KR20070056831A - Mobile communication terminal equipped with rotatable key pad - Google Patents

Abstract

A folder-type mobile terminal having a rotary keypad is provided to enable a keypad to be horizontally rotated on the front side of a main body so that a user can enjoy a game while easily manipulating the keypad and direction keys. A folder-type mobile terminal comprises a cover(103), a cover hinge part, a main body, a rotary keypad(203), a main body hinge part, and a support part. The cover(103) includes a display unit at its front side. The cover hinge part is formed at the rear side of the cover(103). The main body includes direction keys at its front side. The rotary keypad(203), capable of being rotated, is installed on the front side of the main body. The main body hinge part is formed at the rear side of the main body. The support part connects the cover hinge part with the main body hinge part. A main hinge part is formed at one side of the support part.

Description

Mobile communication terminal with rotatable keypad {Mobile Communication Terminal Equipped with Rotatable Key Pad}

Figure 1a is a front view showing a state before the cover of the folding mobile communication terminal according to the prior art,

Figure 1b is a front view showing a state after the cover of the folding mobile communication terminal according to the prior art,

2A is a front view showing a front surface of a clamshell mobile communication terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2b is a rear view showing the back of the folder-type mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention

3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a keypad;

4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state after the keypad is rotated counterclockwise;

5 is a front view illustrating a state in which a keypad of a clamshell mobile communication terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention is rotated;

6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a clamshell mobile communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

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

101: display device 103: cover

105: main body 107: direction key

201: cover hinge portion 203: keypad

205: main body hinge portion 207: main hinge portion

209: support portion 211: receiver

213: microphone 215: antenna

300: keypad body 301: hinge axis

303: shaft support 305: upper locking jaw

305a: first upper locking jaw 305b: second upper locking jaw

307: lower jaw 309: operation button

313: first elastic member 315: flange portion

317: connecting portion 318: blocking jaw

319: second elastic member 601: drive gear

603: driven gear

The present invention relates to a clamshell mobile communication terminal. More specifically, the present invention relates to a foldable mobile communication terminal having a rotatable keypad for allowing a user to easily operate a direction key and a keypad so that the keypad of the main body rotates horizontally.

Conventional mobile communication terminals generally function as a voice call means, but as the information and communication industry has developed rapidly, mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs have a voice call function as well as games, Internet search, and e-mail ( Various functions such as receiving / sending of e-mails, remittances or payments through a bank account are added.

In particular, as the types of games that are embedded in mobile terminals or can be downloaded through the Internet are diversified, mobile terminals equipped with a large memory and a large display device can be used to play various games among young people who are interested in games. The demand for has increased.

In addition, in the past, there was a problem in that a liquid crystal screen having a vertically long rectangular display was used to implement a long screen left and right when producing a game in a game production company. This problem is solved by manufacturing a folding mobile communication terminal having a liquid crystal screen for a display device or a cover having a display device rotated horizontally.

1A and 1B are respectively a front view showing a state before the cover of the folding mobile communication terminal according to the prior art and a front view showing the state after the cover is rotated.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in the case of the folding type mobile communication terminal according to the related art, the cover 103 having the display device 101 on the front side is rotated horizontally through a rear hinge (not shown). Therefore, the user can enjoy the game with or without rotating the cover 103 according to the screen configuration of the game that he wants to.

The main body 105 of the clamshell mobile communication terminal according to the related art is provided with a direction key 107 for operating when selecting various menus and a keypad 109 for inputting numbers or letters.

On the other hand, when a user plays a game using a mobile communication terminal, by operating the direction key 107 to move the character in the game in a certain direction or change the game screen, while operating the keypad 109 various characters in the game Allows you to operate or select various menus. That is, the direction key 107 acts as a kind of joystick, and the keypad 109 acts as a kind of function button such as instructing attack and defense or showing the ability of a game character.

However, in a typical game machine, the joystick is located on the left side of the game machine and the function button is located on the right side of the game machine. That is, the joystick and the function button are arranged in the transverse direction. Therefore, the general user is accustomed to the method of playing the game by operating the function button with the right hand while operating the joystick with the left hand.

 However, in the conventional mobile communication terminal, since the direction keys 107 and the keypad 109 are disposed in the longitudinal direction, it is inconvenient for a user to enjoy the game while simultaneously operating the direction keys 107 and the keypad 109. Structure.

Therefore, the present invention has been invented to solve the above problems, by providing a foldable mobile communication terminal that allows the user to enjoy the game while easily operating the keypad and the keypad by rotating the keypad horizontally in front of the main body Its main purpose is to.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a cover having a display device on the front; A cover hinge portion formed on a rear surface of the cover; A main body having a direction key on the front; A keypad provided on the front surface of the main body and rotatable in a horizontal direction; A main body hinge portion formed on a rear surface of the main body; And a support part connecting the cover hinge part and the main body hinge part to have a main hinge part formed at one side thereof.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First of all, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used as much as possible even if displayed on different drawings. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2A is a front view showing a front surface of a foldable mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a front view showing a rear surface of a foldable mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a cover 103 having a display device 101 on the front surface and a cover formed on the rear surface of the cover 103. A hinge portion 201, a main body 105 having a directional key 107 on the front surface, a keypad 203 rotatably provided in the front direction of the main body 105 and rotatable in a horizontal direction, and a rear surface of the main body 105. The main hinge portion 205 and the cover hinge portion 201 and the body hinge portion 205 to be formed are connected to each other, the main hinge portion 207 is formed on one side is configured to include a support portion 209.

The cover 103 includes a display device 101 for outputting an image signal on a front surface thereof, and a receiver 211 for outputting an audio signal at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the top or bottom of the display device 101. do. Meanwhile, the receiver 211 may also function as a speaker so that a user can enjoy vivid stereo sound while playing a game.

The cover hinge portion 201 is formed on the rear surface of the cover 103 so that the cover 103 can rotate in the horizontal direction. Since the configuration and function of the cover hinge 201 is already known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The main body 105 is a direction key 107 for selecting various menus or moving a character or screen during a game, a microphone 213 for inputting an audio signal, an antenna 215 for communicating with a base station, and power supply. It is configured to include a battery (not shown) for.

The main body hinge portion 205 is formed on the rear surface of the main body 105 so that the main body 105 can rotate in the horizontal direction, the configuration and function of the main body hinge portion 205 is already known, so the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Let's do it.

The support part 209 has a main hinge part 207 so that the cover 103 can rotate at a predetermined angle with respect to the main body 105, but the cover hinge part 201 and the main body hinge part 205 are connected to each other so that the cover 103 103) and the main body 105 serves to firmly support.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the keypad 203.

As shown in FIG. 3, the keypad 203 includes a keypad body 300, a hinge shaft 301, a shaft support 303, an upper locking jaw 305, a lower locking jaw 307, and an operation button 309. It is configured to include.

The keypad body 300 has various keys on its upper surface so that a user can input a number or letter.

The hinge shaft 301 has a cylindrical shape with a constant diameter and extends downward from the center of the bottom of the keypad body 300.

The shaft support 303 is formed coaxially with the hinge shaft 301 and has a hollow shape such that the hinge shaft 301 is inserted in the axial direction. Meanwhile, a first elastic member 313 is provided inside the shaft support part 303 to apply an elastic force to the hinge shaft 301 in the axial direction.

Therefore, when the engagement of the upper locking jaw 305 and the lower locking jaw 307 that regulates the axial movement of the hinge shaft 301 is released, the hinge shaft 301 is the elastic force of the lower first elastic member 313 It protrudes upward in the axial direction.

When the hinge shaft 301 protrudes in this way, the user can rotate the keypad 203 while holding the keypad body 300. The first elastic member 313 may be a compression spring or a leaf spring, but is not limited thereto.

The upper locking jaw 305 is formed at a lower side of the flange portion 315 protruding radially from one side of the outer circumferential surface of the hinge shaft 301. When the upper locking jaw 305 is engaged with the lower locking jaw 307, the position of the keypad 203 is fixed, and when the engagement with the lower locking jaw 307 is released, the keypad 203 is hinge shaft 301 It can be rotated around.

On the other hand, even if the keypad 203 is moved upward in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 301 by the elastic force of the first elastic member 313 may be provided with a blocking jaw 318 that the flange portion 315 is caught to have a certain limit. have.

The operation button 309 is a device for moving the lower locking jaw 307 is coupled to the lower locking jaw 307 through the connection portion 317. The operation button 309 is preferably formed on the side of the body 105 and may be made of a plastic or rubber material.

The connecting portion 317 receives the axial elastic force from the second elastic member 319 so that the operation button 309 can be easily restored to its original position.

Meanwhile, in the process of restoring the operation button 309 to its original position by the elastic force of the second elastic member 319, a predetermined locking portion is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the operation button 309 so as to have a predetermined movement limit. ) Is preferably hooked inside the main body 105 so that the operation button 309 remains in its original position. As the second elastic member 319, a compression spring or a leaf spring can be used.

When the user pushes the operation button 309 in the radial direction of the hinge shaft 301, the lower locking jaw 307 is separated from the upper locking jaw 305 to release the engagement, and the hinge shaft 301 is formed of the first elastic member. The predetermined force moves upward in the axial direction by the elastic force of 313. Here, since the blocking jaw 318 suppresses further movement of the flange portion 315, the keypad body 300 protrudes a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the main body 105. As a result, the user can hold the keypad body 300 protruding in this way and rotate the keypad 203.

In addition, after the user completes the rotation of the keypad 203, when the keypad body 300 is pressed downward in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 301, the upper locking jaw 305 and the lower locking jaw 307 are engaged with each other. The position of 203 is fixed.

4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state after the keypad 203 is rotated counterclockwise.

As shown in FIG. 4, after the keypad 203 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, the first upper locking jaw 305a is engaged with the lower locking jaw 307. On the contrary, after the keypad 203 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise and restored to its original position, the second upper locking jaw 305b is engaged with the lower locking jaw 307.

Meanwhile, when the keypad 203 needs to be rotated about 30 degrees or 60 degrees from the original position according to the type of game that the user enjoys, the upper locking jaw 305 should be additionally formed at a position corresponding to each angle. .

5 is a front view illustrating a state in which a keypad of the clamshell mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is rotated.

As shown in FIG. 5, the direction key 107 and the keypad 203 in a state where the cover 103, the main body 105, and the keypad 203 of the clamshell mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention are rotated. ) Are laterally arranged.

Further, by rotating the keypad 203, each key is arranged in the same structure as a conventional mobile communication terminal.

Therefore, the user can conveniently enjoy the game by operating the direction key 107 with the left hand and the keypad 203 with the right hand.

6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a clamshell mobile communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the clamshell mobile communication terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a driving gear 601 is formed at one side of the main body hinge part 205 and a driving part is located below the keypad 203. A driven gear 603 is formed that meshes with the gear 601.

Therefore, when the user rotates the main body 105 to play a game, the keypad 203 also rotates according to the driving of the driving gear 601 and the driven gear 603. Likewise, when the user ends the game and restores the main body 105 to the original position, the keypad 203 is also restored to the original position.

Since the other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment of the present invention, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions and descriptions of operations are omitted.

The above description is merely illustrative of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to limit the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, the keypad is rotated horizontally in front of the main body, so that the user can easily enjoy the game while manipulating the direction keys and the keypad.

Claims (13)

A cover having a display device on a front surface thereof; A cover hinge portion formed on a rear surface of the cover; A main body having a direction key on the front; A keypad provided on the front surface of the main body and rotatable in a horizontal direction; A main body hinge portion formed on a rear surface of the main body; And A support portion connecting the cover hinge portion and the main body hinge portion and having a main hinge portion formed on one side thereof. Folder type mobile communication terminal comprising a. The method of claim 1, The keypad, Rotatable hinge axis; A hollow shaft support portion into which the hinge shaft is inserted; An upper locking jaw formed at one side of the hinge shaft; A lower locking jaw engaged with the upper locking jaw; And Operation button coupled to the lower locking jaw Folder type mobile communication terminal comprising a. The method of claim 2, A flange portion is formed radially in the radial direction from the hinge axis, The upper locking jaw is a clamshell mobile communication terminal, characterized in that formed on the lower side. The method of claim 3, wherein The upper latching jaw is two clamshell mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the two are formed at intervals of 90 degrees around the hinge axis. The method of claim 3, wherein Foldable mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the blocking jaw is formed on the upper side of the flange. The method of claim 2, A clamshell mobile communication terminal, characterized in that an elastic member is provided between the lower end of the hinge shaft and the inner bottom surface of the shaft support. The method of claim 6, The elastic member is a clamshell mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the compression spring. The method of claim 6, The elastic member is a folding type mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the leaf spring. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 8, The locking jaw is connected to the operation button through a connection portion, The connecting portion is a clamshell mobile communication terminal, characterized in that receiving an elastic force in the axial direction by the elastic member. The method of claim 9, The elastic member is a clamshell mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the compression spring. The method of claim 9, The elastic member is a folding type mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the leaf spring. The method of claim 2, The operation button is a mobile communication terminal, characterized in that made of plastic or rubber. The method of claim 1, One side of the main body hinge portion is formed with a drive gear, The keypad is a clamshell mobile communication terminal, characterized in that it comprises a driven gear meshing with the drive gear.

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