Mobile communication terminal

• US 6,819,942 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Satoshi, Umemoto, Yuji, Tanaka, Takehiko, Aotake, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US10/102,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20030013499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

In a mobile communication terminal according to an aspect of the invention, it is detects whether an external unit is connected to an earphone jack. If it is detected that an external unit is connected to the earphone jack, it is determined whether the external unit is an earphone unit or an electronic flash unit. If the external unit is the electronic flash unit, an audio path provided in the terminal to transmit an audio signal within the terminal will be connected to a microphone and a speaker provided in the terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a microphone;

a speaker;

an earphone jack capable of connecting to an external unit;

an audio path to convey an audio signal in the mobile communication terminal;

detecting means for detecting the external unit connected to the earphone jack;

unit-identifying means for determining whether the external unit connected to the earphone jack is an earphone unit or an electronic flash unit, when the detecting means detects the external unit connected to the earphone jack; and

switching means for connecting the audio path to the microphone and the speaker, when the unit-identifying means determines that the external unit connected to the earphone jack is the electronic flash unit.

2. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein, the switching means connects the audio path to the earphone unit by the earphone jack, when the unit-identifying means determines that the external unit connected to the earphone jack is the earphone unit.

3. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the unit-identifying means includes:

means for supplying a unit-identifying signal via the earphone jack to the external unit connected to the earphone jack;

means for detecting a response signal that the external unit has output upon receiving the unit-identifying signal; and

means for determining whether the external unit connected to the earphone jack is the earphone unit or the electronic flash unit, in accordance with whether the response signal has been detected.

4. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the unit-identifying means includes:

means for detecting a structural feature of a plug of the external unit connected to the earphone jack; and

means for determining whether the external unit connected to the earphone jack is the earphone unit or the electronic flash unit, in accordance with the structural feature detected of the plug of the external unit.

5. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, farther comprising,

means for informing, to a user of the mobile communication terminal, whether the external unit connected to the earphone jack is the earphone unit or the electronic flash unit.

6. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, farther comprising,

means for informing, to the user of the mobile communication terminal, whether the audio path is connected to the microphone and the speaker or to the earphone jack in accordance with a switching state of the switching means.

7. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a connector to which an external unit is to be connected;

detecting means for detecting whether an external unit is connected to the connector; and

unit-identifying means for determining whether the external unit is an earphone unit or electronic flash unit, when the detecting means detects that the external unit is connected to the connector.

8. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, farther comprising mode control means for setting an earphone mode to enable the earphone unit to operate when the unit-identifying means determines that the external unit is the earphone unit, and for setting a flash mode to enable the electronic flash unit to operate when the unit-identifying means determines that the external unit is the electronic flash unit.

9. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, farther comprising flash driving means for supplying a charging current or a light-emission current to the electronic flash unit when the unit-identifying means determines that the external unit connected to the connector is the electronic flash unit.

10. An electronic flash unit comprising:

a plug to be removably inserted into an earphone jack of a mobile communication terminal;

a capacitor which receives a voltage applied from the mobile communication terminal via the earphone jack and the plug, and which is thereby electrically charged; and

a light-emitting section which causes the capacitor to output the charged voltage, in response a light-emission signal supplied from the mobile communication terminal via the earphone jack and the plug, and which emits light upon receiving the charged voltage from the capacitor.

11. The electronic flash unit according to claim 10, wherein the plug includes:

a first terminal which applies the voltage to the capacitor;

a second terminal which supplies the light-emission signal to the light-emitting section;

a third terminal which receives a unit-identifying signal from the mobile communication terminal to identity an external unit inserted in the earphone jack; and

a fourth terminal which is connected to the third terminal and returns a response signal to the mobile communication terminal, the response signal corresponding to the unit-identifying signal.

12. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a microphone;

a speaker;

an earphone jack capable of connecting with an external unit;

an audio path to convey an audio signal in the mobile communication terminal;

a detecting circuit configured to detect that the external unit connected to the earphone jack;

a unit-identifying circuit configured to determine whether the external unit connected to the earphone jack is an earphone unit or an electronic flash unit, when the detecting circuit detects that the external unit connected to the earphone jack; and

a switching circuit configured to connect the audio path to the microphone and the speaker when the unit-identifying circuit determines that the external unit connected to the earphone jack is the electronic flash unit.

13. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a connector to which an external unit is to be connected;

a detecting circuit configured to detect that an external unit is connected to the connector; and

a unit-identifying circuit configured to determined whether an external unit connected to the connector is an earphone unit or an electronic flash unit when the detecting circuit detects that the external unit is connected to the connector.