KR20060124172A - Personal portable device and method of controlling a side button of the device - Google Patents

Abstract

A personal portable terminal and a method for controlling a side button part of the personal portable terminal are provided to mount the side button part easily operated by a hand. Side button parts(130) are formed to be adjacent to left and right edges of an upper part of a terminal body, and are partially exposed to the outside of the terminal body. A control unit, mounted in the terminal body, controls the operation of the side button parts(130). The two side button parts(130) are symmetrically or asymmetrically mounted in both side parts of the terminal body.

Description

PERSONAL PORTABLE DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A SIDE BUTTON OF THE DEVICE}

1 and 2 are views for explaining a side button device of a conventional mobile communication terminal.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a personal portable terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the personal portable terminal of FIG.

5 is a partial side view for explaining the side button unit of the personal portable terminal of FIG.

6 is a control flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a side button unit of a personal mobile terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a perspective view for explaining a personal portable terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the personal portable terminal of FIG. 7 is opened.

9 is a rear view for explaining the personal portable terminal of FIG.

10 is a rear view for explaining a personal portable terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the personal portable terminal of FIG. 10.

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

110: Main part 120: Slide part

130: side button part 140: control part

150: movement sensor

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a side button unit of a personal portable terminal and a personal portable terminal, and more particularly, to a personal portable terminal for convenient operation of a button unit and a method of controlling a side button unit of the personal portable terminal.

In general, a personal mobile terminal uses a plurality of buttons, such as a call button, an end button, a menu search button, a number and a text input button, as an input interface for searching a menu, controlling a terminal status, and writing a short message.

In the case of a clamshell type terminal, the buttons are arranged in the terminal case corresponding to the inner part of the folder so that the buttons are unnecessarily pressed by the folder. Prevents losing In the case of a flip terminal, curtains are arranged in a terminal case corresponding to an inner portion of the flip to prevent the button from being pressed by the flip.

Therefore, the personal portable terminal opens a folder or flip to change the state of the terminal and performs various additional functions by operating a button, and has the inconvenience of manipulating the buttons. In addition, a separate side button and a speaker phone function selection button which perform a function of adjusting the size of a pressed sound of a button are exposed to the outside of the terminal case.

1 and 2 are views for explaining a side button device of a conventional mobile communication terminal.

The mobile communication terminal shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a flip type, and the first and second side buttons 11a and 11b protrude upward and downward at predetermined positions of the side surfaces of the terminal case 10, and the second terminal as necessary. The pressing projections 12 are formed at the rear of the side button 11b, respectively.

Then, a tact switch 14 having a contact terminal 15 connected to the pressing protrusion 12 of the first and second side buttons is mounted on the circuit board 16. Reference numerals 17 and 18 are batteries and antennas of the mobile communication terminal, respectively.

The side button device of the mobile communication terminal presses the first and second side buttons 11a and 11b to adjust the call sound, the ring tone, and the button sound, and the pressing protrusion 12 presses the contact terminal 15 of the tact switch. It is possible to operate the desired adjustment.

However, in recent years, mobile communication terminals have greatly expanded functions that can be utilized, such as Internet services and various games, and in order to utilize these functions, the conventional keypad and side button devices are used as a plurality of input keys instead of one input key. Therefore, the hassle of switching between modes occurs every time the key is used, and it can give a burden to the mobile communication terminal by frequent operation.

In the case of playing a game with a large number of left and right directions, there is a limitation in freely manipulating the keypad with a finger, and the side button device is also inconvenient because of its position for the finger.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention for solving the above-described problems of the present invention is to provide a personal portable terminal equipped with a side button portion that is easy to operate by hand.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a control method of the side button unit that the side button unit is operated only when the personal portable terminal is opened.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object of the present invention, the personal portable terminal has a terminal body, a side button unit and a control unit.

The terminal body refers to the body of a personal portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld, a computer, and the like, and includes modules having various functions. The side button portion is formed adjacent to the left and right corners of the upper portion of the terminal body and partially exposed to the outside of the terminal body. Therefore, the user can easily operate the button unit by using the user's finger after holding the terminal body by hand. The controller may be mounted inside the main body of the terminal to control the operation of the side button unit.

The conventional personal portable terminal provides a side button portion on the side of the terminal body for easy operation of frequently used functions such as call sound control and ring tone control. Therefore, the user can simply press the side button unit by using a thumb during a call, thereby adjusting the call sound and switching to the bell or vibration mode.

However, recently, a quick left and right operation such as a game is performed by using a personal portable terminal, and it is inconvenient for a user to play or play a game because the position of the finger becomes inconvenient to use the finger.

In addition, the number of available functions of the personal handheld terminal has increased so that the number of buttons is somewhat insufficient to use only the conventional keypad and the side button portion. Accordingly, since the conventional keypad and the side button portion are used as a plurality of input keys instead of one input key, inconveniences in that the mode needs to be changed depending on the situation occurs.

However, in the personal portable terminal according to the present invention, since the side button portions are formed at the left and right corners of the upper portion of the terminal body, the side button portion is positioned at a position where the user presses with a finger after holding the terminal body. In this case, the user may input the signal by pressing the key pad of the main body of the terminal with a thumb, pressing the side button part with the index finger or the ring finger, or rotating the same. Therefore, the personal portable terminal according to the present invention is more convenient than the conventional thumb operation. In addition, it is possible to increase the number of buttons by mounting the button on the left and right corners of the personal portable terminal to increase the space utilization of the personal portable terminal.

In the present specification, a personal portable device (Personal Portable Device) refers to a portable electric and electronic device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a smart phone, a handheld PC, a mobile phone, an MP3 player, and the like. A predetermined communication module such as a Division Multiplexing Access module, a Bluetooth module, an infrared communication module (IrDA), a wired / wireless LAN card, etc., and a terminal having a predetermined computing power by mounting a predetermined microprocessor for performing a multimedia playback function Can be used as a generic concept.

Alternatively, the personal portable terminal has a main part, a slide part, a side button part and a control part.

It is formed corresponding to the main portion and the main portion includes a slide portion for sliding movement to the main portion. Accordingly, the personal portable terminal is a slide type opening and closing method, and the opening and closing method refers to a method of slidingly sliding a slide part on a main part when a user intends to use it.

The side button part is formed adjacent to the left and right corners of the upper part of the main part, and partially exposed to the outside of the main part. The control unit may be mounted inside the main unit and control the operation of the side button unit.

Alternatively, the personal portable terminal has a main part, a folder part, a side button part and a control part.

It is formed corresponding to the main part and the main part, and includes a folder for rotating the main part. Accordingly, the personal portable terminal is a rotation type opening and closing method, and the opening and closing method means a method of rotating the folder part upward on the main part when the user intends to use it.

The side button part is formed adjacent to the left and right corners of the upper part of the main part, and partially exposed to the outside of the main part. The control unit may be mounted inside the main unit and control the operation of the side button unit.

Therefore, the side button portion can be applied to a slide type personal portable terminal and a folder type personal portable terminal, and in particular, the side button portion can be used more conveniently in this type of personal portable terminal.

In addition, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object of the present invention, the side button control method of the personal portable terminal is formed adjacent to the left and right corners of the terminal body and the upper terminal body, the terminal Providing a side button portion that is partially exposed to the outside of the main body, Inquiry whether the terminal body is open in the control unit, When the terminal body is opened, detecting the movement of the side button unit, and generating a detection signal And transmitting the detection signal to the controller. Accordingly, even if the side button portion of the personal portable terminal protrudes outward and is automatically pressed when being carried, the function does not operate when the personal portable terminal is not opened. Therefore, the side button unit can be used only when the user opens the personal portable terminal.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited or limited by the embodiments.

Example 1

3 is a perspective view for explaining the personal portable terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the personal portable terminal of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a personal portable terminal of Figure 3 It is a partial side view for demonstrating a side button part.

3 to 5, the personal mobile terminal includes a main unit 110, a slide unit 120, a side button unit 130, a controller 140, and a movement sensor 150.

A guide groove for accommodating the slide part 120 is provided on the front surface of the main part 110. Since the guide groove is formed to have the same width and depth as that of the slide part 120, the guide part does not protrude from the main part 110 when the slide part 120 is closed and the joints of both parts are not exposed to the outside. Do not. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, guide grooves and guide protrusions may be provided at various positions of the main part and the slide part according to the intention of the designer.

The slide unit 120 may include an LCD display 122 mounted at a front surface thereof, and the main unit 110 may include various modules such as a key input unit, a battery, a speaker, and the like. In addition, since the communication module is mounted inside the main unit 110, the slide type personal portable terminal may transmit / receive data with an external communication network. However, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the side button unit may be applied to various types of opening and closing terminals according to a designer's intention.

The side button part 130 may be formed at left and right edges of the main part 110 and at least one may be provided. Since a conventional side button is provided on the side of the terminal body, it is mainly operated using a thumb. However, in the personal portable terminal according to the present invention, the side button part 130 is provided at the left and right corners of the upper part of the main part 110 to hold the main part 110 by hand, and then the side button part 130 using the index finger. Can be operated. In addition, the movement sensor 140 may be disposed adjacent to the side button unit 130 to control the movement of the side button unit 130, and various sensors may be used.

As shown in FIG. 5, the central axis of the side button part 130 is provided at left and right corners of the upper part of the main part 110, and a receiving groove is formed to mount the side button part 130. In this case, the central axis is mounted to the central portion of the side button portion 130, the shape of the side button portion 130 may be manufactured in a circular shape, in another embodiment may be manufactured in various shapes according to the intention of the designer. Therefore, the side button 130 is rotated along the central axis (ⓐ).

Accordingly, the side button unit 130 can adjust the left and right directions by the original rotation in place, it can be effectively used in games using a mobile phone, such as using the joystick of the game machine using the thumb and index finger. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, only one side button portion may be provided according to a designer's intention. In addition, the user may operate the two side button units using various gripping methods.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the central axis of the side button portion may be located at the side of the side button portion according to the intention of the designer, and the user may be designed to enter the main portion when the user presses the exposed portion of the side button portion. .

The main unit 110 is provided with a movement sensor 150 at a position adjacent to the central axis, detects the rotation direction and whether or not the rotation of the central axis 112, and generates a detection signal. In this case, in addition to the movement sensor 150, sensors having various functions may be used. In addition, a control unit 140 that is electrically connected to the movement sensor 150 and controls all functions is built in the center of the main unit 110. The controller 140 is configured of a circuit board, receives the detection signal provided from the movement sensor 150, and recognizes the signal. Therefore, when the user plays the game using the personal portable terminal, it is possible to play the game effectively by the operation of the side button unit 130.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the user may hold the main unit 110 using a personal portable terminal, and may use a menu key, a keypad, or the like provided on the front of the main unit 110 using a thumb. The direction key provided on the front surface of the slide unit 120 may be freely pressed. At this time, the detection or stop is naturally located at the left and right corners of the upper part of the main part 110, it is also easy to press the side button portion 130 formed at this position. Therefore, it is possible to stably hold the personal portable terminal, thereby giving a sense of stability to the user as holding the joystick of the game machine.

In addition, the side button unit 130 is convenient because it can be used not only for games, but also for sending text messages. For example, a function of a space, which is frequently used when inputting a text message, may be added to the side button unit 130 to perform faster text input.

6 is a control flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a side button unit of a personal mobile terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the personal portable terminal is provided with a main part 110, a slide part 120, and a side button part 130 (S610). Side button unit 130 is disposed on the left and right corners of the main unit 110, it is convenient to operate using the index finger.

In addition, the main unit 110 of the personal mobile terminal inquires whether the slide unit 120 is opened (S620). Therefore, when the slide unit 120 does not move on the main unit 110, since the movement of the side button unit 130 is not sensed, such as a battery discharge generated due to the pressing of the side button unit 130 that is not desired when carrying. Problems can be solved.

At this time, the main unit 110 may be equipped with a movement sensor 150 to detect the movement of the side button unit 130, and generate a detection signal according to (S630). The side button unit 130 may be rotatably connected to the main unit 110. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the side button portion may be variously designed according to the intention of the designer.

In addition, the generated detection signal may be transferred from the movement sensor 150 to the controller 140 (S640), and the controller 140 may recognize the detection signal and apply the detected signal to the game. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, a personal portable terminal may be applied to various types of terminal bodies such as a slide type and a folder type according to a designer's intention.

Example 2

7 is a perspective view for explaining a personal portable terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view for explaining a state in which the personal portable terminal of FIG. 7 is opened, and FIG. 9 is an individual of FIG. It is a back view for demonstrating a portable terminal.

7 to 9, the personal mobile terminal includes a main unit 210, a folder unit 220, a side button unit 230, a controller 240, and a movement sensor 250.

The main part 210 is connected to the folder part 220 by a hinge, and the hinge rotates upwardly on the axis. In addition, a key pad is formed on a front surface of the main unit 210, and a control unit 240 is mounted inside to control all functions. In addition, side button parts 230 may be installed at left and right edges of the main part 210.

The folder unit 220 may include an LCD display unit mounted at the front side. In addition, since the communication module is mounted inside the main unit 210, the folding personal portable terminal may transmit / receive data with an external communication network. However, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the side button unit may be applied to various types of opening and closing terminals according to a designer's intention.

The side button part 230 may be formed at left and right corners of the main part 210 and at least one may be provided. Since a conventional side button is provided on the side of the terminal body, it is mainly operated using a thumb. However, in the personal portable terminal according to the present invention, the side button part 230 is provided at the left and right corners of the upper part of the main part 210 so as to grasp the main part 210 by hand and then use the index finger of the main part 210. Move along the side (ⓑ). Therefore, since the side button part 230 can be operated using a thumb and the index finger, it is more convenient.

9 is a partial perspective view for explaining the operation of the side button unit of the personal mobile terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

9, since the end portion of the side button portion 230 is connected to the main portion 210, a rotation shaft is formed at an end portion of the side button portion 230. Accordingly, the side button unit 230 may move along the side of the main unit 210 about the rotation axis, and the movement sensor 250 may sense this movement. Therefore, the movement sensor 250 generates a detection signal and transmits it to the control unit 240 so that the user can operate the side button unit when playing a game. The side button unit 230 may be connected to a spring disposed between the main unit 210 and the main unit 210. Therefore, when the side button unit 230 moves from the initial position to the movement path, it can be designed to automatically return to the original position afterwards. In addition, since the movement sensor 250 and the control unit 240 are substantially the same as the first embodiment, and the functions and effects of the components are also substantially the same, the description and drawings of the previous embodiment will be referred to in the description of this embodiment. The repeated content may be omitted.

Example 3

FIG. 10 is a rear view illustrating a personal portable terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the personal portable terminal of FIG. 10.

10 and 11, the personal portable terminal includes a main unit 310, a side button unit 330, a control unit 340, and a push sensor 350.

The side button part 330 is formed at the left and right corners of the main part 310, and at least one may be provided. In this case, the side button part 330 is mounted to be partially exposed to the main part 310 and is movable toward the inside of the main part 310. Therefore, the mounting groove 310a may be cut and formed in the main part 310 to correspond to the shape of the side button part 330. In addition, an exposed portion of the side button portion 330 may be formed in an L-shape and mounted along an edge of the main portion 310.

And, the lower part of the side button portion 330 is fixed to the main portion 310, when the user presses the side button portion 330, the flow of the side button portion 330 is generated by the force toward the inside . Therefore, the detection signal may be generated by the push sensor 350 disposed adjacent the lower side of the side button unit 330. In this case, the push sensor 350 may be electrically connected to the control unit 340 to transmit a detection signal.

In addition, since the main part 310, the folder part, and the control part 340 are substantially the same as the first and second embodiments, and the functions and effects of the components are substantially the same, in the description of the present embodiment, Reference may be made to the description and drawings, and repeated content may be omitted.

Therefore, the personal handheld terminal according to the present invention has a side button portion formed at the left and right corners of the upper portion of the terminal body, so that the user can conveniently operate the finger by holding the terminal body. In this case, not only the thumb but also other fingers may be used at the same time to press the button, so that the portable terminal can be stably held, and at the same time, it can give the user a sense of fun holding the joystick of the game machine.

In addition, the number of buttons can be increased by attaching side button portions to the left and right corners of the personal portable terminal, thereby increasing the space utilization of the personal portable terminal. In addition, the side button unit may be designed in various ways such as a push button and a rotary button to be more convenient for a user to operate with a finger.

In addition, the side button unit is convenient because it can be used not only for games, but also for sending text messages. For example, a quick text input can be performed by adding a function of a space frequently used when inputting a text message to the side button unit.

As described above, although described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art various modifications and variations of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below I can understand that you can.

Claims (18)

Terminal body; Side button portions formed adjacent to left and right corners of the upper portion of the terminal body and partially exposed to the outside of the terminal body; And And a control unit mounted inside the main body of the terminal and controlling the operation of the side button unit. The method of claim 1, Personal terminal characterized in that the two side button portion is mounted symmetrically or asymmetrically on both sides of the terminal body. The method of claim 1, The terminal body further includes a movement sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the movement sensor detects movement of the side button unit, The side button unit has a rotation axis is formed in the center of the side button unit, the side button unit is rotated along the rotation axis, the movement sensor transmits a detection signal for detecting the rotation to the controller. terminal. The method of claim 1, The terminal body further includes a movement sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the movement sensor detects movement of the side button unit, The side button portion is formed at the end of the rotating shaft, the exposed portion of the side button portion is moved along the side of the main body of the terminal, the movement sensor transmits a detection signal for detecting the rotation to the control unit Mobile terminal. The method of claim 4, wherein Personal portable terminal, characterized in that the exposed portion of the side button portion is formed in the a-shape. The method of claim 1, The terminal body is electrically connected to the control unit, characterized in that it comprises a push sensor mounted inside the terminal body to be located below the side button unit. Main part; A slide part formed corresponding to the main part to slide in the main part; Side button parts formed adjacent to left and right corners of the upper part of the main part and partially exposed to the outside of the main part; And And a control unit mounted inside the main unit and controlling the operation of the side button unit. The method of claim 7, wherein The terminal body further includes a movement sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the movement sensor detects movement of the side button unit, The side button unit has a rotation axis is formed in the center of the side button unit, the side button unit is rotated along the rotation axis, the movement sensor transmits a detection signal for detecting the rotation to the controller. terminal. The method of claim 7, wherein The terminal body further includes a movement sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the movement sensor detects movement of the side button unit, The side button portion is formed at the end of the rotating shaft, the exposed portion of the side button portion moves along the side of the main portion, the movement sensor transmits a detection signal detecting the rotation to the control unit terminal. The method of claim 7, wherein The main unit is electrically connected to the control unit, characterized in that it comprises a push sensor mounted inside the main unit to be located below the side button unit. Main part; A folder unit formed corresponding to the main unit and mounted to be rotatable in the main unit; Side button parts formed adjacent to left and right corners of the upper part of the main part and partially exposed toward the outside of the main part; And And a control unit mounted inside the main unit and controlling the operation of the side button unit. The method of claim 11, The terminal body further includes a movement sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the movement sensor detects movement of the side button unit, The side button unit has a rotation axis is formed in the center of the side button unit, the side button unit is rotated along the rotation axis, the movement sensor transmits a detection signal for detecting the rotation to the controller. terminal. The method of claim 11, The terminal body further includes a movement sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the movement sensor detects movement of the side button unit, The side button portion is formed at the end of the rotating shaft, the exposed portion of the side button portion moves along the side of the main portion, the movement sensor transmits a detection signal detecting the rotation to the control unit terminal. The method of claim 11, And a main sensor electrically connected to the control unit and mounted in the main unit to be positioned below the side button unit. Providing side terminals formed adjacent to the left and right edges of the terminal body and the upper portion of the terminal body, and partially exposed to the outside of the terminal body; Inquiring whether a control unit opens the terminal body; Detecting the movement of the side button unit and generating a detection signal when the terminal body is opened; And And transmitting the detection signal to the control unit. The method of claim 15, The side button portion is a rotation axis is formed in the center portion, the side button portion control method of the personal portable terminal, characterized in that the circular rotation along the rotation axis. The method of claim 15, Rotation axis of the main portion is formed at the end of the side button portion, side button portion control method of the personal portable terminal, characterized in that for moving the exposed portion along the side of the terminal body. The method of claim 15, It is provided adjacent to the side button portion, and further comprises a push sensor for detecting that the side button portion is pressed into the inside of the terminal body, Personal terminal characterized in that for generating a detection signal by the push sensor Side button control method.

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