KR20070014835A - Portable wireless terminal with extension keypad - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable terminal having an extension keypad is provided to prepare the special extension keypad, sliding toward the outside of the portable terminal, in a lower part of the portable terminal so that a user is able to conveniently execute chatting and games. A portable terminal(10) comprises the followings: a main body(200) having a main keypad(210); a display unit(100) which is prepared on an upper side of the main body(200) to open/close the main keypad(210) and has a display(110) for displaying inputted/outputted data; and an extension keypad unit which is installed in a lower side of the main body(200) and slides toward outside of the main body(200) and has sub keypads(310a,310b) for inputting data. The extension keypad unit comprises the followings: the first extension keypad unit(300a) sliding toward one side of the main body(200); and the second extension keypad(300b) unit which slides toward the other side of the main body(200).

Description

Portable Wireless Terminal with Extension Keypad

1 is a perspective view showing a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a simplified diagram showing an operating lever of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side view showing a state in which the expansion keypad unit is inserted in the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a side view showing a state in which the extended keypad unit is drawn out from the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a perspective view showing a portable terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

** Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings **

10: portable terminal 100: display unit

200: main body 210: main keypad

230: slide rail 232: center support end

234: rail fixed end 250: operating lever

300a: first expansion keypad 300b: second expansion keypad

320a: first slide clip 320b: second slide clip

The present invention relates to a portable terminal including a cellular phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a HHP (Hand Held Phone), and the like, and more particularly, an expansion keypad that is slid and expanded in a main body of the portable terminal. It relates to a portable terminal provided.

The term "portable terminal" in a conventional concept refers to an electronic device that a user can carry and perform wireless communication with a counterpart. Such portable terminals have been in the trend of miniaturization, slimming, grip, and light weight in consideration of portability, and are moving toward a multimediaization direction for pursuing more various functions.

In particular, portable terminals will be increasingly used for miniaturization, light weight, multifunction, and versatility, and are being adapted to various multimedia environments and the Internet environment. In addition, the portable terminal is an electronic device commonly used anywhere in the world, men and women, and is being recognized as a necessity to carry around at all times.

Conventional portable terminals are classified into various types in appearance. For example, depending on the appearance, it is classified as a bar-type, flip-type, or folder-type terminal.

The bar-type terminal refers to a terminal in which a single housing is configured as a bar-type, and the flip-type terminal refers to a terminal in which a flip is rotatably coupled by a hinge device to the bar-type housing. By a single bar-shaped housing means a terminal rotatably connected by a hinge device and configured in a folding manner.

In addition, the portable terminal may be classified into a rotation-type or sliding-type terminal according to an opening and closing method. The variously classified terminals listed above will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned conventional portable terminals are essentially provided with a data input and output device. Of course, as a data input device, a keypad for inputting data mainly by a finger pressing operation is commonly used, and a touch pad or a touch screen is also used.

In general, a keypad used for data input consists of an arrangement of a plurality of keys. These keys consist of numeric keys, letter keys, send keys, end keys, function keys, and the like. In addition, the keys are usually arranged in place in the number of about 15 to 20 on the upper surface of the housing of the portable terminal. Of course, the keys are exposed from the upper surface so that the user inputs the desired data by pressing a finger.

However, there is an increasing demand for informatization, and in reality, complicated data input operation is inconvenient with the number of keys under the Internet environment, multimedia environment, and game environment.

However, the housing of the conventional portable terminal has been pursuing miniaturization and light weight, and since the overall size of the housing is gradually decreasing, it is difficult to extend the mounting number of keys indefinitely. In order to solve this problem, conventionally, a voice recognition device is used or an external data input device is separately purchased and used.

However, in the end, the number of mounting of keys increases in order to pursue a complicated data input operation, thereby increasing the overall size of the housing of the conventional portable terminal, thereby causing a problem of deterioration in portability.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, by having a pair of expansion keypad slides to both sides of the main body having an expansion keypad that can give more convenience to data input than conventional portable terminals The purpose is to provide a portable terminal.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal having an expansion keypad that can cope with various multimedia environments.

A portable terminal having an expansion keypad according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the main keypad is provided; A display unit provided to open and close the main keypad to an upper side of the main body, and a display unit indicating data input / output; And an expansion keypad unit which is slidably moved outwardly of the main body to the lower side of the main body and provided with an auxiliary keypad for inputting data.

Here, the expansion keypad part preferably includes a first expansion keypad part that slides in one direction of the main body, and a second expansion keypad part that slides in the other direction of the main body.

In addition, a slide rail is provided at an inner lower portion of the main body, a through slit penetrating the main body is formed at a lower portion of the slide rail, and the slide rail is movable through the through slit at an upper side of the expansion keypad. It is preferable that a slide clip is provided to be coupled.

In addition, the slide rail is provided with an elastic member for elastically supporting the slide clip in the outward direction of the main body, protrudes out of the main body to limit the movement of the slide clip elastically supported by the elastic member, It is preferable that an operating lever for releasing the movement restriction of the slide clip is provided.

In addition, the operating lever, the pressing portion protruding to the outside of the main body; An elastic member elastically supporting the pressing portion to the outside of the main body; Extending from the pressing portion is mounted to the slide clip, it is preferable to have a locking step to release the mounting of the slide clip when the pressing portion is pressed.

In addition, the display unit is preferably hinged to the upper side of the main body rotatably in a direction orthogonal to the slide movement direction of the expansion keypad.

In addition, the main body has a hinge coupling end formed on the upper side of the main body, and a hinge hinge rotatably hinged to the hinge coupling end, the display unit in the rotational direction of the rotating hinge coupled to the hinge coupling end It is preferable to be coupled to the pivoting hinge portion so as to be rotatable in a direction perpendicular to it.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a portable terminal having an expansion keypad according to the present invention.

In the following description of the present invention, the terms defined are defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and should not be understood as a meaning of limiting the technical components of the present invention. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or well-known structures related to the present invention will be omitted in order not to obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view showing a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 4 is a simplified view showing the operating lever of the portable terminal, Figure 4 is a side view showing a state in which the expansion keypad is inserted in the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention It is a side view which shows the state which an extended keypad part was drawn out.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable terminal 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main keypad 210 for inputting universal data (data such as a phone number, a shortcut key, a call initiation, and a call end). The main body 200, which is rotatably provided in the main body 200, a display unit 100 that opens and closes the main keypad 210, and displays data input and output, and an outer side of the main body 200 provided below the main body 200. And a pair of first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b that slide in the direction.

The display unit 100 is provided with a display device 110 indicating the data input and transmitted and received through the main keypad 210 is provided in the main body 200, the display device 110 is a conventional liquid crystal display device (liquid crystal digital: LCD) or the like.

The main body 200 has a main keypad including a plurality of keys (for example, numeric keys, letter keys, send keys, end keys, function keys, etc.) for inputting data for using the portable terminal 10 on an upper surface thereof. 210 is provided, and a hinge portion 220 to which the display unit 100 is rotatably coupled is provided at one side of the outer circumferential surface.

Here, the hinge portion 220 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 200 in a direction orthogonal to the slide movement directions of the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b, and the display unit 100 is the hinge portion ( 220 is rotatably coupled.

Hereinafter, a partial cross-sectional view shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 5 will be described. A lower portion of the main body 200 is provided with a pair of first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b slidably coupled to the main body 200 in a symmetrical direction. A slide rail 230 is provided to support the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b in a slidable manner.

Both ends of the slide rail 230 are fixed to a pair of rail fixing ends 234 provided at both ends of the inner side of the main body 200, and the center of the slide rail 230 is supported at the center of the slide rail 230. The central support end 232 is provided.

Here, the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b of the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b to be described later are provided on both sides of the central support end 232 supporting the slide rail 230 toward the outside of the main body. A pair of elastically supporting first and second elastic members 236a and 236b are provided. The slide rail 230 may be provided in one or more pairs parallel to the slide transfer direction of the first and second expansion keypads 300a and 300b.

In addition, the lower surface of the main body 200 is a position corresponding to the slide rail 230 with respect to the center support end 232 of the slide rail 230 provided inside the main body 200. The first and second slide slits 240a and 240b to which the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b of 300a and 300b are inserted are moved, respectively.

In addition, an operation lever 250 mounted on one side of the outer circumferential surface of the main body 200 to be mounted on the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b to limit the movement of the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b is provided.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation lever 250 is provided with a pressing part 252 protruding to the outside of the main body 200 and a locking end 256 extending from the pressing part 252, and the locking end 256. The first and second catching jaws 257a and 257b mounted on the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b are formed at both sides of the first side, and the first and second catching jaws 257a and 257b are formed on the outer surfaces of the first and second catching jaws 257a and 257b. The first and second inclined surfaces 258a and 258b are further formed such that the two slide clips 320a and 320b are easily mounted on the first and second locking jaws 257a and 257b.

The actuating lever 250 has a first and second locking jaws 257a and 257b formed on the locking end 256 by a separate lever elastic member 254 mounted on the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b. It is elastically supported in the direction.

Hereinafter, the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and partial cross-sectional views shown in FIGS. 4 to 5.

The first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b are adjacent to the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b and the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b that are coupled to the main body 200. The first and second auxiliary keypads 310a and 310b are provided to be exposed to the outside of the main body 200 when the two expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b are drawn out of the main body 200.

Here, the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b may be inserted into the first and second slide slits 240a and 240b and coupled to slide both ends of the slide rail 230. 320b) is provided, and the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b are provided in the number corresponding to the number of slide rails 230 provided in the main body.

In addition, the first and second auxiliary keypads 310a and 310b formed in the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b may include direction buttons indicating a direction in the case of a portable terminal to which a game function is added and a game to be played. It may be provided with an applied function key.

In addition, in the case of a portable terminal to which the Internet and a communication function are added, the QWERTY type key array and the Korean double key type key array may be divided into first and second auxiliary keypads.

However, the functions of the first and second auxiliary keypads 310a and 310b provided in the first and second expansion keypad units 300a and 300b are not limited, and keys having various functions added according to the functions of the portable terminal 10. This can be arranged.

Accordingly, the operation of the portable terminal 10 having the expansion keypad according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 5. Each of the elements mentioned below should be understood with reference to the above description and FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the initial state of the portable terminal 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b provided at the lower part of the main body 200. Maintain the state moved inward.

At this time, the movement of the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b drawn in the inner direction of the main body 200 is limited by the operation lever 250 provided in the main body 200 (see FIG. 3).

That is, the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b of the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b slidably coupled to the slide rail 230 provided inside the main body 200 are operated by the lever 250. The movement of the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b is limited by maintaining the mounted state by the first and second locking jaws 257a and 257b.

Here, the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b of the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b whose movements are limited by the operation lever 250 are provided on the slide rail 230 to provide a central support end 232. The first and second elastic members 236a and 236b are supported by a predetermined elastic force in the outward direction of the main body 200, respectively.

At this time, in order to use the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b of the portable terminal 10, when the user presses the pressing portion 252 of the operation lever 250, the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b are used. The first and second locking jaws 257a and 257b, which restrict the movement of the first and second slide clips of), to the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b of the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a and 300b. Departure

Here, when the first and second locking jaws 257a and 257b of the actuating lever 250 are separated from the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b, the center supporting ends 232 and the first and second of the slide rails 230 may be separated. The first and second elastic members 236a and 236b provided between the slide clips 320a and 320b exert an elastic force so that the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b move outwardly of the main body 200. .

The first and second slide clips 320a and 320b elastically supported by the first and second elastic members 236a and 236b are moved outwardly of the main body 200, and thus the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b. The first and second auxiliary keypads 310a and 310b are exposed to the outside of the main body 200 to be usable.

Subsequently, when the user completes the use of the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b and moves the first and second expansion keypad parts 300a and 300b in the inward direction of the main body, the first and second expansion keypad parts. First and second elastic members 236a and 236b having first and second slide clips 320a and 320b of 300a and 300b provided between the central support end 232 and the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b. It is moved inwardly of the main body 200 while overcoming the elastic force of).

Subsequently, the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b of the first and second extended keypad portions 300a and 300b are moved to press the first and second inclined surfaces 258a and 258b of the operation lever 250. The locking end 256 having the first and second inclined surfaces 258a and 258b pressed by the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b moves in a direction spaced apart from the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b. do.

The first and second slide clips 320a and 320b are mounted by the first and second locking jaws 257a and 257b formed on the locking end 256. That is, the operating lever 250 having the locking end 256 is formed in the direction in which the first and second locking jaws 257a and 257b are mounted on the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b by the lever elastic member 254. It is elastically supported to fix the first and second slide clips 320a and 320b.

Hereinafter, a portable terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In describing other embodiments of the present invention, the description of the same configurations and known configurations as those of the embodiment of the present invention will be omitted.

6 is a perspective view showing a portable terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention is that the coupling state of the main body 200 and the display unit 100 illustrated in an embodiment of the present invention is different, typically the portable terminal illustrated in the embodiment is a wide-fold method (wide- folder type), and the portable terminal shown in another embodiment of the present invention is called a swivel-folder type.

As shown, the portable terminal 10 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 200 ′ provided with a main keypad 210 ′ and a main keypad (not shown) above the main body 200 ′. ) And a rotating hinge part 262 provided between the main body 200 'and the display part 100' and rotatably supported by the display part 100 '. ) And a pair of first and second expansion keypad portions 300a 'and 300b' provided below the main body 200 'and slidably moved in an outward direction of the main body 200'.

On one side of the upper outer peripheral surface of the main body 200 ′ is formed a hinge coupling end 260 is hinged rotatably coupled to one side of the rotating hinge portion 262, the other side of the hinge coupling end 260 is a rotating hinge portion 262 The display unit 100 ′ is coupled to be rotatable in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of. The display unit 100 'is provided to be folded to the main body 200' such that the front or rear surface of the display unit 100 'is exposed to the outside.

In addition, since the first and second expansion keypad portions 300a 'and 300b' provided below the main body 200 'are the same as those shown and described in one embodiment of the present invention, description thereof will be omitted.

Although described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments of the present invention as described above, those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims Various modifications may be made to the invention. Therefore, changes in the future embodiments of the present invention will not be able to escape the technology of the present invention.

As described above, according to the portable terminal having an expansion keypad according to the present invention, by providing a separate expansion keypad that slides to the outside of the portable terminal in the lower portion of the portable terminal, the user is more convenient to conduct chats, games It can work.

In addition, by providing a separate expansion keypad that slides to the outside of the portable terminal in the lower portion of the portable terminal, there is an effect that can enter the data more conveniently in the portable terminal is becoming smaller.

Claims (7)

A main body provided with a main keypad; A display unit provided to open and close the main keypad to an upper side of the main body, and a display unit indicating data input / output; And A portable terminal, comprising: an expansion keypad unit which is slidably moved outwardly of the main body to a lower side of the main body, and an auxiliary keypad for inputting data is provided. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion keypad unit A first expansion keypad part which slides in one direction of the main body; And a second expansion keypad portion which is slidably moved in the other direction of the main body. The method of claim 1, A slide rail is provided at an inner lower portion of the main body, and a through slit penetrating the main body is formed at a lower portion of the slide rail. And a slide clip provided at an upper side of the expansion keypad so as to be slidably coupled to the slide rail through the through slit. The method of claim 3, The slide rail is provided with an elastic member for elastically supporting the slide clip in the outward direction of the main body, And a working lever protruding outward from the main body to limit movement of the slide clip elastically supported by the elastic member, and to release movement limitation of the slide clip when pressed. The method of claim 4, wherein the operating lever, A pressing part protruding to the outside of the main body; An elastic member elastically supporting the pressing portion to the outside of the main body; And And a locking jaw extending from the pressing unit to mount the slide clip and the mounting of the slide clip is released when the pressing unit is pressed. The method of claim 1, wherein the display unit, And a hinge coupled to an upper side of the main body to be rotatable in a direction orthogonal to a slide moving direction of the expansion keypad. The method of claim 1, The main body has a hinge coupling end formed on the upper side of the main body, and a rotating hinge portion hinged to the hinge coupling end rotatably, The display unit is a portable terminal, characterized in that coupled to the rotating hinge portion rotatably in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the rotating hinge portion coupled to the hinge coupling end.

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