KR101931942B1 - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A case in which an electronic component is mounted inside; A top button which is inserted into a front surface of the case and includes a light shielding portion which does not transmit light and a light projecting portion which is formed around the light shielding portion; A light guiding layer positioned on the back surface of the tobette and emitting light incident on the front surface evenly; A light source for supplying light to the light guide layer; An optical filter unit disposed between the optical guide layer and the top-bottom, for blocking light supplied to the light-shielding unit and supplying light to the light-transmitting unit; And a metal dome disposed toward the back surface of the top button and elastically changing its shape when the top button is pressed, the light emitted from the light blocking part of the groove button is reflected and is emitted again through the light transmitting part, It is possible to control the light to be uniformly emitted through the light transmitting portion by using an optical filter portion having a diffraction hole or protrusion formed at a position corresponding to the light emitting portion.

Description

[0001]

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a structure in which a light emitted around a groove button disposed on a front surface of a mobile terminal is emitted by concentrating light around the groove button so that the light can be emitted through the light transmitting portion.

The terminal can move And can 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. .

In the mobile terminal, the keypad and various buttons are omitted while the touch screen is being applied. However, it is also possible to provide a groove button for inputting a signal by applying a physical pressure for convenience of use, in order to prevent a trouble such as a malfunction of the touch input.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal having a structure in which light emitted around a groove button disposed on a front surface of a mobile terminal is concentrated around a groove button so that light can be emitted through the light transmitter.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, unless further departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be possible.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device including: a case in which an electronic component is mounted; A top button which is inserted into a front surface of the case and includes a light shielding portion which does not transmit light and a light projecting portion which is formed around the light shielding portion; A light guiding layer positioned on the back surface of the tobette and emitting light incident on the front surface evenly; A light source for supplying light to the light guide layer; An optical filter unit disposed between the optical guide layer and the top-bottom, for blocking light supplied to the light-shielding unit and supplying light to the light-transmitting unit; And a metal dome disposed toward the back surface of the tombstone and having a resilient shape when the tombstone is pressurized.

The optical filter unit may include a reflection plate facing the light guide layer at a position corresponding to the light-shielding unit.

And a reflective layer formed on a back surface of the optical guide layer and reflecting light in the direction of the top surface.

The optical filter unit may include a plurality of diffraction holes formed at positions corresponding to the transparent portions.

The diffraction holes can be arranged densely as they are spaced apart from the light source.

The film may be made of an opaque material.

And a plurality of protrusions formed on the upper surface of the optical guide layer at positions corresponding to the transparent portions.

The protrusions can be densely arranged as they are spaced apart from the light source.

The protrusions may be hemispherical.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the light emitted from the light blocking portion of the groove button is reflected and emitted through the light transmitting portion, and the light filter portion having the diffraction hole or the protrusion formed at the position corresponding to the light transmitting portion, It can be controlled so as to be uniformly injected through the light transmitting portion.

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 front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a home button of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a plan view showing an optical filter unit of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing a diffraction phenomenon for explaining the principle of a diffraction hole.
5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a home button of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a plan view showing an optical filter unit of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram showing the effect of reflection of light incident on the projections.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 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.

The mobile terminal 100 described herein 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) have. However, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiment described herein may be applied to a fixed terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, except when applicable only to the mobile terminal 100 .

1 is a perspective view of a mobile terminal 100 or a mobile terminal according to 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 casing 101, 102, 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.

The front case 101 covers a front surface of the mobile terminal, and a display unit 151 on the front surface. A home button 131, a camera 121, an acoustic output unit 152, and a proximity sensor 141 are arranged. A display unit 151; An opening is formed in the front case 101 at a position where light should be transmitted, such as the camera 121 and the proximity sensor 141, and a window glass made of a transparent material covering the opening is disposed.

The window glass 108 may cover the plurality of openings using a large size or may use a separate transparent window glass 108 for each opening. In the present invention, the integral window glass 108 can be used for a unified front design.

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. 1, 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 an opening 103 'for exposing the camera 121' or the sound output unit 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 unit 152, the camera 121, the user input units 130/131 and 132, the microphone 122, and the interface 170 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 unit 152 and a camera 121 are disposed in an area adjacent to one end of both ends of the display unit 151 and a groove button 131 and a microphone 122 are disposed in an area adjacent to the other end. The side button 132 and the interface 170 may be disposed on the side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

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 can be referred to as a transparent display, and a typical example of the transparent display is TOLED (Transparent OLED) and 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 may be stacked on the display unit 151 to form a layer structure when the touch sensor has a form of a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like. ≪ / RTI >

The touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in a pressure applied to a specific portion of the display unit 151 or a capacitance generated in a specific portion of the display unit 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor 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, 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.

As described above, since the display unit 151 occupies most of the front surface, the users are sensitive to the size and image quality of the display unit, and the wiring, the camera imaging element 121, the sound module 152, A bezel that covers electronic components used in the mobile terminal 100 such as a receiver of the portable terminal 100 is disposed.

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 camera 121 processes an image frame such as a still image or moving image 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 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. The user input unit 130 includes a key 134 input by a command when a user touches the touch sensor, And may include buttons 131, 132, and 133 of an inputting method. The user input units 131, 132, 133, and 134 may also be collectively referred to as a manipulating portion.

Contents input by the buttons 131, 132, and 133 may be variously set. For example, the home button 131 receives commands such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the side button 132 receives a command such as a size adjustment of sound output from the sound output unit 152, The controller 133 may receive a command to turn the mobile terminal 100 on and off.

2 is a sectional view showing a home button 131 of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2, the groove button 131 includes a top button 210, an actuator 220, an optical filter 230, an optical guide layer 240, a circuit board 250, a metal dome 255, and the like .

The top bulb 210 is positioned above the metal dome 255 and covers the metal dome 255 so that the metal dome 255 can not be seen from the outside and is directly pressed by the user and inserted into the opening formed in the window glass 108. Since the window glass 108 is exposed to the surface of the mobile terminal, a transparent material such as the window glass 108 can be used.

The top-bottom 210 of the present invention includes a light-transmissive portion T through which light is emitted, and a middle portion thereof includes a light-shielding portion B so that light can not pass therethrough. The light blocking portion B of the top bar 210 may be formed by laminating the print layer 212 on the rear surface of the transparent plastic button 211.

The light shielding portion B can be formed by printing with an ink of a color that appears initially on the appearance and then printing with an ink of a dark color that can block light at the end. The periphery of the light-shielding portion B may not be printed and may transmit light, or it may be coated using non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) so that the light is emitted as gentle light.

The lower ends of the topbelttons 210 can form steps so as not to be separated from the openings formed in the window glass 108 and extend to both sides of the lower ends of the topbelttons 210 to be fixed inside, 102 or a button base 213 which can be fixed to an internal part.

The actuator 220 is disposed on the upper surface of the metal dome 255 and presses the protruded surface of the metal dome 255 to generate a signal when the tombstone 210 is pressed. A material having a size corresponding to the protruding portion of the metal dome 255 and having elasticity such as rubber or silicon can be used to smoothly contact the shape of the metal dome 255.

The circuit board 250 is characterized in that the metal dome 255 is seated as described above to generate an electrical signal when the shape of the metal dome 255 changes. The circuit board 250 may use a hard material, but a flexible material may also be used.

The light source 257 may be a light emitting diode (LED) that is mounted on the circuit board 250 and emits light when power is applied thereto, and can emit bright light with a small size. At this time, a plurality of lamps may be used for the light source 257 to output various combinations of colors. It is possible to control the light emitted according to the state of the mobile terminal to be used as an indicator.

The light source 257 may be provided on either side of the top-bottom 210, or may be mounted on only one side, as shown in the figure. There is an advantage that more uniform light can be supplied in the case of being provided on both sides. The light source 257 may emit light toward the optical guide layer 240 and may supply light from the side of the optical guide layer 240 or may provide light from the bottom surface of the optical guide layer 240.

The light guide layer 240 serves to scatter light emitted from the point light source 257 supplied from the light source 257 to the surface light source 257. A typical example of the light guide layer 240 is a diffusion pattern for scattering light on a transparent film A formed light diffusion film (Light Guid Film) is used.

The diffusion pattern may be formed differently depending on the position from the light source 257. That is, as the intensity of light decreases as the distance from the light source 257 decreases, a small amount of light must be scattered much, so that the diffusion pattern can be formed more densely and complicatedly.

Since the light guide layer 240 is disposed adjacent to the light source 257, the light guide layer 240 is stacked on the circuit board 250 on which the light source 257 is mounted to cover the metal dome 255. At this time, the light source 257 is disposed on the rear surface of the light guide layer 240 or on the side of the light guide layer 240, as shown in FIG. 2, to supply light to the light guide layer 240.

The light filter unit 230 is disposed between the light guide layer 240 and the top button 210 and blocks light supplied to the light blocking unit B and supplies light to the light transmitting unit T .

A reflection plate 235 is formed at a position corresponding to the shielding portion B so as to shield light supplied to the shielding portion B and reflect light emitted from the optical guiding layer 240 toward the shielding portion B . The reflection plate 235 is formed on the upper portion of the optical filter unit 230 in the drawing but may be formed between the optical filter unit 230 and the optical guide layer 240.

The reflected light can be supplied again in the direction of the transparent portion (T). That is, light emitted in the direction of the light-shielding portion B is blocked by the print layer of the light-shielding portion B, which is waste of energy. This waste of light can be blocked by using the reflection plate 235 of the optical filter unit 230.

In order to supply light to the transparent portion T, a diffraction hole 232 may be formed at a portion corresponding to the transparent portion T as shown in FIGS. The diffraction phenomenon is a phenomenon in which a wave that has passed through a narrow space is diffused as shown in FIG. 4. The light passing through the diffraction hole 232, that is, a narrow space is diffused by diffraction. When light is transmitted only through the diffraction hole 232, light can be seen as a point light source, but light can be diffused through the diffraction phenomenon to uniformly supply light to the light transmitting portion T. [

At this time, since the intensity of the light at the portion where the light source is located is higher and the intensity of light at the far away position is weak, it is necessary to increase the diffusion effect of the light far from the light source.

If the number of the diffraction holes 232 in the portion where the light source is located is made smaller and the diffraction hole 232 is formed more densely as the distance from the light source is increased, the light of uniform intensity can be supplied throughout the transparent portion T .

In addition, since the diffraction phenomenon appears larger as the size of the diffraction hole 232 is smaller, when the size of the diffraction hole 232 at the position spaced apart from the light source is smaller than the diffraction hole 232 near the light source, The light of uniform intensity can be emitted throughout the groove button even with a weak light.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a home button of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the optical filter unit 230 of FIG. The other configuration is similar to the above-described embodiment, but the optical filter unit 230 is different.

The optical filter 230 in this embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of protrusions 234 are formed at positions corresponding to the transparent portions T. [ The diffraction protrusion 234 has an effect of diffusing and reflecting light around the diffraction protrusion 234 when the light reflected through the reflection plate 235 is incident. (See Fig. 7)

When the light incident on the light shielding portion B is reflected by the reflection plate 235 and is again incident on the diffraction projection 234 of the optical filter portion 230, light is scattered at a position corresponding to the light transmitting portion T, T) side is supplied with light. Referring to FIG. 6, a protrusion 234 is formed in a position corresponding to the transparent portion T on the transparent film, and a reflection plate 235 is formed in a position corresponding to the light-shielding portion B.

Diffraction projection 234 may be hemispherical in order to allow the light to diffuse more evenly. It is also possible to provide the above-described diffraction holes 232 together.

As described above, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the light emitted to the light shielding portion B of the groove button is reflected and emitted again through the light transmitting portion T, The light is emitted uniformly through the transparent portion T by using the optical filter portion 230 having the diffraction hole 232 and the diffraction protrusion 234 formed at the position where the light is transmitted.

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 101, 102, 108: case
151: Display 131: Home button
210: the top button 211: the plastic button
212: print layer 213: button base
220: actuator 230: optical filter unit
231: Optical filter layer 232: Diffraction hole
233: Transparent film 234: Projection
235: reflector 240: light guide layer
250: circuit board 255: metal dome

Claims (9)

A case in which an electronic component is mounted inside;
A top button which is inserted into a front surface of the case and includes a light shielding portion which does not transmit light and a light projecting portion which is formed around the light shielding portion;
A light guiding layer positioned on the back surface of the tobette and emitting light incident on the front surface evenly;
A light source for supplying light to the light guide layer;
An optical filter unit disposed between the optical guide layer and the top-bottom, for blocking light supplied to the light-shielding unit and supplying light to the light-transmitting unit; And
And a metal dome disposed toward the back surface of the tombstone and having a resilient shape when the tombstone is pressed,
The optical filter unit
And a film having a plurality of diffraction holes formed at positions corresponding to the transparent portions. The method according to claim 1,
The optical filter unit
And a reflective plate facing the light guide layer at a position corresponding to the light-shielding portion. 3. The method of claim 2,
And the diffraction hole is formed along the periphery of the reflection plate. The method according to claim 1,
And the diffraction hole is arranged densely as the diffraction hole is spaced apart from the light source. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the diffraction hole is smaller in size as it is spaced apart from the light source. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the film is made of an opaque material. The method according to claim 1,
The optical filter unit
And a plurality of diffraction protrusions formed on the upper surface of the optical guide layer at positions corresponding to the transparent portions. 8. The method of claim 7,
And wherein the diffraction protrusions are densely arranged as they are spaced apart from the light source. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the diffracting projection is hemispherical.

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