JP3920727B2 - Portable communication device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable communication device capable of communicating predetermined data to the outside.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, cellular phones as portable communication devices have been developed with various functions. For example, a mobile phone disclosed in Utility Model Registration No. 3070776 is accompanied by an emergency notification mechanism. This mobile phone is provided with an emergency button for making an emergency call to 110 and 119, and a user can make an emergency call simply by operating the emergency button.
[0003]
By the way, as a power source for portable communication devices, a dedicated battery is generally used, but if this dedicated battery runs out or the remaining amount is low, the necessary power is not supplied, The portable communication device cannot be operated. In the cellular phone disclosed in the above-mentioned utility model registration No. 3070776, an emergency button is provided, but an emergency call cannot be made when the cellular phone does not operate due to a battery exhaustion or a shortage of remaining amount. That is, there has been a problem that the battery remaining amount necessary for emergency calls may not be secured.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable communication device that can secure necessary power in an emergency and can make an emergency call reliably.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the portable communication device of the present invention includes a normal battery that supplies power in a normal time, an emergency battery that holds power necessary for making an emergency call, and an input operation. Emergency input means for starting the supply of power from the emergency battery, imaging means, image format conversion means capable of converting the image format of the image captured by the imaging means into a plurality of different image formats, An emergency call processing means for transmitting the captured image after it has been converted to a low pixel format by the image format conversion means when power supply from the emergency battery is started by the emergency input means; , Including.
[0006]
Here, an emergency means a time when an emergency call such as 119 call or 110 call is necessary due to an accident or the like, and a normal time means a time other than an emergency.
[0007]
When making an emergency call in an emergency using the portable communication device of the present invention, the user performs an input operation to make an emergency call from the emergency input means. The emergency input means starts supplying power from the emergency battery. The emergency battery is prepared separately from the normal battery that supplies power to the portable communication device during normal times, and holds the power necessary for making an emergency call. Therefore, regardless of the remaining amount of the normal battery, it is possible to reliably make an emergency call by supplying power from the emergency battery.
[0009]
When making an emergency call, it is necessary to communicate an emergency situation such as an accident situation or an injury situation. In this case, it is often possible to transmit an appropriate situation by transmitting image information rather than transmitting an emergency situation by voice or text. However, image data has a larger amount of information than character data, and power consumption required for transmission is considerably increased. On the other hand, considering the purpose of urgent situation transmission, the image transmitted here does not need to have a high image quality, and a minimum image quality necessary for urgent situation transmission is sufficient.
[0010]
Therefore, when the user inputs an emergency notification from the emergency input unit, the image format conversion unit converts the image format of the image captured by the imaging unit into a low pixel format. Here, the low pixel format refers to an image format that has been subjected to processing for reducing the amount of information of the captured image by compression, thinning, or the like. It is distinguished from the high pixel format that has a larger amount of information than the pixel format.
[0011]
According to the above configuration comparison, the conversion of I Ri image format to an image format conversion means are carried out to the low pixel format, the information amount of the image data to be transmitted, the information amount of the image data in the case of high pixel format Therefore, power consumption can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumed at the time of an emergency call, and it is possible to prevent the emergency call from being disabled due to a shortage of the remaining amount of the emergency battery.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the portable communication device further comprises position positioning means for positioning the current position, and the emergency call processing means stores the information on the current position measured in the position. It can also be made to output from a positioning means.
[0013]
According to the portable communication device having the above configuration, the current position of the portable communication device is measured by the position positioning means. Note that, as the position measurement means, generally, a GPS (Global Positioning System), a method using radio waves from a base station, or the like is used. When the user performs an input operation for making an emergency call from the emergency input means, the current position obtained by the positioning is output from the position positioning means. Thereby, the current position of the portable communication device that makes an emergency call is transmitted, and the place where the emergency has occurred can be automatically transmitted to the report destination.
[0014]
As described in claim 4, the portable communication device of the present invention can be characterized in that the emergency input means can be distinguished from the normal input means used in normal times.
[0015]
Here, the normal input means means input means other than the emergency input means. The emergency input means needs to be operated only in an emergency. However, according to the above configuration, the emergency input means is identified as the normal input means. Can be prevented from being operated.
[0016]
Specifically, the shape or color of the emergency input means is different from that of the normal input means, or the emergency input means is arranged at a position away from the position where the normal input means is arranged. Thus, identification is possible.
[0017]
Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 5, the emergency input means is located at either an on position where power from the emergency battery is supplied or an off position where the supply is stopped. It is also possible to further include a blocking member that is movable so as to prevent the movement from the off position to the on position and release the blocking.
[0018]
In the portable communication device configured as described above, in a normal state, the blocking member prevents the emergency input means from moving to the on position, and in an emergency, the user releases the blocking by the blocking member and the emergency input means is in the on position. The emergency call is made. Therefore, at the normal time, the emergency input means is not moved to the ON position, and it is possible to prevent the emergency input means from being inadvertently operated.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile phone 10 as a portable communication device of the present embodiment includes a housing 11 and various devices inside the housing 11. A display 12 for displaying various information, a plurality of operation keys 14 for a user to perform various input operations, a microphone 22 for inputting sound, and a speaker 24 for outputting sound are arranged on the front surface of the housing 11. Has been. In addition, an antenna 18 that transmits and receives radio waves is provided on the upper surface of the housing 11, and an emergency button 20 as an emergency input means is disposed on the upper side surface.
[0020]
The display 12 displays information input by the user, information received from the outside, and the like. The user instructs the operation keys 14 to turn on / off the power, send / receive data, switch various modes, input characters, and the like. The microphone 22 captures sound during a call, and the speaker 24 outputs sound from the other party during the call.
[0021]
The emergency button 20 has a so-called push-type button structure, and is arranged on the side surface of the housing 11 away from the operation key 14. The emergency button 20 is pressed once from the off position 20A protruding from the housing 11 toward the housing 11, so that the protruding amount from the housing 11 is held at the on position 20B smaller than the off position 20A. By being pushed in again, it is configured to return to the off position 20A.
[0022]
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the mobile phone 10 includes a main battery 26 as a normal battery, a backup battery 28 as an emergency battery, and a discharge switch 30 that constitutes an emergency input unit together with an emergency button 20. A DC-DC converter 32 that converts and outputs an input voltage and other system unit 34 are incorporated.
[0023]
The main battery 26 is connected to the DC-DC converter 32 via the diode D1. The discharge switch 30 is connected to the backup battery 28 and the emergency button 20, and the discharge switch 30 is turned on when the emergency button 20 is moved to the on position 20B. The backup battery 28 stores power necessary for emergency calls. The discharge switch 30 is connected to the DC-DC converter 32 via the diode D2. The DC-DC converter 32 is connected to the system unit 34, and the emergency button 34 is also connected to the system unit 34. According to this configuration, in a state where the emergency button 20 is in the off position 20A, the discharge switch 30 is turned off, so that power is supplied to the system unit 34 from the main battery 26 and the emergency button 20 is pressed. Then, the discharge switch 30 is turned on when moving to the ON position 20B, so that the power supply to the system unit 34 is performed not only from the main battery 26 but also from the backup battery 28.
[0024]
When the emergency button 20 is input, a signal indicating an emergency state is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) in the system unit 34, and the system unit 34 switches to an emergency mode, for example, a power saving mode. It is done. By switching to the power saving mode, the power consumption of the backup battery 28 is suppressed, and it is possible to prevent the communication from being disabled due to a shortage of the remaining amount of the backup battery 28, thereby making it possible to make an emergency call more reliably.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0026]
When the user presses the emergency button 20, the emergency button 20 moves from the off position 20A to the on position 20B. Then, the discharge switch 30 is turned on, and the electricity stored in the backup battery 28 is discharged. Thus, power is supplied from the backup battery 28 to the system unit 34 via the diode D2 and the DC-DC converter 32.
[0027]
Thereafter, the user dials 110 and 119 according to a normal procedure, connects communication via a base station (not shown), and inputs information such as an emergency situation and a location verbally from the microphone 22 to make an emergency. Make a report.
[0028]
According to the present embodiment, since the mobile phone 10 includes the backup battery 28 that stores power necessary for emergency notification, the emergency notification can be reliably made regardless of the remaining amount of the main battery 26. .
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the emergency button 20 is positioned on the side surface of the housing 11 away from the operation key 14, so that it is clearly distinguished from the operation key 14 and can prevent an erroneous operation by the user.
[0030]
It should be noted that the emergency button 20 may have a different color and shape from those of the other operation buttons to clarify the distinction from the operation keys 14 and prevent an erroneous operation by the user.
[0031]
In this embodiment, an example in which the emergency button 20 is configured by a push type button has been described. However, the emergency button 20 may be a dial type as shown in FIG. 3 (see FIG. 3A). It can also be constructed of a slide type (see FIG. 3B).
[0032]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the emergency button 20 is provided with a cover 36 as a blocking member on the outside, and the cover 36 is closed to prevent the emergency button 20 from being moved to the ON position 24B. Thus, the emergency button 20 can be prevented from being erroneously operated. In addition, the cancellation | release of the said prevention is performed by opening the cover 36. FIG.
[0033]
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the upper side is configured with a hole 38A having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the emergency button 20 at the position where the emergency button 20 of the housing 11 is disposed, and the lower side of the emergency button 20 It is also possible to form a locking groove 38 constituted by a hole 38B having a diameter larger than the diameter. In the normal state, the emergency button 20 is located on the side of the hole 38A, and the emergency button 20 is prevented from moving to the ON position 24B in the portion of the casing 11 outside the hole 38A, so that the emergency button 20 is erroneously operated. Can be prevented. The release of the blocking is performed by sliding the emergency button 20 downward along the locking groove 38 and positioning it on the hole 38B side.
[0034]
Further, in the present embodiment, the example in which the user connects the communication according to the normal procedure has been described. However, by moving the emergency button 20 to the ON position 20B, communication to a communication destination registered in advance is performed. The connection can be made automatically.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile phone 10 as the portable communication device according to the present embodiment includes a camera 16 as an imaging unit for capturing an image on the front. The camera 16 includes a lens 16A and a CCD 16B (see FIG. 6), and captures an image according to an instruction from a predetermined operation key 14.
[0036]
A main battery 26 as a normal battery, a backup battery 28 as an emergency battery, a discharge switch 30 that constitutes an emergency input means together with the emergency button 20, a DC-DC converter 32 that converts and outputs an input voltage, and Since the configuration of the system unit 34 is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 6, the system unit 34 converts the image format of the image into a high pixel format or a low pixel format, a conversion unit 40 as an image format conversion unit, and a signal that is subjected to predetermined processing and output A processing unit 42, a communication unit 44 that transmits a signal to the outside and receives a signal from the outside, a GPS unit 46 that functions as a GPS, and a GPS unit that controls connection and release of the communication unit 44 and the GPS unit 46 A switch 48 and a control unit 50 that controls each unit in the system unit 34 are included.
[0038]
The conversion unit 40 is connected to the CCD 16 </ b> B, the control unit 50, and the signal processing unit 42, and the signal processing unit 42 is connected to the control unit 50, the communication unit 44, the microphone 22, and the speaker 24. The GPS unit 46 is connected to a GPS switch 48, and the GPS switch 48 is connected to the control unit 50 and the communication unit 44. The control unit 50 is connected to the emergency button 20.
[0039]
The conversion unit 40 includes a memory (not shown), receives and stores image data output from the CCD 16B, and converts the image format of the stored image data according to an instruction from the control unit 50. The image format to be converted includes a high pixel format that retains the information amount of the stored image data as it is, and a low pixel format that has been processed to reduce the information amount of the stored image data by compression or thinning. Then, the conversion mode to the high pixel format and the conversion mode to the low pixel format can be switched at any time. The low pixel format includes a VGA size image format and a thumbnail image format.
[0040]
The signal processing unit 42 performs a predetermined process on the signal from the conversion unit 40 and the microphone 22 and outputs the signal to the communication unit 44, and also performs a predetermined process on the signal from the communication unit 44 and outputs the signal to the speaker 24.
[0041]
The communication unit 44 transmits the signal output from the signal processing unit 42 to the outside, receives the signal from the outside, and outputs the signal to the signal processing unit 42.
[0042]
The GPS unit 46 includes a GPS antenna that receives radio waves from GPS satellites, and a position positioning system that measures the current position from the received radio waves, and measures the current position of the mobile phone 10.
[0043]
The GPS switch 48 connects the GPS unit 46 and the communication unit 44 according to an instruction from the control unit 50 so that information on the current position measured by the GPS unit 46 is output to the communication unit 44. .
[0044]
The control unit 50 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown). The control unit 50 stores whether the emergency button 20 is on or off, and controls each unit in the system unit 34.
[0045]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0046]
The operation of supplying power from the backup battery 28 to the system unit 34 when the user presses the emergency button 20 is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0047]
After the emergency button 20 is moved to the on position, the user presses the predetermined operation key 14 to take an emergency situation, designates a transmission destination and presses a transmission button (not shown), the control unit 50 The emergency call process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0048]
In step S10, it is determined whether or not the emergency button 20 is at the ON position 20B. If the determination is affirmative, the GPS switch 48 is turned on in step S12, and the current position data of the mobile phone 10 measured by the GPS unit 46 is output to the communication unit 44 in step S14. In step S16, the conversion mode of the image by the conversion unit 40 is switched to the low pixel format, and in step S16, low pixel processing is performed on the image data stored in the conversion unit 40 to generate low pixel image data. Then, in step S20, the low pixel image data is output to the signal processing unit 42, and this process ends.
[0049]
The low pixel image data output to the signal processing unit 42 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processing unit 42 so as to be communicable and output to the communication unit 44. Then, the low pixel image data and the current position data are transmitted from the communication unit 44 to the designated transmission destination.
[0050]
If the determination in step S10 is negative, the process proceeds to step S20, and the image data stored in the conversion unit 40 is output to the signal processing unit 42 without being subjected to the low pixel processing, and this processing is performed. Exit.
[0051]
According to the present embodiment, in a state where the emergency button 20 is in the on position 20B, the captured image data is subjected to low pixel processing and transmitted with a reduced amount of data, so that the power required for communication is reduced. be able to. Further, since the current position information is automatically transmitted together with the image data, it is possible to accurately transmit the position information where the emergency has occurred.
[0052]
In the present embodiment, both image data transmission and current position information transmission are performed, but a mobile phone that performs only one of the transmissions may be used.
[0053]
In the case of a mobile phone that only transmits image data, after the emergency button 20 is moved to the ON position, the user presses a predetermined operation key 14 to shoot an emergency situation, designates a transmission destination, and transmits When a button (not shown) is pressed, the emergency notification process is performed by the control unit 50 according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0054]
In step S30, it is determined whether or not the emergency button 20 is at the ON position 20B. If the determination is affirmative, low pixel processing is performed on the image data stored in the conversion unit 40 to generate low pixel image data in step S32. Then, in step S36, the low pixel image data is output to the signal processing unit 42, and the present process ends.
[0055]
The low pixel image data output to the signal processing unit 42 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processing unit 42 so as to be communicable and output to the communication unit 44. Then, it is transmitted from the communication unit 44 to the transmission destination designated by the low pixel image data.
[0056]
If the determination in step S30 is negative, the process proceeds to step S36, and the image data stored in the conversion unit 40 is output to the signal processing unit 42 without being subjected to the low pixel processing, and this processing is performed. Exit.
[0057]
In the case of a mobile phone that only transmits current position data, the control unit 50 performs emergency call processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0058]
In step S40, the process waits until the position of the emergency button 20 is moved to the on position 20B. If the position of the emergency button 20 is moved to the on position 20B, the GPS switch 48 is turned on in step S42, and the current position data of the mobile phone 10 measured by the GPS unit 46 is transmitted in step S44 to the communication unit. The process is terminated.
[0059]
The current position data output to the communication unit 44 is transmitted to the designated transmission destination.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the emergency battery is prepared separately from the main battery that supplies power to the portable communication device during normal times, and holds power necessary for making an emergency call. Therefore, regardless of the remaining amount of the normal battery, it is possible to reliably make an emergency call by supplying power from the emergency battery.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the emergency button according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the emergency button according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a mobile phone system according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of emergency call processing.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of emergency call processing for transmitting only image data.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of emergency call processing for transmitting only current position data.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Mobile phone (portable communication device)
14 Operation keys (other input means)
16 Camera 20 Emergency button (emergency input means)
26 Main battery (normal battery)
28 Backup battery (emergency battery)
30 Discharge switch (emergency input means)
40 Conversion unit (image format conversion means)
46 GPS unit (position positioning means)
48 GPS switch (emergency input)
50 Control unit (emergency input means)

Claims (5)

A normal battery that supplies power during normal times;
An emergency battery that holds the power required to make an emergency call;
Emergency input means for starting supply of power from the emergency battery by an input operation;
Imaging means;
Image format conversion means capable of converting the image format of the image captured by the imaging means into a plurality of different image formats;
An emergency call processing means for transmitting the captured image after it has been converted to a low pixel format by the image format conversion means when power supply from the emergency battery is started by the emergency input means; ,
A portable communication device comprising: Wherein by the image format conversion unit converts into a low pixel format, portable communication device according to be done more to reduce the information amount of the image data to come compression and thinning, to claim 1, wherein. It further comprises a position positioning means for positioning the current position,
The portable communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the emergency call processing unit causes the position measurement unit to output information on a current position obtained by positioning.   The portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the emergency input unit can be distinguished from a normal input unit used in a normal state.   The emergency input means is movable so as to be located at either an on position where power from the emergency battery is supplied or an off position where the supply is stopped, and from the off position to the on position. 5. The portable communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a blocking member that enables blocking of the movement and release of the blocking. 6.

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