JP4633547B2 - Portable information terminal device and intercommunication method in the device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable information terminal apparatus capable of saving power, by selecting the optimal communicator between blocks according to the situation. <P>SOLUTION: Based on information indicating the signal transmission amount between the first and second circuit blocks, a switching device switches an optical signal communication mode which uses a first and second optical signal transmitting/receiving devices and an electrical signal communication form which uses a first and second electrical signal transmitting/receiving devices. Thereby, in a portable information terminal apparatus with a separate body operation unit and a separate screen display unit, power consumed by the optical signal communication can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&amp;NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device used as a mobile phone or the like and an in-device mutual communication method of the portable information terminal device.

  In recent years, in the field of portable information terminal devices, information display functions have become multifunctional. For example, in mobile phones, a standby screen or the like is displayed on a liquid crystal panel. Furthermore, some mobile phones incorporate a small camera, and image data of the camera is stored in a built-in memory and displayed. In such a configuration, a standby screen for displaying a favorite photograph or the like, and image information such as imaging data has an extremely large amount of information (1000 times or more) as compared with audio information. In order to transmit such a large amount of information, a portable information terminal may use an optical signal capable of transmitting a large amount of data at a high speed as an information transmission medium for image information.

  For example, a mobile phone using an optical signal as described in Patent Document 1 for internal communication has been proposed. 9A and 9B show the structure of a conventional mobile phone. 9A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 9B is a side view thereof.

  9A and 9B, the mobile phone includes a display operation unit 801, a platform unit 802, an RF unit 803 having an antenna 831, and a power supply unit 804. These units are independent units, and the display operation unit 801, the RF unit 803, and the power supply unit 804 are connected and fixed to the platform unit 802 via the fitting unit a indicated by a broken line. It has become.

  In addition, interface units b and c for transmitting various signals between the units are provided between the platform unit 802 and the display operation unit 801, and between the platform unit 802 and the RF unit 803. The interface unit b and the interface unit c communicate with each other by an optical coupler. For example, the interface unit b and the interface unit c are configured by a combination of an LED and a phototransistor, and are mounted at positions facing each other.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a conventional mobile phone. In FIG. 10, a display operation unit 801 converts a key control signal from an operation input key 811, a display unit 812 such as a liquid crystal display, a control unit 913, and a control unit 913 into an optical key control signal 905. An optical transmission unit 914 that transmits to the unit 802 and an optical reception unit 915 that receives the optical state signal 906 from the platform unit 802.

  The platform unit 802 receives an optical key control signal 905 from the display operation unit 801 and converts it into an electrical signal, an optical transmission unit 929 that transmits an optical state signal 906 to the display operation unit 801, a speaker 821, and a microphone. 822, an optical transmission unit 924 that transmits an optical transmission signal 901 to the RF unit 803, an optical reception unit 925 that receives an optical reception signal 902 from the RF unit 803, and an optical transmission unit that transmits an optical RF control signal 903 to the RF unit 803 926, an optical receiver 927 that receives the optical RF state signal 904 from the RF unit 803, and a controller 928 that controls them.

  The RF unit 803 includes a hybrid 939, a wireless reception unit 932, a wireless transmission unit 933, an optical reception unit 934 that receives an optical transmission signal 901 from the platform unit 802, and light that transmits an optical reception signal 902 to the platform unit 802. A transmission unit 935, an optical reception unit 936 that receives an optical RF control signal 903 from the platform unit 802, an optical transmission unit 937 that transmits an optical RF state signal 904 to the platform unit 802, and a control unit 938 that controls them. Have. The display operation unit 801, the platform unit 802, and the RF unit 803 are supplied with power 907 from a power supply unit 804. The signals exchanged between the blocks are all optical signals except for power supply.

The main purpose of the conventional mobile phone shown in FIG. 9 (A), FIG. 9 (B), and FIG. 10 is to improve efficiency in manufacturing and sales management because it can be inspected and replaced in units. However, since the connection between the units is an optical signal, it can be considered sufficient even if the communication volume between the units increases.
JP-A-9-84100

  However, in the case of transmitting the same signal amount, optical signal communication has a problem that power consumed in the signal conversion part is larger than that in electrical signal communication. This is because photoelectric conversion is required in the optical transmission unit and the optical reception unit in each block, resulting in power loss and the like. In particular, when signals are always exchanged between the blocks using optical signals as in the above-described conventional mobile phone, battery consumption is large, making it unsuitable for long-time continuous calls.

  For example, the communication information between the platform unit 802 and the display operation unit 801 is an exchange of control information for sending a command and status information for notifying the current state. Therefore, if the communication capacity is taken into consideration, the communication interface need not be an optical signal. The same can be said for the control information and status information of the platform unit 802 and the RF unit 803.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, optical signal communication and electrical signal communication are selectively used according to the size and usage form of the communication use capacity, and an optimal communication device is selected between each block according to the situation, thereby saving power. An object is to provide a portable information terminal device that can be used.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is provided with first and second circuit blocks provided so as to be able to transmit signals to each other, and the communication form of signals can be switched between the first and second circuit blocks. It was and a switcher. The first circuit block converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the second circuit block, and receives an optical signal from the second circuit block and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. A signal transceiver, a first electrical signal transceiver for transmitting an electrical signal to the second circuit block and receiving an electrical signal from the second circuit block ; the first optical signal transceiver; And a first signal switching unit constituting the switching unit connected to a first electrical signal transceiver . The second circuit block converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the first circuit block, and receives an optical signal from the first circuit block and converts it into an electrical signal. A transceiver, a second electrical signal transceiver for transmitting electrical signals to the first circuit block and receiving electrical signals from the first circuit block , the second optical signal transceiver, and the second And a second signal switching unit constituting the switching unit connected to the electrical signal transmitter / receiver . The switching unit includes an optical signal communication mode using the first and second optical signal transmitters and an electric signal communication mode using the first and second electric signal transmitters. When switching is performed based on the signal transmission amount between blocks, and the signal transmission amount is equal to or higher than a preset upper limit value, the optical signal communication mode is selected, and the signal transmission amount is less than the upper limit value. The electrical signal communication mode is selected, and when a predetermined time elapses after the optical signal communication mode is selected in a state where the switch selects the optical signal communication mode, the first, A power controller for stopping the power supply to the second optical signal transceiver is further provided.

  In the present invention, as the electric signal, for example, a signal obtained by converting a parallel signal into a serial signal can be applied.

  Similarly, in this case, the switching unit switches the communication mode from optical signal communication to electrical signal communication when the predetermined time has elapsed after selecting the optical signal communication mode, and the power supply controller It is more preferable to supply power to the first and second electrical signal transceivers when the predetermined time has elapsed since the device selected the optical signal communication.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to save power by properly using optical signal communication and electrical signal communication in accordance with the size and usage pattern of the communication usage capacity.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

( Reference Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal device in Reference Example 1 of the present invention. This portable information terminal device has a device configuration that is optimally applied to a cellular phone, and includes a main body operation unit 100 that is a first circuit block, a screen display unit 200 that is a second circuit block, and a power supply 151. The main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 are provided so that information can be transmitted to each other via an optical signal and an electric signal.

  The main body operation unit 100 includes a first electric signal processor 110. The first electric signal processor 110 takes out information stored in the first information storage device 111 (for example, image information obtained by the image pickup device 213) and performs predetermined processing. The processing here is processing with a normal electric signal, and processing is performed in units of data (for example, 4 bytes) regardless of the amount of information processing per unit time. Note that the information processed by the first electric signal processor 110 may be information obtained from an information terminal device connected to the outside of the main body operation unit 100 by the external input / output signal processor 112. Further, the first electrical signal processor 110 also processes audio information via the microphone 122 and the speaker 123 that are used in a normal call.

  The screen display unit 200 includes a second electric signal processor 210. The second electrical signal processor 210 in the screen display unit 200 takes out information stored in the second information storage unit 214 and performs a predetermined process. The processing here is also processing with a normal electric signal. The information processed by the second electrical signal processor 210 includes video information sent to the image display 211 and displayed on the monitor as video, data information obtained from the image information capture unit 212 from the Internet, There is image data information obtained by the image pickup device 213.

  The power supply 151 includes a rechargeable battery and supplies power to the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200.

  In the portable information terminal device, the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 are physically separated, and information exchange between both blocks is performed by electrical communication or optical communication.

  Normally, the information transmitted between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 is mainly voice call information, and therefore information transmission in that case is performed by electrical signal communication. The amount of information of a voice call for processing voice information is much smaller than that of image information, and the amount of signal transmission is less than a preset upper limit value, which can be sufficiently handled by electric signal communication. Therefore, in this case, information transmission between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 is performed by electrical signal communication.

  Here, the upper limit value indicates an upper limit value of the amount of information that can be transmitted without any problem even if information is transmitted between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 by electrical signal communication. It is calculated in advance based on the signal processing capability of the operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 and the transmission capability of the transmission line (electric signal line) connecting the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200.

  Switching to electrical signal communication is performed by a switch. The switching unit includes a first signal switching unit 109 provided in the main body operation unit 100 and a second signal switching unit 209 provided in the screen display unit 200.

  At the time of processing the audio information, the first signal switch 109 switches so as to connect the first electric signal processor 110 and the first electric signal transceiver 106. The second signal switcher 209 switches so as to connect the second electric signal processor 210 and the second electric signal transceiver 206. As a result, the first electrical signal transceiver 106 and the second electrical signal transceiver 206 perform electrical signal mutual transmission processing.

  In this state, the electric signal processed by the first electric signal processor 110 is an electric signal transmitter 107 in the first electric signal transmitter / receiver 106 and an electric signal receiver in the second electric signal transmitter / receiver 206. It passes through 207 and is sent to the second electric signal processor 210.

  Similarly, the electric signal processed by the second electric signal processor 210 is converted into an electric signal transmitter 208 in the second electric signal transmitter / receiver 206 and an electric signal receiver 108 in the first electric signal transmitter / receiver 106. Then, it is sent to the first electric signal processor 110.

  A form in which information is transmitted by an electric signal in this way is called an electric signal communication form. Usually, the electric signal transmitters 107 and 208 and the electric signal receivers 108 and 207 are constituted by buffer amplifiers.

  Next, a case where optical signal communication is used will be described. A first parallel-serial mutual converter 115 in the main body operation unit 100 converts a parallel electric signal (for example, an electric signal in units of 4 bytes) output from the first signal switch 109 into a serial electric signal in units of 1 bit. And a function of converting a serial electric signal in 1-bit units output from the optical signal receiving converter 105 of the first optical signal transceiver 101 into a parallel electric signal (for example, an electric signal in units of 4 bytes).

  Similarly, the second parallel-serial mutual converter 215 in the screen display unit 200 converts the parallel electric signal (for example, an electric signal in units of 4 bytes) output from the second signal switch 209 into a serial electric unit in units of 1 bit. A function of converting to a signal, and a function of converting a serial electric signal in units of 1 bit output from the optical signal receiving converter 203 of the second optical signal transceiver 201 into a parallel electric signal (for example, an electric signal in units of 4 bytes). Have.

  The first optical signal transmitter / receiver 101 in the main body operation unit 100 converts the information converted into the serial electric signal by the first parallel-serial interconverter 115 from the electric signal to the optical signal in the optical signal conversion transmitter 103. It has a function of converting and transmitting it to the screen display unit 200, and a function of receiving the optical signal transmitted by the second optical signal transceiver 201 by the optical signal reception converter 105 and converting it into an electrical signal.

  Similarly, the second optical signal transmitter / receiver 201 in the screen display unit 200 converts the information converted into the serial electrical signal by the second parallel-serial mutual converter 215 from the electrical signal in the optical signal conversion transmitter 205. It has a function of converting into an optical signal and transmitting it to the main body operation unit 100, and a function of receiving the optical signal transmitted from the first optical signal transceiver 101 by the optical signal reception converter 203 and converting it into an electrical signal. .

  For these optical signal transmission / reception, a combination of a light emitting diode (LED) and a phototransistor can be used.

  When the first optical signal transmitter / receiver 101 and the second optical signal transmitter / receiver 201 actually operate, the first electric signal processor 109 is the first optical signal processor 110 and the first optical signal transmitter / receiver is the first optical signal transmitter / receiver. It is controlled to be connected to the terminal 101. At the same time, the second signal switcher 209 is controlled so that the second electrical signal processor 210 is connected to the second optical signal transceiver 201.

  In this way, a form in which an information signal is transmitted by an optical signal is called an optical signal communication form.

  The first signal switch 109 and the second signal switch 209 are controlled based on a signal switch control signal 161 output from the communication path switch controller 113. The signal switching control signal 161 is a signal to which information indicating the amount of signal transmission between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 is added.

  As described above, the first optical signal transmitter / receiver 101 and the second optical signal transmitter / receiver 201 function simultaneously to establish communication using an optical signal. In an optical signal communication mode in which an information signal is transmitted by an optical signal, in an unmodulated state where there is no signal, there is no change in the current and voltage of the LED and phototransistor constituting the photoelectric conversion unit, so power consumption is small. However, when optical signal communication is always performed using the first optical signal transmitter / receiver 101 and the second optical signal transmitter / receiver 201, much power is consumed as compared with normal electric signal communication. This is due to power loss that occurs when an electrical signal is converted into an optical signal, power loss that occurs when an optical signal is converted into an electrical signal, and the like. In particular, in a portable information terminal device that operates by power supply by a power supply unit (rechargeable battery) 151, the magnitude of power consumption is an extremely important factor, and a device that saves power as much as possible is desired. However, when image data having a very large amount of information needs to be transferred between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 at a high speed, there is a limit to transmission by an electric signal, and light with a large communication capacity. You may have to use signal communication.

  Therefore, in the portable information terminal device, based on the signal transmission path selection information 114 input from the key input device 121, the communication path switching controller 113 determines the signal transmission amount between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200. Calculate. The signal transmission path selection information 114 here is, for example, call / photographing instruction information input to the key input device 121 by the user of the portable information terminal device.

  In addition, when the calculated signal transmission amount is less than a preset upper limit value and can be adequately handled by electrical signal communication, and when the signal transmission amount is greater than the upper limit value and is not optical signal communication, highly accurate information transmission cannot be performed. Determine the case. The determination is performed by the communication path switching controller 113.

  Here, as described above, the upper limit value is an upper limit value of the amount of information that can be transmitted without any trouble even if information is transmitted between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 by electrical signal communication. Is calculated in advance and stored in the communication path switching controller 113.

  The communication path switching controller 113 causes the first optical signal transceiver 101 and the second optical signal transceiver 201 to function only when it is determined that it is necessary to perform optical signal communication. The first electric signal transmitter / receiver 106 and the second electric signal transmitter / receiver 206 are made to function. The details will be described below.

  The signal transmission path is a communication path for exchanging information between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 which are physically separated in the portable information terminal device. This communication path includes two routes, an optical signal communication path and an electric signal communication path. The optical signal communication path is composed of a first optical signal transceiver 101 and a second optical signal transceiver 201. The electrical signal communication path includes a first electrical signal transceiver 106 and a second electrical signal transceiver 206. The signal transmission path selection information 114 is data referred to by the communication path switching controller 113 (for example, a microcomputer) to determine which of the optical signal communication path and the electric signal communication path is selected. . The signal transmission path selection information 114 is basically data indicating the amount of signal transmission between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200. The communication path switching controller 113 switches the communication mode according to the content of the signal transmission path selection information 114.

  In the case of an optical signal communication form using an optical signal communication path, the signal transmission path selection information 114 means the following contents.

(1-1): When the imaging state is set In this case, image information obtained from the imaging device 213 (for example, a micro built-in camera) is displayed on the image display 211 (for example, a color liquid crystal monitor) in real time. The image information is once sent to the first electric signal processor 110 and the first information storage device 111 in the main body operation unit 100 through the optical signal communication path, and after the real-time data processing is performed, again, It is transmitted from the optical signal communication path via the second electric signal processor 210 by the image display 211 and displayed as an image. This series of image processing handles very large volumes of data at high speed and continuously, and therefore the signal transmission amount in this case is a value equal to or greater than the upper limit value. The communication path switching controller 113 that has detected this from the signal transmission path selection information 114 sets the communication mode to optical signal communication.

(1-2): When the stored moving image is displayed on the image display 211, the moving image information stored in the first information storage 111 in the main body operation unit 100 is displayed on the screen display unit 200. It transmits to a certain image display 211 in real time. Therefore, the signal transmission amount in this case is a value equal to or greater than the upper limit value. The communication path switching controller 113 that has detected this from the signal transmission path selection information 114 sets the communication mode to optical signal communication.

(1-3): When downloading moving image information from the Internet The screen display unit 200 includes an image information capturing unit 212 that downloads an image from the Internet via the antenna 124. The moving image information acquired by the image information capturing device 212 may be transmitted to the first electric signal processor 110 in the main body operation unit 100. In this case, the signal transmission amount is a value equal to or greater than the upper limit value. The communication path switching controller 113 that has detected this from the signal transmission path selection information 114 sets the communication mode to optical signal communication.

(1-4): When image information is moved between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200. For example, a large amount of image information stored in the first information storage unit 111 is In the case of transfer to the second information storage 214, the signal transmission amount is larger than the upper limit value. The communication path switching controller 113 that has detected this from the signal transmission path selection information 114 sets the optical signal communication state.

  As described above, when moving a large amount of image information between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 which are physically separated, the amount of signal transmission between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 is performed. Exceeds the upper limit in large quantities. The communication path switching controller 113 that has detected this from the signal transmission path selection information 114 sets the communication mode to data optical signal communication. In particular, when an image must be displayed in real time, a large amount of signal transmission is required and high transmission accuracy is required. In that case, optical signal communication becomes indispensable.

  On the contrary, when the signal transmission path selection information 114 indicates that the state (1-1) to (1-4) is not described above, the signal transmission amount is less than the upper limit value. Upon detecting this, the communication path switching controller 113 sets electric signal communication as the communication mode and instructs the first and second signal switching units 109 and 209 to do so. Thereby, the communication mode is set to electrical signal communication, and as a result, power saving is achieved.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of communication path selection performed by the communication path switching controller 113 in the main body operation unit 100 of the portable information terminal device.

  In FIG. 2, the communication path switching controller 113 constantly monitors input signal transmission path selection information 114. First, in step S201, it is determined whether or not information to be subjected to optical signal communication has been input. When the signal transmission path selection information 114 is information indicating the four cases (1-1) to (1-4) described above, the process proceeds to step S202, where the communication path switching controller 113 is the first signal switcher. The signal switching control signal 161 is sent to 109 and the second signal switcher 209 to switch the communication path to the optical signal side.

  On the other hand, when the signal transmission path selection information 114 is not information indicating the four cases (1-1) to (1-4) described above, the process proceeds to step S203, and the communication path switching controller 113 receives the first signal. A signal switching control signal 161 is sent to the switch 109 and the second signal switch 209 to switch the communication path to the electric signal side.

  The signal transmission path selection information 114 of (1-1) to (1-4) above is an example. If there is a case where large-capacity high-speed information communication is necessary under other conditions, optical signal communication is performed similarly to these. What is necessary is just to select a path.

FIG. 3 is another block diagram of the portable information terminal device in Reference Example 1 of the present invention. The difference from FIG. 1 is that a first parallel-serial interconverter 115 is provided between the first electric signal processor 110 and the first signal switch 109, and the second parallel-serial mutual converter 115 is provided. The converter 215 is provided between the second electric signal processor 210 and the second signal switch 209.

  With the configuration of FIG. 3, the electrical signals handled by the first electrical signal transceiver 106 and the second electrical signal transceiver 206 are parallel electrical signals (for example, electrical signals in units of 4 bytes) in 1-bit units. The signal is converted into a serial electrical signal. In this case, the data transmission speed is 1/32, but if the transmission is limited to transmission of the information amount of 1/1000 or less compared to the image information such as audio information, the information transmission can be performed with a sufficient margin. Is possible.

  With this configuration, the number of electric signal communication cables between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 can be reduced, and the signal transmission configuration is simplified correspondingly. Hereinafter, the signal transmission configuration of the present invention and the configuration of a portable information terminal device incorporating the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to an example in which high-speed data transmission is performed by converting 4-byte data into 1-bit serial data. 4 (A) and FIG. 4 (B) will be described.

  In this case, if high-speed data transmission is attempted with a configuration using only the conventional electrical signal transmission wiring, the frequency characteristics of the wiring limit the transmission speed that can be transmitted per wiring due to the occurrence of external noise, etc., and parallel transmission Inevitably, 32 electrical signal transmission lines are required. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the conventional configuration, the width of the flexible wiring board 300 in which the electric signal transmission wiring is accommodated in parallel is widened. As a result, the electric signal transmission wiring (flexible wiring board 300) is reduced. It becomes difficult to move freely within the hinge 301. In such a conventional electric signal transmission wiring configuration, the electric signal transmission wiring (flexible wiring board 300) is hinged particularly in a portable information terminal device provided with a hinge (for example, a cross joint) that can be bent back and forth and left and right. It is inconvenient as a limiting factor.

  On the other hand, when high-speed data transmission is to be performed with the configuration of the present invention, since it is possible to switch to optical signal transmission when the transmission rate that can be transmitted per line in the case of only the conventional electric signal transmission line is exceeded, electric signal transmission is possible. The number of transmission wirings 302 is one. Therefore, even if the optical signal transmission wiring (optical fiber) 303 and the power supply line 304 are added to the electrical signal transmission wiring 302, the number of wirings is three. Therefore, the transmission wiring (electrical signal transmission wiring 302 + optical signal transmission wiring 303 + power supply line 303) can be freely moved within the hinge. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, even in a portable information terminal device having a hinge 305 having a configuration that can be bent in the front-rear and left-right directions (for example, a cross joint), transmission wiring (electric signal transmission wiring 302 + optical signal) The transmission wiring 303 + the power supply line 303) does not become a limiting element for the operation of the hinge 305. As a result, the hinge 305 can be freely bent forward, backward, left and right. 4A and 4B, reference numeral 306 denotes a casing in which the main body operation unit 100 is stored, and 307 is a casing in which the screen display unit 200 is stored. , 305 connects the housing 306 and the housing 307, and the flexible wiring board 300 and the transmission wiring (electric signal transmission wiring 302 + optical signal transmission wiring 303 + power supply line 303) pass through the inside of the hinges 301,305. Thus, the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 are connected so that signals can be transmitted.

  Thus, in the present invention, power consumption can be suppressed by minimizing the amount of optical signal communication that consumes a large amount of power. Furthermore, by transmitting data with a large communication capacity by optical signal communication, it is possible to reduce the communication load in electric signal communication and to reduce the number of wires for electric signal communication, and to consume in electric signal communication. Power can be reduced. Furthermore, wiring in a portion (for example, a hinge portion) where it is difficult to wire a large number of wires in the portable information terminal device is facilitated. Furthermore, electromagnetic radiation generated from the cable is reduced, and it becomes easy to suppress electromagnetic interference to other devices, and its practical effect is great.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a block configuration diagram of the portable information terminal device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The configuration of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is basically the same as the modification of the reference example 1 shown in FIG. 3, and the same components as those in FIG.

The difference between the portable information terminal device (FIG. 5) of this embodiment and the configuration of FIG. 3 is that a power controller 150 is newly added to the main body operation unit 100. The power controller 150 controls power supply to the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200. In the present embodiment, in particular, the power supply control for the first and second optical signal transceivers 101 and 201 (hereinafter referred to as “optical signal transceiver”) implemented by the power controller 150, and the first and second And the power supply control for the electrical signal transceivers 106 and 206 (hereinafter referred to as “electrical signal transceiver”). Details of the power supply control of this embodiment will be described below.
(2-1): When the optical signal transmission / reception unit functions until the optical signal communication is completed Whether the optical signal transmission / reception unit or the electrical signal transmission / reception unit is used, the power supply is kept in a state of not being used. Is a waste of power. The optical signal transmission / reception unit and the electrical signal transmission / reception unit in the portable information terminal device are in an alternative relationship. That is, when the optical signal transmission / reception unit is selected, the electrical signal transmission / reception unit is not used and is in a standby state. Similarly, when the electrical signal transmission / reception unit is selected and in use, the optical signal transmission / reception unit is not used and is in a standby state. Therefore, since it is not necessary to supply power to the standby state, the power supply is stopped.

  FIG. 6A shows an example of a switching state of the communication device between the main body operation unit 100 and the screen display unit 200 of the portable information terminal device. FIGS. 6B and 6C show the power supply states of the optical signal transmission / reception unit and the electrical signal transmission / reception unit, respectively, with respect to the communication switching state.

  In FIG. 6A, a period AB indicates an optical signal communication state, and a period other than that indicates an electric signal communication state. Since the optical signal transmission / reception unit functions in the period AB, as can be seen from FIG. 6B, power is supplied to the optical signal transmission / reception unit only in the period AB (ON state). In other periods, the optical signal transmission / reception unit does not need to function, so the power supply to the optical signal transmission / reception unit is stopped (OFF state). The communication device switching signal in FIG. 6A is the same as the signal switching control signal 161 output from the communication path switching controller 113, and this signal switching control signal 161 is input to the power supply controller 150. The power controller 150 receives the signal switching control signal 161 and determines whether or not it is necessary to supply power to the optical signal transmitting / receiving unit.

  FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing a determination algorithm for power supply ON / OFF for the optical signal transmission / reception unit performed by the power supply controller 150. The contents of this flowchart will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B. The following processing is performed by the power controller 150 and the power supplier 151.

  In step S601, it is determined whether or not the communication path is on the optical signal side (whether or not the communication form is optical signal communication). In FIG. 6A, since the electric signal communication path (electric signal communication) is set during the period until time A, in this period, the process ends without doing anything according to the determination in step S601.

  In FIG. 6A, it is assumed that at time A, the communication path is switched from an electrical signal to an optical signal. That is, it is assumed that the communication form is switched from electrical signal communication to optical signal communication. When the power controller 150 detects this form change in step S601, the power controller 150 proceeds to step S602, stops the power supply to the electrical signal transmitter / receiver in the power supplier 151, and then supplies power to the optical signal transmitter / receiver. To start.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is assumed that the communication path is switched from the electric signal side to the optical signal side at time B. In this case, the period AB indicates a power supply period to the optical signal transmission / reception unit. Therefore, only during the period AB, power is supplied from the power supply 151 to the optical signal transmission / reception unit, and optical signal communication functions. At time B, the power supply controller 150 stops power supply to the optical signal transmission / reception unit by the power supply unit 151 and then starts power supply to the electrical signal transmission / reception unit.

  Since the optical signal communication mode continues until time B in FIG. 6B, the optical signal communication end determination in step S603 returns to the process in step 601 without performing the process in S604.

  After time B, in FIG. 6A, the communication mode is switched from optical signal communication to electrical signal communication, and the communication path is switched from the optical signal communication path to the electrical signal communication path. This communication form change means that the communication by the optical signal is finished. Therefore, the determination in step S603 is the end of optical signal communication, and the process proceeds to step S604. Here, the role of the optical signal transmission / reception unit ends, and the power controller 150 stops the power supply to the optical signal transmission / reception unit by the power supply 151 and starts the power supply to the electrical signal transmission / reception unit. Note that FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating a determination algorithm for power supply to the optical signal transmission / reception unit, and thus power supply control to the electrical signal transmission / reception unit is not described as a step.

  FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing a determination algorithm of power supply ON / OFF for the electric signal transmission / reception unit performed by the power supply controller 150.

  The contents of this flowchart will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (C). In step S605, it is determined whether or not the communication path is on the electric signal side (whether or not the communication form is electric signal communication). In FIG. 6A, since it is assumed that the electric signal communication device (electric signal communication) is set for the period until time A, the period moves from step S605 to step S606. The power supply to the electric signal transmitting / receiving unit is continued. If it is determined in step S607 that the electrical signal communication has not ended, the process returns to S605 without performing the process in S608.

  In FIG. 6A, when it is assumed that the communication path is switched from an electrical signal to an optical signal at time A, that is, when it is assumed that the communication mode is switched from electrical signal communication to optical signal communication. Detection is performed in step S607. In step S608, the power supply to the electrical signal transmission / reception unit is stopped, and the power supply to the optical signal transmission / reception unit is started. A period AB in FIG. 6C indicates a period during which power supply to the electric signal transmitting / receiving unit is stopped. Note that FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing a power supply determination algorithm for the electrical signal transmission / reception unit, and thus power supply control to the optical signal transmission / reception unit is not described as a step. As described above, only in the period AB, the power supply is stopped from the power supply unit 151 in FIG.

  Electric signal communication is not set until the period AB has elapsed, that is, until time B in FIG. 6C, so the determination in step S605 (determining whether the communication path is on the electric signal side) is performed. , No is determined and the process is terminated.

  At time B, it is assumed in FIG. 6A that the communication path switches from the optical signal communication path to the electrical signal communication path. This form change means that the communication form is switched from the optical signal communication to the electric signal communication and the electric signal communication is started. Therefore, the determination in step S605 is the start of electrical signal communication, and the process proceeds to step S606. By the processing of S606, power supply to the optical signal transmission / reception unit is stopped and power supply to the electrical signal transmission / reception unit is started.

By the power supply control described above, unnecessary power is not supplied to the optical signal transmission / reception unit and the electrical signal transmission / reception unit, and as a result, the power consumption of the entire portable information terminal device can be reduced. Therefore, the power supply time by the power supply unit 151 is extended, and the effect is very large.
(2-2): When stopping the function of the optical signal transmission / reception unit regardless of the end of the optical signal communication Some optical signal communication forms have uncertain communication end times. Among these optical signal communication modes in which the end time is indeterminate, even if the communication end time is indefinite, the optical signal communication mode in which the optical signal communication mode must be continued until the end of the optical signal communication is not necessarily so. There is an optical signal communication form.

  As the former optical signal communication mode, for example, there is a communication mode in which moving image information is downloaded from the image information capturing unit 212 from the Internet. In the case of this communication mode, if the downloaded video information is interrupted, the remaining image data may not be obtained correctly. Therefore, even if power is consumed to some extent, it is necessary to continue optical signal communication until the download is completed.

  As the latter optical signal communication mode, there is an optical signal communication mode applied when a subject extracted using the image pickup device 213 is displayed on the image display 211 in real time. If the display of the subject is continued unintentionally when displaying on the image display 211, the power is consumed, and the portable information terminal device may become unusable due to a shortage of battery when it is really necessary. This optical signal communication mode will be described more specifically.

  When shooting with the image pickup device 213 and recording processing, the user of the portable information terminal device displays a subject extracted using the image pickup device 213 in real time on the image display 211 while recording a subject as a still image or a moving image. Search for the partial area of the camera and the timing of shooting. When the partial area and timing to be photographed are determined, actual photographing is started from there. Therefore, when the imaging mode is set, the process of displaying the subject image extracted by the imaging device 213 on the image display 211 in real time is continuously performed. Therefore, if signal communication in the device is performed by optical signal communication in a state where the imaging mode is set, battery consumption becomes significant.

  However, even if the user has set an imaging mode for the purpose of shooting, it may happen that the user forgets to shoot from the middle and leaves the portable information terminal device while maintaining the shooting mode. In this state, video display is unnecessarily continued and power is consumed, and efficient battery consumption is difficult. The above-described state of continuing to display the subject unintentionally refers to such a state.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the case where the former optical signal communication mode (imaging mode or the like) is implemented is defined as optical signal transmission / reception that does not satisfy a certain condition, and the latter optical signal communication mode is implemented. Is defined as optical signal transmission / reception satisfying certain conditions.

  Here, the fixed condition is, for example, that the occupation time of the optical signal communication path is uncertain as described above, but it is fatal even if the communication path is switched from the optical signal communication path to the electric signal communication path after the fixed time has elapsed. The one that does not cause inconvenience. In addition, the setting of the predetermined time may be appropriately determined according to the battery capacity of the portable information terminal device (capacity of the power supply 151).

  When transmitting / receiving optical signals that satisfy certain conditions, the optical signal transmission / reception unit is forced to stop supplying power to the optical signal transmission / reception unit after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of use of the optical signal transmission / reception unit. The power supply controller 150 and the power supply 151 perform the switching from the side to the electrical signal side.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing power supply control performed by the power controller 150 and the power supplier 151 in the present embodiment. The contents of this flowchart will be described below with reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (C).

  In step S701, first, it is determined whether or not optical signal transmission / reception satisfying a certain condition is performed. The determination in S701 is performed based on the signal transmission path selection information 114 described above. If it is determined in step S701 that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the routine exits without any action and returns to the start.

  If it is determined in S701 that the certain condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S702, and whether a certain period of time has elapsed since the communication mode is switched to optical signal communication (that is, after the communication path is switched to the optical signal communication path) Judge whether or not. In FIG. 5, time A is the time when optical signal communication satisfying a certain condition is started, and the elapsed time from time A is measured. For example, the measurement is performed by the communication path switching controller 113 or the power supply controller 150. Furthermore, the communication path switching controller 113 or the power supply controller 150 determines whether or not the elapsed time being measured passes a predetermined time (S702). When the power controller 150 determines that the measured elapsed time has passed a predetermined time, the power controller 150 stops supplying power to the optical signal transmitter / receiver and also supplies power to the electrical signal transmitter / receiver. Restart supply. Further, the communication path switching controller 113 or the power supply controller 150 transmits to the first signal switching unit 109 and the second signal switching unit 209 that the power supply has been switched from the optical signal transmission / reception unit to the electrical signal transmission / reception unit. To do. The first signal switcher 109 and the second signal switcher 209 that have been notified that the power supply has been switched to the electric signal transmission / reception unit switches the communication path from the optical signal communication path to the electric signal communication path (S703). ).

  The optical signal communication function is forcibly stopped by the operation in step S703. In FIG. 5, this means that the power supply controller 150 receives the signal switching control signal 161 from the communication path switching controller 113 and the power supply from the power supply 151 to the optical signal transmitting / receiving unit is cut off.

  In this case, the imaging screen captured by the imaging device 213 and displayed on the image display 211 suddenly disappears. However, when the display is necessary, the display may be instructed again. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the battery of the portable information terminal device from being excessively consumed by being displayed for a long time until unnecessary. In addition, since the optical signal communication path is switched to the electric signal communication path, after the display image disappears, a character display etc. for explaining the situation is sent to the image display 211 using the electric signal communication path to understand the user. It is also possible to obtain

  Thus, further power saving of the portable information terminal device can be achieved by forcibly stopping the power supply of the optical signal transmission / reception unit under certain conditions.

  The portable information terminal device according to the present invention can save power by using an optical signal communication device and an electric signal communication device in accordance with the size and usage of the communication usage capacity. Useful in the field.

It is a block block diagram of the portable information terminal device in the reference example 1 of this invention. 12 is a flowchart when a communication path is selected by the communication path switching controller 113 in the portable information terminal device in Reference Example 1. It is another block block diagram of the portable information terminal device in Reference Example 1. (A) is a top view which shows the structure of the conventional portable information terminal device, (B) is a top view which shows the structure of the portable information terminal device in the reference example 1 of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the portable information terminal device in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the switching state change of the communication apparatus between the main body operation part 100 and the screen display part 200 in the portable information terminal device of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating power supply control performed by a power controller 150 in the portable information terminal device according to the second embodiment. 10 is another flowchart showing power supply control performed by power supply controller 150 in the portable information terminal device according to the second embodiment. It is a structural diagram of a conventional mobile phone. It is a block block diagram of the conventional mobile telephone.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Main body operation part 101 1st optical signal transmitter / receiver 103,205 Optical signal conversion transmitter 105,203 Optical signal receiving converter 106 1st electric signal transmitter / receiver 107,208 Electric signal transmitter 108,207 Electric signal receiver 109 First signal switcher 110 First electrical signal processor 111 First information storage unit 112 External input / output signal processor 113 Communication path switching controller 114 Signal transmission path selection information 115 First parallel interconverter 121 Key input device 122 Microphone 123 Speaker 124 Antenna 150 Power supply controller 151 Power supply device 161 Signal switching control signal 200 Screen display unit 201 Second optical signal transmitter / receiver 206 Second electric signal transmitter / receiver 209 Second signal switcher 210 Second electric signal processor 211 Image display 212 Image information fetcher 213 Imaging device 2 4 the second information storage unit 215 the second parallel-serial interconversion 300 flexible wiring board 301 hinge 302 electric signal transmission lines 303 an optical signal transmission line (optical fiber) 304 power supply line 305 a hinge (cross joints)

Claims (9)

First and second circuit blocks provided so as to be able to transmit signals to each other, and a switch provided to be able to switch a signal communication form to the first and second circuit blocks ,
The first circuit block includes:
A first optical signal transceiver that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the second circuit block, and receives the optical signal from the second circuit block and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal;
A first electrical signal transceiver for transmitting an electrical signal to the second circuit block and receiving an electrical signal from the second circuit block;
A first signal switch constituting the switch connected to the first optical signal transceiver and the first electrical signal transceiver;
With
The second circuit block includes:
A second optical signal transceiver that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the first circuit block and receives the optical signal from the first circuit block and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal;
A second electrical signal transceiver for transmitting electrical signals to the first circuit block and receiving electrical signals from the first circuit block;
A second signal switch constituting the switch connected to the second optical signal transceiver and the second electrical signal transceiver;
With
The switching unit includes an optical signal communication mode using the first and second optical signal transmitters and an electric signal communication mode using the first and second electric signal transmitters. When switching is performed based on the signal transmission amount between blocks, and the signal transmission amount is greater than or equal to a preset upper limit value, the optical signal communication mode is selected, and the signal transmission amount is less than the upper limit value. If so, select the electrical signal communication mode,
When a predetermined time elapses after selecting the optical signal communication mode in a state where the switch selects the optical signal communication mode, power supply to the first and second optical signal transceivers is stopped. A power controller ;
Portable information terminal equipment. The electrical signal is a signal obtained by converting a parallel signal into a serial signal.
The portable information terminal device according to claim 1. The first circuit block includes a first parallel-serial mutual signal converter that converts a parallel electrical signal into a serial electrical signal for transmission and converts a received serial electrical signal into a parallel electrical signal,
The first electrical signal transceiver transmits and receives serial electrical signals;
The second circuit block includes a second parallel-serial mutual signal converter that converts a parallel electric signal into a serial electric signal for transmission and converts a received serial electric signal into a parallel electric signal,
The second electrical signal transceiver transmits and receives serial electrical signals;
The portable information terminal device according to claim 1. When the predetermined time has elapsed after selecting the optical signal communication mode, the switching unit switches the communication mode from optical signal communication to electrical signal communication,
The power supply controller supplies power to the first and second electrical signal transceivers when the predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device selected the optical signal communication mode.
The portable information terminal device according to claim 1 . A housing that houses the first circuit block; a housing that houses the second circuit block; and a hinge that foldably couples both housings, A wiring that connects the second circuit block so as to be communicable is inserted through the hinges into both housings,
The portable information terminal device according to claim 1. The wiring includes an electric signal transmission wiring and an optical signal transmission wiring,
The portable information terminal device according to claim 5 . A power supply for supplying power to the first circuit block and the second circuit block, and the power supply is housed in the portable information terminal device;
The portable information terminal device according to claim 1. An in-device communication method for a portable information terminal device that performs mutual communication between the first and second circuit blocks of the portable information terminal device by optical signal communication and electrical signal communication,
Obtaining a signal transmission amount between the first and second circuit blocks;
Based on the obtained signal transmission amount, a switch provided in the first and second circuit blocks so as to be able to switch the signal communication mode stage, and the communication mode is optical signal communication and electrical signal communication. Switching to one of the following:
Only including,
When the signal transmission amount is equal to or higher than a preset upper limit value, the optical signal communication is selected, and when the signal transmission amount is less than the upper limit value, the electric signal communication is selected,
When a predetermined time elapses after selecting the optical signal communication mode in a state where the switch selects the optical signal communication mode, the first and second circuit blocks provided in the first and second circuit blocks Stop the power supply to the optical signal transceiver
Intra-device intercommunication method for portable information terminal devices. The first circuit block and the second circuit block are respectively housed in a housing, and both housings are connected to each other so as to be foldable by a hinge, and the first circuit block and the second circuit block are connected to each other. Wiring that is communicably connected is inserted through the hinges into both housings,
The in-device mutual communication method of the portable information terminal device according to claim 8 .

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