KR20090015692A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable terminal is provided to spare the mounting space of mounting parts by arranging a wheel on a number key area and arrange the other parts efficiently. A case forming the external appearance of a body(100) is formed by a front case(110) and a rear case(120). A display unit(111) includes an LCD(liquid crystal display) module, which visually expresses information, and an OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diodes) module. A first sound output part(112) is implemented in a form of a receiver or a speaker. A first image input part(113) is implemented in a form of a camera module for photographing an image and a moving picture of a user. A third manipulation part(114), a sound input part(115), an interface are arranged on one of the front case or the rear case. A first or third manipulation part is in a tactile manner which a user manipulates through tactile sensitivity. The interface is a path in which the portable terminal performs data switch with an external device.

Description

Mobile terminal {PORTABLE TERMINAL}

The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a wheel for inputting information by a rotation operation.

A portable terminal is a portable device that is portable and has one or more functions such as voice and video calling, information input and output, and data storage.

As the functions are diversified, for example, the mobile terminal has complex functions such as taking a picture or video, playing a music or video file, playing a game, and receiving a broadcast, and is realized in the form of a comprehensive multimedia player. It is becoming.

Many new attempts are being applied to these multimedia devices in terms of hardware or software to implement complex functions. For example, a user interface environment is provided for a user to search for or select a function easily and conveniently.

In addition, while a mobile terminal is regarded as a personal portable device for expressing its individuality, various designs are required.

As the functions of the terminals are diversified, various attempts have been made for the arrangement of the components mounted on the terminal in terms of increasing the parts mounted on the terminal and the terminal design.

The present invention is intended to diversify or streamline the arrangement of other components mounted on a portable terminal through a new arrangement of wheels and numeric keys.

In addition, the present invention is to provide a more convenient multimedia function to the user by maximizing the mounting space of the display of the mobile terminal.

A portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object is provided on a body, a numeric key area in which a plurality of numeric keys arranged in a predetermined form is installed, and is provided on the numeric key area, and is rotated. It includes a wheel for inputting information.

As an embodiment of the present invention, the wheel may include a wheel key that is formed in a ring shape and rotates, and a sensing unit that is disposed on the body and the wheel key to sense a rotational movement of the wheel key.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the numeric keys include a plurality of numeric key buttons, and switches mounted inside the body to correspond to the numeric key buttons and pressed by the numeric key buttons. The key buttons can configure the wheel key receiving portion to receive the wheel key.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit may include a magnet disposed on the rear of the wheel key, and a hall sensor disposed inside the body to detect relative movement of the magnet.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wheel key may be configured to operate as a numeric key of some of the numeric keys.

As an embodiment of the present invention, a spring may be mounted between the wheel key and the body to return the wheel key when the wheel key is rotated.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wheel key has a light-transmissive area, the rear surface of the wheel key may be a number printing surface fixed to the body is disposed.

As an embodiment of the present invention, one of the numeric keys may be disposed at the center of the wheel key.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wheel is a wheel key operated by a touch; And a touch pad mounted on a rear side of the wheel key to sense a touch applied to the wheel key.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the numeric keys and the wheel may be configured to be selectively activated by the user's selection.

The present invention can arrange the wheel in the numeric key area to save the mounting space of the mounting parts, thereby making it possible to efficiently or diversify the arrangement of other parts.

In addition, the present invention can provide a more convenient multimedia function to the user by maximizing the mounting space of the display, particularly of the mounting parts.

In addition, the present invention can be configured to selectively activate the numeric key and the wheel according to the user's selection can be performed at the same time the function of the numeric key and the wheel in a limited space.

1 is a front perspective view of an example of a mobile terminal according to the present invention;

The portable terminal of the present invention includes a body 100 constituting the appearance of the terminal.

Cases (casings, housings, covers, etc.) forming the exterior of the body 100 are formed by the front case 110 and the rear case 120. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed by the front case 110 and the rear case 120.

The cases may be formed by injecting synthetic resin or may be formed of a metal material, for example, a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The display unit 111, the first sound output unit 112, the first image input unit 113, and the first and second manipulation units 200 and 300 may be disposed in the body 100, specifically, the front case 110. .

The display unit 111 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) module, and the like that visually express information.

The display 111 may further include a touch screen to enable input of information by a user's touch.

The first sound output unit 112 may be implemented in the form of a receiver or a speaker.

The first image input unit 113 may be implemented in the form of a camera module for capturing an image or a video of a user.

A third manipulation unit 114, a sound input unit 115, and an interface 116 may be disposed in at least one of the front case 110 and the rear case 120.

The first to third manipulators 200, 300, and 114 may be collectively referred to as manipulating portions, and may be employed in any manner as long as the user is tactile in a tactile manner.

For example, the operation unit may be implemented as a dome switch or a touch screen that can receive a command or information by a user's push or touch operation, a touch pad, a wheel that rotates keys, a jog method, or a method such as a joystick. It can also be implemented as.

In functional terms, the first operation unit 200 is for inputting numbers, letters, symbols, etc., and the second operation unit 300 is for inputting commands such as start, end, scroll, and the like. In addition, the third manipulation unit 114 may operate as a hot-key that performs a special function such as activation of the first image input unit 113.

The sound input unit 115 may be implemented in the form of, for example, a microphone to receive a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.

The interface 116 serves as a passage for allowing a portable terminal related to the present invention to exchange data with an external device. For example, the interface 116 may be a wired or wireless connection, a connection terminal for connecting with an earphone, a port for short-range communication (for example, an infrared port (IrDA port), a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port) (wireless Lan port) etc.}, or at least one of power supply terminals for supplying power to the portable terminal.

The interface 116 may be a card socket for receiving an external card such as a subscriber identification module (SIM) or a user identity module (UIM), a memory card for storing information.

The power supply unit 121 for supplying power to the portable terminal is mounted on the rear case 120 side. The power supply 121 may be detachably coupled for charging, for example, as a rechargeable battery.

2 is a rear perspective view of the portable terminal of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second image input unit 122 may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the rear case 120. The second image input unit 122 may be a camera having a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the first image input unit 113 (see FIG. 1) and having different pixels from the first image input unit 113.

For example, the first video input unit 113 has a low pixel so that it is easy to take a picture of a user and transmit it to a counterpart in a video call, and the second video input unit 125 immediately photographs a general subject. It is preferable to have a high pixel because it is not transmitted in many cases.

The flash 123 and the mirror unit 124 are further disposed adjacent to the second image input unit 125. The flash 123 shines light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the second image input unit 122. The mirror unit 124 allows the user to see the user's own face or the like when photographing (self-photographing) the user by using the second image input unit 122.

The second sound output unit 125 may be further disposed on the rear case 120.

The second sound output unit 125 may implement a stereo function together with the first sound output unit 112 (refer to FIG. 1), and may be used for a call in the speakerphone mode.

In addition, an antenna 126 for receiving a broadcast signal may be disposed on one side of the rear case 120 in addition to an antenna for a call. The antenna 126 may be installed to be pulled out of the body 100.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the IV-IV line of the mobile terminal of FIG. 1.

The mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a numeric key region formed in the body 100 and a wheel 300 installed in the numeric key region. Hereinafter, the first operator 200 described with reference to FIG. 1 will be referred to as the numeric key 200 and the second operator 300 will be referred to as the wheel 300.

The numeric key area refers to an area in which the plurality of numeric keys 200 are arranged in a predetermined form.

The numeric keys 200 include a plurality of numeric key buttons 210 disposed to leak out of the body and switches 220 disposed inside the body 100.

Numeric key buttons 210 are respectively displayed a number for input of numeric information.

The printed circuit board 150 is mounted in the interior of the body 100, that is, the space between the front case 110 and the rear case 120, and the electronic components for operating various functions of the terminal are mounted on the printed circuit board 150. Is mounted.

The front of the printed circuit board 150 is equipped with switches 220 for inputting numerical information according to the pressing operation.

The front case 110 is provided with a hole-shaped key button mounting portion 116 corresponding to the numeric key buttons 210. As the number key buttons 210 are seated on the key button mounting unit 116 and the number key buttons 210 are pressed, the number key buttons 210 press the switch 220 so that the corresponding number information is input to the terminal. do. To this end, push protrusions 211 for pressing the switches 220 may be formed at the rear of the numeric key buttons 210.

The wheel 300 is for inputting information by a rotation operation and is disposed on the numeric key area.

The wheel 300 includes a wheel key 310 formed in a ring shape, and sensing units 321 and 322 disposed on the body 100 and the wheel key 310.

The wheel key mounting unit 330 is formed inside the key button mounting unit 116 formed on the front case 110, and the wheel key mounting unit 330 is fixed to the front case 110 by the support member 340. The support member 340 is disposed on the front case 110 so as not to cause interference with the pressing operation of the numeric key button 210. The wheel key mounting unit 330 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the wheel key 310, that is, in a ring shape.

The numeric key buttons 210 configure the wheel key receiver 230 having a circular hole shape to accommodate the wheel key 310. The wheel key receiving unit 230 may be formed in the shape of a circular hole having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the wheel key 310 to enable the rotation of the wheel key 310.

The wheel key 310 is mounted on the wheel key mounting unit 330 and operated by a rotational motion, and a plastic or metal material may be used as the material.

The wheel key mounting unit 330 may be formed with a guide slot 331 for guiding the rotational movement of the wheel key 310, the guide projection 311 is inserted into the guide slot 331 is moved to the rear of the wheel key 310 Can be formed. The end of the guide protrusion 311 may be formed larger than the width of the guide slot 331 so that the wheel key 310 is not separated from the wheel key mounting portion 339.

The sensing unit may include a magnet 321 attached to the rear surface of the wheel key 310 and a hall sensor 322 disposed on the printed circuit board 150.

The magnet 321 may be formed in a ring shape and attached to the rear of the wheel key 310, and the hall sensor 322 may be mounted in the rotational movement section of the magnet 321 in the printed circuit board 150. The hall sensor 322 is a sensor that detects a magnetic field generated from the magnet 321. The hall sensor 322 detects a rotation position of the wheel key 310 to which the magnet 322 is attached.

The wheel key 310 may be configured to enable information input not only by the rotational movement but also by pressing. The push member 312 may be disposed on the rear surface of the wheel key 310 to enable a pressing operation of the wheel key 310. A wheel switch 350 may be mounted at a position where the wheel 300 is disposed on the printed circuit board 150, and a push protrusion 313 may be formed at the push member 312 to push the wheel switch 350. The four wheel switches 350 may be disposed in the up, down, left, and right directions of the wheel key 310 as in the present exemplary embodiment, and a corresponding region of the wheel key 310 may be pressed to input information.

One of the numeric keys 210 may be disposed at the center of the wheel key 310. For example, as shown in the present embodiment, a numeric key 215 marked with the number '5' may be disposed at the center of the wheel key 310.

The numeric key 215 on which the number '5' is displayed may function not only to input numerical information but also to operate a menu selected by the rotation of the wheel key 310.

As the wheel key 310 rotates, the display 111 may display that the menu selection is moved. Here, in order to operate the selected menu or to move to a lower menu of the selected menu, the numeric key 215 having the number '5' is pressed. The switching between the function of inputting a number and the function of operating the selected menu may be performed manually by operating the third operation unit 114, or may be configured to be automatically performed in a specific mode.

5 is a front view of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile terminal of FIG.

The portable terminal according to the present invention includes a body 100, a numeric key region in which the plurality of numeric keys 200 are installed in the body 100, and a wheel 300 installed on the numeric key region.

Except for the wheel 300 of the portable terminal of the present embodiment, the configuration is the same as the previous embodiment, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations.

The wheel 300 includes a wheel key 310 formed in a ring shape, and a sensing unit disposed on the body 100 and the wheel key 310, and the wheel key 310 is a numeric key of some of the numeric keys 210. It may be configured to be operable as 210.

The key button mounting portion 116 formed on the front case 110 is provided with a wheel key mounting portion 330 fixed to the body 100. The wheel key mounting unit 330 is provided with a guide slot 331 for guiding the rotational movement of the wheel key 310. In addition, the wheel key mounting unit 330 is provided with a numeric printing surface 335 for input of numeric information. On the number printing surface 335, the numbers '2, 4, 6, 8' may be displayed as in the present embodiment.

The support member 340 supporting the wheel key mounting unit 330 may be configured to move the wheel key mounting unit 330 in the front and rear directions of the body 100 so that the wheel key 310 may be pressed. The support member 340 may be formed of an elastic material, for example, may be formed of a metal material.

Like the previous embodiment, the wheel key 310 is formed with a guide protrusion 311 (see FIG. 4), and the wheel key 310 rotates as the guide protrusion 311 is inserted into the guide slot 331 and moved. The wheel key 310 has a light-transmissive area so that the number displayed on the number printing surface 335 is visible, and may be formed of, for example, a transparent material.

The printed circuit board 150 is provided with switches 220 for inputting numeric information, and as the numeric key buttons 210 are pressed, the switches 220 are pressed to input numeric information. Here, some of the switches 220 for inputting numerical information may be pressed by the wheel key 310. For example, as in the present embodiment, the number corresponding to '2, 4, 6, 8' may be inputted by pressing the wheel key 310 as the numeric information is input.

In the present embodiment, since the wheel key 310 has a light transmitting area, the numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8 printed on the number printing surface 335 remain fixed even when the wheel key 310 is rotated. . Accordingly, information corresponding to the switch 120 mounted on the printed circuit board 150 may be input regardless of the rotation position of the wheel key 310.

On the other hand, the numeric keys 200 and the wheel 300 in this embodiment can be selectively activated according to the user's selection. Switching of the activation of the numeric keys 200 (hereinafter referred to as 'numeric key mode') and the activation of the wheel 300 (hereinafter referred to as 'wheel mode') may be achieved by the operation of the third operation unit 114, It may be made of.

When the user wants to input the numeric information, the user can input the numeric information by operating the third operation unit 114 to activate the numeric key mode and then pressing and operating the numeric keys 200. In addition, when selecting or operating a menu displayed on the display 111, the function may be performed by activating the wheel mode and rotating the wheel key 310.

7 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The portable terminal of the present embodiment also includes a body 100, a numeric key region in which the numeric keys 200 are disposed, and a wheel 300 installed on the numeric key region, as in the previous embodiments.

The wheel key 310 may be configured to be operable as a numeric key button 210 of some of the numeric key buttons 210 as in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

A plurality of numbers may be displayed on the wheel key 310, and for example, numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8 may be displayed as in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, unlike the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, numbers are directly displayed on the wheel key 310.

A spring 350 may be mounted between the wheel key 310 and the wheel key mounting part 330 fixed to the body 100 to return the wheel key 310 to its original position as the wheel key 310 is rotated. Since the wheel key 310 is directly displayed on the wheel key 310, the wheel key 310 may be configured to return the wheel key 310 to its original position in order to input the preset information.

8 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a structure for returning the wheel key 310 to its original position.

First and second locking protrusions 361 and 362 are formed on the rear surface of the wheel key 310. In FIG. 8, only the first and second locking protrusions 361 and 362 are illustrated for the sake of convenience.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the wheel key mounting unit 330 is equipped with first and second springs 351 and 352. The first and second springs 351 and 352 may be formed in the form of a wire having a parabolic shape, and the first and second springs 351 and 352 may be disposed to catch the first and second catching protrusions 361 and 362, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 8B, when the wheel key 310 is rotated in the A direction, the first locking projection 361 is caught by the first spring 351, and thus, the first spring 351 is in the A direction. Deformation will occur. Since the first spring 351 is deformed back to the original position by the elastic force of the first spring 351, the first catching protrusion 361 is moved back to the original position while being caught by the first spring 351. Therefore, if the rotational force is applied to the wheel key 310 in the A direction and the rotational force is not applied after the rotation in the A direction, the wheel key 310 is rotated back to its original position by the elastic force of the first spring 351.

As illustrated in FIG. 8C, when the wheel key 310 is formed in the B direction, the configuration in which the second locking protrusion 362 is caught by the second spring 352 is the same as that of FIG. 8B. Will be omitted.

Although the wheel 300 of the above-described embodiments has been described based on the case in which the wheel key 310 is directly rotated to input information, the wheel 300 according to the present invention may be configured to be rotated by a touch. For this configuration, the wheel 300 may include a wheel key that is rotated by a touch and a touch pad mounted on a rear surface of the wheel key, that is, a printed circuit board to sense a touch applied to the wheel key.

The portable terminal is not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described above, but the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made.

1 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal of FIG.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the portable terminal of FIG. 1;

5 is a front view of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile terminal of FIG. 5;

7 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a conceptual view for explaining a structure for returning a wheel key to its original position.

Claims (13)

body; A numeric key area in which a plurality of numeric keys arranged in a predetermined shape are installed in the body; And And a wheel provided on the numeric key area to input information by a rotation operation. The method of claim 1, wherein the wheel A wheel key formed in a ring shape and rotating; And And a sensing unit disposed on the body and the wheel key to sense a rotational movement of the wheel key. The method of claim 2, wherein the numeric keys, A plurality of numeric key buttons; And A switch mounted inside the body to correspond to the numeric key buttons and pressed by the numeric key buttons; And the numeric key buttons configure a wheel key receiving unit to receive the wheel key. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensing unit, A magnet disposed at the rear of the wheel key; And a hall sensor disposed inside the body to sense relative movement of the magnet. The method of claim 4, wherein And a substrate to which the switches and the hall sensor are fixed is disposed in the body. The method of claim 5, And the wheel key is configured to be pressed, and wherein the substrate is equipped with a wheel switch pressed by the wheel key to input information. The method of claim 2, And the wheel key is configured to be operable as a numeric key of some of the numeric keys. The method of claim 7, wherein Switches are installed inside the body for input of numeric information, And some of the number switches are pressed by the wheel key. The method of claim 7, wherein And a spring mounted between the wheel key and the body to return the wheel key when the wheel key is rotated. The method of claim 7, wherein The wheel key has a light transmitting area, And a numeric printing surface fixed to the body at the rear of the wheel key. The method of claim 2, And one of the numeric keys is disposed at the center of the wheel key. The method of claim 1, wherein the wheel, A wheel key operated by a touch; And And a touch pad mounted on a rear side of the wheel key to sense a touch applied to the wheel key. The method of claim 1, The numeric key and the wheel is selectively activated by the user's selection.

Images