KR100743895B1 - Portable device having two units being folded or unfolded by rotation and rotation device for use in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The rotating device according to the present invention includes a hinge provided in a first unit, a hinge member mounted in a second unit and having a rotating member provided with a coupling shaft movably fitted in the track, and provided in the first unit. It includes a first elastic member for applying a force to move the shaft to one side on the track. The hinge device further includes a contact member connected to the second unit and in contact with and interacting with the rotating member, and a second elastic member providing a force in a direction in which the contact member and the rotating member are in contact with each other. One of the rotating member and the contact member is provided with a cam follower, and the other is provided with a cam part having a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface inclined opposite to the first inclined surface. The track has a first path and a second path connected to each other, and the rotating member rotates while the coupling shaft moves between the first path and the second path, and the cam follower can move between the first and second inclined surfaces. .

Mobile phone, rotating device, hinge device, track, rotating member, linear moving member, coupling shaft

Description

PORTABLE DEVICE HAVING TWO UNITS BEING FOLDED OR UNFOLDED BY ROTATION AND ROTATION DEVICE FOR USE IN THE SAME}

1 is a side view of a cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mobile telephone of FIG. 1, showing the interior of the mobile phone in FIG.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hinge device used in the mobile phone of Figure 1

4 is a view showing a state in which a coupling shaft of the hinge device of FIG. 3 is positioned on a track provided in a first case unit of the mobile phone of FIG.

5 is a view showing a state in which the coupling shaft of the hinge device of FIG. 3 is moved on a track provided in the first case unit of the mobile phone of FIG.

Figure 6 shows the interaction of the cam and cam follower of the hinge device of Figure 3

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing when the mobile phone of FIG. 1 is pushed in the direction of the solid arrow of FIG.

8 is a view showing a modified example of changing the position of the elastic member, unlike in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a modification in which the track provided in the first case unit and the hinge device of FIG. 3 are changed in order to change the method of operating the cellular phone of FIG.

10A and 10B respectively show modified examples of the cam of the hinge device of FIG.

11 is a plan view of a cellular phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the operation of the cellular phone of Fig. 11

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

5: mobile phone 10: hinge device

14: coupling shaft 20: elastic member

24: Orbit 26: Leaf spring

The present invention relates to a portable device (for example, a cellular phone, a PDA, a portable computer, etc.) having two units coupled to each other by folding and unfolding by rotation, and a hinge device for use in the portable device.

A portable device such as a clamshell mobile phone has two case units coupled by a hinge device. One unit is provided with a keypad provided with a button, and the other unit is spread out to expose the liquid crystal display. The hinge unit combines the two case units while allowing the two units to fold and unfold smoothly.

Conventional portable devices have a structure that opens automatically after a certain gap between two case units. The hinge device used here, for example, the configuration of the hinge device as disclosed in Korean Patent No. 266516 is as follows. The hinge device includes a rotating member, a linear moving member, an elastic member, and a housing. The housing accommodates the rotating member, the linear moving member, and the elastic member. The rotating member may rotate about a rotation axis within the housing, and a portion extending along the rotation axis protrudes out of the housing to form a coupling part (coupling shaft). The linear moving member is in contact with the rotating member but does not rotate in the housing and linearly moves in the axial direction along the rotation axis of the housing. The elastic member properly forms a surface where the linear moving member and the rotating member contact each other in the housing, so that the rotating member easily rotates without an external force in some sections, and is well maintained at a fixed position.

One of the two case units of the mobile phone to be connected to the hinge device configured as described above is coupled to the housing and the other is connected to the coupling shaft of the rotating member. When the two units are connected to each other by the action of the hinge device, the two units rotate automatically in the unfolded state afterwards.

By the way, the portable device of such a configuration should be extended to a certain degree by applying external force, which is inconvenient for the user to do it with one hand. This is because you have to fold your fingers apart between the two gapless units. Otherwise you must use both hands.

Therefore, in a portable device having two units, there is a need for a structure that expands between the two units by a user's comfortable operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a portable device having a structure in which a unit is unfolded by pushing one unit in a portable device having two units and linearly pushing or rotating the other unit with respect to the other unit. Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device for rotating two units of the portable device.

According to one aspect of the invention,

A rotary device provided in a portable device having a first unit and a second unit that are rotated and folded relative to each other, and is suitable for providing rotation between both units,

A track provided in the first unit,

A hinge device having a rotating member provided with a coupling shaft movably fitted in the track and mounted to the second unit;

A first elastic member provided in the first unit and applying a force to move the coupling shaft to one side on the track;

The hinge device further includes a contact member connected to the second unit and in contact with and interacting with the rotating member, and a second elastic member providing a force in a direction in which the contact member and the rotating member come into contact with each other,

One of the rotating member and the contact member of the hinge device is provided with a cam follower, the other is a cam portion having a second inclined surface interacting with the cam follower and inclined opposite to the first inclined surface and the first inclined surface. Prepared,

The track has a first path and a second path connected to each other, and the rotating member rotates while the coupling shaft moves between the first path and the second path, and the cam follower is formed with the first inclined surface. A rotating device is provided that can move between two slopes.

In the rotating device, the first path and the second path provided in the track are provided in order of the second path and the first path along the direction in which the first elastic member pushes the coupling shaft. The first unit extends along a direction in which the first unit slides with respect to the second unit in a state where the first unit and the second unit are completely folded, and the first path extends away from the second path to the second unit. Can be extended by folding.

In the rotating device, the coupling shaft may have a key plane and a semicircular outer circumference.

In the rotating device, the second path of the track may extend longer than the diameter of the coupling shaft and the second path may extend by the radius of the coupling shaft.

In the rotating device, the first unit may be further provided with a leaf spring in contact with the key plane of the coupling shaft.

In the rotating device, the first unit may be provided with a cylindrical groove formed on the opposite side of the track, and the second unit may be provided with a truncated conical protrusion fitted into the cylindrical groove of the first unit.

According to another aspect of the invention,

As a hinge device that can be used in the rotating device,

And a rotating member, wherein the rotating member rotates by an external force up to a preset angle and rotates without an external force after passing the preset angle, and the rotating member has a coupling shaft and the coupling shaft has a semicircular cross section. Is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention,

There is provided a portable device having two units connected to be folded and unfolded by the rotating device.

1 to 10 are diagrams of a cellular phone 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2, the cellular phone 5 includes a first case unit 7 provided with a liquid crystal display and a second case unit 9 provided with a keypad. The first unit 7 and the second unit 9 are rotatably coupled so as to be folded and unfolded by the hinge device 10. In addition, as shown in Fig. 1, the mobile unit 5 is completely folded (shown in solid line) to the first unit 7 with respect to the second unit 9 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, ie to the right. The pushing unit 1 unit 7 slides linearly with respect to the 2nd unit 9 in the arrow direction of a solid line.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first track 24 and the second unit are formed on both sides of the first case unit 7, respectively, with grooves into which coupling shafts 14, which will be described later, of the hinge device 10 are movably fitted. A second trajectory 22 formed as a groove into which the circular protrusion 18 described later of 9) is movably fitted is provided. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the first track 24 has a mobile phone 5 fully folded in the linear movement direction of the first case unit 7 (solid line shown in Fig. 1). The first end 241 and the second end 242, which are sequentially positioned along the direction of the arrow, and extend the first boundary or boundary surface 28 and the second boundary that connect the two ends 241 and 242, or The interface 30 is provided. The second boundary 30 of the two boundaries 28, 80 is located closer to the second unit 9 with the cellular phone 5 fully folded. The first boundary 28 and the second boundary 30 face the key plane 16 and the semicircular outer circumference 17 which will be described later of the coupling shaft 14 of the hinge device 10, respectively. The first track 24 is along the linear movement direction (sliding direction, arrow direction of the solid line shown in Fig. 1) of the first unit 7 with the cellular phone 5 completely folded from the first end 241. Extending and bending, the first boundary 28 bends away from the second boundary 28 by an angle A less than 90 degrees from the point passing position P, and then generally has a radius of the coupling shaft 14 of the hinge device 10. Extends as much as. The two ends 24, 30 of the first raceway 24 form an arc in conformity with the shape of the semicircular outer circumference 17 of the coupling shaft 14 of the hinge device 10. As a result, the boundaries of the first trajectory 24 consist of straight lines and an arc. The first trajectory 24 has a first path connected to the second end 242 and a second path connected to the first end 241 based on the position P.

On the other hand, in the state where the cellular phone 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is completely folded, the rotation axis C lying on the diameter key plane 16 of the coupling shaft 14 is the first boundary 28. It is preferable to locate at the bending point P of (). In the first track 24, the length between the first end 241 and the position P is such that the coupling shaft 14 of the hinge device 10 moves the first track 24 from the state in which the cellular phone 5 is completely folded. When moving along, the extent to which the coupling shaft 14 can be rotated such that the diameter key plane 16 of the coupling shaft 14 contacts the first boundary 28 between the first end 241 and the position P. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this length can be made longer by investigating the user's habits or tastes of the mobile phone user. As a result, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the first track 24 is configured to allow the coupling shaft 14 to rotate over a predetermined angle while moving along the first track 24.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first end 221 and the second which are sequentially positioned in the second track 22 along the linear movement direction (the arrow direction of the solid line shown in FIG. 1) of the first case unit 7. An end 222 is provided. The receiving end 2211 is provided at the first end 221. The first elastic member 20 is a compression coil spring, one side of which is inserted into a receiving groove 2211 provided in the first end 221 of the second track 22, and the opposite side of the first elastic member 20 is a circular protrusion of the second unit 9. Contact with (18). The first elastic member 20 provides a force that acts to separate the circular projections 18 of the second unit 9 from each other toward the first end 221 of the second raceway 22. By this force, the cellular phone 5 is stably maintained in a completely folded state, as shown by a solid line in FIG.

Although not shown in detail, referring to FIG. 4, the first case unit 7 includes a leaf spring 26, which has a coupling shaft 14 and a key plane in FIG. 4 in an initial state. As shown, the first track 24 is arranged to remain in contact with the first boundary 28 between the position P and the second end 242. The leaf spring 26 is fixed to the end F toward the second end 232 of the first track 24. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the leaf springs 26 may be properly positioned to interact with the key plane 16 of the engagement shaft 14 of the hinge device 10.

1 and 2, the second case unit 9 includes a first coupling portion 91 corresponding to the first track 24 and the second track 22 of the first case unit 7, respectively. The second coupling portion 92 is provided. The first coupling part 91 is provided with a mounting hole 911 into which the housing 12 of the hinge apparatus 10 described later is inserted so as not to rotate. The second coupling part 92 is provided with a circular protrusion 18 fitted into the second track 22 of the first case unit 9. On the other hand, a circuit line (printed circuit line) can pass between the first unit 7 and the second unit 9 through this circular protrusion. Of course, even in the case of a cosmetic compact that does not require the connection of the circuit line can be applied to the embodiment of the present invention. Alternatively, a hinge device may be mounted on the second coupling part 92, and accordingly, the second track 22 of the first case unit 7 may be transformed into the same shape as the first track 24.

2 and 3, the hinge device 10 includes a housing 12, a rotating member accommodated in the case, a linear moving member, and an elastic member. The cam follower is provided on the rotating member, and the cam is provided on the linear moving member. On the other hand, the rotating member has a coupling shaft 14 protruding out of the housing 12. The coupling shaft 14 protrudes in the shape of a semi-circular rod about the rotational center axis C of the hinge device 10. The engagement shaft 14 has a key plane 16 extending in the radial direction and a semicircular outer circumference 17. An example of such a hinge device may be the same configuration except for the configuration of the hinge device and the coupling shaft (coupling portion) described in Korean Patent No. 266516 (corresponding to US Patent No. 6,085,387). The contents described in Korean Patent No. 266516 (corresponding US Pat. No. 6,085,387) are incorporated herein by reference. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the hinge device of the present invention is not limited to the hinge device, and other conventional hinge devices may be used. On the other hand, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the cam member (rotating member) having a cam and the cam follower member (linear moving member) having the cam follower may have other configurations. The coupling shaft 14 is inserted into the first track 24 described later provided in the first unit 7.

FIG. 6 shows the cam 32 provided on the cam member (straight moving member) provided in the hinge device 10, and shows the cam follower 34 of the cam follower member (rotating member) on each moving position. will be. Referring to FIG. 25, the cam 32 includes a first inclined surface 36, a top portion 38, a second inclined surface 40, and a valley 42. The hinge device 10 has the cam follower 34 at any position L1 on the first inclined surface 36 in an initial state (two units are fully folded or closed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Located. When the rotating member (cam follower member) is rotated by an external force, the cam follower 34 moves up along the first inclined surface 36 and rotates by an angle B. The cam follower 34 reaches the highest normal position L2 of the cam. . When the rotating member (cam follower member) is further rotated (external force or automatically) to rotate by the angle A, the cam follower 34 is at any position L3 on the second inclined surface 40. Then, even if no external force is applied, the cam follower 34 descends along the second inclined surface 40 by the force of the elastic member in the hinge device 10 to reach the position L4 of the valley 42. The cam follower 34 may move without an external force until reaching the goal 42. That is, the coupling shaft 34 attached to the rotating member can rotate without an external force so that the first unit rotates with respect to the second unit so that the two units expand (or spread).

Referring to Figures 1 to 7 the operation will be described. When the first unit is pushed as shown by the solid line arrow shown in Fig. 1, the first unit 71 moves as shown in Fig. 7 (one dashed line in Fig. 1). This is the state shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 by moving the trajectory 24 in the direction of the arrow in the initial state shown in FIG. At this time, the coupling shaft 14 is rotated by an angle A (an angle greater than the angle B) with respect to the housing 12 and the second unit 9 to which the housing 12 is coupled. Then, the cam follower 34 shown in Fig. 6 is positioned at the position L3 indicated by L3 in the drawing. At this time, when the user releases the hand pushing the first unit, even without an external force, the cam follower 34 descends along the second inclined surface 40 and reaches the position L4 of the valley 42. One unit is in the state rotated as shown by the dashed-dotted line of FIG. Also in this process, the coupling shaft 14 is returned to the initial position as shown in FIG. 4 by the restoring force of the elastic member 26.

When the user rotates by closing the first unit 7, the cam follower 34 moves from the L4 position to the L3 and L2 positions on the first inclined surface 36 as shown in FIG. 6. Will be located. At this time, the position of the coupling shaft 14 in the track 24 is maintained as shown in FIG. The cam follower 34 moves on the first inclined surface 36 without an external force, and the first unit 7 and the second unit 9 are automatically folded.

On the other hand, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the first unit 7 may be expanded by an angle exceeding the angle B so as to spread between the first unit 7 and the first unit 9 as in the related art. Could be.

FIG. 8 shows a modification, and the position of the leaf spring 26a for restoring the coupling shaft 14a to the initial position is different from the example shown in FIG. On the other hand, unlike these, the configuration for biasing the coupling shaft to the initial position may be another elastic member such as a compression coil spring or other configuration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration of the present invention is not limited only to the leaf spring. There will be.

9 (a) and 9 (b) show other modifications, and even when the first unit 7b is moved in the dotted arrow direction in FIG. 1, the coupling shaft 14b and the track 24b do not interact with each other. By way of example, as shown in the previous embodiment, the first unit and the second unit is an example showing that can be unfolded, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that such a configuration is possible.

10A and 10B show cams 32c and 32d curves according to other modifications.

11 and 12, there is shown a mobile telephone 10e according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the mobile telephone 10 shown in Fig. 1 is that a truncated conical projection 18e is formed on one side of the second unit 9e, and a cylindrical groove 23e is formed in the first unit 7e. . In this case, as shown in Fig. 12, the first unit 7e and the second unit 9e are kept closed, that is, the first unit 7e is pushed to the side with the protrusion 18e in the center. The first unit 7e can slide while rotating relative to the second unit 9e. The hinge device 10e provided in the second unit 9e and the track 24e provided in the first unit 9e have almost the same configuration as the first track 24 of the embodiment shown in FIG. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that although not, it is possible to operate with the leaf spring 26 as shown in FIG.

In the above embodiments, a mobile phone has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is equally applicable to other handheld devices (eg, mobile phones, PDAs, portable computers, cosmetic cases, etc.) having two units that can be unfolded or folded.

According to the configuration of the present invention can achieve all the objects of the present invention described above. Specifically, the mobile phone to which the two case units are connected by the rotating device according to the present invention can be unfolded automatically by sliding a case unit slightly in a fully folded state and thus can be used more conveniently.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and that such modifications and variations also fall within the present invention.

Claims (8)

A rotary device provided in a portable device having a first unit and a second unit that are rotated and folded relative to each other, and is suitable for providing rotation between both units, A track provided in the first unit, A hinge device having a rotating member provided with a coupling shaft movably fitted in the track and mounted to the second unit; A first elastic member provided in the first unit and applying a force to move the coupling shaft to one side on the track; The hinge device further includes a contact member connected to the second unit and in contact with and interacting with the rotating member, and a second elastic member providing a force in a direction in which the contact member and the rotating member come into contact with each other, One of the rotating member and the contact member of the hinge device is provided with a cam follower, the other is a cam portion having a second inclined surface interacting with the cam follower and inclined opposite to the first inclined surface and the first inclined surface. Prepared, The track has a first path and a second path connected to each other, wherein the rotating member rotates while the coupling shaft moves between the first path and the second path, and the cam follower is connected to the first inclined surface and the second path. Rotator to move between slopes. In the rotating device of claim 1, the first path and the second path provided in the track is provided in order of the second path and the first path in the direction in which the first elastic member pushes the coupling shaft, The second path extends along a direction in which the first unit slides with respect to the second unit in a state where the first unit and the second unit are completely folded, and the first path extends from the second path to the second path. Rotary device that extends in a direction away from the unit. The rotating device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling shaft has a key plane and a semicircular outer circumference. The rotary device of claim 3, wherein the second path of the track extends longer than the diameter of the coupling shaft and the first path extends by a radius of the coupling shaft. The rotating device of claim 4, wherein the first unit is further provided with a leaf spring that contacts the coupling shaft and pushes the coupling shaft from the second path to the first path in the track. A rotary device provided in a portable device having a first unit and a second unit that are rotated and folded relative to each other, and is suitable for providing rotation between both units, A track provided in the first unit, A hinge device mounted to the second unit having a rotating member provided with a coupling shaft movably fitted to the track; A cylindrical groove provided in the first unit and formed on an opposite side of the track; A truncated conical protrusion provided in the second unit and fitted into the cylindrical groove; A spring provided in the second unit to push the coupling shaft to one side on the track; The hinge device includes a contact member connected to the second unit and in contact with and interacting with the rotating member, and an elastic member providing a force in a direction in which the contact member and the rotating member come into contact with each other. One of the rotating member and the contact member of the hinge device is provided with a cam follower, the other is a cam portion having a second inclined surface interacting with the cam follower and inclined opposite to the first inclined surface and the first inclined surface. Prepared, The track has a first path and a second path connected to each other, wherein the rotating member rotates while the coupling shaft moves between the first path and the second path, and the cam follower is connected to the first inclined surface and the second path. Rotator to move between slopes. A hinge device for connecting a first unit having a track formed with a first path and a second path that are connected to each other and bent, and a second unit to be folded and unfolded, A rotary member movably fitted into the track of the first unit and provided with a coupling shaft having a semicircular cross section; A contact member connected to the second unit and in contact with and interacting with the rotating member; It includes an elastic member for providing a force in the direction in which the rotating member and the contact member is in contact, One of the rotating member and the contact member is provided with a cam follower, and the other is provided with a cam part having a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface inclined opposite to the first inclined surface. And the cam member rotates while the coupling shaft moves between the first path and the second path of the track and the cam follower can move between the first and second inclined surfaces. A portable device comprising two units connected to each other so that they can be folded and unfolded by the rotating device of claim 1.

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