KR20090086869A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable terminal which destroyed steadily operates including an electronic device is provided to limit an electric component is transformed and be formed to a cover which covers the electronic device. A cover(100) accommodates a glass and a driving device(13c). A main surface(110) forms a deformation restriction unit(200). THE deformation restriction unit reinforces the bending strength of the cover. A protrusion unit is formed in the main surface. The portable terminal which destroyed steadily operates including an electronic device.

Description

Mobile terminal {PORTABLE TERMINAL}

The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a mechanism for preventing deformation of an electronic device.

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

As the functions are diversified, for example, the portable terminal is implemented in the form of a multimedia player having complex functions such as taking a picture or a video, playing a music or a video file, playing a game, or receiving a broadcast.

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

In addition, the electronic device used to provide the environment to be protected from the impact of falling of the terminal, etc. should also be considered in order to provide a stable environment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal having an electronic element deformation limiting means of a form different from the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the electronic device to operate stably without being deformed or destroyed by an impact or the like.

A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object includes a main body, a cover, and a deformation limiter. The main body is provided with a plurality of electronic elements for inputting and / or outputting information. One or more of these electronic elements are combined with a cover that encloses them. The cover may be a metal plate. The cover is provided with a strain limiting portion for limiting or alleviating the deformation of the electronic device wrapped therein.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the deformation limiting portion is a reinforcing portion for reinforcing the bending strength of the cover, and is formed on one side or both sides of the cover. The reinforcement portion includes at least one protrusion that protrudes from one side thereof.

The protrusion may have a protruding shape as the surface opposite to the one surface is pressed and concave. It is preferable for the protection of the electronic device that the protrusion extends along the longitudinal direction of the electronic device to be susceptible to deformation along the direction crossing the longitudinal direction.

According to another aspect of the invention, the reinforcement is a reinforcement plate attached to one side of the cover.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the electronic device is a display module, and the deformation limiting part is formed in an area corresponding to the driving device of the display module to protect the driving device susceptible to deformation.

The portable terminal according to the present invention having the above-described configuration includes a deformation limiting portion formed on the cover, thereby alleviating or preventing the occurrence of a failure by the electronic element being deformed or damaged by an external impact.

As the deformation limiter is configured to reinforce the flexural strength of the cover, the deformation of the cover is limited, thereby limiting the electronics or deformations that are wrapped by it.

When the deformation limiting portion is formed to protrude from the cover, the deformation limiting portion can be processed together while the cover is processed. This has the advantage of increasing the convenience of processing and does not require a separate member.

Hereinafter, a portable terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar configurations in different embodiments, and the description thereof is replaced with the first description.

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

The portable terminal of the present invention includes a first body 10 and a second body 20 configured to be slidable in at least one direction on the first body 10. The first and second bodies 10 and 20 may be collectively referred to as a main body.

A state in which the first body 10 is disposed to overlap the second body 20 may be referred to as a closed configuration, and as shown in the drawing, the first body 10 may be referred to as the second body 20. The exposed state of at least a portion of the N may be referred to as an open configuration.

The portable terminal operates mainly in the standby mode in a closed state, but the standby mode may be released by a user's operation. In addition, although the portable terminal operates mainly in a call mode or the like in an open state, the portable terminal may be switched to a standby mode by a user's operation or a lapse of a predetermined time.

The case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) forming the exterior of the first body 10 is formed by the front case 11 and the rear case 12. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed by the front case 11 and the rear case 12. At least one intermediate case may be further disposed between the front case 11 and the rear case 12. The cases may be formed by injecting a 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 13, the audio output unit 14, the first image input unit 15, or the first manipulation unit 16 may be disposed on the first body 10, specifically, the front case 11.

The display unit 13 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) module, and the like that visually express information. The display unit 13 may further include a touch screen to enable input of information by a user's touch.

The sound output unit 14 may be implemented in the form of a receiver or a speaker. The first image input unit 15 may be implemented in the form of a camera module for capturing an image or a video of a user.

The first manipulation unit 16 receives a command for controlling the operation of the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Like the first body 10, the front case 21 and the rear case 22 may form a case of the second body 20.

The second manipulation unit 23 may be disposed on the front surface of the second body 20, specifically, the front case 21.

The third manipulation unit 24, the first sound input unit 25, and the interface 26 may be disposed on at least one of the front case 21 and the rear case 22.

The first to third manipulation units 16, 23, and 24 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, or a wheel or jog method that rotates a key, or a manipulation method such as a joystick. Or the like.

In functional terms, the first operation unit 16 is for inputting commands such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the second operation unit 23 is for inputting numbers, letters, symbols, and the like. In addition, the third manipulation unit 24 may operate as a hot-key that performs a special function such as activation of the first image input unit 15.

The first sound input unit 25 may be implemented in the form of, for example, a microphone to receive a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.

The interface 26 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 26 may be wired or wireless, and a connection terminal for connecting to 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), or at least one of power supply terminals for supplying power to the mobile terminal. The interface 26 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.

On the rear case 22 side, a power supply unit 27 for supplying power to the portable terminal is mounted. The power supply unit 27 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 28 may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the rear case 22 of the second body 20. The second image input unit 28 may be a camera having a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the first image input unit 15 (see FIG. 1) and having different pixels from the first image input unit.

For example, the first image input unit 15 has a low pixel so that the user's face is photographed and transmitted to the counterpart in case of a video call, and the second image input unit 28 immediately photographs a general subject. It is preferable to have a high pixel because it is not transmitted in many cases.

The flash 29 and the mirror unit 30 are further disposed adjacent to the second image input unit 28. The flash 29 emits light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the second image input unit 28. The mirror unit 30 allows the user to see his / her own face or the like when the user wants to photograph himself (self-photographing) by using the second image input unit 28.

The second sound output unit 31 may be further disposed on the lower cover 22. The second sound output unit 31 may implement a stereo function together with the first sound output unit 14 (see FIG. 1), and may be used for a call in a speakerphone mode.

In addition, an antenna 32 for receiving a broadcast signal may be disposed on one side of the lower cover 22 in addition to an antenna for a call or the like. The antenna 32 may be installed to be pulled out from the second body 20.

A portion of the slide module 33 that slidably couples the first body 10 and the second body 20 to the rear case 12 side of the first body 10 is disposed. The other part of the slide module 33 may be disposed on the front case 21 side of the second body 20, and may not be exposed to the outside as shown in the drawing.

In the above description, the second image input unit 28 is disposed on the second body 20, but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, at least one or more of the components 28 to 32 described as disposed on the lower cover 22, such as the second image input unit 28, may be disposed on the first body 10, mainly the lower cover 12. It is also possible to be mounted. If so, there is an advantage that the configuration (s) arranged in the lower cover 12 in the closed state are protected by the second body 20. In addition, even if the second image input unit 28 is not separately provided, the first image input unit 15 may be rotatably formed so that the image capturing direction of the second image input unit 28 can be taken.

3 is an exploded perspective view showing the first body 10 of FIG.

The display unit 13 and the operation circuit 16 ′ are disposed between the front case 11 and the rear case 12.

The display unit 13 externally transmits a light-transmissive window 13a coupled to the front case 11, a glass 13b for generating visual information as a display module, a drive element 13c, and a drive element 13c. And a connection circuit (13d) for connecting with.

The window 13a occupies an area corresponding to the glass 13b, and the visual information displayed through the glass 13b is recognized from the outside while protecting the glass 13b from the outside.

The glass 13b and the driving element 13c are wrapped by the cover 100. The cover 100 forms a plate shape and is preferably formed of a metal material having a thin thickness as compared with high strength.

The operation circuit 16 ′ receives a signal according to the operation of the first operation unit 16 and is electrically connected to the internal circuit of the second body 20. The operation circuit 16 'is also electrically connected to the connection circuit 13d.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the display unit 13 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an opposite side of the cover 100 of FIG. 4.

The cover 100 has a main surface 110 which receives the glass 13b and the drive element 13c and faces their main surface. The side surface 120 protrudes from the edge of the main surface 110.

The deformation limiting part 200 is formed on the main surface 110. The deformation limiting part 200 is a reinforcing part to reinforce the bending strength of the cover 100. As the cover 100 is hardly bent by the reinforcing part, the deformation or damage of an electronic device such as the driving element 13c or the glass 13b accommodated in the cover 100 is minimized or prevented.

As one form of the deformation limiter 200, the protrusion 220 is formed on the main surface 110. The protrusion 220 may form one or more lines. The lines formed by the protrusions 220 may be discontinuous, but being continuous will be effective in terms of strength reinforcement for the cover 100.

The direction in which the protrusion 220 extends may correspond to the length direction of the driving element 13c. Since a crack is likely to occur in the driving element 13c in a direction crossing or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the progression of the crack will be more difficult if the protrusion 220 extends in the longitudinal direction.

The protrusion 220 may be formed in such a manner as to be attached to the main surface 110, but rather, the main surface 110 is pressed to form a recess 210 on one surface thereof, and a protrusion ( It will be easier to have 220 formed than to attach a separate member.

The deformation limiter 200 may be formed over the entire area of the main surface 110, but may be selectively formed only at a predetermined portion as necessary. In the display module, the driving element 13c is weaker than the glass 13b, and thus a higher degree of protection is required. Therefore, the deformation limiting part 200 is formed only in the region 100A corresponding to the driving element 13c. In addition, the strain limiting part 200 may not be formed in the region 100B corresponding to the glass 13b.

If the glass 13b is assumed to be protected to some extent by the cover 100 itself without the additional strain limit 200, this division is preferable because it prevents excessive formation of the strain limit 200.

6 is a perspective view showing a cover 100 ′ having a strain limiting portion 200 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the deformation limiting portion 200 ′ is a reinforcing plate attached to the main surface 110 of the cover 100 ′. The reinforcement plate 200 ′ may be a thin metal plate having the same material as that of the metal cover 100 ′.

The reinforcement plate 200 ′ may also have a size corresponding to a region corresponding to the driving element 13c (see FIG. 4) as in the previous embodiment.

Although the reinforcing plate 200 'is separately attached, the thickness of the area where the reinforcing plate 200' is not installed can be reduced rather than thickening the entire main surface 110 to the thickness of the reinforcing plate 200 '. There is an advantage to that.

In addition, if the overall thickness is the same, it is advantageous in strength to form a layered structure rather than integrally formed, the structure that laminated the reinforcing plate 200 'on the main surface 110 of the cover 100' cover It is more preferable also in terms of strength reinforcement to (100 ').

The portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the slide type shown in FIG. 1, but may be applied to various structures such as a bar type, a folder type, a swing type, and the like.

7 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a wireless communication module 41, an operation unit 16, 23, 24, an image input unit 15, 28, an audio input unit 25, a display unit ( 13), the sound output unit 14, 31, the sensing unit 46, the interface 26, the broadcast receiving module 45, the memory 44, the power supply unit 27, and the control unit 40.

The controller 40 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. In addition to the normal function control, the controller 40 additionally controls the operation of the portable terminal related to the present invention.

The wireless communication module 41 transmits / receives a radio signal with a mobile communication base station through an antenna. For example, under the control of the controller 40, the transmitter 42 is responsible for transmitting and receiving voice data, text data, image data, and control data, and modulates and transmits a signal to be transmitted, and a receiver for demodulating the received signal. 43).

The operation units 16, 23, and 24 are configured as shown in FIG. 1 to provide the control unit 40 with key input data input by the user for controlling the operation of the terminal. The operation units 16, 23, and 24 are composed of a dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure / capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The image input units 15 and 28 process image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in a video call mode or a photographing mode. The processed image frame is converted into image data displayable on the display unit 13 and output to the display unit 13. The image frames processed by the image input units 15 and 28 are stored in the memory 44 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless transceiver 41 under the control of the controller 40.

The sound input unit 25 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, etc., and processes the external sound signal into electrical voice data. The processed voice data is converted into a form transmittable to the mobile communication base station through the wireless communication module 41 and output to the wireless communication module in the call mode. In the recording mode, the processed voice data is output to be stored in the memory 44. The sound input unit 25 may implement various noise removing algorithms for removing noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The display unit 13 displays and outputs information processed by the portable terminal. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, the control unit 40 displays and outputs a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to the call. When the mobile terminal is in a video call mode or a photographing mode, the mobile terminal displays and outputs the captured image, UI, or GUI under the control of the controller 40. When the display unit 13 includes a touch screen, the display unit 13 is used as an input device in addition to the output device.

The sound output units 14 and 31 are sound data or memory 44 received from the wireless communication module 41 under the control of the control unit 40 in call signal reception, call mode or recording mode, voice recognition mode, broadcast reception mode, and the like. ) Converts the sound data stored in) and outputs it to the outside. In addition, the sound output units 14 and 31 output sound signals related to functions (eg, call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the portable terminal. The sound output units 14 and 31 include a speaker, a receiver, a buzzer, and the like.

The sensing unit 46 generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the portable terminal by detecting a current state of the portable terminal such as an open / closed state of the portable terminal, a location of the portable terminal, presence or absence of a user contact. For example, when the portable terminal is in the form of a slide phone, whether the slide phone is opened or closed is sensed so as to output a sensing result to the controller 40 to control the operation of the terminal. In addition, it is responsible for sensing functions related to whether the power supply unit 27 is supplied with power, whether the interface 26 is coupled to an external device, and the like.

The interface 26 may be connected to a mobile terminal such as a wired / wireless headset, an external charger, a wired / wireless data port, a card socket (eg, a memory card, a SIM / UIM card), or the like. It serves as an interface with the device. Such an interface 26 receives data from an external device or receives power and transmits the data to each component inside the mobile terminal or transmits the data inside the mobile terminal to the external device.

The memory 44 may store a program for processing and controlling the control unit 40, and provides a function for temporarily storing input / output data (for example, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). It can also be done. The memory 44 also stores a program for controlling the operation of the portable terminal according to the present invention. Memory 44 includes generally known concepts such as hard disks, card type memory (eg SD or XD memory, etc.), flash memory, RAM, ROM, and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 45 receives a broadcast signal transmitted through a satellite or terrestrial wave, converts the broadcast signal into a broadcast data format that can be output to the sound output units 14 and 31 and the display unit 13 and outputs it to the control unit 40. . In addition, the broadcast receiving module 45 receives additional data related to the broadcast (for example, an EPG (electric program guide), a channel list, etc.). The broadcast data and additional data converted by the broadcast receiving module 45 may be stored in the memory 44.

The power supply unit 27 receives an external power source and an internal power source under the control of the control unit 40 to supply power for operation of each component.

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 a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the first body of FIG.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the display unit of FIG. 3;

5 is a perspective view showing the reverse side of the cover of FIG.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cover having a strain limit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

Claims (8)

A main body having an electronic device; A cover coupled to surround at least a portion of the electronic device; And And a deformation limiter formed on the cover to limit deformation of the electronic device. The method of claim 1, The deformation limiter, And a reinforcing part formed on at least one surface of the cover to reinforce the bending strength of the cover. The method of claim 2, The reinforcement unit comprises at least one protrusion protruding from the one surface. The method of claim 3, The protruding portion has a protruding shape as the surface opposite to the one surface is pressed and concave. The method of claim 3, The protruding portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the electronic device. The method of claim 2, The reinforcement unit includes a reinforcing plate attached to one surface of the cover. The method of claim 1, The electronic device is a display module, and the deformation limiting unit is formed in a region corresponding to the driving device of the display module. The method of claim 1, The cover is a mobile terminal, characterized in that it comprises a metal plate.

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