KR100930564B1 - Handheld terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable terminal having two bodies and a magnetic unit that generates a magnetic force such that one body stops at least at an angle with respect to the other body during relative rotation between the bodies.

Description

Mobile terminal {PORTABLE TERMINAL}

The present invention relates to a portable terminal having means for causing one body to stop relative to the other body during rotation between two bodies which are connected rotatably.

A portable terminal is a portable electronic device that is portable and has one or more functions such as voice and video call, information input and output, and data storage.

As the functions are diversified, for example, the portable terminal is implemented in the form of a multimedia player having complex functions such as taking a picture or a video, playing a music or a video file, playing a game, or receiving a broadcast.

Many new attempts are being applied to these multimedia devices in terms of hardware or software to implement complex functions. In one embodiment, a user interface environment is provided for a user to search for or select a function easily and conveniently.

In addition, research is being conducted on a new mechanism for allowing one body to stop relative to another body during relative movement between the bodies constituting the main body of the portable terminal.

One object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal in which one body is stopped by the conventional and mechanism at least in one position during rotation with respect to the other body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal such that the stop is made by magnetic force.

A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object includes a first body, a second body and a magnetic force unit.

The first body and the second body are rotatably connected relative to each other. The magnetic force unit is disposed between the first and second bodies and generates magnetic force such that the first body is stopped at least at an angle during the rotation.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the magnetic force unit may include a first magnetic force portion disposed in the first body and a second magnetic force portion disposed in the second body and generating magnetic attraction force with the first magnetic force portion at the at least one angle. At least one second magnetic force portion. The first magnetic force part and the second magnetic force part may be disposed to be exposed through opposing surfaces of the first and second bodies, respectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the portable terminal further includes a swing hinge connecting the first body to the second body to be rotatable about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the second body. The swing hinge may include a first hinge portion protruding in one of the first and second bodies in the rotation axis direction, and the first hinge portion in the other one of the first and second bodies. It may include a second hinge portion for rotatably receiving the center. In addition, contact surfaces substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis direction are formed on the first and second hinge parts, respectively, and the contact surfaces are formed with uneven parts corresponding to each other so that the first body floats in the rotation axis direction during rotation. Can be. During rotation by the swing hinge, the second magnetic force portion corresponds to the first magnetic force portion such that the first body is stopped in a state where the longitudinal direction of the first body substantially coincides with the longitudinal direction of the second body and in a vertical state. It can be composed of a pair.

The portable terminal according to the present invention configured as described above has a magnetic force unit for generating a magnetic force to stop the two relatively rotatable bodies in at least one position. To achieve this.

In addition, the portable terminal can provide a different feeling than when stopped mechanically by the magnetic force unit.

Hereinafter, a portable terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar configurations in different embodiments, and the description thereof is replaced with the first description.

1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a mobile terminal related to the present invention;

The portable terminal of the present invention includes a first body 10 and a second body 20 to which the first body 10 is rotatably coupled about a rotation axis. The axis of rotation is disposed along a direction substantially perpendicular to the second body 20. The first and second bodies 10 and 20 may be collectively referred to as a main body.

A state in which the first body 10 is disposed to overlap the second body 20 may be referred to as a closed configuration, and as shown in the drawing, the first body 10 may be referred to as the second body 20. The exposed state of at least one portion of the closed portions of the s) may be referred to as an open configuration.

The portable terminal operates mainly in the standby mode in a closed state, but the standby mode may be released by a user's operation. In addition, although the portable terminal operates mainly in a call mode or the like in an open state, the portable terminal may be switched to a standby mode by a user's operation or a lapse of a predetermined time.

The case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) forming the exterior of the first body 10 is formed by the front case 11 and the rear case 12. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed by the front case 11 and the rear case 12. At least one intermediate case may be further disposed between the front case 11 and the rear case 12. The cases may be formed by injecting a synthetic resin or may be formed of a metal material, for example, a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The display unit 13, the audio output unit 14, and the first image input unit 15 may be disposed on the first body 10, specifically, the front case 11.

The display unit 13 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) module, and the like that visually express information. The display unit 13 may further include a touch screen to enable input of information by a user's touch.

The sound output unit 14 may be implemented in the form of a receiver or a speaker, and may be provided in pairs adjacent to both ends of the display unit 13. The first image input unit 15 may be implemented in the form of a camera module for capturing an image or a video of a user.

Like the first body 10, the front case 21 and the rear case 22 may form a case of the second body 20.

The first manipulation unit 23a and the second manipulation unit 23b may be disposed on the second body 20, specifically, the front face of the front case 21. The first operation unit 23a is exposed to the outside even in the closed state, and the second operation unit 23b is exposed to the outside so as to be operable only in the fragile state.

The third manipulation unit 24, the first sound input unit 25, and the interface 26 may be disposed on at least one of the front case 21 and the rear case 22.

The first to third manipulation units 23a, 23b, and 24 may be collectively referred to as manipulating portions, and may be employed in any manner as long as the user is tactile in a tactile manner.

For example, the operation unit may be implemented as a dome switch or a touch screen that can receive a command or information by a user's push or touch operation, a touch pad, or a wheel or jog method that rotates a key, or a manipulation method such as a joystick. Or the like.

In functional terms, the first operation unit 23a is for inputting a command such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the second operation unit 23b is for inputting numbers, letters, symbols, and the like. In addition, the third manipulation unit 24 may operate as a hot-key that performs a special function such as activation of the first image input unit 15.

The first sound input unit 25 may be implemented in the form of, for example, a microphone to receive a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.

The interface 26 serves as a passage for allowing a portable terminal related to the present invention to exchange data with an external device. For example, the interface 26 may be wired or wireless, and a connection terminal for connecting to an earphone, a port for short-range communication (for example, an infrared port (IrDA port), a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port ( wireless LAN port), or at least one of power supply terminals for supplying power to the mobile terminal. The interface 26 may be a card socket for receiving an external card, such as a subscriber identification module (SIM) or a user identity module (UIM), a memory card for storing information.

On the rear case 22 side, a power supply unit 27 for supplying power to the portable terminal is mounted. The power supply unit 27 may be detachably coupled for charging, for example, as a rechargeable battery.

2 is a rear perspective view of the portable terminal of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second image input unit 28 may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the rear case 22 of the second body 20. The second image input unit 28 may be a camera having a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the first image input unit 15 (see FIG. 1) and having different pixels from the first image input unit.

For example, the first image input unit 15 has a low pixel so that the user's face is photographed and transmitted to the counterpart in case of a video call, and the second image input unit 28 immediately photographs a general subject. It is preferable to have a high pixel because it is not transmitted in many cases.

The flash 29 and the mirror unit 30 are further disposed adjacent to the second image input unit 28. The flash 29 emits light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the second image input unit 28. The mirror unit 30 allows the user to see his / her own face or the like when the user wants to photograph himself (self-photographing) by using the second image input unit 28.

The second sound output unit 31 may be further disposed on the lower cover 22. The second sound output unit 31 may implement a stereo function together with the first sound output unit 14 (see FIG. 1), and may be used for a call in a speakerphone mode.

In addition, an antenna 32 for receiving a broadcast signal may be disposed on one side of the lower cover 22 in addition to an antenna for a call or the like. The antenna 32 may be installed to be pulled out from the second body 20.

In the above description, the second image input unit 28 is disposed on the second body 20, but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, at least one or more of the components 28 to 32 described as disposed on the lower cover 22, such as the second image input unit 28, may be disposed on the first body 10, mainly the lower cover 12. It is also possible to be mounted. If so, there is an advantage that the configuration (s) arranged in the lower cover 12 in the closed state are protected by the second body 20. In addition, even if the second image input unit 28 is not separately provided, the first image input unit 15 may be rotatably formed so that the image capturing direction of the second image input unit 28 can be taken.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the swing hinge 33 (see FIG. 1) rotatably connecting the first body 10 and the second body 20 is formed by the first body 10 and the second body 20. It has an axis of rotation disposed approximately perpendicular to the planes. The configuration constituting the swing hinge 33 can be simply divided into a first hinge portion 33a and a second hinge portion 33b.

The first hinge portion 33a is integrally formed with the rear case 12 of the first body 10 or coupled thereto by a screw 52 or the like. The second hinge portion 33b is integrally formed with the front case 21 of the second body 20 corresponding to the first hinge portion 33a, or is supported by the support member 51 by a screw 53. It is coupled to the front case 21 by. The first hinge portion 33a is rotatably inserted into the inner circumference of the second hinge portion 33b. A cable C electrically connecting the first body 10 and the second body 20 may extend through the inner space of the first hinge part 33a.

In the first hinge portion 33a and the second hinge portion 33b, contact surfaces 33c and 33d substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis may be formed. Concave-convex portions corresponding to each other are formed in the contact surfaces 33c and 33d, respectively. Due to the relative action of the uneven parts during the relative rotation between the first hinge part 33a and the second hinge part 33b, the distance between the first hinge part 33a and the second hinge part 33b is determined by the rotation axis. It is variable along the direction. As a result, the first body 10 is rotated about the swing hinge 33 to the second body 20, and after being injured to some extent in contact with the second body 20, the second body ( 20) may be in contact with the state.

The magnetic force unit 40 is disposed between the first body 10 and the second body 20 connected by the swing hinge 33. The magnetic force unit 40 generates a magnetic force for causing the first body 10 to be stopped at least at an angle during rotation with respect to the second body 20 by the swing hinge 33.

In the present embodiment, the magnetic force unit 40 includes a first magnetic force portion 41 disposed on the first body 10 and a second magnetic force portion 46 disposed on the second body 20.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the first and second bodies 10 and 20 of FIG. 1.

Looking in detail with respect to the magnetic force unit 40, the first magnetic force portion 41 is disposed in the rear case 12 of the first body (10). In addition, the first magnetic force portion 41 may be disposed such that the line formed by the first magnetic force portion 41 with the first hinge portion 33a is a line parallel to the line along the longitudinal direction of the first body 10. .

The second magnetic force part 46 is disposed to be spaced apart from the second hinge part 33b by a predetermined distance so as to correspond to the first magnetic force part 41. The second magnetic force portion 46 may include at least one element corresponding to the first magnetic force portion 41 at an angle during the rotation of the first body 10. As the second magnetic force portion 46, in this embodiment, the first element 47 disposed so as to lie with the second hinge portion 33b on a line substantially horizontal to the line along the longitudinal direction of the second body 20. ) And a second element 48 arranged to lie with the second hinge portion 33b on a line substantially horizontal to the line along the width direction of the second body 20.

The first magnetic force portion 41 and the second magnetic force portion 46 may be disposed to be exposed through the rear case 12 and the front case 21, and forms a relationship that generates magnetic attraction between each other. To this end, if one of the first magnetic force portion 41 and the second magnetic force portion 46 is a magnet, the other one may be a magnet or magnetic body having the opposite polarity.

Now, a stop method during rotation of the portable terminal will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

Referring to FIG. 5, the portable terminal is in a closed state in which the first body 10 covers the second manipulation unit 23b of the second body 20.

In the closed state, the first magnetic force portion 41 of the magnetic force unit 40 is coupled by the magnetic attraction with the first element 47 of the second magnetic force portion 46. Even if the user applies a force below a certain level, the magnetic coupling prevents the first body 10 from rotating about the rotation axis of the swing hinge 33.

Referring to FIG. 6, when a force above the predetermined level is applied by the user, the first magnetic force portion 41 is separated from the first element 47. By the rotation of the first body 10 in the clockwise direction, the first body 10 is placed in a state that is rotated in the clockwise direction relative to the first magnetic force portion 41 or the state of FIG. 5.

By this rotation, no magnetic attraction force acts between them until the first magnetic force portion 41 approaches the second element 48 within a certain range.

Referring to FIG. 7, by further rotation, the first magnetic force portion 41 approaches the second element 48 within a certain range. By this approach, a magnetic attraction force acts between the first magnetic force portion 41 and the second element 48.

By the magnetic attraction, the first body 10 is rotated toward the open state as shown in the figure without being provided with additional force by the user. The stopping of the rotation is also caused by the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic force portion 41 and the second element 48. As a result, the first magnetic force portion 41 and the second element 48 are disposed so as to overlap each other.

Even when the counterclockwise direction is rotated from the open state to the closed state, the first body 10 is in a closed state at the same time as the rotation is induced by the magnetic coupling between the first magnetic force portion 41 and the first element 47. Will stop at. Without further explanation of this mechanism, those skilled in the art will fully understand from the above description.

Furthermore, the first body 10 may rotate more than 90 degrees, as shown, and the second magnetic force portion 46 may include three or more elements. In the latter case, the first body 10 can be stopped by magnetic force at angles set over multiple times during rotation.

The portable terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the slide type shown in FIG. 1 but may be applied to various structures such as a folder type.

8 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a wireless communication module 41, an operation unit 23a, 23b, 24, an image input unit 15, 28, an audio input unit 25, and a display unit ( 13), the sound output unit 14, 31, the sensing unit 46, the interface 26, the broadcast receiving module 45, the memory 44, the power supply unit 27, and the control unit 40.

The controller 40 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. In addition to the normal function control, the controller 40 additionally controls the operation of the portable terminal related to the present invention.

The wireless communication module 41 transmits / receives a radio signal with a mobile communication base station through an antenna. For example, under the control of the controller 40, the transmitter 42 is responsible for transmitting and receiving voice data, text data, image data, and control data, and modulates and transmits a signal to be transmitted, and a receiver for demodulating the received signal. 43).

The operation units 23a, 23b, and 24 are configured as shown in FIG. 1 to provide the control unit 40 with key input data input by the user for controlling the operation of the terminal. The operation units 23a, 23b, and 24 are composed of a dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure / capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The image input units 15 and 28 process image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in a video call mode or a photographing mode. The processed image frame is converted into image data displayable on the display unit 13 and output to the display unit 13. The image frames processed by the image input units 15 and 28 are stored in the memory 44 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless transceiver 41 under the control of the controller 40.

The sound input unit 25 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, etc., and processes the external sound signal into electrical voice data. The processed voice data is converted into a form transmittable to the mobile communication base station through the wireless communication module 41 and output to the wireless communication module in the call mode. In the recording mode, the processed voice data is output to be stored in the memory 44. The sound input unit 25 may implement various noise removing algorithms for removing noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The display unit 13 displays and outputs information processed by the portable terminal. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, the control unit 40 displays and outputs a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to the call. When the mobile terminal is in a video call mode or a photographing mode, the mobile terminal displays and outputs the captured image, UI, or GUI under the control of the controller 40. When the display unit 13 includes a touch screen, the display unit 13 is used as an input device in addition to the output device.

The sound output units 14 and 31 are sound data or memory 44 received from the wireless communication module 41 under the control of the control unit 40 in call signal reception, call mode or recording mode, voice recognition mode, broadcast reception mode, and the like. ) Converts the sound data stored in) and outputs it to the outside. In addition, the sound output units 14 and 31 output sound signals related to functions (eg, call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the portable terminal. The sound output units 14 and 31 include a speaker, a receiver, a buzzer, and the like.

The sensing unit 46 generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the portable terminal by detecting a current state of the portable terminal such as an open / closed state of the portable terminal, a location of the portable terminal, presence or absence of a user contact. For example, when the portable terminal is in the form of a slide phone, whether the slide phone is opened or closed is sensed so as to output a sensing result to the controller 40 to control the operation of the terminal. In addition, it is responsible for sensing functions related to whether the power supply unit 27 is supplied with power, whether the interface 26 is coupled to an external device, and the like.

The interface 26 may be connected to a mobile terminal such as a wired / wireless headset, an external charger, a wired / wireless data port, a card socket (eg, a memory card, a SIM / UIM card), or the like. It serves as an interface with the device. Such an interface 26 receives data from an external device or receives power and transmits the data to each component inside the mobile terminal or transmits the data inside the mobile terminal to the external device.

The memory 44 may store a program for processing and controlling the control unit 40, and provides a function for temporarily storing input / output data (for example, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). It can also be done. The memory 44 also stores a program for controlling the operation of the portable terminal according to the present invention. Memory 44 includes generally known concepts such as hard disks, card type memory (eg SD or XD memory, etc.), flash memory, RAM, ROM, and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 45 receives a broadcast signal transmitted through a satellite or terrestrial wave, converts the broadcast signal into a broadcast data format that can be output to the sound output units 14 and 31 and the display unit 13 and outputs it to the control unit 40. . In addition, the broadcast receiving module 45 receives additional data related to the broadcast (for example, an EPG (electric program guide), a channel list, etc.). The broadcast data and additional data converted by the broadcast receiving module 45 may be stored in the memory 44.

The power supply unit 27 receives an external power source and an internal power source under the control of the control unit 40 to supply power for operation of each component.

The portable terminal is not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described above, but the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made.

1 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a rear perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the first and second bodies of FIG. 1;

5 is a conceptual view illustrating a relative relationship between the first magnetic force part and the second magnetic force part in a closed state.

6 is a conceptual view illustrating a relative relationship between a first magnetic part and a second magnetic part while the first body rotates from a closed state to an open state.

7 is a conceptual view showing a relative relationship between the first magnetic force portion and the second magnetic force portion in the open state.

8 is a block diagram illustrating a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (7)

A first body; A second body to which the first body is rotatably connected; And A magnetic force unit disposed between the first and second bodies, the magnetic force unit generating a magnetic force such that the first body is stopped at least at an angle during the rotation; The magnetic unit, A first magnetic force part disposed in the first body; And Is disposed on the second body, and includes at least one second magnetic force portion for generating a magnetic attraction with the first magnetic force portion at the at least one angle, And the first magnetic force part and the second magnetic force part are disposed to be exposed through facing surfaces of the first and second bodies, respectively. delete delete The method of claim 1, And a swing hinge connecting the first body to the second body to be rotatable about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the second body. The method of claim 4, wherein The second magnetic force unit is configured in a pair so that the longitudinal direction of the first body corresponds to the first magnetic force unit in a state substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second body and in a vertical state . The method of claim 4, wherein The swing hinge A first hinge part protruding in the rotation axis direction from any one of the first and second bodies; And And a second hinge portion configured to rotatably receive the first hinge portion about the rotation axis in the other of the first and second bodies. The method of claim 5, The first and second hinge parts are formed with contact surfaces substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, respectively, and the contact surfaces are formed with uneven parts corresponding to each other so that the first body floats in the rotation axis direction during rotation. A mobile terminal characterized by the above.

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