1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to mobile communication terminal devices, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal device with a weighing function.
2. Description of Related Art
In logistics operations, the identification code of an item to be transported is read through a smart handheld computer such that logistics personnel can obtain related information of the item, such as the item number, name, delivery address and amount, based on the identification code of the item. Further, a weighing scale or the like is required to measure the weight of the item so as to calculate the delivery fee for the item based on the weight of the item. However, it will be a big burden for the logistics personnel to take with them multiple kinds of devices or tools. The devices or tools also increase the cost.
Further, weighing demands may occur in offices if something needs to be mailed. In addition, weighing demands may occur during meals since some persons practice healthy eating. However, when these persons eat out, it is very inconvenient for them to take with them a weighing tool, thus causing difficulties in controlling calorie intake. Therefore, how to provide a product with a weighing function so as to meet people's demands for weighing in work and life has become urgent.
In view of the above drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention provides a mobile communication terminal device with a weighing function.
In order to achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a mobile communication terminal device, which comprises: a display unit, a sensing unit; a carrier disposed on the display unit and covering the sensing unit for carrying and conveying an external force to the sensing unit; a data processing unit connected to the sensing unit and the display unit for receiving and calculating the magnitude of the external force sensed by the sensing unit; and a handheld housing for accommodating and securing the display unit, the sensing unit, the carrier and the data processing unit while exposing the carrier therefrom.
In an embodiment, the carrier can be a transparent substrate or a touch panel.
Therefore, the present invention not only eliminates the need of additional measuring tools but also increases the functionality and convenience of the mobile communication terminal device.
The following embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention, these and other advantages and effects can be apparent to those in the art after reading this specification. The present invention can be implemented or applied by other different embodiments, and details in the specification can be modified and varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention based on different viewpoints and applications.
The handheld housing 100a accommodates and secures the display unit 101, the sensing unit 104, the carrier 105 and the data processing unit 106 while exposing the carrier 105 therefrom.
The display unit 101 can be such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), an LED (light emitting diode) display or the like. In the present embodiment, the display unit 101 comprises a display panel 101a and a frame 101b disposed around the periphery of the display panel 101a.
The sensing unit 104 is used to sense the external force. In the present embodiment, the sensing unit 104 comprises a plurality of pressure sensors spacingly disposed adjacent to the periphery of the display unit 101, wherein each of the pressure sensors may be made of a piezoelectric material, a piezoelectric actuator or a load cell. It should be noted that the number, shape or disposing method of the pressure sensors of the sensing units 104 are not limited to the present embodiment. In another embodiment, the sensing unit 104 can be a ring-shaped pressure sensor disposed on the frame 101b of the display unit 101. The frame 101b of the display unit 101 can be made of a rigid material, for example, a metal frame or a plastic frame, so as for the sensing unit 104 to be disposed thereon. In another embodiment, the display unit 101 only comprises the display panel 101a. That is, there is no frame 101b disposed around the periphery of the display panel 101a. In such a case, the sensing unit 104 is disposed adjacent to the periphery of the display unit 101 (the periphery of the viewable area of the display panel 101a).
The carrier 105 is disposed on the display unit 101 and covers the sensing unit 104. The carrier 105 is used for carrying and conveying the external force to the sensing unit 104. The external force may, for example, come from an object 210 to be weighed. The carrier 105 of the present embodiment can be a transparent substrate, such as a glass substrate, an acrylic substrate or a plastic substrate. In the present embodiment, the carrier 105 can not only weigh the object 210 but also protect the display unit 101. According to the design requirement of the display panel, the area of the carrier 105 can be greater than or equal to the display area (viewable area) of the display panel 101a. Therefore, the carrier 105 disposed on the display unit 101 and covering the sensing unit 104 carries the external force, for example, the object 210 to be weighed, while the design of the display area of the mobile communication terminal device 100 is not changed.
In addition, the carrier 105 can be made of a rigid material so as to fully convey the external force applied by the object 210 to the sensing unit 104. The sensing unit 104 further senses the external force applied on the carrier 105 so as to generate a pressure signal, wherein the pressure signal can be such as a voltage signal or a current signal. In practice, the requirement of the rigidity of the carrier 105 depends on the pressure sensing scope of the sensing unit 104. For example, if the weighing scope of the sensing unit 104 falls in the tolerable stress condition of the carrier 105, the rigidity of the material does not need to be considered, otherwise, if the weighing scope of the sensing unit 104 falls beyond the tolerable stress condition of the carrier 105, the thickness and material rigidity should be considered. In other words, design requirements are varied according to the weighing scope and size of the display panel.
The data processing unit 106 is connected to the sensing unit 104 and the display unit 101 so as to receive the external force sensed by the sensing unit 104, thereby calculating the weight of the object 210 according to the external force. It should be noted that the resource of the external force is not limited to the object weight. In another embodiment, the external force may be an impact force of a baseball hitting the carrier 105. In other words, the external force can be any force coming from the outside of the mobile communication terminal device.
In an embodiment, the data processing unit 106 comprises an ADC (analog-to-digital converter) and a processor. In particular, the ADC converts the pressure signal from the sensing unit 104 to a digital signal, the processor calculates the weight of the object 210 according to the digital signal and the disposing position of the sensing unit 104, and further the display unit 101 controlled by the processor displays the calculated weight for users. In another embodiment, the data processing unit 106 can be a microprocessor with an analog-to-digital converting function, which converts the pressure signal from the sensing unit 104 to a digital signal, calculates the weight of the object 210 according to the digital signal and the disposing position of the sensing unit 104, and further enables the display unit 101 to display the weight of the object 210 for users.
Further, the calculated result can be audio outputted. In particular, the mobile communication terminal device 100 further comprises an audio device (not shown) for voice broadcasting the calculated weight, wherein the data processing unit 106 generates an audio signal corresponding to the calculated weight of the object so as to enable the audio device to broadcast voice according to the audio signal.
The mobile communication terminal device of the present invention further comprises a switching unit (not shown) for turning on or turning off the weighing function. The switching unit can be a button disposed on the mobile communication terminal device 100 or an application program installed in the mobile communication terminal device 100. Users can press the button or choose to execute the application program so as to turn on or turn off the weighing function.
The carrier 205 of the present embodiment comprises an enhanced substrate 205a and a touch substrate 205b, wherein the enhanced substrate 205a is made of a transparent material with high rigidity and disposed between the sensing unit 204 and the touch substrate 205b.
It should be noted that the shape of the height element 500 is not limited to
Therefore, the present invention integrates a weighing function into a mobile communication terminal device, which increases the functionality of the mobile communication terminal device and facilitates users to readily achieve the purpose of weighing. As such, the functionality and application of the mobile communication terminal device are enhanced.
The above-described descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only to illustrate the preferred implementation according to the present invention, and it is not to limit the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, all modifications and variations completed by those with ordinary skill in the art should fall within the scope of present invention defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
099109817 | Mar 2010 | TW | national |