KR101560389B1 - Mobile terminal and controling method for mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

case; A display unit coupled to one surface of the case and including a touch sensor;
A button located at one side of the case for inputting a user command by a physical pressure; A sensing unit for sensing whether the waterproof case is mounted or not; And a control unit for switching to a waterproof mode when a sensing signal is generated in the sensing unit, wherein the waterproof mode restricts a touch input of the display unit and switches the function of the button. The user can control the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal can be used in the water.

Description

[0001] MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR MOBILE TERMINAL [0002]

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal operable in water and a control method thereof.

The terminal can move And may be divided into a mobile / portable terminal and a stationary terminal depending on whether the mobile terminal is a mobile terminal or a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can be divided into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether the user can directly carry the mobile terminal.

Such a terminal has various functions, for example, in the form of a multimedia device having multiple functions such as photographing and photographing of a moving picture, reproduction of a music or video file, reception of a game and broadcasting, etc. .

The electrostatic touch input is used as an input method that is mainly used in a mobile terminal. However, since the touch sensor recognizes a portion touching the water as a touch input, even in a mobile terminal having a waterproof function or a waterproof function, There is a problem that the use of the functions of the mobile terminal is limited.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal in which a user can control a mobile terminal even in the water.

case; A display unit coupled to one surface of the case and including a touch sensor;

A button located at one side of the case for inputting a user command by a physical pressure; A sensing unit for sensing whether the waterproof case is mounted or not; And a control unit for switching to a waterproof mode when a sensing signal is generated in the sensing unit, wherein the waterproof mode restricts a touch input of the display unit and switches the function of the button .

The sensing unit may be a socket for inserting a plug formed inside the waterproof case, and the sensing signal may be generated when the plug is coupled to the socket.

The sensing unit may be a touch sensor disposed on an upper surface of the display unit, and the controller may switch the sensing mode to the waterproof mode by recognizing the touch input as the sensing signal through the area over the reference.

The sensing unit may use a hall sensor that generates a sensing signal when sensing the magnet of the waterproof case.

The waterproof mode may provide a selection menu to select one of a plurality of functions.

The button includes a pair of volume buttons and an OK button. In the waterproof mode, the volume button functions as a direction key, and the OK button can perform a selection function.

The control unit activates the camera function in the waterproof mode, and can shoot through the button.

The control unit controls the display unit to emit bright light or blink when the shock is applied to the mobile terminal in the waterproof mode or the sensing unit detects that the waterproof case is separated from the strap mounted on the user's body .

The touch sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a gyro sensor for sensing a position of the mobile terminal, wherein the control unit controls the touch sensor before the knock-on input for inputting a user command when the user touches the mobile terminal a plurality of times in succession, And receives the input through the gyro sensor when switching to the waterproof mode.

The control unit may control to connect the received telephone when the gyro sensor detects the knock-on input when receiving a call in the waterproof mode.

When the camera function is activated in the waterproof mode, the controller may control the photographing when the gyro sensor senses the knock-on input.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waterproof case comprising: a housing including an inlet through which a mobile terminal is inserted and a transparent portion on which a display portion of the mobile terminal is located; A cap covering the inlet of the housing; And a waterproof member interposed between the plug and the inlet, and a plug inserted into the interface of the mobile terminal may be protruded inside the waterproof member.

A control command for outputting a warning message may be transmitted to the mobile terminal through the plug when the coupling between the housing and the cap is incomplete.

And a control unit for transmitting a control command for outputting a notification message to the mobile terminal through the plug when the loop and the strap are separated from each other.

And a mounting portion located on the opposite side of the transparent portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of: sensing a coupling of a waterproof case to a mobile terminal in a sensing unit or sensing a contact of the mobile terminal with water; And switching to a waterproof mode when the sensing unit receives the sensing signal, wherein the step of switching to the waterproof mode comprises the steps of: deactivating input through the touch sensor of the mobile terminal; And switching the function of the button for inputting the user's command.

The switching to the waterproof mode may further include providing a menu for selecting one of the plurality of functions.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the user can control the mobile terminal in the water, and the mobile terminal can be used in the water.

In addition, the risk of dropping the mobile terminal can be reduced, and the user can confirm whether or not the waterproof case is sealed through the display unit of the mobile terminal, thereby preventing the mobile terminal from malfunctioning.

The effects obtained by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description will be.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention.
2 is a front perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention.
3 is a rear perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a waterproof case according to another aspect of the present invention.
5 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of a waterproof case according to another aspect of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of Fig. 5. Fig.
7 is a cross-sectional view showing the flexible portion of Fig.
8 is a front perspective view showing another embodiment of a waterproof case according to another aspect of the present invention.
9 is a cross-sectional view showing the soft portion of Fig.
10 is a front view showing an embodiment of a waterproof mode of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention.
11 and 12 are views showing a state where the mobile terminal enters the waterproof mode according to an aspect of the present invention.
13 is a front view showing another embodiment of a waterproof mode of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention.
14 is a front view showing another embodiment of the waterproof mode of the mobile terminal according to another aspect of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present application, the terms "comprises", "having", and the like are used to specify that a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and redundant explanations thereof are omitted.

The mobile terminal described in this specification may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), navigation and the like.

However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to a fixed terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, unless the configuration is applicable only to a mobile terminal.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, A controller 170, a controller 180, a power supply 190, and the like. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, and a mobile terminal having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules for enabling wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and the network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short range communication module 114, and a location information module 115 .

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals and / or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. Two or more broadcast receiving modules may be provided to the mobile terminal 100 for simultaneous broadcast reception or broadcast channel switching for at least two broadcast channels.

The broadcast management server may refer to a server for generating and transmitting broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information, or a server for receiving broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information generated by the broadcast management server and transmitting the generated broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information. The broadcast signal may include a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, a data broadcast signal, and a broadcast signal in which a data broadcast signal is combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast-related information means information related to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or a broadcast service provider. The broadcast-related information may also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 may be coupled to a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network, such as, but not limited to, Global Transmission for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA And wireless signals. The wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

The wireless Internet module 113 is a module for wireless Internet access, and may be built in or externally attached to the mobile terminal 100. Wireless Internet technologies include WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE Evolution (but not limited to) may be used.

The wireless Internet module 113, which performs wireless Internet access through the mobile communication network, is connected to the mobile communication module 110 through the mobile communication network, for example, from the viewpoint that the wireless Internet access by Wibro, HSDPA, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE, (112).

The short-range communication module 114 refers to a module for short-range communication. Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as a short range communication technology.

The position information module 115 is a module for obtaining the position of the mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a Global Position System (GPS) module. According to the current technology, the GPS module 115 calculates distance information and accurate time information from three or more satellites, and then applies trigonometry to the calculated information to obtain a three-dimensional string of latitude, longitude, The location information can be accurately calculated. At present, a method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting an error of the calculated position and time information using another satellite is widely used. In addition, the GPS module 115 can calculate speed information by continuously calculating the current position in real time.

Referring to FIG. 1, an A / V (Audio / Video) input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame can be displayed on the display unit 151. [

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ Two or more cameras 121 may be provided depending on the use environment.

The microphone 122 receives an external sound signal through a microphone in a communication mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or the like, and processes it as electrical voice data. The processed voice data can be converted into a form that can be transmitted to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 when the voice data is in the call mode, and output. Various noise reduction algorithms may be implemented in the microphone 122 to remove noise generated in receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for a user to control the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a button 136 located on the front, rear, or side of the mobile terminal 100, and a touch sensor (static / static) 137. Although not shown, ), A dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the mobile terminal 100, the position of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence of user contact, the orientation of the mobile terminal, And generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it is possible to sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. It is also possible to sense whether the power supply unit 190 is powered on, whether the interface unit 170 is connected to an external device, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141, a gyro sensor 142, an acceleration sensor 143, and a hall sensor 144. The proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the display unit 151, which is enclosed by the display unit 151.

The proximity sensor 141 refers to a sensor that detects the presence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or an object existing in the vicinity of the detection surface without mechanical contact using an electromagnetic force or an infrared ray. The proximity sensor has a longer life span than the contact sensor and its utilization is also high.

Examples of the proximity sensor 141 include a transmission type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection type photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection type photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor.

The gyro sensor 142 is a sensor for sensing the rotational inertia (angular velocity) of the mobile terminal and can detect the motion of the mobile terminal. The gyroscope measures the angular velocity using a rotating body. Recently, a gyro sensor of a small size can be realized by using techniques such as optical fiber, laser, and nuclear magnetic resonance.

The acceleration sensor 143 is a sensor for detecting an acceleration, and can sense the impact direction when an impact is received from the outside. Since the gravity direction is normally detected, the acceleration sensor 143 has a function of a tilt sensor.

Hall sensor 144 is a sensor that detects the direction and magnitude of a magnetic field by using a Hall effect in which a vertical voltage coincides with a current and a magnetic field when a magnetic field is applied to a conductor through which current flows. When an object such as a magnet that generates a magnetic field comes close to the Hall sensor 144, the Hall sensor can generate a detection signal and transmit it to the controller 180.

For example, if a magnet is provided in the waterproof case 200 to be described later, the hall sensor 144 senses a magnet provided in the waterproof case 200 and senses that the mobile terminal 100 is coupled to the waterproof case 200 can do. Alternatively, when the cover having the magnet is coupled to the front surface of the mobile terminal 100, the display unit may be controlled to be turned off or the display unit 151 may be controlled to display only the portion corresponding to the smart window.

The output unit 150 is for generating output related to the visual, auditory or tactile sense and includes a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154 .

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with a call is displayed. When the mobile terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the photographed and / or received video or UI and GUI are displayed.

The display unit 151 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display display, and a 3D display.

Some of these displays may be transparent or light transmissive so that they can be seen through. This may be referred to as a transparent display, and a typical example of the transparent display is TOLED (transparent OLED) or the like. The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be of a light transmission type. With this structure, the user can see an object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

There may be two or more display units 151 according to the embodiment of the mobile terminal 100. For example, in the mobile terminal 100, a plurality of display portions may be spaced apart from one another or may be disposed integrally with each other, or may be disposed on different surfaces.

In the case where the display unit 151 and the touch sensor 137 have a mutual layer structure or are integrally formed (hereinafter referred to as a 'touch screen'), the display unit 151 may be used as an input device . The touch sensor 137 may be stacked on the display unit 151 to form a layer structure when the touch sensor 137 has a form of a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like. And may be integrally formed.

The touch sensor 137 may be configured to convert a change in a pressure applied to a specific part of the display part 151 or a capacitance generated in a specific part of the display part 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor 137 can be configured to detect not only the position and area to be touched but also the pressure at the time of touch.

If there is a touch input to the touch sensor 137, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to the touch controller (not shown). The touch controller processes the signal (s) and transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. Thus, the control unit 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched or the like.

And to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field along the proximity of the pointer when the touch screen is electrostatic. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the act of recognizing that the pointer is positioned on the touch screen while the pointer is not in contact with the touch screen is referred to as "proximity touch" The act of actually contacting the pointer on the touch screen may be referred to as "contact touch. &Quot; The location where the pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen may refer to a position where the pointer corresponds vertically to the touch screen when the pointer is touched.

The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch movement state, and the like). Information corresponding to the detected proximity touch operation and the proximity touch pattern may be output on the touch screen.

The audio output module 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal reception mode, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, The sound output module 152 also outputs sound signals related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. [ The audio output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in a form other than the video signal or the audio signal, for example, vibration. In this case, the display unit 151 and the sound output module 152 may be a type of the alarm unit 153. The display unit 151 and the sound output module 152 may be connected to the display unit 151 or the sound output module 152, .

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. A typical example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 154 is vibration. The intensity and pattern of the vibration generated by the haptic module 154 are controllable. For example, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or sequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 154 may include a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a spraying force or suction force of the air through the injection port or the suction port, a touch on the skin surface, contact of an electrode, And various tactile effects such as an effect of reproducing a cold sensation using an endothermic or exothermic element can be generated.

The haptic module 154 can be implemented not only to transmit the tactile effect through the direct contact but also to allow the user to feel the tactile effect through the muscular sensation of the finger or arm. At least two haptic modules 154 may be provided according to the configuration of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory unit 160 may store a program for processing and controlling the control unit 180 and temporarily store the input / output data (e.g., telephone directory, message, audio, For example. The memory unit 160 may store the frequency of use of each of the data (for example, each telephone number, each message, and frequency of use for each multimedia).

In addition, the memory unit 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns output when the touch is input on the touch screen.

The memory 160 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), PROM A disk, and / or an optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or supplies power to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or transmits data to the external device. For example, a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, an audio I / O port, A video input / output (I / O) port, an earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 170.

The identification module is a chip for storing various information for authenticating the use right of the mobile terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), a general user authentication module A Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), and the like. Devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") can be manufactured in a smart card format. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the port.

When the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, the interface unit may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various command signals input by the user to the cradle may be transmitted It can be a passage to be transmitted to the terminal. The various command signals or the power source input from the cradle may be operated as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, voice communication, data communication, video communication, and the like. The control unit 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for multimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the control unit 180 or may be implemented separately from the control unit 180. [

The controller 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing handwriting input or drawing input performed on the touch screen as characters and images, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 180 and supplies power necessary for operation of the respective components. The power supply unit 190 may include, for example, a battery, a connection port, a power supply control unit, and a charge monitoring unit.

The battery may be an internal battery configured to be chargeable, and may be detachably coupled to the terminal body for charging or the like. The connection port may be configured as an example of an interface 170 through which an external charger for supplying power for charging the battery is electrically connected.

The various embodiments described herein may be embodied in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

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

The disclosed mobile terminal 100 includes a bar-shaped terminal body. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, and a swivel type in which two or more bodies are relatively movably coupled.

The body of the mobile terminal 100 includes a case 101, 102 which forms an appearance. In this embodiment, the case may be divided into a front case 101 and a rear case 102. [ A variety of electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102.

In some cases, electronic components may be mounted on the surface of the rear case 102 as well. Electronic components mounted on the surface of the rear case 102 include a battery, a USIM card, a memory card, and the like which are detachable by the user. At this time, the rear case 102 may further include a rear cover 103 for covering the surface thereof. When the rear cover 103 is removed, the surface of the rear case 102 is exposed.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the rear cover 103 is coupled, only a side surface of the rear case 102 may be exposed. When the size of the rear cover 103 is reduced, Some may also be exposed. And may include an opening for exposing the camera 121 'or the sound output module 152' to the outside when the rear cover 103 covers the entire rear surface of the rear case 102.

The cases 101, 102, and 103 may be formed by injection molding synthetic resin or may be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The display unit 151, the sound output module 152, the camera 121, the user input units 130/131 and 132, the microphone 122, the interface 170, and the like may be disposed in the terminal cases 101 and 102.

The display unit 151 occupies most of the main surface of the front case 101. A sound output module 152 and a camera 121 are disposed in an area adjacent to one end of both ends of the display unit 151 and a user input unit 131 and a microphone 122 are disposed in an area adjacent to the other end. The user input unit 132 and the interface 170 may be disposed on the side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

3 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, a camera 121 'may be further mounted on the rear surface of the terminal body, that is, the rear case 102. The camera 121 'may have a photographing direction substantially opposite to the camera 121 (see FIG. 2), and may be a camera having the same or different pixels as the camera 121.

For example, the camera 121 may have a low pixel so that the face of the user can be photographed and transmitted to the other party in case of a video call or the like, and the camera 121 ' It is preferable to have a large number of pixels. The cameras 121 and 121 'may be installed in the terminal body such that they can be rotated or pop-up.

A flash 123 and a mirror 124 may be additionally disposed adjacent to the camera 121 '. The flash 123 illuminates the subject when the subject is photographed by the camera 121 '. The mirror 124 allows the user to illuminate the user's own face or the like when the user intends to shoot himself / herself (self-photographing) using the camera 121 '.

An acoustic output module 152 'may be additionally disposed on the rear side of the terminal body. The sound output module 152 'on the rear side of the body may implement the stereo function together with the sound output module 152 (see FIG. 2) on the front side of the body, and may be used for the implementation of the speakerphone mode in a call.

In addition to the antenna for talking and the like, a broadcast signal reception antenna 116 may be additionally disposed on the side of the terminal body. The antenna 116, which forms part of the broadcast receiving module 111 (see FIG. 1), can be installed to be able to be drawn out from the terminal body.

The user input unit 130 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100 and may include a plurality of operation units 131, 132a, 132b, and 133. [ The operation units 131, 132a, 132b, and 133 may also be collectively referred to as a manipulating portion. The operation units may be located on the front side of the mobile terminal as shown in FIG. 2, but may be located on the back side of the mobile terminal as shown in FIG.

Although there is a touch key 131 that has a touch sensor and receives a user command through a touch, there are buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 that generate a command signal as the shape of the metal dome changes when the user applies pressure.

The contents inputted according to the operation unit can be set variously. For example, the first operation units 131 and 133 receive commands such as start, end, confirmation, selection and the like, and the second operation units 132a and 132b receive commands such as the size of the sound output from the sound output module 152 Commands such as control can be input.

4 is a block diagram of a waterproof case 200 according to another aspect of the present invention. The waterproof case includes a communication unit 230, an input / output unit 240, a sensing unit 270, a control unit 180, and an auxiliary battery.

The control unit may receive the information collected by the sensing unit 270 and the input and output unit 240 and may transmit the received information to the mobile terminal through the communication unit 230. The control unit may receive a signal from the mobile terminal 100 and output a sound through the output unit can do.

The communication unit 230 is a device for transmitting and receiving information to and from the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is installed in the waterproof case 200. The communication unit 230 includes a plug 231 directly connected to the interface unit of the mobile terminal 100, And a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving signals in a wireless manner, such as the Bluetooth 236 and the NFC 237. [

The plug 231 is located inside the waterproof case 200 and transmits and receives data by being coupled to the interface unit 170 of the mobile terminal 100. The control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 100 controls the waterproof case 200 And transmit the collected information or the sensed signal to the mobile terminal 100. The mobile terminal 100 can receive the control signal transmitted from the waterproof case 200,

Bluetooth 236 and Near Field Communication (NFC) 237 are capable of wireless communication between devices in close proximity so that data and / or data can be transmitted and received through a wireless communication unit even if not directly connected to the mobile terminal 100, Signals can be transmitted and received.

The mobile terminal 100 having the NFC 237 can detect when the mobile terminal 100 having the NFC 237 is mounted and the mounting sensor 271 of the sensing unit 270 ).

The sensing unit 270 senses the state of the waterproof case 200 and generates a signal. The signal generated by the sensing unit 270 may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 100 through the communication unit 230. The sensing unit 270 includes an opening / closing sensor 272 for detecting opening / closing of the housing 210 and the cap 220, a mounting sensor 271 for detecting whether the mobile terminal 100 is mounted, a waterproof case 200, A flood sensor 273 for detecting whether or not the water has been received, a strap sensor 274 for detecting whether the strap 228 has been separated from the loop 227, and the like.

The mounting sensor 271 is a sensor for detecting whether the mobile terminal 100 is mounted on the waterproof case 200. The mounting sensor 271 can detect whether the mobile terminal 100 is mounted or not by using the NFC 237, The hall sensor 144 provided in the mobile terminal 100 senses the magnets provided in the case 200 and detects that the mobile terminal 100 is mounted on the waterproof case 200. [ Or vice versa.

The opening / closing sensor 272 may generate a signal when a pair of sensors are placed on the housing 210 and the cap 220 so that the pair of sensors are in contact with each other. Or simply a magnet may be provided in the housing 210 and the cap 220 and sensed using the Hall sensor 144 provided in the mobile terminal 100. [ That is, when the housing 210 and the cap 220 are coupled with each other and positioned at the correct position, the hall sensor 144 of the mobile terminal 100 senses this, and the housing 210 and the cap 220 are properly engaged, It can be confirmed that it is in a state where it is not. The hall sensors and magnets may be provided in the mobile terminal 100 and the waterproof case 200 to sense whether the hall sensors and the magnets are opened or closed, respectively, in the same manner as the above-described mounting sensor 271.

At this time, the mobile terminal 100 requests the user to close the cap 220 of the waterproof case 200 when the waterproof case 200 receives a signal indicating that the waterproof case 200 is not closed, The mobile terminal 100 may output a message to the display unit 151 of the mobile terminal 100 warning that the mobile terminal 100 is not closed. Or a waterproof speaker 241 attached to the waterproof case 200 to be described later.

The water immersion sensor is a sensor for detecting whether the waterproof case 200 is in the water or not. By using the optical sensor, the refractive index at which the ambient light is incident can be detected to determine whether the waterproof case 200 is in the air. A plurality of water immersion sensors may be provided in the waterproof case 200 to sense which part has entered the water.

The strap sensor 274 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 8 as a sensor for detecting whether or not the strap 228 for attaching the waterproof case 200 to the user is separated from the waterproof case 200.

The input / output unit 240 may include a user input unit 242 and a waterproof speaker 241. Since the input of the touch sensor of the mobile terminal 100 is limited, the user input unit 242 may be provided in a separate manner. A touch sensor of a piezoelectric type or a button to be waterproof can be provided in the waterproof case 200 to input a user command and transmit a user command inputted to the mobile terminal 100 through the communication unit 230. [

Since the sound output from the mobile terminal 100 is blocked by the waterproof case 200, the sound signal is received through the communication unit 230 and the sound is output through the waterproof speaker 241 provided in the waterproof case 200 can do.

The auxiliary battery 290 may supply power to the mobile terminal 100 through a plug 231 connected to the interface unit 170 of the mobile terminal 100 and may be connected to the mobile terminal 100 through the auxiliary battery 290. [ Can be increased.

Hereinafter, the outer shape of the waterproof case 200 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a front surface of a waterproof case 200 according to another aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a back surface of the waterproof case 200.

The waterproof case 200 includes a housing 210 accommodating the mobile terminal 100 and having an inlet 215 for inserting the mobile terminal 100 and a cap 220 covering the inlet 215, Respectively.

The housing 210 may include a transparent portion 211 on a surface facing the display portion 151 of the mobile terminal 100 to view a screen output from the display portion 151 of the mobile terminal 100. The capacitance of the capacitor of the touch sensor 137 of the display unit 151 may be changed by the user touching the upper surface of the transparent part 211. In this state, 100 to perform touch input.

An elastic member such as a waterproof ring 225 is interposed between the inlet of the housing 210 and the cap 220 to prevent water from flowing through the inlet. And may further include a fastener 228 to prevent the cap 220 from being opened.

The force is applied to the portion of the user input unit 130 of the mobile terminal 100 corresponding to the buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 for generating a signal by pressing the physical force, such as silicone or rubber, The flexible portion 260 may be provided using a material to be deformed. The user can input commands by pressing the buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 while inserting the waterproof case 200. [

7 is a sectional view showing a portion of the soft portion 260 when the mobile terminal 100 is coupled to the waterproof case 200. The soft portion 260 is connected to the buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 of the mobile terminal And the buttons 260a, 260b, 260c, 260d, 260c, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d, 260d,

And may be further provided with a pressing rubber-type mounting part 250 which is pressed on the back surface of the waterproof case 200 to be fixed to a wall, glass, or the like, and is fixed to a wall or glass by pressure difference. It may further comprise a ring 227 to which a strap 228 for hanging on the user's neck or for wrist engagement is connected for use in water.

A plug 231 connected to the interface unit 170 of the mobile terminal 100 may protrude from the inside of the housing 210. The plug 231 may be inserted into the input / output data socket 171 or the ear jack 172 of the mobile terminal 100. When the plug 231 is connected to the interface unit 170 of the mobile terminal 100, signals can be exchanged with the mobile terminal 100.

And a waterproof speaker 241 for receiving and outputting sound signals from the mobile terminal 100 through the plug 231 to the waterproof case 200. Or a touch panel capable of performing a pressure-sensitive touch input on the surface of the waterproof case 200 instead of the electrostatic touch input method is formed on the transparent portion 211, the user can input the touch even when the touch panel is inserted into the waterproof case 200.

When the waterproof case 200 is provided with the auxiliary battery 290, the mobile terminal 100 may be supplied with power from the auxiliary battery 290 Power can be supplied.

8 and 9 are views showing another embodiment of the waterproof case 200 'according to another aspect of the present invention. A waterproof case 200 'that covers only a gap and an opening of the mobile terminal 100, and the other part can be exposed. That is, the bumper-shaped waterproof case 200 'covers only the side surface of the mobile terminal 100 when the interface 170, the button, and the gap between the front case 101 and the rear case 102 are located. ) May be used.

A waterproof ring 225 'may be interposed between the waterproof case 200' and the mobile terminal 100 to prevent water from penetrating into the gap of the side of the mobile terminal 100. The soft part 260 'may be provided at a position corresponding to the button part on the side to input a user's command.

Further, the state of the waterproof case 200 can be transmitted to the mobile terminal 100. If the plug 220 of the waterproof case 200 and the housing 210 are not completely engaged and the plug 231 is not sealed, State to the mobile terminal 100.

10, when the strap 228 is separated from the loop 227 of the waterproof case 200, a signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal 100 through the plug 231. [ The control unit 180 receiving the signal senses that the mobile terminal 100 is separated from the user's body and emits intense light from the display unit 151 so that the user can search for it. Can be controlled.

If the acceleration sensor 143 or the gyro sensor 142 of the mobile terminal 100 senses that the mobile terminal 100 falls on the floor even if the strap 228 is not detected, It is determined that the user is separated from the body, and the display unit 151 can control to emit strong light. With this control method, the risk of losing the mobile terminal 100 in the water can be reduced.

Since the touch input is limited when the mobile terminal 100 is in the state of covering the waterproof case 200 or in the water, there is a limitation in utilizing all the functions of the mobile terminal 100, The function of the mobile terminal 100 is switched so that the user can utilize the mobile terminal 100 as much as possible even in a limited state.

When the mobile terminal 100 is installed in the waterproof case 200 as shown in FIG. 11 for use in an environment with water or when the mobile terminal 100 is installed in the waterproof case 200 as shown in FIG. 12, The control unit 180 of the invention can be controlled by switching to the waterproof mode. At this time, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, a window 1511 indicating whether or not the waterproof mode is entered can be displayed for a predetermined time.

Or the waterproof case 200, the mobile terminal 100 having a waterproof function can perform touch input from outside the water, so that it operates as a normal mobile terminal 100, have.

When the waterproof case 200 is fitted, the touch input can be restricted because the touch sensor 137 can not be in direct contact with the waterproof case 200. If the touch sensor 137 touches the water, . That is, in order to control the touch sensor 137 of the mobile terminal 100 to be inactivated when the waterproof case 200 is inserted or entered into the water, a waterproof mode is required to control the mobile terminal 100 to input commands to the mobile terminal 100 Do.

The sensing unit of the mobile terminal 100 senses that the waterproof case 200 is fitted or senses that the mobile terminal 100 has received the water and when the controller 180 generates a signal at the sensing unit, Mode can be controlled.

The control unit 180 may switch to the waterproof mode when the plug 231 of the waterproof case 200 is inserted into the interface unit 170. [ Or the sensing unit may be the Hall sensor 144. [ The controller 180 recognizes that the waterproof case 200 is coupled by sensing a magnet provided in the waterproof case 200 and the control unit 180 can switch to the waterproof mode according to the sensing signal generated by the hall sensor 144. [

Alternatively, when touch input is possible with the transparent part 211 in a state where the waterproof case 200 is fitted, the waterproof mode is not switched, but it is also possible to switch to the waterproof mode when water enters. That is, when the touch sensor 137 functions as a sensing unit and touch input is detected at a reference area or more of the touch sensor 137, the control unit 180 determines that the touch input is exposed to an environment in which water is present, can do.

When the mode is changed to the waterproof mode, the touch sensor 137 is deactivated and a user's command can be inputted through a sensor or a user input unit that detects the touch sensor 137 by a method other than the electrostatic touch input.

When the user applies a physical force using the metal dome 134 and the elastic member 260 is provided at a position corresponding to the depressed button 132a, 132b, or 133 as described above, the buttons 132a, 132b, It can also operate in water (see FIG. 7).

However, since the number of the buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 is limited in the mobile terminal 100, which is mostly input through the display unit 151, only limited functions can be implemented. Therefore, in the waterproof mode, commands related to important control can be switched to be input through the buttons 132a, 132b, and 133. [

In addition, when switching to the waterproof mode, it can be activated directly to the function that is mainly used in the waterproof mode. For example, you can immediately launch the camera function for underwater shooting, or you can launch the multimedia player directly in the pool or bathroom.

When the multimedia player 151a is executed as shown in FIG. 11, the user can press the volume control buttons 132a and 132b to adjust the volume, and the volume control buttons 132a and 132b can be pressed to select the music. The confirmation button 133 can be pressed to stop the music to be reproduced or reproduced.

In addition, in the waterproof mode, when the shaking motion of the mobile terminal 100 is detected using the acceleration sensor 143 or the gyro sensor 142, the controller 180 switches to the next song of the song being reproduced, As shown in FIG.

When the user enters the waterproof mode, the camera 151 outputs an image 151b input through the camera to the display unit 151. When the user operates the volume control buttons 132a and 132b and the confirmation button 133, Or the like, or zoom in and out. Alternatively, the user may press the buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 to switch the mobile terminal 100 to the idle state, or enter the gallery mode.

In addition to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a limited number of buttons 132a, 132b, and 133, such as volume buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 or OK buttons 133, The main command may be matched to the buttons 132a, 132b, and 133 to input a command.

When the mode is changed to the waterproof mode, the camera 151b or the multimedia player 151a may be directly switched to a specific function. However, the screen 151b may be provided with a menu 151c Can be provided.

The user can move the cursor to one of the plurality of menus using the volume control buttons 132a and 132b and select one of the plurality of functions using the OK button 133. [

Next, FIG. 14 illustrates a method of inputting a command to the mobile terminal 100 in the waterproof mode using a knock-on input method. A knock-on input method is a method of inputting a command to the mobile terminal 100 by touching the mobile terminal 100 a plurality of times.

The touch sensor 137 of the display unit 151 may be used to detect a change in capacitance of the touch sensor 137 or to detect a change in the capacitance of the mobile terminal 100 ) To detect that there is a knock-on input.

In the former case, the touch of a weak intensity can be detected. However, if the touch sensor 137 must be activated and the portion without the touch sensor 137 is touched or gloves are worn, knock-on input is not easy.

In the latter case, the sensitivity is lower than that of the touch sensor system, but it is possible even in a state in which the glove is attached, and input is possible even when the touch sensor 137 is inactivated. That is, in the waterproof mode, the knock-on input can be recognized using the latter method.

14A, the screen of the display unit 151 is turned on while the mobile terminal 100 is inactivated through the knock-on input method, or the screen of the display unit 151 is turned off through the knock- Can be deactivated.

When photographing in the waterproof mode, a photograph may be taken through the knock-on input as shown in FIG. 14 (b). At this time, the type of input can be increased by dividing the number of knock-on times. For example, when the screen is turned on twice, when the knock-on is detected twice, the display unit 151 is turned off by recognizing the command as a command to turn off the screen.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14 (c), when the telephone comes, the telephone can be connected through the knock-on input. It is possible to use the knock-on function in the waterproof mode by using the gyro sensor 1442 or the acceleration sensor 1443, thereby diversifying the types of commands that can be input in the waterproof mode.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Accordingly, the above description should not be construed in a limiting sense in all respects and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

100: mobile terminal 110: wireless communication unit
120: A / V input unit 130: user input unit
140: sensing unit 150: output unit
160: memory 170: interface section
180: control unit 190: power supply unit
200: Waterproof case 210: Housing
220: cap 231: plug
227: collar 228: strap
250: mounting part 241: waterproof speaker
290: Secondary battery

Claims (17)

case;
A display unit coupled to one surface of the case and including a touch sensor;
A button located at one side of the case and inputting a user command by a physical pressure and including a pair of volume buttons and an OK button;
A sensing unit for sensing whether the waterproof case is mounted or not; And
And a control unit for switching to a waterproof mode when a sensing signal is generated in the sensing unit,
In the waterproof mode,
Wherein the touch input of the display unit is restricted, the function of the volume button is switched to the direction adjusting function, or the function of the OK button is switched to the selecting function. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the sensing unit is a socket into which a plug formed inside the waterproof case is inserted, and when the plug is coupled to the socket, the sensing signal is generated. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the sensing unit is a touch sensor disposed on an upper surface of the display unit,
Wherein the control unit recognizes the touch input as the sensing signal through the area of the reference area or more and switches to the waterproof mode. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the sensing unit is a hall sensor that generates a sensing signal when a magnet of the waterproof case is sensed. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the waterproof mode provides a selection menu to select one of a plurality of functions. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit activates the camera function in the waterproof mode,
And photographing is performed through the button. The method according to claim 1,
The control unit
Wherein the display unit controls the display unit to emit bright light or blink when the impact is applied to the mobile terminal in the waterproof mode or the sensing unit detects that the waterproof case is separated from the strap mounted on the user's body. . The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a gyro sensor for sensing a position of the mobile terminal,
Wherein,
A user inputs a knock-on input for inputting a user command when the user touches the mobile terminal a plurality of times in succession through the touch sensor before switching to the waterproof mode, and receives the input via the gyro sensor when switching to the waterproof mode The mobile terminal comprising: 10. The method of claim 9,
The control unit
And when the phone is received in the waterproof mode, controls the connection of the received phone when the gyro sensor detects the knock-on input. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein,
Wherein when the camera function is activated in the waterproof mode, the controller controls to shoot the knock-on input when the gyro sensor detects the knock-on input. The method according to claim 1,
The waterproof case
A housing including an inlet through which the mobile terminal is inserted and a transparent portion in which the display portion of the mobile terminal is located;
A cap covering the inlet of the housing;
A waterproof member interposed between the cap and the inlet; And
Further comprising a plug protruding from the cap or inside the housing to be inserted into the interface unit. 13. The method of claim 12,
And transmits a control command for outputting a warning message to the mobile terminal through the plug when the coupling between the housing and the cap is incomplete. 13. The method of claim 12,
Further comprising a ring to which a strap is connected to one side of the housing,
Wherein,
And transmits a control command for outputting a notification message to the mobile terminal through the plug when the loop and the strap are separated. 13. The method of claim 12,
Further comprising a mounting portion located on the opposite side of the transparent portion. Detecting a coupling of the waterproof case to the mobile terminal at the sensing unit or sensing that the mobile terminal is in contact with water to generate a sensing signal;
And switching to a waterproof mode when the sensing unit receives the sensing signal,
Wherein the switching to the waterproof mode comprises:
Deactivating input through the touch sensor of the mobile terminal;
Switching a function of a volume button for receiving a command of a user according to a physical pressure of the mobile terminal to a direction adjusting function and switching a function of the OK button to a selecting function. 17. The method of claim 16,
Wherein the switching to the waterproof mode comprises:
And providing a menu for selecting one of the plurality of functions.

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