KR20010085455A - Portable foldable wireless communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable folding-type wireless communication equipment is provided to have a housing composed of mobile upper/lower housing flaps, and to hide an internal surface of the housing as exposing an external surface in a closed state, then to expose the internal and the external surfaces in an open state, so as to prevent any damage caused by impact. CONSTITUTION: A portable folding-type wireless communication equipment(100) has a housing(102) composed of an upper housing flap(104) and a lower housing flap(106), which are coupled with each other by a hinge. The equipment(100) is capable of moving in a closed state(114) and an open state. In the closed state(114), an internal surface of the housing(102) is hidden, and an external surface of the housing(102) is exposed. In the open state, the internal and the external surfaces are exposed. The external surface of the housing(102) is made of metal materials to prevent the equipment(100) from being damaged by impact.

Description

Portable Foldable Wireless Communications Device {PORTABLE FOLDABLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE}

The present invention relates to an assembly for a portable wireless communication device.

Customers continue to require manufacturers to minimize the size and weight of portable foldable communication devices such as foldable cellular telephones. In order to miniaturize these folding communication devices, the housing of the folding communication devices needs to be thinner. Plastic materials, such as polycarbonate, which are commonly used in housing manufacture, have a lower resistance to impact as the housing becomes thinner. Carrying a folding communication device causes the problem of dropping the folding communication device.

Recently, materials other than plastic have been used in the manufacture of housings for folding communication devices. Foldable communication devices, such as the Digital Mova N501i HYPER manufactured by NEC Corporation, use metal housing parts made of magnesium. The metal housing portion forms the inner surface of the NEC folded device, which is exposed when the folded device is in the unfolded or open position. The outer surface of the NEC folded instrument, which is exposed in both the folded or closed position and the open position, is made of plastic. Because of exposure in both the closed and open positions, the outer surface of the folding device tends to be more susceptible to accidental drops of the folding device. As the outer surface of the NEC folding device is made of plastic which is sensitive to impact breakage as it becomes thinner, the housing construction provided by the NEC folding telephone is not suitable for use in miniaturized folding communication devices.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to meet the need for a suitable housing arrangement for a miniaturized, folded communication device.

1 is a front perspective view of a folding communication device in a closed position.

2 is a rear perspective view of the folded communication device in a closed position.

3 is a front perspective view of the folding communication device in an open position;

4 is a rear perspective view of the folded communication device in the open position;

5 is a first exploded perspective view of the upper housing flap of a folded communication device.

6 is a second exploded perspective view of the upper housing flap of a folded communication device.

7 is a first exploded perspective view of the lower housing flap of a folded communication device.

8 is a second exploded perspective view of the lower housing flap of a folded communication device.

9 is an exploded perspective view showing a first hinge knuckle and a hinge shaft assembly of a hinge of a folding communication device.

10 shows a first hinge knuckle and shaft assembly coupled to a hinge barrel of a hinge, a flexible strip of a display assembly of a collapsible communication device coupled to both a first hinge knuckle and hinge shaft assembly and a hinge barrel, and a first hinge A perspective view of a second hinge knuckle of a hinge separated from the knuckle and hinge shaft assembly.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a first hinge knuckle and hinge shaft assembly coupled to a hinge barrel, a flexible strip of display assembly wound around the hinge barrel, and a second hinge knuckle coupled to the first hinge knuckle and shaft assembly.

12 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the attachment state of the upper flap to the lower flap;

Figure 13 is a partial cross sectional view of the hinge axis of the hinge barrel, flexible strip and shaft assembly taken along section line 13-13 of Figure 1;

Figure 14 is a partial cross sectional view of the hinge barrel, flexible strip and hinge axis taken along section line 14-14 of Figure 3;

Figure 15 is a partial cross sectional view of the hinge barrel, hinged collar, hinge axis and flexible strip taken along section line 15-15 of Figure 3;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hinge barrel, second hinge knuckle, hinge axis and flexible strip taken along section line 16-16 of FIG.

Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of the battery cover latch assembly used by the lower housing flap.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the battery cover latch assembly and battery pack latch member used by the lower housing flap.

Figure 19 is a partial cross sectional view of the battery cover latch assembly coupled to the battery pack latch assembly and the battery pack in the locked position taken along section line 19-19 of Figure 2;

Figure 20 is a partial cross sectional view of Figure 19 in the unlocked position with the battery cover latch assembly omitted.

Figure 21 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack latch member.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

104: first housing flap

106: second housing flap

108: hinge

110: outer surface

300: inner surface

503: Lens

510: circuit assembly

512: flexible strip

514 hinge barrel

516: Hinge Shaft Assembly

520, 522: hinge knuckle

602 display

614: slot

Portable foldable wireless communication devices, such as portable cellular telephones, have a housing that consists of upper and lower housing flaps that are movably coupled. The foldable communication device can move between the closed and open positions. In the closed position, the inner surface of the housing is hidden and the outer surface of the housing is exposed. In the open position, the inner and outer surfaces are exposed. The outer surface of the housing consists mainly of metal material rather than plastic material, in an effort to better protect the folded communication device from impact.

The portable folding wireless communication device is shown as a folding wireless telephone 100 in Figures 1-4, and is preferably a folding cellular telephone that operates in a cellular telephone system. Although the folding cordless telephone 100 is preferably a folding cellular telephone, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described later include cordless telephones, landline telephones, personal digital assistants, walkie-talkies, pagers, and the like. It can be appreciated that the same may be applied to other folding communication devices, and the "folding radiotelephone" used herein refers to each of these and similar devices.

Foldable radiotelephone 100 has a housing 102 consisting of an upper housing flap 104 and a lower housing flap 106. The upper and lower housing flaps 104, 106 are movably engaged by hinges 108. The upper and lower housing flaps 104, 106 form an outer surface 110 and an inner surface 300 of the housing 102. The folding cordless telephone 100 can move between the closed position 114 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the open position 302 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the closed position 114, the outer surface 110 is exposed while the inner surface 300 is hidden from view. In the open position 302, the outer and inner surfaces 110, 300 are exposed. The outer surface 110 supports the antenna 118. The inner surface 300 includes a speaker hole 306 with the speaker 600 (shown in FIG. 6) behind, a display lens 308 with the display 602 (shown in FIG. 6) behind, a keypad 310. And a microphone interface 312 with the microphone 700 (shown in FIG. 7) positioned behind.

Periodically, the user sets the folded radiotelephone 100 to the open position 302 and initiates an incoming call or receives an incoming call to access the user interface 304, but at the closed position 114 Since the length of 100 is about one-half the length of the collapsible cordless telephone 100 in the open position 302, the user may place the collapsible cordless telephone 100 more frequently in the closed position 114 to facilitate portability. To keep. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the folded cordless telephone 100 has a length of approximately 87 mm, a width of 45 mm and a thickness of 24 mm in the closed position 114.

The inner surface 300 is mainly composed of durable plastic, such as polycarbonate, but in order to better protect the collapsible cordless telephone 100 from impact in the closed and open positions 114, 302, the outer surface 110 is mainly It is composed of a metal material. The metal material used for the outer surface 110 is preferably a thin aluminum sheet metal molded from a gradual stamping, drawing and forming process. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the aluminum sheet metal has a thickness of about 0.6 mm. Although aluminum has been selected as a thin metal material because of its low weight and low cost, other thin metal materials such as titanium or stainless steel can also be used. Although the sheet metal used is advantageous in appearance and mold cost, it can also be appreciated that the outer surface 110 may be suitably constructed with other types of processes such as, for example, Thixomolding® and die casting.

1-8 show that outer surface 110 consists of rear housing portions 120 and 122 of upper and lower housing flaps 104 and 106 and inner surface 302 comprises upper and lower housing flaps 104 and 106, respectively. Each of the front housing portions 124 and 126 is illustrated. 5 and 6, the rear housing portion 120 of the upper housing flap 104 is preferably formed of outer and inner sheet metal pieces 500, 501 joined by welding, gluing or soldering. . The outer sheet metal piece 500 has an oval window 502 for receiving the lens 503. The inner sheet metal piece 501 includes a rectangular window 504, a housing snap or snap container 608, and a screw hole 505 having a size for passage of the screw 506 body. The front housing portion 124 of the upper housing flap 104 includes a speaker hole 306, a rectangular window 507 with the elliptical lens 610 flatly aligned thereon, a housing snap (s) container 508 and a screw 506. It is preferred to be a single plastic molded piece having a threaded threaded boss 509 for accommodating a threaded body. The circuit assembly 510 of the size embedded in the rear and front housing portions 120, 124 is terminated by the display module 511 with the displays 513, 602, the speaker 600, and the flexible strip connector 612. Flexible circuit strip or " flexible strip " In addition, the rear and front housing parts 120 and 124 have a structure in which the hinge barrel 514 of the hinge 108 can be incorporated. The hinge barrel 514 includes hinge knuckles 520 and 522 and hinges of the hinge 108. Hinge shaft assembly 516 of 108 and flexible collar of hinge 108 are coalesced.

Hinge barrel 514 has a cylindrical body with hollow interiors and openings at both ends 524, 526. The thread tab 528 extends outwardly at right angles from the cylindrical body to securely attach the hinge barrel 514 to the upper housing flap 104. The longitudinal slot 614 for providing a passage of the flexible strip 512 into the hinge barrel 514 extends from the end 526.

An important feature of the hinge barrel 514 is that it is a separate discrete hinge part that is separated from the housing 102. This gives the manufacturer the freedom to choose special materials and manufacturing processes for the hinge barrel 514 separately from the housing 102. In environments with stringent size and space constraints, such as those associated with miniaturized folding cordless phones, the durability and reliability of the hinge is of primary concern. The hinge is circulating in the folding cordless phone repeated from any impact force applied to the folding cordless phone, such as from dropping, from moving the folding cordless phone from the closed position to the open position, and between the closed and open positions. It must be able to withstand the high stresses arising from. In conventional folding cordless telephones, the hinge barrel is formed of one or two plastic housing flaps and is subject to cracking under very high stress. To minimize the possibility of breakage from very high stress, hinge barrel 514 of foldable cordless telephone 100 is preferably a metal part made of titanium using a metal injection molding process. Hinge barrel 514 has higher strength and greater resistance in adverse environmental conditions as compared to conventional all-in-one plastic hinge barrels. In addition, the hinge barrel 514 is suitable for withstanding the high stress concentrated on the hinge 108 due to the increased rigidity of the collapsible cordless telephone 100 due to the heavy use of metal in the housing 102.

The detachable structure of the hinge barrel 514 has additional advantages over conventional integral hinge barrels. In a folding cordless telephone having a conventional one-piece hinge barrel, the slot through the hinge provided as a passageway for the flexible strip could not continue to extend to the end of the conventional one-piece hinge barrel. In order to maintain the structural integrity of the conventional one-piece hinge barrel inner diameter, the slots had to be isolated, and during assembly, the flexible strip had a somewhat larger opening, if any, through an opening larger than the conventional one-piece hinge barrel inner diameter. I could not pass. This limited the width of the flexible strip, limited the ability of the flexible strip to pass through the hinges without compromising the precise trajectory and hindered the use of surface-mountable male or female connectors at the flexible strip termination. However, since the hinge barrel 514 of the collapsible cordless telephone 100 is an individual component made of a high rigidity material, the slot 614 can extend to the end 526 of the hinge barrel 514. During assembly, the flexible strip 512 can easily slide laterally towards the hinge barrel 514. This feature allows the flexible strip connector 612 to be a surface mountable male or female connector component having a positive height, such as the Z-axis flexible strip connector shown in FIG.

Hinge knuckles 520 and 522 are generally domed with a hollow interior and triangular footprint. Thread bosses 530, 532 are moved from the inside of the hinge knuckles 520, 522 to the outside to secure the respective hinge knuckles 520, 522 to the lower housing flaps 106 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). Is extended. The hinge knuckle 520 is also formed by an open end hollow cylindrical post 534 formed on the facing surface 536. Post 534 has an inner diameter that is sized to accommodate the end of hinge shaft assembly 615 at the distal end of hinge knuckle 522. The post 534 may be located inside the hinge barrel 514 at the end 526 and thus have an outer diameter sized to provide a support surface for the hinge barrel 514. Slot 538 is formed in facing surface 536 for receiving a portion of flexible strip 512 in the hollow interior of post 534 and hinge knuckle 520. The hinge knuckle 522 attached to the hinge shaft assembly 516 in FIGS. 5 and 6 and separated from the hinge shaft assembly 516 in FIG. 9 is defined by a hinge follower 540 formed on the facing surface 618. Is formed. Hinge follower 540 is characterized by a pair of asymmetric fingers. Circular through holes 616 formed in the upper and bottom portions of the hinge follower 540 are sized to accommodate the spring pin 900 of the hinge shaft assembly 516. The elliptical through hole 542 formed in the upper portion of the hinge knuckle 522 is sized to accommodate one end of the transparent light guide tube 902, and the light guide tube 902 is formed inside the hollow of the hinge knuckle 522. Located.

Like the hinge barrel 514, the hinge knuckles 520 and 522 are separate individual hinge parts that are separated from the housing 102 and are preferably metal parts made of titanium using a metal injection molding process. Like the hinge barrel 514, the hinge knuckles 520 and 522 have similar advantages as the conventional hinge barrel 514, which is integrated into the plastic housing of the conventional collapsible cordless telephone and suffers from cracking from the high stress applied on the hinge. . These advantages include higher strength for high stress handling, higher design flexibility to allow knuckle structure changes without affecting other components, easier routing of flexible strips, and flexible strip routing and light guides Improved packaging optimization through the use of a high strength metal material in the thin wall cross section to maximize the space inside the knuckle for the acceptance of the metal while simultaneously achieving a thin knuckle structure.

Hinge shaft assembly 516 is shown in FIG. 9 and includes a spring pin 900, hinge cam 904, hinge spring 906, hinge washer 908, and hinge shaft 910. Hinge shaft 910 is formed of two cylindrical segments 912, 914 connected to a central circular flange 916. Segment 912 is bisected into semi-cylindrical fingers 918, 920 by slot 922 extending inwardly from one end of hinge axis 910 to central circular flange 916. Each finger 918, 920 uses a semicircular flange 917 located about halfway along the length of the segment 912. A locking snap 620, shown well in FIG. 6, is formed on the finger 918 of FIG. A through hole 924 of a size through which the spring pin 900 can pass is formed at the other end of the hinge axis 910 in the segment 914. The hinge washer 908, the hinge spring 906 and the hinge cam 904 are each slightly larger than the diameter of the segment 914 of the hinge axis 910 and the diameter of the circular flange 916 of the hinge axis 910. Have almost the same outer diameter. Hinge spring 906 is a compression spring. One end of the hinge cam 904 is flat or flat, while the other end is in the upper housing when the folding cordless phone 100 (shown in FIG. 1) is in the open position 302 (shown in FIG. 3). The flap 104 (shown in FIG. 1) takes an appearance according to a predetermined cam profile that forms an angle with which the lower housing flap 106 (shown in FIG. 1) forms. For example, a suitable angle may be 155 degrees. The part of the hinge shaft assembly preferably consists of a metallic material.

Referring to Figure 9, hinge shaft assembly 516 is assembled to hinge knuckle 522 in the following manner. Hinge washer 908 slides onto segment 914 of hinge axis 910 until it abuts flange 916 of hinge axis 910. Hinge spring 906 slides onto segment 914 until it abuts hinge washer 908. The hinge cam 904 slides until the planar end first contacts the hinge spring 906 onto the segment 914. Hinge knuckle 522 slides onto segment 914 until the fingers of hinge follower 540 abut the shaped ends of hinge cam 904. Since the hinge knuckle 522 slides over the segment 914, a sufficient force is applied to the hinge until the through hole 924 of the hinge axis 910 is aligned with the through hole 616 of the hinge knuckle 522. It should be possible to compress the spring 906. Once the through holes 616, 924 are aligned, the spring pin 900 is inserted through the through holes 616, 924, thereby completing attachment of the hinge shaft assembly 516 to the hinge knuckle 522.

5, 6 and 9-11, the hinge 108 is assembled in the following manner. Hinge shaft assembly 516 and hinge barrel 514 are aligned as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. The end of the hinge shaft assembly opposite the hinge knuckle 522 is hinge barrel 514 via end 5240 until the facing surface 618 of the hinge knuckle 522 is adjacent to the end 524 of the hinge barrel 514. The flexible collar 518 first feeds the convex segment 550 of the flexible strip 512 through the slot 552 in the flexible collar 518 and then of the convex segment 550. Inserting an edge between the inner wall 554 of the flexible collar 518 (shown in FIG. 15) and the finger 556 to secure the convex segment 550 relative to the inner wall 554 of the flexible collar 518. Fit into the flexible strip 512. The flexible collar 518 slides through the end 526 into the hinge barrel 514 to a position as shown in Figure 10. Positioning of the flexible collar 518 In the case, the fingers 918, 920 of the hinge axis 910 pass through corresponding openings on one side of the inner wall 554 of the flexible collar 518, and the inner The convex segment 550 of the wall 554 and the flexible strip 512 lies in the slot 922 of the hinge axis 910. Next, the hinge knuckle 520 and the hinge barrel 514 are shown in FIG. The ends of the fingers 920, 922 of the hinge axis 910 are coupled to a recess formed in the inner surface of the post 534 by a locking snap 620 on the finger 918 and the hinge knuckle 520. ) Is pressed into the post 534 of the hinge knuckle 520 until the facing surface 536 of the hinge barrel 514 is adjacent to the end 526 of the hinge barrel 514. The castle strip 512 passes through the slot 538 of the hinge knuckle 520 and is placed inside the hinge knuckle 520 and further outwardly inside the hinge knuckle along the thread boss 530 as shown in FIG. 10. The slack 1000 in the flexible strip 512 shown in FIG. 10 causes the hinge knuckle 522 to be directed in a direction 1100 along the axis 1102, as shown in FIG. It is removed by turning. This rotation of the hinge knuckle 522 winds the slack 1000 into the hinge barrel 514 and the slack 1000 between the central circular flange 916 and the semicircular flange 917 of the hinge axis 910. 910) around.

The hinge 108 and circuit assembly 510 assembled as shown in FIG. 11 are also mounted to the upper and lower housing flaps 104 and 106 in the following manner, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 and 11. Are assembled. Circuit assembly 510 and hinge barrel 514 are located on the inner surface of front housing portion 124 of upper housing flap 104 such that display 602 of circuit assembly 510 is directly above window 507. The threaded tab 528 of the hinge barrel 514 is seated directly on the threaded boss 509. In order to ensure accurate and easy alignment of the circuit assembly 510 in the front housing portion 124, a positioning peg 560 is formed on the inner surface of the front housing portion 124 and receives the positioning pegs 560. A corresponding positioning loop 622 of a possible size is formed on the circuit assembly 510. The rear housing portion 120 slides so that the housing snap (s) receptacle 608 of the rear housing portion 120 can be engaged with the housing snap (s) receptacle 508 of the corresponding front housing portion 124. The screw 506 is fastened into the screw boss 509 through the screw hole 505 and the screw tab 528 of the rear housing portion 120, thereby screwing the inner sheet metal piece 501 of the rear housing portion 120. The hinge barrel 514 is secured against the upper housing flap 104 by pulling it in tight and intimate contact with the tab 528. Assembly of the upper housing flap 104 is completed by fitting the lens 503 into the window 502. The lens 503 is preferably fixed to the inner sheet metal piece 501 of the rear housing part 120 with an adhesive.

7 and 8, the front housing portion 126 of the lower housing flap 106 is a screw boss sized to receive the body of the key hole 702, the housing snap 704, and the screw 722. It is preferably a single plastic molded piece having slots 706 and 708 for receiving the thread bosses 530 and 532 of the 800 and the knuckles 520, 522, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. The back housing portion 122 of the lower housing flap 106 is preferably formed primarily of outer and inner sheet metal pieces 740, 742 joined by welding, gluing, or soldering. The rear housing portion 122 is provided with a recess 802 sized to accommodate the battery pack 710, a housing snap receptacle 711, and a removable battery pack 910 in the recess 802. Battery pack latch member 714, battery cover latch assembly 712 for removably securing battery cover 716 across recess 802, and dimensions that may be passages in each of the bodies of screws 722 and 724 A set of screw holes 718, 720 and an antenna boss 812. The screw cover 716 is preferably formed of the same thin metal material as the rear housing portion 122. A circuit board assembly 726 of a size that can be embedded within the rear and front housing portions 122, 126 is generally light guided to provide a keypad circuit 728 with a key 729, a microphone 700, and a flashing indicator. Light emitting diode 730, transceiver circuitry 804, battery pack contact 806 mating with the connection of battery pack 710, flexible strip matching for use with tube 902 (shown in FIG. 9). A set of slots 732, 734 are sized to accommodate the threaded bosses 800 of the connector 808 and the front housing 126 and the threaded bosses 530, 532 for the respective knuckles 520, 522. Include.

The upper housing flap 104 is assembled to the lower housing flap 106 in the following manner with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 12. The upper housing flap 104 is positioned facing the outer surface of the front housing portion 126 of the lower housing flap 106 so that the threaded bosses 530, 532 of each of the hinge knuckles 520, 522 are slots 706, respectively. , 708). Slot 706 is quite large to accommodate a portion of flexible strip 512 that is laid along threaded boss 530. The circuit board assembly 726 is seated directly on the inner surface of the front housing portion 126 of the lower housing flap 106 whereby the slot 732 houses the screw boss 800 and the key 729 corresponding thereto. Is inserted into the key hole 702 and the slot 734 receives the threaded bosses 530, 532 of the hinge knuckles 520, 522. Notches 810 on the upper edge of the circuit board assembly 726 provide a passageway for the flexible strip 512. The flexible strip 512 is folded along the circuit board assembly 726 and the flexible strip connector 612 of the flexible strip is connected to the flexible strip mating connector of the circuit board assembly 726, as shown in FIG. 12. 808). Once the connectors 612 and 808 are mated, the circuit assembly 510 located in the upper housing flap 104 is electrically connected to the circuit board assembly 726 in the lower housing flap 106. The rear housing portion 122 is then connected to the front housing portion 126 by mating the housing snap receptacle 711 with the corresponding housing snap 704. The screw 722 is fastened through the screw hole 718 into the screw boss 800 of the front housing portion 126. The screw 724 is screwed into the screw boss 530, 532 of the hinge knuckles 520, 522 past the screw hole 720 of the rear housing portion 122, thereby locking the hinge knuckles 520, 522 to the lower housing flap. To 106. Assembly of the lower housing flap 106 inserts the battery pack 710 into the recess 802, attaches the battery cover 716 to the rear housing portion 122, and inserts the antenna 118 into the antenna boss 812. Is completed.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the folded cordless telephone 100 can move between the closed position 114 and the open position 302 once assembled. During this movement, the coils of the flexible strip 512, which were created by winding the slack 1000 of the flexible strip 512 around the hinge axis 910, see FIGS. 5, 6 and 9-11. As already explained, it will expand and contract. In the closed position 114 the coil of the flexible strip 512 expands away from the hinge axis 910 and close to the inner surface of the hinge barrel 514 as shown in FIG. The expansion of the flexible strip 512 coil is limited to the inner diameter of the hinge barrel 514. In the open position 302 the coil of flexible strip 512 contracts toward the hinge axis 910 and away from the inner surface of the hinge barrel 514 as shown in FIG. 14. As clearly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the hinge axis 910 remains fixed during the movement from the closed position 114 to the open position 302, while the hinge barrel 514 is in the closed position 114. Rotates during movement from to the open position 302. 15 shows that the flexible collar 518 is positioned on the fingers 918, 920 of the hinge axis 910 in the open position 302 and the convex segment 550 of the flexible strip 512 is the finger 556. By the inner wall 554 of the flexible collar 518. 16 shows hinge knuckle 520 away from fingers 918 and 920 of hinge axis 910 where convex segment 550 of flexible strip 512 is coupled to the inner surface of post 534 in open position 302. Inside the post 534.

By constructing the hinge 108 from a metallic material, the outer metal surfaces of the upper and lower housing flaps 104 and 106 are electrically connected without attaching wires to the housing 102 or adding additional trajectories to the flexible strip 512. By connecting, like RF grounding, flexibility is provided in adjusting the radio frequency (RF) performance of the folding radiotelephone 100. The electrical passage from the rear housing portion 120 of the upper housing flap 104 to the rear housing portion 122 of the lower housing flap 106 is between the rear housing portion 120 and the hinge barrel 514, the hinge barrel ( Physical connection between 514 and hinge cam 904, between hinge cam 904 and hinge knuckle 522, between hinge knuckle 522 and screw 724 and between screw 724 and rear housing portion 122. Is formed by.

Another important feature of the collapsible cordless telephone 100 includes a battery cover latch assembly 712 and a battery pack latch member 714, as described above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The battery cover latch assembly 712 is shown in FIG. 17 and includes a latch button 1700, a compression spring 1702, and a bracket 1704, which are formed through the through slot 1706 and the rectangle formed in the rear housing portion 122. It is assembled to the through hole 1708. The structure of rectangular through hole 1708 forms edges 1718 and 1720. The length of the slot 1706 is formed parallel to the rear housing portion 122. Rectangular hole 1708 is located at the center between slots 1706. The latch button 1700 is a molded part, which may be die cast zinc, aluminum or magnesium, or may be injection molded plastic. Two posts 1710 protrude from the back surface of latch button 1700. Cylindrical pocket 1712 for supporting spring 1702 is formed in the bottom surface of latch button 1700 between posts 1710. Forget 1712 includes pocket wall 1716. The bracket 1704 is preferably made of sheet metal and has two through holes 1714.

The battery cover latch assembly 712 is assembled to the rear housing portion 122 in the following manner with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. The latch button 1700 is positioned so that the post 1710 can be inserted into one corresponding slot 1706 and the pocket 1712 can be inserted into the rectangular hole 1708. Spring 1702 is located in pocket 1712 and is compressed such that one end of spring 1702 abuts pocket wall 1716 and the other end abuts edge 1718. It will be appreciated that the free length of the spring 1702 is longer than the maximum size between the pocket wall 1716 and the edge 1718, thereby preloading the latch button 1700 with respect to the edge 1720. The bracket 1704 is positioned from the inside of the rear housing portion 122 so that its holes 1714 can receive a corresponding one post 1710. The partial cylindrical shape formed in the center of the bracket 1704 provides space for the spring 1702. The distal end of the post 1710 is cold formed to form the rivet head 1800 as shown in FIG. 18, thereby clamping the bracket 1704 onto the post 1710 and the battery cover latch assembly 712 to the rear housing. Permanently attached to section 122.

Once assembled, the battery cover latch assembly 712 moves between the latch position shown in FIG. 19 and the latch release position shown in FIG. 20. In the latch position shown in FIG. 19, a portion of the battery cover 716 is captured under the latch button 1700, thereby securing the battery cover 716 to the rear housing portion 122. The cutout 1900 is provided in the outer sheet metal piece 740 of the rear housing part 122 to provide a space for the latch button 1700 to move. A “V” type relief 1902 is molded in the outer surface of the latch button 1700. By applying pressure to the edge of the relief 1902 in the direction shown by arrow 1904, the spring 1702 is compressed and the latch button 1700 achieves the latch release position shown in FIG. 20. Move in the direction of. This movement is limited by the difference in the length of the slot 1706 (shown in FIG. 17) and the diameter of the post 1710 (shown in FIG. 17). In the latch release position, the battery cover 716 may no longer be captured by the latch button 1700 and may be lifted away from the rear housing portion 122 in the direction of the arrow 2000. When the pressure applied to latch button 1700 is removed, spring 1702 returns latch button 1700 to the position shown in FIG.

The battery pack latch member 714 is shown in FIG. 21 and includes a beam spring 2100 and a rivet 2102, which are assembled to the inner wall 2104 of the rear housing portion 122. The beam springs 2100 and rivets 2102 are preferably formed of sheet metal. Through-holes 2105 are formed at both ends of the beam spring 2100. The catch 2106 is preferably a beam spring by folding the tab from the edge of the spring beam 2100 to form a "V" shape or drawing the material of the beam spring 2100 into a closed "V" shaped protrusion. It is formed in the center of (2100). In addition, separate components may be attached to beam spring 2100 to function like catch 2106. Between each end of the beam spring 2100 and the catch 2106, the beam spring 2100 has a shallow “U” shaped band 2108 to allow the beam spring 2100 to bend when the catch 2106 is deflected. Is formed. The inner wall 2104 of the rear housing portion 122 includes a through hole 2110 and a rectangular opening 2112. The battery pack latch member 714 is assembled by positioning the beam spring 2100 relative to the inner wall 2104 such that the catch 2106 extends into the rectangular opening 2112 and the through hole 2105 is the through hole 2110. Is aligned with. Rivets 2102 are fastened in through holes 2105 and 2110, thereby securing beam spring 2100 to inner wall 2104, as shown in FIG. 18. Although rivets 2102 and through holes 2105 and 2110 were used to attach the beam spring 2100 to the inner wall 2104, the beam spring 2100 may also be attached to the inner wall 2104 and the beam spring 2100. It may be attached to the inner wall 2104 by snap matching the formed engagement features.

Once assembled, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the battery pack latch member 714 is operative to secure the battery pack 710 in the recess 802 of the rear housing portion 122. Pocket 1906 is formed on the end surface of battery pack 710. When the battery pack 710 is inserted into the recess 802, the battery pack 710 presses the lead-in angle 1908 provided by the catch 2106, and then beam springs to deflect away from the battery pack 710. A force is applied to the catch 2106 of 2100. When the battery pack 710 is fully inserted into the recess 802, the beam spring 2100 returns so that the catch 2106 can be inserted into the pocket 1906, thereby as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. Likewise, battery pack 710 is retained in recess 802. When the battery pack 710 is pulled out of the recess 802, the lead out angle 1910 of the catch 2106 allows the beam spring 2100 to be deflected away from the battery pack 710, thereby allowing the battery pack ( Allow 710 to be removed from recess 802.

It can therefore be seen that portable foldable wireless communication devices, such as foldable cellular telephones, can use an outer surface composed mainly of a metallic material such as sheet metal. By using separate components within the hinge of the folding communication device, the hinge can withstand stresses concentrated on the hinge during movement of a rigid outer surface and cracks associated with the conventional hinge integrated into the plastic housing of the conventional folding communication device. Can be stronger to remove. While many specific embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated that other variations are possible. Therefore, all changes and modifications within the true spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be protected within the scope of the appended claims.

According to the present invention, there is provided a miniaturized folding communication device which is advantageous against breakage due to impact such as accidental drop, and which withstands stress concentrated on the hinge during folding movement, which is advantageous against cracking caused by stress concentration.

Claims (10)

In a portable folding wireless communication device, The first housing flap 104, A second housing flap 106 movably connected to the first housing flap, An inner surface 300 formed of a first inner portion 124 of the first housing flap and a second inner portion 126 of the second housing flap, An outer surface 110 formed of a first outer portion 120 of the first housing flap and a second outer portion 122 of the second housing flap, The first and second housing flaps move between an open position 302 and a closed position 114, The inner surface is hidden in a closed position, And the outer surface is exposed in the open and closed positions and consists mainly of metallic material. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hinge 108 for movably connecting the first and second housing flaps 104, 106, the hinge being separate from the first and second housing flaps. A portable folding wireless communication device comprising a hinge barrel (514). 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a circuit assembly 510 mounted to the first housing flap 104, the circuit assembly comprising a flexible strip, wherein the flexible strip 512 comprises a surface mount connector ( 612) A portable foldable wireless communication device characterized in that it is terminated by. 4. The flexible hinge barrel of claim 3, wherein the separated hinge barrel 514 includes a hollow interior, a first end 526 open to the hollow interior, and a slot 614 extending from the first end, wherein the flexible strip And at least one portion of (512) passes through the first end and the slot into the hollow interior. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hinge 108 for movably connecting the first and second housing flaps 104, 106, the hinge being separate from the first and second housing flaps. And a hinge knuckle (520, 522). 6. The portable device of claim 5, wherein the hinge 108 further comprises a hinge shaft assembly 516, wherein the hinge shaft assembly connects the separated first hinge knuckle to the separated second hinge knuckle. Folding wireless communication device. The method of claim 1, wherein the first inner portion 124 of the first housing flap 104 is mainly composed of a plastic material and the first outer portion 120 of the first housing flap is mainly composed of a metallic material Portable folding wireless communication device, characterized in that. 2. The second inner portion 126 of the second housing flap 106 is primarily composed of a plastic material and the second outer portion 122 of the second housing flap is composed primarily of a metallic material. Portable folding wireless communication device, characterized in that. The display of claim 1, further comprising a display 602 located on the inner surface 300, wherein the display is hidden when the first and second housing flaps 104, 106 are in the closed position 114. Portable folding wireless communication device, characterized in that. 2. The first housing flap (104) of claim 1, wherein the first housing flap (104) is positioned to be flush with the outer surface (110) of the first housing flap and the inner metal piece offset (501) from the outer surface of the first housing flap. A portable foldable wireless communication device comprising a lens (503).