Patent Publication Number: US-2010124952-A1

Title: Mobile terminal device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application NO. 2008-296204 filed on Nov. 20, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein are related to a mobile terminal device equipped with an antenna which is housed in a housing to be freely pulled out from within the housing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Recently, it has been promoted to mount a camera function for photographing a subject, a browser function for browsing a Web site and a One Segment Broadcasting function for listening and viewing a TV program on a mobile phone in addition to standard talking function and electronic mail transmitting and receiving function. Mobile phones are now being utilized by persons of a wide age group as private multifunction terminals substituting for digital cameras, personal computers and TV sets not only as means for communications. 
     In relation to the above, a typical TV set or personal computer has a horizontally elongated display screen. On the other hand, a mobile phone has a vertically elongated general form in order to increase one-handed holding property and operability and hence generally its display screen also has a vertically elongated form. Therefore, it is being widely practiced to rotate an upper housing on which the display screen is formed relative to a lower housing equipped with keys so as to display an image horizontally relative to the display screen in the case that a user intends to listen and view a TV program. As described above, the display screen is effectively utilized to realize enlarged display of an image by horizontally laying down the upper housing relative to the lower housing and it becomes possible for the user to listen and view the TV program while vertically holding the mobile phone in one hand. 
     A technique for automatically setting an operation mode of a mobile electronic device by detecting positional relation between an upper housing and a lower housing is described in Patent Document 1. Labor taken for key operation by a user is saved by utilizing this technique to detect that the upper housing has been laid down horizontally relative to the lower housing and to automatically set the operation mode of the mobile phone to the One Segment Broadcasting mode. 
     [Patent Document 1] 
     Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2003-532351 
     However, a mobile phone is frequently used in an open area surrounded by buildings. Under the circumstances as mentioned above, its radio wave receiving condition becomes unstable as compared with a typical TV set utilizing a stationary antenna. Therefore, in the case that a user wishes to listen and view a TV program via the mobile phone, it is necessary for the user to first set the operation mode of the mobile phone to the One Segment Broadcasting mode and then pull out the antenna housed in the housing. Thus, the typical mobile phone has such a problem that its operation takes much time and labor. 
     Incidentally, the same problem generally occurs also in the case that radio communication via an antenna is to be performed using a portable mobile terminal device, not only limited to the case in which the user intends to listen and view the TV program via the mobile phone as mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments, a mobile terminal device that has communicating functions includes: a housing, an antenna housed in the housing to be freely pulled out, a pull-out mechanism that pulls out the antenna from within the housing in accordance with an instruction to pull out the antenna and an instructing section that gives the instruction to pull out the antenna to the pull-out mechanism in accordance with a predetermined event for one communicating function. 
     The object and advantages of the embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description and are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the embodiments, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an outer perspective view of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of a mobile terminal device; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating front surface sides of a lower housing and a coupling member in a state in which an upper housing is removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a rear surface side of the upper housing; 
         FIG. 4  is an inner block diagram of a mobile phone; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a series of processes performed from when the One Segment Broadcasting mode has been set to when an antenna is pulled out; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating steps of an operation of inclining the upper housing relative to the lower housing; 
         FIG. 7A  is one structural diagram of an antenna and an antenna pull-out section; 
         FIG. 7B  is another structural diagram of the antenna and the antenna pull-out section; 
         FIG. 8A  is a diagram illustrating a mobile phone according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8B  is a diagram illustrating the mobile phone according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9A  is a diagram illustrating a mobile phone according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 9B  is a diagram illustrating the mobile phone according to the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating relation between an upper housing and a coupling member of a mobile phone according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 11A  is a diagram illustrating an operation of inclining the upper housing relative to a lower housing in the mobile phone according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 11B  is a diagram illustrating the operation of inclining the upper housing relative to the lower housing in the mobile phone according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of an LCD on which an image of a TV program is displayed in a fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a series of processes performed until an antenna is pulled out in a sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 14A  is one structural diagram of an antenna and an antenna pull-out section according to a seventh embodiment; 
         FIG. 14B  is another structural diagram of the antenna and the antenna pull-out section according to the seventh embodiment; 
         FIG. 15A  is one structural diagram of an antenna and an antenna pull-out section according to an eighth embodiment; 
         FIG. 15B  is another structural diagram of the antenna and the antenna pull-out section according to the eighth embodiment; 
         FIG. 16A  is one structural diagram of an antenna and an antenna pull-out section according to a ninth embodiment; and 
         FIG. 16B  is another structural diagram of the antenna and the antenna pull-out section according to the ninth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the above mentioned mobile terminal device. 
     A photographing function for photographing a subject, a browser function for browsing a Web site and a One Segment Broadcasting function for listening and viewing a TV program are mounted on a mobile phone  100  together with data communicating functions for transmitting voice data and electronic mails to an external device and receiving them from the external device. 
     The mobile phone  100  I includes an upper housing  100 A on which a liquid crystal panel  101  is installed, a lower housing  100 B which is held by one hand of a user and a coupling member  100 C hinged to the lower housing  100 B. The upper housing  100 A is held by the lower housing  100 B via the coupling member  100 C so as to be rotationally movable relative to the lower housing  100 B in a direction illustrated by an arrow A″ and to be freely opened or closed in a direction illustrated by an arrow B″. A combination of the upper housing  100 A with the lower housing  100 B corresponds to an example of the above mentioned housing. 
     A selection button  104  used as a shutter button for selecting various functions and photographing a subject, push buttons  105  used to input a telephone number and an earpiece  106  for transmitting a voice to a built-in microphone are installed on the upper surface of the lower housing  100 B and an antenna  300  designed to be freely housed in the housing is attached to one side face of the lower housing  100 B. The antenna  300  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned antenna. 
     A magnetic sensor  211  is built into the coupling member  100 C at a position opposite to an edge of the upper housing  100 A. 
     The liquid crystal panel  101  on which a telephone number, a moving image of a TV program or a photographed image is displayed is provided on the upper housing  100 A and a mouth piece  102  for outputting a voice uttered from a built-in loudspeaker is installed in the upper housing  100 A. In addition, magnets  212  and  213  are built into the upper housing  100 A at two positions where the magnets are brought into opposition to the magnetic sensor  211  in the coupling member  100 C when the upper housing  100 A is rotated in the arrow A″ direction so as to be inclined relative to the lower housing  100 B. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the front surface sides of the lower housing  100 B and the coupling member  100 C in a state in which the upper housing  100 A has been removed and  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the rear surface side of the upper housing  100 A. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the lower housing  100 B and the coupling member  100 C are coupled together via a hinge part  200  so as to be freely folded. An abutting base  201  against which the upper housing  100 A is brought into abutment is formed on the hinge part  200  and a vertically extending vertical groove  210  is formed in the front surface side of the coupling member  100 C. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a protrusion  310  is provided on the rear surface side of the upper housing  100 A. The protrusion  310  on the upper housing  100 A illustrated in  FIG. 3  is fitted into the vertical groove  210  formed in the coupling member  100 C illustrated in  FIG. 2 , thereby supporting the upper housing  100 A on the coupling member  100 C so as to be rotationally movable. 
     Next, an inner structure of the mobile phone will be described. 
       FIG. 4  is an inner block diagram of the mobile phone. 
     A CPU  110 , a ROM  111 , a nonvolatile memory  112 , a RAM  113 , a microphone device  121 , a display device  122 , a loudspeaker device  123 , a key device  124 , a camera device  125 , a clock  126 , a short-distance communication device  131 , a long-distance communication device  132 , a TV device  133 , a medium controller  140 , a battery charger  150  and an antenna pull-out section  310  are illustrated in the  FIG. 4  in addition to the antenna  300  and the magnetic sensor  211  also illustrated in  FIG. 1  and these elements are connected together via a bus. 
     The CPU  110  has a function to execute various programs and generally controls operations of the mobile phone  100 . 
     Non-rewritable information such as various programs to be executed using the CPU  110  is stored in the ROM  111 . 
     Information which may sometimes be rewritten and is held even when power supply is stopped such as an address book and received electronic mails is stored in the nonvolatile memory  112 . 
     The RAM  113  is a volatile memory in which information is held only while the power is being supplied. The CPU  110  expands a program stored in the ROM  111  or the nonvolatile memory  112  on the RAM  113  and executes the program while using the RAM  113  as a work area. 
     The microphone device  121  is a functional block that has a microphone that picks up the voice of a user and processes the voice which has been picked up using the microphone. 
     The loudspeaker device  123  is a functional block that has a loudspeaker that outputs a voice to the user and generates a voice signal used for driving the loudspeaker. 
     The short-distance communication device  131  functions to transmit an image or a telephone number to an external device situated at a short distance from a mobile phone concerned without passing through a base station and a communication system such as an infrared communication system is adopted for this purpose. 
     The long-distance communication device  132  functions to transmit and receive voice data and electronic mails via the antenna  300 . In the long-distance communication device  132 , data transmission and reception is performed via a base station. 
     The camera device  125  is a block that functions to collect image data obtained by photographing subjects. The display device  122  is a block that functions to display an image on the LCD  101  (see  FIG. 1 ). The key device  124  is a block that detects key operations performed by a user using the various operation keys  104  and  105  (see  FIG. 1 ). The clock  126  is a block that acquires the current time. 
     The TV device  133  is a block that converts radio waves received using the antenna  300  to digital program data using a tuner and displays an image of a TV program indicated by the program data on the liquid crystal panel  101  (see FIG.  1 ). 
     The antenna pull-out section  310  functions to pull out the antenna  300  from within the lower housing  100 B in accordance with setting of the One Segment Broadcasting mode for listening and viewing the TV program concerned. The configuration of the antenna pull-out section  310  will be described in detail later. The antenna pull-our section  310  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned pull-out mechanism. 
     The medium controller  140  functions to read out data from a recording medium  141  and write image data generated using the camera device  125  into the recording medium  141 . 
     The mobile phone  100  is configured as described above in outline and in hardware. 
     In the mobile phone  100  configured as mentioned above, when the One Segment Broadcasting mode is set in accordance with an operation performed by the user, the TV device  133  is started up to execute a One Segment Broadcasting function that displays the TV program on the LCD  101  and the antenna  300  is automatically pulled out from within the lower housing  100 B simultaneously therewith. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a series of processes performed from when the One Segment Broadcasting mode has been set to when the antenna  300  is pulled out. 
     When the user operates the mobile phone  100  to instruct to set the One Segment Broadcasting mode, the CPU  110  operates to set the operation mode of the mobile phone  100  to the One Segment Broadcasting mode (step S 1  in  FIG. 5 ). In the present embodiment, when the user rotates the upper housing  100 A of the mobile phone  100  in the arrow A″ direction to incline the upper housing  100 A relative to the lower housing  100 B, the operation mode of the mobile phone  100  is set to the One Segment Broadcasting mode. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating steps of an operation of inclining the upper housing  100 A relative to the lower housing  100 B. 
     In an upright state in which the upper housing  100 A is not yet inclined relative to the lower housing  100 B (step S 11  in  FIG. 6 ), the two magnets  212  and  213  built into the upper housing  100 A are not yet opposed to the magnetic sensor  211  built into the coupling member  100 C. Thus, in the upright state, any magnetic field is not sensed using the magnetic sensor  211 . 
     When the upper housing  100 A is inclined leftward, first, the upper housing  100 A rotates as the protrusion  310  moves upward guided along the vertical groove  210  (step S 12  in  FIG. 6 ). As the upper housing  100 A is further rotated, its left lower corner is guided along the abutting base  201  of the coupling member  100 C and the protrusion  310  moves downward guided along the vertical groove  210 . As a result, the upper housing  100 A is laid down leftward relative to the lower housing (step S 14  in  FIG. 6 ). In a leftward laid-down state at step S 14 , the magnet  212  built into the left side of the upper housing  100 A comes into opposition to the magnetic sensor  211  and the magnetic field of the magnet  212  is sensed using the magnetic sensor  211 . 
     On the other hand, when the upper housing  100 A is inclined rightward, the upper housing  100 A rotates as the protrusion  310  moves upward guided along the vertical groove  210  (step S 13  in  FIG. 6 ). As the upper housing  100 A is further rotated, the protrusion  310  moves downward, guided along the vertical groove  210 . As a result, the upper housing  100 A is laid down rightward relative to the lower housing (step S 15  in  FIG. 6 ). In a rightward laid-down state at step S 15 , the magnet  213  built into the right side of the upper housing  100 A comes into opposition to the magnetic sensor  211  and the magnetic field of the magnet  213  is sensed using the magnetic sensor  211 . 
     As described above, when the upper housing  100 A is inclined relative to the lower housing  100 B, the magnet  212  or  213  is moved to a position where it is opposed to the magnetic sensor  211  and the magnetic field of the magnet concerned is sensed using the magnetic sensor  211 . That is, rotation of the upper housing  100 A is detected by sensing the magnetic field of the magnet concerned using the magnetic sensor  211 . 
     The magnetic sensor  211  that has sensed the magnetic field of the magnet  212  or  213  sends a result of sensing to the CPU  110 . In the CPU  110 , the rotation of the upper housing  100 A is detected by acquiring the result of sensing from the magnetic sensor  211 . As a result, the operation mode of the mobile phone  100  is set to the One Segment Broadcasting mode. The CPU  110  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned instructing section. 
     As an example of application, the fundamental embodiment of the above mentioned mobile terminal device may be favorably configured such that the mobile terminal device further includes a startup sensing section that senses startup of the communicating function in accordance with a predetermined operation and the instructing section gives the instruction to pull out the antenna to the pull-out mechanism in accordance with sensing of startup of the communicating function performed using the startup sensing section. 
     According to the above mentioned example of the mobile terminal device, it may become possible for the user to automatically give the antenna pull-out instruction by performing an operation of starting-up the communicating function and hence the operation necessary to pull out the antenna is eliminated. A combination of the magnetic sensor  211  with the magnets  212  and  213  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned startup sensing section. 
     As an example of application, the fundamental embodiment of the above mentioned mobile terminal device may be favorably configured such that the housing includes the upper housing equipped with a display screen and the lower housing that holds the upper housing so as to be freely opened or closed and to be rotationally movable in an in-plane direction of the display screen, the startup sensing section has a rotation sensing sensor that senses rotation of the upper housing and startup of the communicating function is sensed by sensing the rotation of the upper housing the rotation sensing sensor. 
     Typically, in many cases, the upper housing is rotated relative to the lower housing to set the display screen sideways in the One Segment Broadcasting mode for listening and viewing a TV program. According to the above mentioned favorable example of the mobile terminal device, startup of the One Segment Broadcasting mode is sensed by sensing the rotation of the upper housing, so that the user is allowed to readily set the One Segment Broadcasting mode simply by setting the orientation of the display screen. Incidentally, the upper housing  100 A corresponds to an example of the above mentioned upper housing, the lower housing  100 B corresponds to an example of the above mentioned lower housing and the magnetic sensor  211  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned rotation sensing sensor. 
     Further, an example of application that the above mentioned rotation sensing sensor is a magnetic sensor is also favorable. 
     Utilization of a magnetic sensor as the above mentioned rotation sensing sensor realizes sensing of the rotation of the upper housing by a simple configuration. The magnetic sensor  211  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned magnetic sensor. 
     When the user lays down the upper housing  100 A relative to the lower housing  100 B to set the operation mode of the mobile phone  100  to the One Segment Broadcasting mode, an instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function is given from the CPU  110  to the TV device  133  and the antenna pull-out section  310  (step  51 ). 
     The TV device  133  operates to display an image of a TV program on the LCD  101  in accordance with the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function and the antenna pull-out section  310  pulls out the antenna  300  from within the lower housing  100 B in accordance with the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are structural diagrams of the antenna  300  and the antenna pull-out section  310 . 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300  is housed in the lower housing  100 B and  FIG. 7B  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300  has been pulled out from within the lower housing  100 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the antenna  300  is constituted by a leading end part  301 , a central part  302  and a trailing end part  303 . The trailing end part  303  is held in the antenna pull-out section  310 . The antenna pull-out section  310  is constituted by a spring  314  that actuates the antenna  300  in a pulling-out direction A, a cylindrical member  313  that guides movement of the antenna  300 , a stopper  312  that bocks the movement of the antenna  300  and a release section  311  that releases the stopper  312  and is housed in the lower housing  100 B. 
     The trailing end part  303  of the antenna  300  is inserted into the cylindrical member  313  of the antenna pull-out section  310  and its rear end is actuated using the spring  314 . The central part  302  of the antenna  300  is held in the trailing end part  303  so as to be movable in a sideward direction illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  and the leading end part  301  is held in the central part so as to be movable in the sideward direction illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     In a state in which the antenna  300  is housed in the lower housing  100 B, the trailing end part  303  of the antenna  300  is pushed into the interior of the cylindrical member  313  against the actuating force of the spring  314  as illustrated in  FIG. 7A  and the trailing end part  303  and the central part  302  are locked using the stopper  312  of the antenna pull-out section  310  to block their movement. 
     In the antenna pull-out section  310 , when the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function is given from the CPU  110 , the stopper  312  is laid aside using the release section  311  to release locking of the trailing end part  303  and the central part  302 . As a result, the trailing end part  303  of the antenna  300  is moved in a direction illustrated by an arrow A along the cylindrical member  313  by the actuating force of the spring  314  and the central part  302  of the antenna  300  is pushed outward from the trailing end part  303  with the aid of moving force of the trailing end part  303 . 
     In the above mentioned manner, the antenna  300  is pulled out from within the lower housing  100 B (step S 4  in  FIG. 5 ). 
     Incidentally, as an example of application, the fundamental embodiment of the above mentioned mobile terminal device may be favorably configured such that the pull-out mechanism includes an actuating member that actuates the antenna in a pulling-out direction, a blocking member that blocks pulling-out of the antenna and a release means that releases blocking of pulling-out of the antenna which is exerted using the blocking member in accordance with the instruction to pull out the antenna. 
     In addition, as an example of application, the fundamental embodiment may be favorably configured such that the actuating member is a spring which is fixed to the housing at its one end and pushes the antenna in the pulling-out direction at its other end relative to the one end thereof. 
     The antenna is readily pulled out by actuating the antenna by using a spring and releasing locking that blocks pulling-out of the antenna in accordance with the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function. The spring  314  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned actuating member and an example of the above mentioned spring. The stopper  312  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned blocking member. The release section  311  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned release means. 
     When the user pushes the leading end part  301  of the antenna  300  against the actuating force of the spring  314 , the leading end part  301  is housed in the central part  302  and the central part  302  is housed in the trailing end part  303 . Then, the antenna  300  is housed in the lower housing  100 B by locking the trailing end part  303  and the central part  302  using the stopper  312  of the antenna pull-out section  310 . 
     As described above, according to the mobile phone  100  of the present embodiment, when the user inclines the upper housing  100 A relative to the lower housing  100 B, the One Segment Broadcasting function is started up and the antenna  300  is automatically pulled out from within the lower housing  100 B simultaneously therewith. As a result, it may become possible to increase the radio wave receiving sensitivity by saving such labor that a user has to manually pull out the antenna  300 . 
     The first embodiment has been described as mentioned above. Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a photo-interrupter is installed in place of the magnetic sensor  211 . Thus, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are diagrams illustrating a mobile phone  100 _ 2  according to the second embodiment. 
     A photo-interrupter  211 _ 2  is built into the coupling member  100 C of the mobile phone  100 _ 2  in place of the magnetic sensor  211  in the mobile phone  100  according to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Infrared diodes  212 _ 2  and  213 _ 2  are built into the upper housing  100 A in place of two magnets  212  and  213 . 
     In an upright state in which the upper housing  100 A is not yet inclined relative to the lower housing  100 B as illustrated in  FIG. 8A , these two infrared diodes  212 _ 2  and  213 _ 2  are not opposed to the photo-interrupter  211 _ 2 , so that any infrared ray is not received using the photo-interrupter  211 _ 2 . 
     When the upper housing  100 A is laid down relative to the lower housing  100 B, the infrared diode  212 _ 2  or  213 _ 2  which is situated on a side toward which the upper housing  100 A is laid down comes into opposition to the photo-interrupter  211 _ 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 8B . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the upper housing  100 A is laid down leftward to bring the left infrared diode  212 _ 2  into opposition to the photo-interrupter  211 _ 2  and the infrared ray which has been emitted from the diode  212 _ 2  is received using the photo-interrupter  211 _ 2 . 
     When the infrared ray is received using the photo-interrupter  211 _ 2 , information that the upper housing  100 A has been rotated is transmitted to the CPU  110  and the CPU  110  operates to set the operation mode of the mobile phone  100  to the One Segment Broadcasting mode. 
     Incidentally, in an example of application of the mobile terminal device having the rotation sensing sensor, the rotation sensing sensor may be favorably the photo-interrupter. 
     The photo-interrupter  211 _ 2  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned photo-interrupter. 
     As described above, rotation of the upper housing  100 A is readily detected also by providing the photo-interrupter  211 _ 2  and the infrared diodes  212 _ 2  and  213 _ 2 . 
     The second embodiment has been described above. Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that inclination sensors are installed in place of the magnetic sensor  211 . Thus, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are diagrams illustrating a mobile phone  100 _ 3  according to the third embodiment. 
     Inclination sensors  214  and  215  that sense inclination are built into the coupling member  100 C and the upper housing  100 A of the mobile phone  100 _ 3 . The inclination sensor  214  built into the coupling member  100 C senses the inclination of the entire mobile phone  100 _ 3  and the inclination sensor  215  built into the upper housing  100 A senses inclination that occurs when the upper housing  100 A has been rotated in addition to the inclination of the entire mobile phone  100 _ 3 . 
     In an upright state in which the upper housing  100 A is not yet inclined relative to the lower housing  100 B as illustrated in  FIG. 9A , any inclination is not sensed using two inclination sensor  214  and  215 . 
     In addition, for example, in the case that a user has let fall the mobile phone  100 - 3  which is in the upright state illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the upper housing  100 A, the lower housing  100 B and the coupling member  100 C are integrally inclined and hence the inclination that occurs in the above mentioned situation is sensed using both the two inclination sensors  214  and  215 . Results of sensing performed using the inclination sensors  214  and  215  are sent to the CPU  110 . In the case that the results of sensing are sent from both the inclination sensors  214  and  215 , the CPU  110  does not operate to set the One Segment Broadcasting mode. 
     When the upper housing  100 A is laid down relative to the lower housing  100 B, since the lower housing  100 B and the coupling member  100 C are not inclined as illustrated in  FIG. 9B , any inclination is not sensed using the inclination sensor  214  which is built into the coupling member  100 C and inclination is sensed using only the inclination sensor  215  which is built into the upper housing  100 A. In the CPU  110 , in the case that the inclination has been sensed using only the inclination sensor  215  built into the upper housing  100 A, rotation of the upper housing  100 A is detected and the operation mode of the mobile phone  100  is set to the One Segment Broadcasting mode. 
     Incidentally, as an example of application, the mobile terminal device having the rotation sensing sensor may be favorably configured such that the rotation sensing sensor is constituted by a first inclination sensor provided in the lower housing to sense the inclination of the lower housing and a second inclination sensor provided in the upper housing to sense the inclination of the upper housing and when any inclination has not been sensed using the first inclination sensor and the inclination has been sensed using the second inclination sensor, rotation of the upper housing is sensed. 
     The inclination sensor  214  built into the coupling member  100 C corresponds to an example of the above mentioned first inclination sensor and the inclination sensor  215  built into the upper housing  100 A corresponds to an example of the above mentioned second inclination sensor. 
     As described above, accurate detection of the rotation of the upper housing  100 A is realized by providing the inclination sensors not only in the upper housing  100 A but also in the lower housing  100 B and the coupling member  100 C. 
     The third embodiment has been described above. Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a mechanical switch is provided in place of the magnetic sensor  211 . In the fourth embodiment, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and hence description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an upper housing  100 A_ 4  and a coupling member  100 C_ 4  of a mobile phone  100 _ 4  according to the fourth embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , in the mobile phone  100 _ 4  according to the fourth embodiment, a hole  1001  is formed in a lower edge of the upper housing  100 A_ 4  and a mechanical switch  1002  is attached to the coupling member  100 C_ 4  at a position where the switch faces the hole  1001  in the upright state illustrated at step S 11  in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are diagrams illustrating an operation of inclining the upper housing  100 A_ 4  relative to the lower housing  100 B_ 4 . 
     In an upright state illustrated in  FIG. 11A , the mechanical switch  1002  attached to the coupling member  100 C_ 4  is inserted into the hole  1001  formed in the lower edge of the upper housing  100 A_ 4  and hence the mechanical switch  1002  is not depressed. 
     When the upper housing  100 A_ 4  is inclined relative to the lower housing  100 B_ 4 , the mechanical switch  1002  is depressed using the upper housing  100 A_ 4  as illustrated in  FIG. 11B . 
     As an example of application of the mobile terminal device having the rotation sensing sensor, the rotation sensing sensor is preferably a mechanical switch. 
     The mechanical switch  1002  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned mechanical switch. Ready detection of the rotation of the upper housing  100 A_ 4  is also realized by using the mechanical switch  1002 . 
     The fourth embodiment has been described as mentioned above. Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that pulling-out of the antenna  300  is instructed under the operation of the selection button  104 . In the fifth embodiment, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and hence description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
     In the mobile phone according to the fifth embodiment, a user rotates the upper housing  100 A relative to the lower housing  100 B to set the operation mode of the mobile phone to the One Segment Broadcasting mode as in the case with the mobile phone  100  according to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In the present embodiment, although the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function is sent from the CPU  110  to the TV device  133  and the display device  122 , this start-up instruction is not sent to the antenna pull-out section  210 . 
     The TV device  133  operates to display an image of a TV program on the LCD  101  in accordance with the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function and the display device  122  operates to display an antenna pull-out button on the LCD  101  in accordance with the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function. 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of the LCD  101  on which an image of a TV program is displayed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the image of the TV program concerned is displayed in a TV area  101 A on the LCD  101  and an antenna pull-out button  101 _B is also displayed outside the IV area  101 A. 
     When a user selects the antenna pull-out button  101 _B by using the selection button  104  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , details of selection are transmitted to the CPU  110  via the key device  124 . 
     The CPU  110  operates to instruct the antenna pull-out section  310  to pull out the antenna  300  in accordance with selection of the antenna pull-out button  101 _B. 
     Incidentally, as an example of application, the fundamental embodiment of the above mentioned mobile terminal device may be favorably configured such that the housing includes a plurality of keys used to input an instruction in accordance with an operation performed by a user and the start-up sensing section is configured to sense startup of a communicating function in accordance with the operation of a predetermined key of the plurality of keys. 
     The selection button  104  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned key. According to the fifth embodiment, automatic pulling-out of the antenna is realized in accordance with key operation performed by a user, not when the One Segment Broadcasting mode has been set. 
     The Fifth embodiment has been described as mentioned above. Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that pulling-out of the antenna  300  is instructed in accordance with a radio wave receiving condition of the antenna  300 . In the present embodiment, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and hence description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
     In the mobile phone according to the sixth embodiment, pulling-out of the antenna  300  is instructed not when the One Segment Broadcasting mode has been set but when a received level of radio waves received via the antenna  300  has been lowered while a communicating function such as a TV program listening and viewing function, an electronic mail transmitting/receiving function or a Web site browsing function is being used via the mobile phone. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a series of processes performed until the antenna  300  is pulled out. 
     In the present embodiment, the antenna  300  has a received intensity sensor that senses a received intensity of radio waves. In the received intensity sensor, the received intensity is sensed at each predetermined timing and a result of sensing is sent to the CPU  110  while a communicating function is being used via the mobile phone. The received intensity sensor is of the existing type which is typically mounted on a mobile phone and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the CPU  110 , a result of sensing which has been sent from the sensor at each predetermined timing is acquired (step S 21  in  FIG. 13 ) and the result of sensing is compared with a predetermined threshold value which has been set in advance. 
     In the case that the received intensity of radio waves received via the antenna  300  is not less than the predetermined threshold value (No at step S 22  in  FIG. 13 ), the process is put on standby until the next result of sensing is obtained (step S 25  in  FIG. 13 ). 
     On the other hand, when the received intensity of radio waves received via the antenna  300  is not more than the predetermined threshold value or any radio wave is not received via the antenna  300  (Yes at step S 22  in  FIG. 13 ) and this state lasts (step S 23  in  FIG. 13 ), the CPU operates to instruct the antenna pull-out section  310  to pull out the antenna  300  (step S 24  in  FIG. 13 ). 
     Incidentally, as an example of application, the fundamental embodiment of the above mentioned mobile terminal device may be favorably configured such that the device includes a level sensing section that senses that the received level of radio waves received via the antenna has become not more than the predetermined threshold value and the instructing section gives a pulling-out instruction to the pull-out mechanism in accordance with sensing performed using the level sensing section. 
     The received intensity sensor (not illustrated in the drawing) that senses the received intensity of radio waves received via the antenna  300  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned level sensing section. 
     Pulling-out of the antenna  300  is instructed in the case that the received intensity of radio waves is not more than the predetermined threshold value. As a result, automatic puling-out of the antenna  300  is realized in the case that a user has moved to a place where the radio wave receiving condition is bad while the user is talking over the mobile phone. 
     The sixth embodiment has been described as mentioned above. Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. The seventh embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the antenna pull-out section that pulls out the antenna  300 . In the present embodiment, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and hence description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
     The mobile phone according to the seventh embodiment includes an antenna pull-out section  310 _ 7  (see  FIGS. 14A and 14B ) that utilizes actuating force exerted with compressed gas in place of the antenna pull-out section  310  that utilizes the actuating force exerted by the spring  314  illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  are structural diagrams of the antenna  300  and the antenna pull-out section  310 J. 
       FIG. 14A  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300  is housed in the lower housing  100 B and  FIG. 14B  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300  has been pulled out from within the lower housing  100 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 7  has the cylindrical member  313 , the stopper  312  and the release section  311  as in the case with the antenna pull-out section  310  according to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 . However, the antenna pull-out section  310 - 7  according to the seventh embodiment does not include the spring  314  illustrated in  FIG. 7  and air is filled with no leakage in the cylindrical member  313  and a compression pump  315 . 
     In a state that the antenna  300  is housed in the lower housing  100 B, the trailing end part  303  of the antenna  300  is pushed into the interior of the cylindrical member  313  to compress the air which is filled with no leakage in a space P in the cylindrical member as illustrated in  FIG. 14A . As a result, the antenna  300  is actuated in the pulling-out direction (the direction illustrated by the arrow A) with the aid of the air in the space P and the stopper  312  of the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 7  locks the trailing end part  303  and the central part  302  of the antenna  300 . 
     When the instruction to start up the One Segment Broadcasting function is given from the CPU  110  to the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 7 , the stopper  312  is laid aside using the release section  311  to release locking of the trailing end part and the central part as in the case with the antenna pull-out section  310  according to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As a result, the trailing end part  303  of the antenna  300  is actuated with the compressed air in the space P to pull the antenna  300  outside the lower housing  100 B as illustrated in  FIG. 14B . 
     In the case that the antenna  300  is to be housed in the lower housing  100 B, if the user pushes the leading end part  301  of the antenna  300  in a direction opposite to the pulling-out direction (a direction opposite to the arrow A direction), the leading end part  301  of the antenna  300  will be housed in the central part  302 , the central part  302  will be housed in the trailing end part  303  and then the trailing end part  303  and the central part  302  will be locked using the stopper  312  of the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 7 . 
     Incidentally, as an example of application of the mobile terminal device including the pull-out mechanism having the actuating member, the blocking member and the release means, the actuating member may be favorably constituted by a cylinder member that guides movement of the antenna in the pulling-out direction and gas filled with no leakage in the cylinder member and compressed by force exerted when the antenna is housed. 
     The cylindrical member  313  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned cylinder member and the air which is filled with no leakage in the space P corresponds to an example of the above mentioned gas. 
     As described above, ready pulling-out of the antenna  300  is also realized by utilizing the compressed air in place of the spring so as to reduce complexity of the device. 
     The seventh embodiment has been described as mentioned above. Next, an eighth embodiment will be described. The eighth embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the antenna pull-out section. Thus, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
     The mobile phone according to the eighth embodiment includes an antenna pull-out section  310 _ 8  using an electromagnet (see  FIGS. 15A and 51B ) in place of the antenna pull-out section  310  according to the first embodiment that uses the actuating force of the spring  314 . 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  are structural diagrams of the antenna  300  and the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 8 . 
       FIG. 15A  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300  is housed in the lower housing  100 B and  FIG. 15B  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300  has been pulled out from within the lower housing  100 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , in the antenna pull-out section  310 - 8 , an electromagnet  316  is attached to a rear end of the cylindrical member  313  of a cylindrical form. In the antenna  300 , a magnet  317  is attached to a rear end of the trailing end part  303 . 
     In a state in which an instruction to pull out the antenna  300  is not yet given to the antenna pull-out section  310 - 8 , the antenna  300  is housed in the cylindrical member  313  as illustrated in  FIG. 15A . 
     For example, in the case that a user has instructed to set the One Segment Broadcasting mode by rotating the upper housing  100 A or the received intensity of radio waves received via the antenna  300  has been reduced, the CPU  110  operates to give the instruction to pull out the antennal  300  to the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 8 . Then, in the antenna pull-out section  310 - 8 , the direction of current applied to the electromagnet  316  is controlled to adjust the polarity of the electromagnet  316  such that the electromagnet  316  and the magnet  317  may repel each other. As a result, the electromagnet  316  and the magnet  317  repel each other to push out the antenna  300  in the pulling-out direction (the arrow A direction) and the antenna  300  is pulled outside the lower housing  100 B as illustrated in  FIG. 15B . 
     In addition, for example, when the user brings the upper housing  100 A back to its original position to stand it upright relative to the lower housing  100 B, the CPU  110  operates to give an instruction to house the antenna  300  to the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 8 . 
     When the instruction to house the antenna  300  is acquired, in the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 8 , the direction of current applied to the electromagnet  316  is controlled to reverse the polarity of the electromagnet  316  such that the electromagnet  316  and the magnet  317  may attract each other. As a result, the electromagnet  316  and the magnet  317  attract each other to pull the antenna  300  in a housing direction (opposite to the arrow A direction) and the antenna  300  is housed in the lower housing  100 B as illustrated in  FIG. 15A . 
     As an alternative example of the fundamental embodiment of the above mentioned mobile terminal device, the above mentioned pull-out mechanism may be favorably configured such that it is energized to move the antenna in the pulling-out direction or the housing direction in accordance with a direction in which it is energized. 
     In addition, the pull-out mechanism may favorably include a magnet which is fixed to the antenna and an electromagnet which is fixed to the housing so as to reverse its magnetism in accordance with the energized direction to attract or repel the magnet. 
     The magnet  317  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned magnet and the electromagnet  316  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned electromagnet. 
     As described above, automatic pulling-out of the antenna  300  from within the lower housing  100 B and automatic housing of the antenna  300  in the lower housing  100 B are realized by attaching the magnet  317  to the antenna  300  and attaching the electromagnet  316  to the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 8  so as to adjust the magnetic pole of the electromagnet  316  in accordance with the instructions to house and pull out the antenna  300 . 
     The eighth embodiment has been described as mentioned above. Next, a ninth embodiment will be described. The ninth embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the antenna pull-out section. Thus, the same numerals are assigned to the same elements as those in the first embodiment and description thereof will be omitted. Only points different from those in the first embodiment will be described. 
     The mobile phone according to the present embodiment includes an antenna pull-out section  310 _ 9  (see  FIGS. 16A and 16B ) using rollers in place of the antenna pull-out section  310  according to the first embodiment using the actuating force of the spring  314 . 
       FIGS. 16A and 16B  are structural diagrams of an antenna  300 ′ and the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 9 . 
       FIG. 16A  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300 ′ is housed in the lower housing  100 B and  FIG. 16B  illustrates a state in which the antenna  300 ′ has been pulled out from within the lower housing  100  B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 16A and 16B , the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 9  includes rollers  318  that rotate forward or backward in accordance with a direction in which the pull-out section is energized and a cylindrical member  319  that moves in a direction illustrated by an arrow B or C in cooperation with rotation of the rollers  318 . A cam mechanism is interposed between the cylindrical member  319  of the antenna pull-out section  310 - 9  and a trailing end part  303 ′ of the antenna  300 ′ such that as the cylindrical member  310  moves in the arrow B or C direction, the antenna  300 ′ moves in an arrow B′ or C′ direction opposite to the arrow B or C direction. 
     When an instruction to pull out the antenna  300 ′ is sent from the CPU  110  to the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 9 , in the antenna pull-out section  310 _ 9 , the rollers  318  rotate forward to move the cylindrical member  319  in the arrow C direction. As a result, the antenna  300 ′ is moved in the arrow C′ direction opposite to the moving direction of the cylindrical member  319  and hence the antenna  300 ′ is pulled outside the lower housing  100 B as illustrated in  FIG. 16B . 
     On the other hand, when an instruction to house the antenna  300 ′ is sent from the CPU  110  to the antenna pull-out section  310 - 9 , in the antenna pull-out section  310 - 9 , the rollers  318  rotate backward to move the cylindrical member  319  in the arrow B direction. As a result, the antenna  300 ′ is moved in the arrow B′ direction opposite to the moving direction of the cylindrical member  319  and hence the antenna  300 ′ is housed in the lower housing  100 B as illustrated in  FIG. 16A . 
     Incidentally, as an example of application, a mobile terminal device including a pull-out mechanism which is energized to move the antenna in the pulling-out direction or the housing direction may be favorably configured such that the pull-out mechanism includes rollers that rotate in a direction in accordance with a direction in which it is energized and a moving means which is coupled to both the rollers and the antenna to move the antenna in a direction in accordance with a rotating direction of the rollers. 
     The rollers  318  correspond to an example of the above mentioned rollers and the cylindrical member  319  corresponds to an example of the above mentioned moving means. 
     As described above, automatic pulling-out and housing of the antenna  300 ′ are realized also by moving the antenna  300 ′ in accordance with the rotating direction of the rollers  318 . 
     Incidentally, although in the above mentioned embodiments, a mobile phone is given as an example of the above mentioned mobile terminal device, the mobile terminal device may be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a mobile game machine. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a depicting of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.