KR101153182B1 - Case and Mobile Communication Terminal Using the Same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a case including an antenna and a mobile communication terminal employing the case. A mobile communication terminal of the present invention includes a case having at least one external antenna and at least one first connector connected thereto to be detachably coupled to the case, at least one internal antenna, A second connector connected to the antenna, at least one RF transmitting and receiving unit for controlling the external antenna and the internal antenna, a switch unit selectively connecting the second connector or the internal antenna with the RF transmitting and receiving unit, And a control unit for controlling the switch unit so that the external antenna or the internal antenna is selectively connected to the RF transmitting and receiving unit. Accordingly, when the case is fastened, the radiation performance of the antenna is maintained and improved, thereby improving the reliability. In addition, an external antenna having a wide resonance band is formed in the case, thereby preventing transmission / reception performance deterioration of the mobile communication terminal due to fastening of the case, thereby improving call quality.

Mobile communication terminal, antenna, case,

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a case including an antenna and a mobile communication terminal employing the case.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are perspective views illustrating a mobile communication terminal employing a case according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

2 is a front view showing an antenna formed in a case according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an exemplary view illustrating a second connector of a mobile communication terminal connected to a first connector of a case according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating an antenna using method of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a case and a mobile communication terminal are combined according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining an example of switching the switch to confirm whether or not the case is fastened. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a specific antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing a case and a mobile communication terminal provided with fastening terminals according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

10 is an exemplary view showing a pogo pin according to another embodiment of the present invention.

11A and 11B are views showing an example of a first connector and a second connector according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Description of the Related Art

10: mobile communication terminal 20: case

100: external antenna 110: first connector

200: second connector part 210: internal antenna

220: RF transmitting / receiving unit 230:

240:

The present invention relates to a case including an antenna and a mobile communication terminal employing the case.

In general, an antenna is a means for receiving a radio wave introduced from the outside and transmitting a signal transmitted from another apparatus in the outside to the outside. Such an antenna is an essential part in a mobile communication terminal, which is a wireless communication device, and performs an operation to improve communication sensitivity by acting as an important mediator when transmitting / receiving a signal to / from a base station.

Since most of the antennas in the mobile communication terminal are protruded to the outside, they are caught by an external interference body and are easily damaged and inconvenient to carry.

Accordingly, an internal antenna in which an antenna is built in a mobile communication terminal has been developed.

In a state in which the built-in antenna is employed, the user uses a leather case or a plastic case to protect the housing of the mobile communication terminal.

However, when such a case is tied to a mobile communication terminal, frequency characteristics due to dielectric materials and other metal materials constituting the case are changed. As a result, the performance of the built-in antenna shifts from a resonance frequency of several MHz to several tens of MHz.

In addition, there is a problem that the actual radiation performance is deteriorated.

The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as follows.

A first aspect of the present invention is to provide a case including an antenna for maintaining or improving the radiation performance of the antenna when the case is fastened, and a mobile communication terminal employing the case.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a case in which an external antenna having a wide resonance band is formed in a case to prevent transmission / reception performance deterioration of the mobile communication terminal due to fastening of the case, and a mobile communication terminal employing the case.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal comprising: a case having at least one external antenna and at least one first connector connected thereto to be detachably coupled; at least one internal antenna; A first connector connected to the first connector and connected to the external antenna, at least one RF transmitting and receiving unit for controlling the external antenna and the internal antenna, a switch unit selectively connecting the second connector or the internal antenna to the RF transmitting and receiving unit, And a control unit for controlling the switch unit such that the external antenna or the internal antenna is selectively connected to the RF transmitting and receiving unit when the first connector and the second connector are in contact with each other.

At this time, the second connector can output a fastening signal to the controller when the case is fastened and contacts the first connector.

Also, the control unit can confirm the connection with the external antenna by checking the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) of the external antenna by switching the switch unit.

The control unit may control the switch unit to connect the external antenna and the RF transceiver unit when the first connector and the second connector are in contact with each other.

In addition, when the first connector and the second connector are in contact with each other, the control unit can check the reception power of the external antenna and the internal antenna, and control the switch unit so that an antenna having strong reception power is connected to the RF transmission / reception unit.

At this time, the first connector portion may be formed of a pogo pin.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case including an antenna, the case including a housing for detachably protecting the housing of the mobile communication terminal, at least one antenna and at least one antenna formed in the case, And a connector unit for connecting with the mobile communication terminal.

Hereinafter, a case including an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention and a mobile communication terminal employing the case will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1A and 1B are perspective views illustrating a mobile communication terminal employing a case according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1A and 1B, a case 20 is detachably coupled to the outside of the mobile communication terminal 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

At this time, an external antenna 100 is formed in the case 20 and is connected to the mobile communication terminal 10 through the first connector 110.

The construction of the case 20 is shown in more detail in FIG.

2 is an exemplary view showing an antenna formed in a case according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the case 20 for protecting the housing of the mobile communication terminal is made of a leather material. At this time, an external antenna 100, which is one or more antennas, is formed inside the case 20. At this time, the external antenna 100 is formed of the first external antenna 102, the second external antenna 104, and the third external antenna 106.

Each of the external antennas 100 can operate in various frequency bands. For example, the first external antenna 102 operates in the Bluetooth frequency band and the second external antenna 104 operates in the CDMA or GSM frequency bands. In addition, the third internal antenna 106 may operate at the FM radio frequency.

The pattern shape of the external antenna 100 may be designed according to the corresponding frequency band.

The external antenna 100 may be formed on the inner side of the case 20 and connected to the first connector 110, which is a connector part protruding outside the case 20.

At this time, the first connector unit 110 is formed to correspond to the number of the external antennas 100. That is, when the external antenna 100 is formed by three first, second, and third external antennas 102, 104, and 106, the first connector portion 110 also has three terminals.

Here, the first connector portion 110 is a portion contacting the mobile communication terminal 10, and the contact portion is protruded. Accordingly, when the mobile communication terminal 10 is fastened to the mobile communication terminal 10, the mobile communication terminal 10 is more easily coupled to the mobile communication terminal 10 due to the elastic force corresponding to the pressure applied by the mobile communication terminal 10.

The mobile communication terminal 10 fastened to the first connector unit 110 is shown in FIG.

3 is an exemplary view illustrating a second connector of a mobile communication terminal connected to a first connector of a case according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the first connector unit 110 of the case 20 described above with reference to FIG. 2 is connected to the second connector unit 200 formed at the lower end of the mobile communication terminal 10. The second connector portion 200 may be formed at a position corresponding to the first connector portion 110 as a conductor terminal.

That is, if the first connector unit 110 is formed as three protruding parts, the second connector unit 200 is also composed of three terminals. Accordingly, when the case 20 is fastened to the mobile communication terminal 10, the first connector unit 110 and the second connector unit 200 are coupled and connected to each other.

The internal structure of the mobile communication terminal 10 fastened to the case 20 is shown in FIG.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4, the mobile communication terminal 10 includes a second connector unit 200, an internal antenna 210, an RF transceiver unit 220, a switch unit (not shown) 230 and a control unit 240.

The second connector portion 200 contacts the first connector 110 when the case 20 is fastened.

The internal antenna 210 includes a main antenna that operates in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) communication network. In addition, the internal antenna 210 includes a Bluetooth formed in the case 20 and a sub antenna corresponding to the external antenna 100 operating at the FM radio frequency.

For example, the first internal antenna 212 operates in the Bluetooth frequency band and the second internal antenna 214 operates in the CDMA or GSM frequency band. In addition, the third internal antenna 216 operates at the FM radio frequency.

The internal antenna 210 may have the same or a larger number of antennas as the external antenna 100.

The RF transceiver 220 transmits and receives RF signals corresponding to frequencies of the external antenna 100 and the internal antenna 210 under the control of the controller 240.

The switch unit 230 is provided between the second connector 200 and the RF transceiver unit 220 to connect the external antenna 100 or the internal antenna 210 to the RF transceiver unit 220.

The controller 240 includes an MSM (Mobile Station Modem) to control the general input / output of the mobile communication terminal 10. The controller 240 controls the switch 230 to connect the external antenna 100 or the internal antenna 210 to the RF transceiver 220 when the first connector 110 and the second connector 200 are in contact with each other. .

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

1. How to use external antenna and internal antenna according to received power

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using an antenna of a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of combining a case and a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. .

5, a method of using an antenna of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step S500 of confirming whether a case is fastened, a method of selecting an antenna according to received power (S510 ~ S530 ).

The control unit 240 switches the switch unit 230 at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the CDMA communication network using the second internal antenna 214 to measure a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the external antenna 100, .

The control unit 240 connects the switch unit 230 to the second connector unit 200 and determines whether power is received from the first connector unit 110 through the second connector unit 200, Can be known.

At this time, when the case 20 is fastened to the mobile communication terminal 10, the first connector unit 110 and the second connector unit 200 are connected.

Accordingly, the control unit 240 confirms the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the second external antenna 104 and confirms that the case 20 is concluded to the mobile communication terminal 10 at step S500.

Thereafter, the controller 240 switches the switches as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B in order to check the reception power of the second internal antenna 214 and the second external antenna 104.

Figs. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining an example of switching the switch to check whether the case is fastened. Fig.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the second switch unit 234 is connected to the second internal antenna 214. In this state, the controller 240 connects the second switch unit 234 to the second connector unit 204 at a predetermined time interval as shown in FIG. 7B.

In this way, the control unit 240 can recognize that the case 20 is fastened to the mobile communication terminal 10 by switching the second switch unit 234.

7A and 7B, the control unit 240 switches the second switch unit 234 to switch the reception power of the second internal antenna 214 and the second external antenna 104, (S510).

For example, the control unit 240 determines whether the received power of the second internal antenna 214 is greater than the received power of the second external antenna 104. [ Here, if the received power of the second internal antenna 214 is greater than the received power of the second external antenna 104, the second switch unit 234 is connected to the second internal antenna 214. The control unit 240 controls the second internal antenna 214 and the second RF transmitting and receiving unit 224 to use the second internal antenna of the mobile communication terminal 10 in operation S520.

However, when the reception power of the second internal antenna 214 is smaller than the reception power of the second external antenna 104, the second switch unit 234 is connected to the second connector unit 204. The second switch unit 234 is connected to the second external antenna 104 formed in the case 20 so that the second external antenna 104 and the second RF transmitting and receiving unit 224 are connected to each other, 104) is used (S530).

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 240 switches the second switch unit 234 to use an antenna having a better received power, but is not limited thereto.

That is, when the second internal antenna 214 is being used, the control unit 240 switches the second switch unit 234 and confirms that the case 20 is fastened to the mobile communication terminal 10, It may be controlled to use the second external antenna 104 formed.

Hereinafter, an example in which another antenna operates while using the second internal antenna 214 or the second external antenna 104 as a main antenna will be described.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram for explaining operation of a corresponding additional function by selecting a specific additional function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 8, the user executes the " 1. Bluetooth function " menu among the additional functions provided by the mobile communication terminal 10. [

Accordingly, the controller 240 can operate either the first internal antenna 212 operating at the Bluetooth frequency or the first external antenna 102 on the same principle as described above.

That is, the controller 240 checks the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the first external antenna 102 to confirm whether the case 20 is connected to the mobile communication terminal 10 by the above-described principle.

The control unit 240 compares the received power of the first internal antenna 212 with the received power of the first external antenna 102 to confirm that the case 20 is fastened, .

As another example, a user of the additional function provided by the user of the mobile communication terminal 10 in Fig. 8 executes the menu " 2. FM radio function ".

Accordingly, the control unit 240 confirms whether or not the case 20 is fastened on the same principle as described above. Thereafter, the control unit 240 executes the antenna having the better received power among the third internal antenna 216 and the third external antenna 106.

In the above-described embodiments, the reception power of the external antenna 100 corresponding to the internal antenna 210 is checked to see that the case 20 is connected. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, the control unit 240 can determine whether the case 20 is connected to the mobile communication terminal 10 by switching any one of the switch units 230 connected to the second connector unit 200.

At this time, the control unit 240 may switch any one of the switch units 230 connected to the second connector unit 200 to check the reception power thereof to determine whether the case 20 is connected to the mobile communication terminal 10 have.

In addition, when the case 20 is connected to the mobile communication terminal 10, a connection signal may be output to the control unit 240. An example of the connection signal is as follows.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view illustrating a case and a mobile communication terminal provided with fastening terminals according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9, a first connection terminal 118 is provided on one side of the first connector unit 110 of the case 20, and a second connection terminal 118 is provided on the second connector unit 110 of the mobile communication terminal 10 200 are provided with a second fastening terminal 208 on one side thereof.

The first fastening terminal 118 and the second fastening terminal 208 are not connected to the external antenna 100 and the internal antenna 210, respectively. However, the second fastening terminal 208 is connected to the control unit 240.

When the mobile communication terminal 10 and the case 20 are fastened together, the first fastening terminal 118 formed on the first connector part 110 and the second fastening terminal 118 formed on the second connector part 200, (Not shown).

Accordingly, the second fastening terminal 208 outputs the fastening signal to the control unit 240, and the control unit 240 can recognize that the case 20 is fastened.

In the above-described embodiment, the contact portion of the first connector portion 110 is protruded and abutted against the second connector portion 200. However, the first connector portion 110 may be formed of a pogo pin, for example, as follows.

10 is an exemplary view showing a pogo pin according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 10, the contact portion of the first connector portion 110 can use the pogo pin 300.

The pogo pin 300 includes a pin 1 and a receptacle 9 inserted into the pin 1.

At this time, the body 7 of the pin 1 of the pogo pin 300 has a cylindrical shape and one side is opened to form a sliding groove portion 3 therein. The sliding groove portion 3 is inserted into the sliding groove portion 3, The groove portion 4 is formed to a certain depth.

The body 2 is provided with a latching protrusion 5 which is engaged with the latching groove portion 4 and has a probe portion 6 which is in contact with the second connector portion 200 3, or in the up and down direction.

At this time, the body 7 is brought into contact with the back surface of the latching jaw 4 and moves forward, backward, or up and down by the elastic force of the spring 2 inserted into the sliding groove 3.

The pogo pin 300 is formed on the first connector unit 110 and coupled to the second connector unit 200. An example of the pogo pin 300 is as follows.

11A and 11B are views showing an example of a first connector and a second connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the first connector unit 110 can use the pogo pin 300 described above with reference to FIG. Accordingly, the second connector portion 200 is formed with a predetermined hole 310 in the number and position corresponding to the pogo pin 300.

11B, when the mobile communication terminal 10 and the case 20 are fastened together, the first connector part 110 in the form of a pogo pin 300 formed in the case 20 and the first connector part 110 in the form of a pogo pin 300 and the mobile communication terminal 10 The holes 310 formed in the second connector portion 200 of the second connector 200 are coupled to perform the above-described operation.

At this time, it is possible to apply not only the pogo pin 300 but also various types of fastening structures.

In the embodiment described above, three external and internal antennas 100 and 210 are formed so that three contact portions of the first connector portion 110 and the second connector portion 200 are formed.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various numbers of antennas can be formed. Accordingly, the number of contact portions between the first connector portion 110 and the second connector portion 200 can be varied.

That is, when there are four external and internal antennas 100 and 210, the contact portions of the first connector unit 110 and the second connector unit 200 may be four. In this case as well, another fastening portion may be formed as described above with reference to FIG.

In the embodiments described above, the case 20 is formed of a leather material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various materials such as plastic can be used.

The external antenna 100 formed in the case 20 may be formed on the surface of the case 20 as well as on the inside of the case 20, or may be manufactured in the form of a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

Also, the external antenna 100 formed on the case 20 can be formed on various surfaces of the case 20.

In the above embodiments, when the first connector 110 and the second connector 200 are in contact with each other, the external antenna 100 or the internal antenna 210 is selectively connected to the RF transceiver 220 But is not limited thereto.

That is, in the present invention, when the mobile communication terminal 10 and the case 20 are fastened together, the external antenna 100 and the internal antenna 210 are extended together to extend the length of the internal antenna 210 You may.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Accordingly, the invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings, but should be construed in light of the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to maintain and improve the radiation performance of the antenna at the time of fastening the case, thereby improving the reliability.

In addition, an external antenna having a wide resonance band is formed in the case, thereby preventing transmission / reception performance deterioration of the mobile communication terminal due to fastening of the case, thereby improving call quality.

Claims (11)

A case in which a plurality of external antennas operating in different frequency bands and a plurality of first connectors connected thereto are formed and detachably coupled; A plurality of internal antennas operating in the different frequency bands; A second connector in contact with the first connector and connected to the external antenna when the case is fastened; A plurality of RF transceivers for controlling the external antenna and the internal antenna; A switch unit selectively connecting the second connector or the internal antenna to the RF transceiver unit; And A controller for controlling the switch unit such that the external antenna or the internal antenna is connected to the RF transceiver when the first connector and the second connector are in contact with each other; , ≪ / RTI & Wherein the control unit checks the reception power of the external antenna and the internal antenna and controls the switch unit so that an antenna having a strong received power is connected to the RF transceiver unit. The method according to claim 1, The second connector includes: Wherein when the case is fastened and contacts the first connector, a fastening signal is output to the controller. The method according to claim 1, Wherein, Wherein the switch unit is switched to check a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the external antenna to confirm the connection with the external antenna. The method according to claim 1, Wherein, And controls the switch unit to connect the external antenna and the RF transceiver unit when the first connector and the second connector are in contact with each other. delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the first connector portion is formed of a pogo pin. The method according to claim 1, The different frequency bands may include: A Bluetooth frequency band, a CDMA frequency band, a GSM frequency band, and an FM radio frequency band. delete delete delete delete

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