Folding cellular phone and slide cellular phone

A folding cellular phone and a slide cellular phone with excellent usability. A folding cellular phone 1 has a status detection unit 20 which detects whether the folding cellular phone 1 is in a folded status or an opened status, a memory 21 which holds information to respond to an incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone 1, and a control unit 17 which, if an incoming call is detected when the folding cellular phone is in the folded status, in a case where information on the incoming call is stored in the memory, responds to the incoming call if the status detection unit 20 detects that the folding cellular phone has moved to the opened status.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a folding cellular phone and a slide cellular phone, and more particularly, to a folding cellular phone and a slide cellular phone which responds to an incoming call when it is opened/closed or slid.

2. Related Art of the Invention

In a conventional folding cellular phone, when an incoming call is received, in order to respond to the incoming call, two steps of operations are necessary. That is, a main body is opened and then an off-hook key is depressed.

However, in the conventional folding cellular phone, as the two steps of operations are required to respond to an incoming call, the usefulness is lower in comparison with an straight type cellular phone. Further, in the folding cellular phone which does not provide a small-window display unit for display of clock, battery indicator, call originator's telephone number upon reception of incoming call and the like in a closed status, when an incoming call is received, a call originator is unknown until the phone is opened. Accordingly, if the status of the cellular phone moves to a communication status even by opening the phone body, it is impossible for a user to select to answer or not to answer the incoming call in accordance with the originator of the incoming call.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above problems, a folding cellular phone according to the present invention comprises: a status detection unit that detects whether the case is in a folded status or an opened status; and a control unit that, if an incoming call is detected when the case is in the folded status, determines whether or not incoming call information on the incoming call has been notified, and if the incoming call information has been notified, responds to the incoming call by detecting that the case has moved to the opened status.

Note that as the incoming-call information, a number of call originator (call originator number) notified from e.g. a network may be used.

The above folding cellular phone further comprises a memory that holds identification information to identify a call originator. If an incoming call is detected when the case is in the folded status, the control unit determines whether or not the incoming call information on the incoming call notified from a network includes the identification information. If the incoming call information includes the identification information, the control unit responds to the incoming call by detecting that the case has moved tot he opened status.

It may be arranged such that the above folding cellular phone, further comprises an informing unit that, if the incoming call information includes the identification information, informs that the incoming call information includes the identification information. The informing unit performs a particular action by screen display, light, sound, vibration or the like.

It may be arranged such that the above folding cellular phone further comprises an acceleration sensor that detects a particular external force, and in a case where the acceleration sensor has detected a particular external force, if the status detection unit detects that the case has moved to the opened status, the control unit responds to the incoming call.

A slide cellular phone according to the present invention is a slide cellular phone used in a status where a second case which slides with respect to a first case is pulled out, upon communication, comprising: a status detection unit that detects whether the second case is in a closed status or a pulled out status; and a control unit that, if an incoming call is detected when the second case is in the closed status, determines whether or not incoming call information on the incoming call has been notified, and if the incoming call information has been notified, responds to the incoming call by detecting that the second case has moved to the pulled out status.

Also, as the incoming-call information, a number of call originator (call originator number) notified from e.g. a network may be used.

It may be arranged such that the above slide cellular phone further comprises a memory that holds identification information to identify a call originator. If an incoming call is detected when the second case is in the closed status, the control unit determines whether or not the incoming call information on incoming call notified from a network includes the identification information, and if the incoming call information includes the identification information, the control unit responds to the incoming call by detecting that the second case has moved to the pulled out status.

It may be arranged such that the above slide cellular phone further comprises an informing unit that, if the incoming call information includes the identification information, informs that the incoming call information includes the identification information. The informing means performs a particular action by screen display, light, sound, vibration or the like.

It may be arranged such that the above slide cellular phone further comprises an acceleration sensor that detects a particular external force, and in a case where the acceleration sensor has detected a particular external force, if the status detection unit detects that the second case has moved to the pulled out status, the control unit responds to the incoming call.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention has been made so as to solve the above-described problems, and has an object to provide a folding cellular phone and a slide cellular phone providing excellent usability. Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1Ais a perspective view showing a status where a folding cellular phone is closed.FIG. 1Bis a perspective view showing a status where the folding cellular phone is opened.

A folding cellular phone1has an upper case2and a lower case3hinge-connected at the respective ends. For the sake of convenience, in the upper case2and the lowercase3, a surface opposite to the upper case2and the lower case3in a status where the folding cellular phone1is folded is referred to an inner surface, and a surface exposed to the outside of the cellular phone, an outer surface.

Note that the status where the folding cellular phone1is opened means a status as shown inFIG. 1Bin which the distance between respective ends opposite to the hinged ends of the upper case2and the lower case3is the maximum.

The upper case2has a small-window display unit18aincluding a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display or the like for display of clock, battery indicator, call originator's telephone number upon reception of incoming call and the like, on the outer surface. Further, the upper case2has a speaker15, a main display unit18bincluding a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display or the like, on the inner surface. An antenna11is provided on an outer edge of the end of the upper case2opposite to the end hinged with the lower case3.

The lower case3has a microphone16and an operation unit19including keys, buttons and the like, on the inner surface.

The construction of the folding cellular phone1having the above appearance will be described with reference toFIG. 2.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing the construction of the folding cellular phone according to the first embodiment. As shown inFIG. 2, the folding cellular phone1has an antenna11, a radio unit12, a modulation/demodulation unit13, a sound processing unit14, the speaker15, the microphone16, a controller17which controls the overall folding cellular phone1, a display unit18, an operation unit19, a status detection unit20, a memory21and a vibration unit22.

The outline of operation of the folding cellular phone1having the above construction will be described.

When a radio wave signal to the folding cellular phone1is received by the antenna11, then amplified and frequency-converted by the radio unit12, and outputted to the modulation/demodulation unit13. The modulation/demodulation unit13demodulates the signal and outputs the demodulated signal to the sound processing unit14. The demodulated signal from the modulation/demodulation unit13is decoded to a sound signal by the sound processing unit14and then reproduced by the speaker15. On the other hand, a sound signal inputted from the microphone16is passed through an inverse route (that is, decoded by the sound processing unit14, then modulated by the modulation/demodulation unit13, and via the radio unit12), and is transmitted as a radio wave signal from the antenna11.

The controller17performs radio channel control and processing on received data, controls the sound processing unit14, controls display contents of the display unit18, performs processing on a signal from the operation unit19and processing on a signal from the status detection unit20, performs writing and reading of information stored in the memory21, and controls the vibration unit22.

The operation unit19is used by a user of the folding cellular phone1for inputting a telephone number or setting various functions.

The status detection unit20detects whether the folding cellular phone1is in an opened status where the upper case2and the lower case3are away from each other or in a folded (closed) status, and outputs information on the status of the cellular phone to the controller17.

The memory21holds call originators' telephone numbers registered by the user for answering to incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone1, setting information, various information set by the user and the like. That is, in the present embodiment, a call originator's telephone number is used as identification information.

Next, operations of principal elements of the folding cellular phone1according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a flowchart showing the operation of the folding cellular phone.

First, in a status where the folding cellular phone1is closed, when the antenna11has received a radio wave signal (YES at step S301), the controller17determines whether or not a call originator's telephone number has been notified (step S302).

If a call originator's telephone number has not been notified (NO at step S302), the controller17performs normal operation. The “normal operation” means that the status detection unit20detects that the folding cellular phone1has been opened (YES at step S307), then a communication start key of the operation unit19is depressed (YES at step S308), thereby the status of the folding cellular phone1moves to communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S306).

If a call originator's telephone number has been notified (YES at step S302), the controller17determines whether the notified call originator's telephone number is registered in the memory21as a number with which communication is to start by opening the folding cellular phone1(step S303).

Herein below, registration of number in the memory21for answering to incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone1is referred to as “communication setting”. Note that the registration as communication setting is previously performed by the user of the folding cellular phone1by operating the operation unit19in accordance with necessity.

If the notified call originator's telephone number is not registered (NO at step S303), the controller17performs the above-described normal operation.

If the notified call originator's telephone number is registered (YES at step S303), the controller17at step S304informs the user that the call originator is registered in the memory21as the communication setting and that the status of the cellular phone moves to communication in response to the incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone1, by, e.g., displaying a message on the small-window display unit18a,outputting a particular incoming-call sound, vibration by the vibration unit22in particular rhythm, or particular light emission by a lamp provided in the folding cellular phone1for this purpose. This arrangement enables the user of the folding cellular phone1to discriminate that the incoming call has been originated by the call originator registered in the memory21, and prevents the user from becoming nervous upon answering to the incoming call.

If the status detection unit20detects that the folding cellular phone1has been opened (YES at step S305), the controller17moves to the communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S306), thereby the user can easily answer to the incoming call only by opening the holding cellular phone1.

Note that in the first embodiment, in the folding cellular phone1, in a case where a call originator's telephone number is notified and the number is registered in the memory21as the communication setting, the status of cellular phone moves to communication by opening the folding cellular phone1. However, the communication setting can be changed in accordance with necessity. For example, even if a call originator's telephone call number is not notified or an incoming call has been received from a public telephone, setting may be made such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by opening the folding cellular phone1. The setting can be easily made by changing the communication setting recorded in the memory21by the user's operating the operation unit19.

Further, in the first embodiment, the user is informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by opening the folding cellular phone1if the communication setting is made, however, it may be arranged such that the user is not informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by opening the folding cellular phone1if the communication setting is made.

Further, a call originator's telephone number is used as identification information, however, the identification information is not limited to a call originator's telephone number but any information can be used as long as it is notified from a network and it can be used for specifying a call originator.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, constituent elements corresponding to those of the first embodiment have the same reference numerals and explanations thereof will be arbitrarily omitted.

FIG. 4is a block diagram showing the construction of the folding cellular phone according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment as shown inFIG. 4, an acceleration sensor23is added to the construction of the first embodiment as shown inFIG. 2. The acceleration sensor23detects an external force applied to the folding cellular phone1and outputs a detected value to the controller17.

FIG. 5is a flowchart showing the operation of the folding cellular phone according to the second embodiment. The operations of the principal elements of the folding cellular phone1according to the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 5.

First, in a status where the folding cellular phone1is closed, when the antenna11has received a radio wave signal (YES at step S501), the controller17determines whether or not a call originator's telephone number has been notified (step S502).

If a call originator's telephone number has not been notified (NO at step S502), the controller17performs normal operation. The “normal operation” means that the status detection unit20detects that the folding cellular phone1has been opened (YES at step S507), then a communication start key of the operation unit19is depressed (YES at step S508), thereby the status of the folding cellular phone1moves to communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S506).

If the call originator's telephone number has been notified (YES at step S502) and is recorded in the memory21such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by detection of particular operation by the acceleration sensor23, the controller17determines whether or not the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action (step S503). The particular action means application of particular external force to the folding cellular phone1by, e.g., shaking the folding cellular phone1twice in a vertical direction to a display direction of the small-window display unit18a. In this case, the direction and/or number of times of application of external force by e.g. shaking the folding cellular phone1can be arbitrarily and freely set.

Further, as another example of particular action, the folding cellular phone1may be opened at a speed equal to or higher/less than a predetermined speed, or may be opened within/after a predetermined period from reception of incoming call.

The particular action is previously set by the user of the folding cellular phone1by operating the operation unit19in accordance with necessity.

If the acceleration sensor23has not detected the particular action (NO at step S503), the controller17performs the above-described normal operation.

If the acceleration sensor23has detected the particular action (YES at step S503), the controller17at step S504informs the user that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by opening the folding cellular phone1by, e.g., displaying a message on the small-window display unit18a,outputting a particular incoming-call sound, vibration by the vibration unit22in particular rhythm, or particular light emission by a lamp provided in the folding cellular phone1for this purpose.

If the status detection unit20detects that the folding cellular phone1has been opened (YES at step S505), the controller moves to the communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S506). By this arrangement, the user of the folding cellular phone1can select to answer or not to answer the incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone1.

Note that in the second embodiment, if a call originator's telephone number is notified and the number is registered in the memory21, and if the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action, the status of cellular phone moves to communication in response to the incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone1. However, the communication setting can be changed in accordance with necessity. For example, even if a call originator's telephone call is unnotified or an incoming call has been received from a public telephone, setting may be made such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by detection of particular action by the acceleration sensor23and opening the folding cellular phone1.

Further, it may be arranged such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by detection of particular action by the acceleration sensor23and opening the folding cellular phone1regardless of notification of call originator's telephone number.

Note that these settings can be easily made by changing the communication settings recorded in the memory21by the user's operating the operation unit19.

Further, in the second embodiment, in the folding cellular phone1, setting may be made such that the user cannot answer to an incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone1unless the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action. By this arrangement, the folding cellular phone1can be prevented from being used by another person not authorized by the user.

Further, in the second embodiment, if the folding cellular phone1is opened in a case where the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action, the user is informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by opening the folding cellular phone1. However, it may be arranged such that the user is not informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by opening the folding cellular phone1in a case where the communication setting is made.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6Ais a perspective view showing a status where a slide cellular phone is closed.FIG. 6Bis a perspective view showing a status where the slide cellular phone is pulled out. Note that since the third embodiment is application of the first embodiment to a slide cellular phone, corresponding constituent elements have the same reference numerals and explanations thereof will be arbitrarily omitted. Note that window18ashown inFIG. 1Aused in the first embodiment is not required since window18is visible when the slide cellular phone is closed.

In a slide cellular phone31, a slide member32aof an upper case32is engaged with a groove33aprovided in side surfaces of a lower case33. When the upper case32and the lower case33are slid in opposite directions to each other in a lengthwise direction of the groove33a,the lower case33is pulled out as shown inFIG. 6Bfrom the status ofFIG. 6A, and a main operation unit19band the microphone16are exposed. In the upper case32, the speaker15, the display unit18and a sub operation unit19aare provided on a surface opposite to the lower case33. Further, the antenna11is provided on an outer edge of the end of the upper case32closer to the speaker15.

In the slide cellular phone31having the above construction, setting is made such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication in response to an incoming call by pulling out the lower case33.

Note that the status where the slide cellular phone31is pulled out (pulled out status) means a status where the length of the slide cellular phone31is the maximum in the direction of the groove33aas shown inFIG. 6B.

The construction of the slide cellular phone31having the above appearance will be described with reference toFIG. 2.

The status detection unit20detects whether the slide cellular phone31is in the pulled out status or in the closed status and outputs information on the status of the cellular phone to the controller17.

Since the other constituent elements have been described in the first embodiment, explanations thereof will be omitted.

Next, operations of principal elements of the slide cellular phone31according to the third embodiment will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 7.FIG. 7is a flowchart showing the operation of the slide cellular phone.

First, in a status where the slide cellular phone31is closed, when the antenna11has received a radio wave signal (YES at step S701), the controller17determines whether or not a call originator's telephone number has been notified (step S702).

If a call originator's telephone number has not been notified (NO at step S702), the controller17performs normal operation. The “normal operation” means that the status detection unit20detects that the slide cellular phone31has been pulled out (YES at step S707), then a communication start key of the operation unit19is depressed (YES at step S708), thereby the status of the slide cellular phone31moves to communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S706).

If a call originator's telephone number has been notified (YES at step S702), the controller17determines whether the notified call originator's telephone number is registered in the memory21as a number with which communication is to start by pulling out the slide cellular phone31(step S703). Hereinbelow, registration of number in the memory21for answering to incoming call by pulling out the slide cellular phone31is referred to as “communication setting”. Note that the registration as communication setting is previously performed by the user of the slide cellular phone31by operating the operation unit19in accordance with necessity.

If the notified call originator's telephone number is not registered (NO at step S703), the controller17performs the above-described normal operation.

If the notified call originator's telephone number is registered (YES at step S703), the controller17at step S704informs the user that the call originator is registered in the memory21as the communication setting and that the status of slide cellular phone moves to communication in response to the incoming call by pulling out the slide cellular phone31, by, e.g., displaying a message on the small-window display unit18a,outputting a particular incoming-call sound, vibration by the vibration unit22in particular rhythm, or particular light emission by a lamp provided in the slide cellular phone31for this purpose. This arrangement enables the user of the slide cellular phone31to discriminate that the incoming call has been originated by the call originator registered in the memory21, and prevents the user from becoming nervous upon answering to the incoming call.

If the status detection unit20detects that the slide cellular phone31has been pulled out (YES at step S705), the controller17moves to the communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S706), thereby the user can easily answer to the incoming call only by pulling out the slide cellular phone21.

Note that in the third embodiment, in the slide cellular phone31, in a case where the call originator's telephone number is notified and the number is registered in the memory21as the communication setting, the status of cellular phone moves to communication by pulling out the slide cellular phone31. However, the communication setting can be changed in accordance with necessity. For example, even if a call originator's telephone call number is not notified or an incoming call has been received from a public telephone, setting may be made such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by pulling out the slide cellular phone31. The setting can be easily made by changing the communication settings recorded in the memory21by the user's operating the operation unit19.

Further, in the third embodiment, the user is informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by pulling out the slide cellular phone31if the communication setting is made. However, it may be arranged such that the user is not informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by pulling out the slide cellular phone31if the communication setting is made.

Further, a call originator's telephone number is used as identification information. However, the identification information is not limited to a call originator's telephone number but any information can be used as long as it is notified from a network and it can be used for specifying a call originator.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, constituent elements corresponding to those of the third embodiment have the same reference numerals and explanations thereof will be arbitrarily omitted.

FIG. 4is a block diagram showing the construction of the slide cellular phone according to a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment as shown inFIG. 4, the acceleration sensor23is added to the construction of the first embodiment as shown inFIG. 2. The acceleration sensor23detects an external force applied to the slide cellular phone31and outputs a detected value to the controller17.

FIG. 8is a flowchart showing the operation of the slide cellular phone according to the fourth embodiment. The operations of the principal elements of the slide cellular phone31according to the fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 8.

First, in a status where the slide cellular phone31is closed, when the antenna11has received a radio wave signal (YES at step S801), the controller17determines whether or not a call originator's telephone number has-been notified (step S802).

If a call originator's telephone number has not been notified (NO at step S802), the controller17performs normal operation. The “normal operation” means that the status detection unit20detects that the slide cellular phone31has been pulled out (YES at step S807), then a communication start key of the operation unit19is depressed (YES at step S808), thereby the status of the slide cellular phone31moves to communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S806).

If the call originator's telephone number has been notified (YES at step S802) and is recorded in the memory21such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by detection of particular operation by the acceleration sensor23, the controller17determines whether or not the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action (step S803). The particular action means application of particular external force to the slide cellular phone31by, e.g., shaking the slide cellular phone31twice in a vertical direction to a display direction of the display unit18. In this case, the direction and/or number of times of application of external force by e.g. shaking the slide cellular phone31can be arbitrarily and freely set.

Further, as another example of particular action, as application of external force to the slide cellular phone31, the slide cellular phone31may be pulled out at a speed equal to or higher/less than a predetermined speed, or may be opened within/after a predetermined period from reception of incoming call.

The particular action is previously set by the user of the slide cellular phone31by operating the operation unit19in accordance with necessity.

If the acceleration sensor23has not detected the particular action (NO at step S803), the controller17performs the above-described normal operation.

If the acceleration sensor23has detected the particular action (YES at step S803), the controller17at step S804informs the user that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by pulling out the slide cellular phone31by, e.g., displaying a message on the display unit18, outputting a particular incoming-call sound, vibration by the vibration unit22in particular rhythm, or particular light emission by a lamp provided in the slide cellular phone31for this purpose.

If the status detection unit20detects that the slide cellular phone31has been pulled out (YES at step S805), the controller moves to the communication processing in response to the incoming call (step S806). By this arrangement, the user of the slide cellular phone31can select to answer or not to answer the incoming call by pulling out the slide cellular phone31.

Note that in the fourth embodiment, if a call originator's telephone number is notified and the number is registered in the memory21, and if the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action, the status of cellular phone moves to communication in response to the incoming call by pulling out the slide cellular phone31. However, the communication setting can be changed in accordance with necessity.

For example, even if a call originator's telephone call is unnotified or an incoming call has been received from a public telephone, setting may be made such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by detection of particular action by the acceleration sensor23and pulling out the slide cellular phone31.

Further, it may be arranged such that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by detection of particular action by the acceleration sensor23and pulling out the slide cellular phone31regardless of notification of call originator's telephone number.

Note that these settings can be easily made by changing the communication settings recorded in the memory21by the user's operating the operation unit19.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, in the slide cellular phone31, setting may be made such that the user cannot answer to an incoming call by pulling out the slide cellular phone31unless the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action. By this arrangement, the slide cellular phone31can be prevented from being used by another person not authorized by the user.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, if the slide cellular phone31is pulled out in a case where the acceleration sensor23has detected a particular action, the user is informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by pulling out the slide cellular phone31. However, it may be arranged such that the user is not informed that the status of cellular phone moves to communication by pulling out the slide cellular phone31in a case where the communication setting is made.

Note that in the above-described embodiments, the number, location, shape and the like of the respective constituent elements can be arbitrarily freely set.

As described above, according to the folding cellular phone of the present invention, in the status where the folding cellular phone is folded, if an incoming call is received from a call originator previously registered in the memory, the status of cellular phone moves to communication in response to the incoming call by opening the folding cellular phone. This enables the user to easily answer to the incoming call, and improves usability.

Further, according to the folding cellular phone of the present invention, even in the status where the folding cellular phone is folded, as the user is informed that an incoming call has been received from a call originator previously registered in the memory, the user can check the call originator to a certain degree before the user answers to the incoming call, and the usability is improved.

Further, according to the folding cellular phone of the present invention, as the user can select to answer or not to answer to an incoming call from a call originator by opening the folding cellular phone, the user can be prevented from answering to an incoming call by an erroneous operation or the like, and as a result, the usability can be improved.

According to the slide cellular phone of the present invention, in the status where the slide cellular phone is closed, if an incoming call is received from a call originator previously registered in the memory, the status of cellular phone moves to communication in response to the incoming call by pulling out the slide cellular phone. This enables the user to easily answer to the incoming call, and improves usability.

Further, according to the slide cellular phone of the present invention, even in the status where the slide cellular phone is closed, as the user is informed that an incoming call has been received from a call originator previously registered in the memory, the user can check the call originator to a certain degree before the user answers to the incoming call, and the usability is improved.

Further, according to the slide cellular phone of the present invention, as the user can select to answer or not to answer to an incoming call from a call originator by pulling out the slide cellular phone, the user can be prevented from answering to an incoming call by an erroneous operation or the like, and as a result, the usability can be improved.