main body, as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between an optical display unit and LEDs according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... The whole portable communication terminal, 2 ... Lower case (main body), 4 ... Upper case (lid), 6 ... Antenna, 8 ... Receiver, 10 ... Display, 12 ... Input, 14 ... Microphone, 16 ... First hinge fixing part, 18 first hinge movable part, 20 optical display part, 22 hinge cover, 24 second hinge movable part, 26 second hinge fixing part, 30 substrate, 32 ... L
ED, 34: support member, 36: power supply line, 38: light supply unit, 40: support member, 42: substrate

Claims (11)

[Claims] A first housing, a second housing, and the first housing;
Foldable portable communication terminal, comprising: a first housing; and a hinge portion which engages the second housing so as to be able to open and close, wherein a protruding antenna is provided on the hinge portion side of the first housing. In the above, the hinge emits light in response to a predetermined operation of the foldable portable communication terminal, and is visible in both the open and closed states of the portable communication terminal, and in the closed state, is visible at least from the direction in which the antenna projects. A foldable portable communication terminal, comprising: a luminous body disposed in a section. 2. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the illuminant has the same shape as the hinge. 3. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the luminous body is a light guide piece. 4. The light-emitting body is connected to the first housing, and light is supplied to one end of the light-emitting body from a light-emitting element mounted inside the first housing. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 3. 5. The light-emitting body is connected to the second housing, and light is supplied to one end of the light-emitting body from a light-emitting element mounted inside the second housing. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 3. 6. The folding portable communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein light is supplied from a light emitting element embedded in one end of the light emitting body. 7. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the illuminant is a light emitting element. 8. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the illuminant is disposed at a center of the hinge portion. 9. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter changes a lighting pattern in accordance with a predetermined operation of the foldable portable communication terminal. 10. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the lighting pattern is a change in color of emitted light or a blinking cycle. 11. The foldable portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation includes a call arrival, a mail arrival, a content data download, and a battery exhaustion. .