KR101952172B1 - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a mobile terminal comprising a casing having an outer appearance of a terminal and having a pattern formed on the outer casing, the casing defining an outer appearance of the mobile terminal, a base member having an opening corresponding to the pattern, And a second region formed to protrude from the one surface of the first region and to be exposed to the outside by the opening.

Description

[0001] MOBILE TERMINAL [0002]

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a case formed with a pattern.

A mobile terminal is a portable electronic device that is portable and has one or more functions of voice and video call function, information input / output function, and data storing function.

As the functions of the mobile terminal are diversified, the mobile terminal is implemented in the form of a multimedia device having complicated functions such as photographing and photographing of a moving picture, reproduction of a music or video file, and reception of a game and a broadcast.

Various new attempts have been made in terms of hardware or software to implement the complex functions of multimedia devices.

Mobile terminals are regarded as personal items for expressing their individuality, and various design forms are required. The design form includes structural changes and improvements that improve the appearance of the mobile terminal.

The mobile terminal has a case constituting an appearance. The case has an aesthetic function beyond a simple function of protecting the mobile terminal from the surrounding environment. As an example of the structural change and improvement, a mobile terminal capable of implementing various patterns in a case can be considered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal in which various patterns are implemented in a case.

A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above-mentioned problems includes a case having an external appearance of a terminal body and having a pattern formed on the external appearance. The case includes a base member and a pattern member. The base member forms an outer surface of the mobile terminal, and an opening corresponding to the pattern is formed. The pattern member includes a first region supported by the base member and a second region protruding from the one surface of the first region to form the pattern and exposed to the outside by the opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a depression corresponding to the shape of the first region is formed on the inner surface of the base member so that the first region is seated.

According to one example related to the present invention, an adhesive member is formed between the first region and the inner surface to fix the first region and the base member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fixing hole is formed in the first region to prevent movement of the pattern member. The base region includes a fixing protrusion formed to correspond to the fixing hole.

According to one embodiment related to the present invention, a lid portion formed on the base member and formed to cover a surface of the first region facing the inside of the mobile terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an antenna unit for transmitting and receiving a radio signal is formed on one surface of the lid unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second region is formed to form at least one closed loop. A filling member is filled between the second regions constituting the closed loop.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a transparent protective layer is provided to protect the outer surface of the base member and the second region exposed by the base member from an external impact.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outer surface of the base member and the second region exposed by the base member are formed to be coplanar.

According to the present invention, the pattern member is attached to the lower surface of the base member of the battery case and the pattern portion is formed through the opening portion, so that the pattern portion can be prevented from being separated or damaged.

Further, the gap between the base member and the pattern member can be minimized, and the quality of appearance of the terminal body can be improved.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal in accordance with one embodiment.
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal of Figure 2;
4 is an exploded view of a battery cover of a mobile terminal;
5 is a conceptual view of a pattern member;
6 is a sectional view of a battery cover including a pattern portion according to an embodiment;
7A to 7C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing a battery cover including a pattern portion according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are given to different embodiments in the same or similar configurations. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

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.

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. 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 may refer to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or information related to 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-related information may exist in various forms. For example, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) or an ESG (Electronic Service Guide) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

For example, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), a Media Forward Link Only Broadcast-Handheld (ISDB-T), Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like. Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems as well as the digital broadcasting system described above.

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 transmits and receives radio signals to at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. 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. WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

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.

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 key pad dome switch, a touch pad (static / static), 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. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.

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 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.

(Hereinafter, referred to as a 'touch screen') in which a display unit 151 and a sensor for sensing a touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch sensor') form a mutual layer structure, It can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have the form of, for example, a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

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. 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.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is surrounded by the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or a nearby object without mechanical contact using the force of an electromagnetic field or infrared rays. The proximity sensor has a longer life span than the contact sensor and its utilization is also high.

Examples of the proximity sensor 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. 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 touching the pointer on the screen is called "contact touch. &Quot; The position where the pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer is vertically corresponding 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. The video signal or the audio signal may be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152 so that they may be classified as a part of the alarm unit 153.

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 hit module 154 can be controlled. 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. The haptic module 154 may include two or more haptic modules 154 according to the configuration of the portable terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input / output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, etc.). The memory 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a 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 port for connecting a device with a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, an identification module, an audio I / 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 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various commands A signal may be a path through which the signal is transmitted to the mobile 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 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.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays May be implemented using at least one of a processor, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and other electronic units for performing other functions. In some cases, The embodiments described may be implemented by the control unit 180 itself.

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented with separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more of the functions and operations described herein. Software code can be implemented in a software application written in a suitable programming language. The software code is stored in the memory 160 and can be executed by the control unit 180. [

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are given to different embodiments in the same or similar configurations. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

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.

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. 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 may refer to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or information related to 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-related information may exist in various forms. For example, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) or an ESG (Electronic Service Guide) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

For example, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), a Media Forward Link Only Broadcast-Handheld (ISDB-T), Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like. Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems as well as the digital broadcasting system described above.

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 transmits and receives radio signals to at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. 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. WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

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.

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 key pad dome switch, a touch pad (static / static), 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. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.

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 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.

(Hereinafter, referred to as a 'touch screen') in which a display unit 151 and a sensor for sensing a touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch sensor') form a mutual layer structure, It can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have the form of, for example, a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

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. 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.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is surrounded by the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or a nearby object without mechanical contact using the force of an electromagnetic field or infrared rays. The proximity sensor has a longer life span than the contact sensor and its utilization is also high.

Examples of the proximity sensor 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. 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 touching the pointer on the screen is called "contact touch. &Quot; The position where the pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer is vertically corresponding 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. The video signal or the audio signal may be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152 so that they may be classified as a part of the alarm unit 153.

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 hit module 154 can be controlled. 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. The haptic module 154 may include two or more haptic modules 154 according to the configuration of the portable terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input / output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, etc.). The memory 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a 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 port for connecting a device with a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, an identification module, an audio I / 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 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various commands A signal may be a path through which the signal is transmitted to the mobile 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 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.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays May be implemented using at least one of a processor, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and other electronic units for performing other functions. In some cases, The embodiments described may be implemented by the control unit 180 itself.

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented with separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more of the functions and operations described herein. Software code can be implemented in a software application written in a suitable programming language. The software code is stored in the memory 160 and can be executed by the control unit 180. [

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG.

2 and 3, the mobile terminal 200 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, and a swing type in which two or more bodies are coupled to be movable relative to each other. Further, the mobile terminal described herein may be any portable electronic device having a camera and flash, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a Personal Digital Assistants ), A PMO (Portable Multimedia Player), and the like.

The terminal body includes a case (which may be referred to as a casing, a housing, a cover, and the like) that forms an appearance. The case includes a front case 201, a rear case 202 covering a surface opposite to the front case 201, and a battery cover (not shown) which is coupled with the rear case 202 and forms the rear surface of the mobile terminal 200 203). Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 201 and the rear case 202. The cases may be formed by injection molding a synthetic resin, or may be formed to have a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti) or the like.

The front side of the terminal body includes a display unit 210, a first sound output unit 211, a front camera unit 216, a side key 214, an interface unit 215 and a signal input unit 217.

The display unit 210 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) module, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) module, and an e-paper for visually expressing information. The display unit 210 may include touch sensing means for inputting data by a touch method. Hereinafter, the display unit 210 including the touch sensing unit will be referred to as a 'touch screen'. If any one of the touches on the touch screen 210 is touched, the contents corresponding to the touched position are input. The content input by the touch method may be a letter or a number, an instruction in various modes, a menu item which can be designated, and the like. The touch sensing means is formed in a translucent manner so that the display portion can be seen, and a structure for enhancing the visibility of the touch screen in a bright place may be included. Referring to FIG. 2, the touch screen 210 occupies most of the front surface of the front case 201.

The first sound output unit 211 may be implemented as a receiver for delivering a call sound to a user's ear or a loud speaker for outputting various alarm sounds or multimedia playback sounds.

The front camera unit 216 processes an image frame such as a still image or a 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 210. [

The image frame processed by the front camera 216 can be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ The front camera 216 may be provided in two or more depending on the use environment.

The signal input unit 217 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 200 and may include a plurality of input keys. The input keys may also be referred to as a manipulating portion and may be employed in any manner as long as the user has a tactile sense and operates in a tactile manner.

For example, a dome switch or touch screen capable of receiving a command or information by a push or touch operation of a user, a touch pad, or a wheel, a jog type or a joystick for rotating a key . The contents input by the signal input unit 217 can be variously set. For example, to enter start, end, scroll, and the like.

A side key 214, an interface 215, and an acoustic input unit 213 are disposed on the side surface of the front case 201.

The side key 214 may be collectively referred to as an operation unit, and a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 200 may be input. The side key 214 may be employed in any manner as long as the user is operating in a tactile manner with a tactile impression. The content input by the side key 214 can be variously set. For example, by the side key 214, it is possible to control the image input units 216 and 221, adjust the size of the sound output from the sound output unit 211, or switch the display unit 210 to the touch recognition mode Command can be input.

The sound input unit 213 may be implemented, for example, in the form of a microphone to receive a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.

The interface unit 215 is a channel through which the mobile terminal 200 related to the present invention can exchange data with an external device. For example, the interface unit 215 may be a wired or wireless connection terminal for connecting to an earphone, a port for short-range communication (for example, an IrDA port, a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port A wireless LAN port) or the like, or power supply terminals for supplying power to the mobile terminal 200. The interface unit 215 may be implemented as a socket for receiving an external card such as a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) or a UIM (User Identity Module) or a memory card for storing information.

A power supply unit 240 and a rear camera unit 221 are disposed on the rear surface of the terminal body.

A flash (not shown) and a mirror (not shown) may be disposed adjacent to the rear camera unit 221. The flash illuminates the subject toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the rear camera unit 221.

The mirror allows the user to illuminate the user's own face or the like in the case where the user intends to photograph (self-photograph) himself / herself by using the rear camera unit 221. [

The rear camera unit 221 may have a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the front camera unit 216 disposed on the front side and may be a camera having different pixels from the front camera unit 216. [

For example, the front camera unit 216 has low pixels so that it is easy to capture a face of a user in the case of a video call or the like and transmit the face to the other party. The rear camera unit 221 photographs a general subject and immediately transmits It is preferable to have a high pixel. The front and rear camera units 216 and 221 may be installed in the terminal body so as to be rotatable or pop-upable.

The battery 240 supplies power to the mobile terminal 200. The battery 240 may be embedded in the terminal body or may be detached from the terminal body.

Further, a logo or an additional decoration of a company that manufactures the product on the front case 202, the rear case 202, and the battery cover 203 constituting the external appearance of the mobile terminal 200 may be attached. Logos and decorations can be made of various kinds of materials to enhance the appearance of the terminal. It can also be attached in a variety of ways.

In the mobile terminal 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pattern unit 400 is formed on the battery cover 203. Hereinafter, the specific structure and manufacturing process of the pattern unit 400 will be described.

4 is an exploded view of the mobile terminal and the battery cover of Fig. 5 is a conceptual view of a pattern member.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the battery cover 203 includes a base member formed to form an outer appearance of the terminal body, a pattern member 410 disposed on an inner surface of the base member facing the terminal body, and a cover member 204 Is formed.

Referring to FIG. 5, the pattern member 410 includes a first region 411 and a second region 412. The first and second regions 411 and 412 may be integrally formed. The second region 412 is exposed to the outer surface of the battery cover 203 to form a pattern.

The pattern member 410 may be formed of a metal. The metal has a property of reflecting light, so that the pattern can be conspicuously formed on the outer surface of the mobile terminal and the appearance can be improved in quality.

The base member has an opening 401 formed in substantially the same shape as the shape of the pattern. That is, the opening 401 may be formed along the edge of the pattern portion. The opening 401 may be formed by NC (Numerical Control) processing.

The first region 411 may be formed in a plate shape. The second region 412 protrudes from one side of the first region 411. The second region 412 may have a predetermined pattern. The pattern may be formed of various patterns, logos, letters, and the like.

The second region 412 is formed to fit into the opening 401. The height at which the second region 412 protrudes from the first region 411 may be substantially equal to the thickness of the base member. That is, the surface of the second region 412 exposed to the outside and the outer surface of the base member may be formed to be flush with each other.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the second region 412 may be formed to be recessed or protruded from the outer surface of the base member according to the design of the outer appearance of the mobile terminal.

Therefore, a gap formed between the opening 401 and the second region 412 can be minimized. It is possible to prevent contaminants from flowing into the gap and enhance the sense of unity between the base member and the pattern member 410, thereby improving the quality of appearance of the mobile terminal.

The first region 411 is provided on the inner surface of the base member. A depression may be formed on the inner surface of the base member to correspond to the first region 411. That is, the first region 411 may be seated on the depression to form substantially the same plane as the inner surface of the base member.

Also, the first region 411, which is seated in the depression, can be prevented from moving so that the second region 412 is prevented from being separated from the opening 401. Therefore, the pattern unit 400 can be stably realized.

4 and 5, at least one fixing hole 413 is formed in the first area 411, and a fixing protrusion 402 corresponding to the fixing hole 413 is formed on the base member . When the pattern member 410 is disposed on the base member, the fixing protrusion 402 is inserted into the fixing hole 413 to fix the pattern member 410.

Therefore, the pattern member 410 can be stably fixed to the base member by the fixing hole 413 and the fixing protrusion 402.

The lid part 204 is engaged with one area of the base member to cover the pattern member 410. The lid part 204 may be formed separately from the base member.

A groove may be formed in the base member so that the cover may be seated. However, the lid part may be integrally formed with the base member according to a manufacturing process.

Although not shown in the drawing, an antenna unit (not shown) may be formed on the lid unit 204. The antenna unit (not shown) may be configured to transmit and receive a radio signal outside the mobile terminal. However, the pattern member 410 may be spaced apart from the pattern member 410 to block the influence of the pattern member 410 formed of the metal material.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cover of FIG. 5 including a pattern portion according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, an adhesive member 414 may be formed between the base member and the first region 411. The adhesive member 414 may be a thermally fused tape that is cured by heat. The adhesive member 414 is formed on one surface of the first region 414 in a region other than the second region 412. The pattern member 410 can be stably fixed to the base member by the adhesive member 414.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second region 412 may include at least one closed curve. For example, the letter P represented by the second area 412 includes the one closed curve. As described above, the opening 401 is formed along the edge of the pattern. Therefore, the area formed by the closed curve can not be combined with the base member.

The filling member 415 may be filled between the second regions 412 constituting the closed curve. The filling member may be formed of ink. In order to clearly embody the shape of the pattern member 410, the filling member 415 preferably includes a color different from that of the pattern member 410.

A protective layer 205 may be formed on at least one member of the base member, the second region 412 and the filling member 415 forming the outer surface of the mobile terminal.

The passivation layer 205 may be formed of a light-transmissive material so that a second region 412 including a metal material may reflect light. In addition, the protective layer 205 may be formed of an anti-oxidation film to prevent oxidation of the second region 412.

The battery cover including the pattern unit according to the present embodiment includes an opening 401 formed in a shape corresponding to the pattern portion on the base member and a pattern member 410 including the first and second regions 411 and 412, Is fixed to the inner surface of the base member.

It is possible to solve the problem that the pattern unit 400 is detached or damaged from the battery cover 203 because the pattern unit is assembled inside the base member. In addition, since the second region 412 has the same plane as the base member, the pattern portion 400 is less likely to be damaged due to external friction, and the outer surface is smoothly formed. .

If the pattern member is attached to the surface of the battery cover 203 to form the pattern unit 400, the pattern member may be separated or damaged due to external impact or friction of the mobile terminal.

Accordingly, the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention can improve the design quality of the appearance of the mobile terminal by firmly forming the pattern portion.

In addition, damage of the second region 412 formed of the metal material due to the protective layer 205 can be reduced.

7A to 7C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing a battery cover including a pattern unit according to another embodiment.

The mobile terminal according to the present embodiment includes a structure substantially similar to that of the mobile terminal of Fig. 6 except for the lid portion 410 and the coupling relationship of the base member and the pattern member 410 And the description thereof is omitted in the description of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a pattern member 410 including the first and second regions 411 and 412 is placed on a mold. The mold includes an upper mold 502 and a lower mold 501. The lower mold (501) includes at least one protrusion (511) protruding toward the upper mold (502).

The upper mold 502 and the lower mold 501 form an inner space and are coupled to each other. And the pattern member 410 is seated in the inner space. The fixing hole 413 and the protrusion 511 are combined to prevent the pattern member 410 from moving,

Referring to FIG. 7B, the mold member 510 flows into the inner space along the passage formed in the lower mold 501 to pass through the inner space. As the mold member 510 flows in, a lid part which covers the first area 411 in which the second area 411 is not formed and which is coupled to the first area 411 is formed, The hole 413 is also filled with the mold member 510.

The pattern member 410 is lifted by the mold member 510 until the second region 412 reaches the upper mold 502.

Referring to FIG. 7C, the second region 412 reaches the upper mold 502 by the mold member 510. That is, the mold member 510 is not formed on the second region 412.

The mold member 510 flows between the first region 411 and the upper mold 502 to form the base member.

That is, the lid unit 204 is formed integrally with the base member, and the pattern member 410 is integrally formed with the lid unit 204 and the base member. Therefore, a separate adhesive member and fixing member are not required.

In addition, since the mold region 510 is formed by the mold except for the outer surface of the second region 412, no gap is formed between the base region and the second region 412.

Therefore, the pattern member 410 can be formed more firmly on the base member. Since the outer surface of the pattern member 410 is not formed, the outer surface of the pattern member 410 can be smoothly formed.

Further, since the formation of the battery cover 203 and the attachment of the pattern member 410 are simultaneously performed by injection molding, the manufacturing process of the battery cover including the pattern portion can be simplified.

The mobile terminal described above can be applied to not only the configuration and method of the embodiments described above but also all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made to the embodiments It is possible.

Claims (9)

1. A mobile terminal comprising: a case having an outer appearance of a terminal body and having a pattern formed on the outer appearance,
In this case,
A base member forming an outer surface of the mobile terminal and having an opening corresponding to the pattern; And
And a pattern member including a first region supported by the base member and a second region protruding from the one surface of the first region to form the pattern and exposed to the outside by the opening,
A depression corresponding to the shape of the first region is formed on the inner surface of the base member so that the first region is seated,
Wherein the base member is formed with fixing protrusions corresponding to the fixing holes formed in the first region,
Wherein the fixing protrusion is positioned to be inserted into the fixing hole to restrict movement of the pattern member. delete The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive member is formed between the first region and the inner surface to fix the first region and the base member. delete The mobile terminal according to claim 1, comprising a cover formed on the base member and formed to cover a face of the first region facing the inside of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein an antenna unit for transmitting and receiving a radio signal is formed on one surface of the lid unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the second region is formed to form at least one closed loop, and a filling member is filled between the second regions forming the closed loop. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a light-transmitting protective layer for protecting an outer surface of the base member and the second region exposed by the base member from an external impact. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the base member and a second region exposed by the base member are formed to be flush with each other.

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