KR20110035672A - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A mobile terminal is provided to reduce mounting space of a key button by locating a separation preventing structure of a key button inside a supporting unit. CONSTITUTION: A terminal body includes a key mounting unit(250). A supporting part is formed in the key mounting unit. The supporting part has an external surface and an internal surface. A key button is installed in the key mounting unit. The key button is assembled from the external side of the key mounting unit. The key button is supported by the external surface of the supporting part. A key holder is located in the internal surface of the supporting part. In order to prevent a key button from being separate, a key holder restricts an external direction movement of the key button.

Description

Mobile terminal {MOBILE TERMINAL}

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a key button assembly.

The terminal can move And can be divided into a mobile / portable terminal and a stationary terminal depending on whether the mobile terminal is a mobile terminal or a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be further classified into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether a user can directly carry it.

Such a terminal has various functions, for example, in the form of a multimedia device having multiple functions such as photographing and photographing of a moving picture, reproduction of a music or video file, reception of a game and broadcasting, etc. .

In order to support and increase the function of such a terminal, it may be considered to improve the structural part and / or the software part of the terminal.

Recently, despite the increase in the number of components applied to the terminal or the size of the display, etc., various attempts have been made to reduce the size of the mobile terminal.

The present invention is to provide a key button assembly that can reduce the mounting space of the key button to reduce the size of the terminal or to expand the mounting space of other electronic components.

The present invention for realizing the above object is a terminal body having a key mounting portion, a support portion formed on the key mounting portion and having an outer surface and an inner surface, and mounted on the key mounting portion so as to be pushable and assembled from the outside of the key mounting portion. And a key button supported by an outer surface of the support portion, and a key holder positioned on an inner surface of the support portion and configured to restrict movement of the key button in an outward direction to prevent the key button from being separated.

The key button may include a body having a pressing surface for pressing and a guide part extending from the body and inserted into a guide hole formed in the support part.

The key holder may include a plurality of coupling parts coupled to the guide part formed in plurality, and a connection part connecting the coupling parts.

An insertion groove for inserting the coupling portion may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the guide portion.

One portion of the connection portion is characterized in that it is formed to have a reduced width compared to the peripheral portion.

The outer surface of the support may be equipped with a dome switch for generating a signal by pressing the key button.

The present invention is configured as described above by placing the separation prevention structure of the key button on the inner side of the support to reduce the mounting space of the key button. The size of the terminal can be reduced and the mounting space of other electronic components can be expanded.

In addition, the present invention improves the assembly convenience through the structure that can be assembled to a plurality of guide portion of the key holder consisting of a single member.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The suffixes "module" and "unit" for components used in the following description are given or used in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles from each other.

The mobile terminal described herein may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), navigation, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an A / V input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, and an interface. The unit 170, the controller 180, and the power supply unit 190 may be included. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, so that a mobile terminal having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules that enable wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and a network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short range communication module 114, and a location information module 115 .

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. The broadcast management server may mean a server that generates and transmits a broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information or a server that receives a previously generated broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information and transmits the same to a terminal. The broadcast signal may include not only a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, and a data broadcast signal, but also a broadcast signal having a data broadcast signal combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast related information may mean information related to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or a broadcast service provider. The broadcast related information may also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast related information may exist in various forms. For example, it may exist in the form of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) or Electronic Service Guide (ESG) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

The broadcast receiving module 111 may include, for example, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), Media Forward Link Only (MediaFLO), and Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-H). Digital broadcast signals can be received using digital broadcasting systems such as Handheld and Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T). Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to be suitable for not only the above-described digital broadcasting system but also other broadcasting systems.

The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and receives a wireless signal with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. The wireless signal may include various types of data according to transmission and reception of a voice call signal, a video call call signal, or a text / multimedia message.

The wireless internet module 113 refers to a module for wireless internet access and may be embedded or external to the mobile terminal 100. Wireless Internet technologies may include Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), Wireless Broadband (Wibro), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), and the like.

The short range communication module 114 refers to a module for short range communication. As a short range communication technology, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like may be used.

The location information module 115 is a module for obtaining a location of a mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a GPS (Global Position System) module.

Referring to FIG. 1, the A / V input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video call mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame may be displayed on the display unit 151.

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. Two or more cameras 121 may be provided according to the use environment.

The microphone 122 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 can be converted into a form that can be transmitted to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 when the voice data is in the call mode, and output. The microphone 122 may implement various noise removing algorithms for removing noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for the user to control the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure / capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 detects a current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as an open / closed state of the mobile terminal 100, a location of the mobile terminal 100, presence or absence of a user contact, orientation of the mobile terminal, acceleration / deceleration of the mobile terminal, and the like. To generate a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it may sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. In addition, whether the power supply unit 190 is supplied with power, whether the interface unit 170 is coupled to the external device may be sensed. The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 is used to generate an output related to sight, hearing, or tactile sense, and includes a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154. Can be.

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in a call mode, the mobile terminal displays a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to the call. When the mobile terminal 100 is in a video call mode or a shooting mode, the mobile terminal 100 displays a captured image and / or a received image, UI, or GUI.

The display unit 151 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and a flexible display (flexible). and at least one of a 3D display.

Some of these displays can be configured to be transparent or light transmissive so that they can be seen from the outside. This may be referred to as a transparent display. A representative example of the transparent display is TOLED (Transparant OLED). The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be configured as a light transmissive structure. With this structure, the user can see the object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

There may be two or more display units 151 according to the implementation form of the mobile terminal 100. For example, in the mobile terminal 100, a plurality of display portions may be spaced apart from one another, or may be disposed integrally with one another, and may be disposed on different surfaces, respectively.

When the display unit 151 and a sensor for detecting a touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as a touch sensor) form a mutual layer structure (hereinafter referred to as a touch screen), the display unit 151 may be configured in addition to an output device. Can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have, for example, a form of a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in pressure applied to a specific portion of the display unit 151 or capacitance generated in a specific portion of the display unit 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured to detect not only the position and area of the touch but also the pressure at the touch.

If there is a touch input to the touch sensor, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to the touch controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and then transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. As a result, the controller 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is surrounded by the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or an object present in the vicinity without using a mechanical contact by using an electromagnetic force or infrared rays. Proximity sensors have a longer life and higher utilization than touch sensors.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor. When the touch screen is capacitive, the touch screen is configured to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field according to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the act of allowing the pointer to be recognized without being in contact with the touch screen so that the pointer is located on the touch screen is referred to as a "proximity touch", and the touch The act of actually touching the pointer on the screen is called "contact touch." The position where the proximity touch is performed by the pointer on the touch screen refers to a position where the pointer is perpendicular to the touch screen when the pointer is in proximity proximity.

The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (for example, a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, and a proximity touch movement state). Information corresponding to the sensed proximity touch operation and proximity touch pattern may be output on the touch screen.

The sound output module 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal reception, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like. The sound output module 152 may also output a sound signal related to a function (eg, a call signal reception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. The sound output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events occurring in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, and touch input. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying occurrence of an event in a form other than a video signal or an audio signal, for example, vibration. The video signal or the audio signal may also be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152, so that they 151 and 152 may be classified as part of the alarm unit 153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. Vibration is a representative example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 154. The intensity and pattern of vibration generated by the haptic module 154 can be controlled. For example, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or may be sequentially output.

In addition to vibration, the haptic module 154 may be configured to provide a pin array that vertically moves with respect to the contact skin surface, a jetting force or suction force of air through the jetting or suction port, grazing to the skin surface, contact of the electrode, electrostatic force, and the like. Various tactile effects can be generated, such as effects by the endothermic and the reproduction of a sense of cold using the elements capable of endotherm or heat generation.

The haptic module 154 may not only deliver the haptic effect through direct contact, but also may implement the user to feel the haptic effect through a muscle sense such as a finger or an arm. Two or more haptic modules 154 may be provided according to a configuration aspect of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and may temporarily store input / output data (for example, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). The memory 160 may store data regarding vibration and sound of various patterns output when a touch input on the touch screen is performed.

The memory 160 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory), RAM Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Magnetic Memory, Magnetic It may include a storage medium of at least one type of disk, optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in connection with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device, receives power, transfers the power to each component inside the mobile terminal 100, or transmits data inside the mobile terminal 100 to an external device. For example, a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, an audio I / O port, A video input / output (I / O) port, an earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 170.

The identification module is a chip that stores various types of information for authenticating the usage rights of the mobile terminal 100, and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identify module (SIM), and a universal user authentication module ( Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), and the like. Devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") can be manufactured in a smart card format. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the port.

The interface unit may be a passage through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, or various command signals input from the cradle by a user may be transferred. It may be a passage that is delivered to the terminal. Various command signals or power input from the cradle may be operated as signals for recognizing that the mobile terminal is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The controller 180 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. The controller 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for playing multimedia. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the controller 180 or may be implemented separately from the controller 180.

The controller 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing a writing input or a drawing input performed on the touch screen as text and an image, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 receives an external power source and an internal power source under the control of the controller 180 to supply power for operation of each component.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein include application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like. It may be implemented using at least one of processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and electrical units for performing other functions. The described embodiments may be implemented by the controller 180 itself.

According to the software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented as separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more functions and operations described herein. Software code may be implemented in software applications written in a suitable programming language. The software code may be stored in the memory 160 and executed by the controller 180.

2A and 2B are front perspective views of an example of a mobile terminal or a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

2A and 2B, the disclosed portable terminal 100 includes two bodies 210 and 220 slidably coupled to each other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, a swivel type, and two or more bodies are coupled to be relatively movable.

The terminal body forming the exterior of the portable terminal according to the present embodiment includes a main body 210 and a slider 220 slidably connected to each other.

A state in which a part of the slider 220 is exposed to the front may be referred to as an open state (see FIG. 2B), and a state in which the exposed part of the slider 220 is covered by the main body 210 is closed. configuration (see FIG. 2A).

The main body 210 and the slider 220 may be formed in a bar shape and overlap each other. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4 to be described later, the main body 210 and the slider 220 are formed in a cross-sectional shape of a '⊂' and disposed to face each other, so that the main body 210 and the front of the slider 220 in the open state are disposed. It is possible to implement a form factor that minimizes the generation of a step or a step between the rear surface of the body 210 and the slider 220.

Although the mobile terminal 100 operates mainly in the standby mode in the closed state, the standby mode may be released by a user's operation. In the open state, the device operates in the call mode, the edit mode, and the like, but may be switched to the standby mode by the user's operation or the passage of a certain time.

A casing (which may be called a case, a housing, a cover, etc.) constituting the exterior of the main body 210 may be formed in plural, and various electronic components are embedded in the inner space of the casing. The casings may be formed by injecting synthetic resin.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the display unit 151, the audio output unit 152, the camera 121, the user input units 130/131 and 132, and the interface 170 may be disposed in the main body 210.

The display unit 151 may be implemented in the form of a touch screen to enable input of information by touch. In this case, the display unit 151 may be formed in a size corresponding to the front surface of the main body 210, and may be configured to perform both input and output through the display unit 151 in a closed state. As an example, the display unit 151 may output a soft key to execute an input or iconic function of numbers or letters, and the user may input by touching a soft key.

The user input unit 130 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100, and includes a touch key 131 that receives a command by a touch operation and a push that receives a command by a push operation. It may be implemented in various forms such as the white (132).

The content input through the user input unit 130 may be variously set. For example, the touch key 131 receives a command such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the push key 132 adjusts the volume of the sound output from the sound output unit 152 or touch recognition of the display unit 151. Commands such as switching to the mode may be input.

The slider 220 may be formed of a light transmissive material, and a touch keypad 133 may be provided on the front surface of the slider 220 that is exposed to the outside in an open state. The touch keypad 133 may include a plurality of numbers, letters, or symbols 135 (hereinafter, referred to as "numbers"). Such numbers and the like may be formed by printing, imprinting, or the like, and may be configured to be identified by illumination.

The push key 132 may be mounted on the side of the slider 220. In this case, the side of the slider 220 may be opaque so that the dome switch inside is not visible from the outside.

3 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2B.

Referring to FIG. 3, a camera 121 ′ may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the main body 210. The camera 121 'may have a photographing direction substantially opposite to the camera 121 (see FIG. 2A), and may be a camera having different pixels from the camera 121.

For example, the camera 121 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 camera 121 'photographs a general subject and does not transmit it immediately. It is desirable to have a high pixel because there are many. The cameras 121 and 121 'may be installed in the terminal body so as to be rotatable or pop-upable.

A flash 123 and a mirror 124 are further disposed adjacent to the camera 121 '. The flash 123 shines light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the camera 121 '. The mirror 124 allows the user to see his / her own face or the like when photographing (self-photographing) the user using the camera 121 '.

The main body 210 is equipped with a power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the portable terminal 100. The power supply unit 190 may be embedded in the terminal body as a form of a battery or may be directly detachable from the outside of the main body 210. When the battery 190 is configured to be detachable from the main body 210, the cover part 222 constituting the slider 220 may be configured to be opened to attach or detach the battery 190.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing an open state of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

The slider 220 is a slide portion 221 slidably coupled to the main body 210 and a cover portion 222 coupled to the slide portion 221 to be slidably moved along the rear surface of the main body 210. It includes.

The main body 210 may include a front casing 211 and a rear casing 212 coupled to each other, and the slide hole 207 in the longitudinal direction to accommodate the slide portion 221 inside the main body 210. Is formed. Therefore, the slide unit 221 is accommodated in the slide hole 207 when it is closed, so that the slide unit 221 is not visible from the outside.

The display module 151, the main board 215, a printed circuit board, a battery 190, and the like are mounted in the main body 210. The display module 151 and the battery 190, the display module 151, and the main board 215 may be arranged to overlap at least a portion. For example, the display module 151 may be disposed on one side of the slide hole 207, and the battery 190 and the main board 215 may be mounted on the other side. Herein, the battery 190 and the main board 215 may be arranged along the length direction of the main body 210, and the main board 215 may be implemented in a form in which two substrates overlap each other.

A transmissive area 213 is formed in the front casing 211, and a display module 151 is disposed behind the transmissive area 213. The touch film 215 for sensing a touch may be attached to the rear surface of the light transmission area 213. The touch film 216 is electrically connected to the touch film 216 and the main board 215, and a flexible circuit board 216 (FPCB) having a touch sensor for sensing a touch applied to the touch key 231 is connected. .

The touch keypad 133 is coupled to the slide unit 221, and the touch keypad 133 is configured to be accommodated in the body 210 or withdrawn from the body 210. The touch panel 133 may be provided with the numbers 135 described above. The number 135 may be formed through a method such as stamping on the surface of the touch keypad 133. Further, the numeral 135 may be one of output contents of a transmissive display device, for example, liquid crystal, transparent organic LED, and e-paper.

The touch sensing unit 223 for detecting a touch applied to the touch keypad 133 may be disposed on the rear surface of the touch keypad 133. The touch sensing unit 223 may be formed in the form of a conductive film having a light transmissive material, for example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) film.

An accommodation space 208 is formed between the touch keypad 133 and the cover 222, and a portion of the main body 210, for example, a battery 190, is accommodated in the accommodation space 208 in a closed state. As shown in FIG. 4, since the accommodation hole 208 becomes empty in the open state, the object on the opposite side can be seen through the translucent touch keypad 133 and the cover 222. Here 'translucent' includes 'completely transmissive' or 'semitransparent'.

The shape and arrangement of the main body 210 and the slider 220 as described above minimize the difference between the thickness of the main body 210 and the overall thickness of the mobile terminal 100, and in the open state, the main body 210 and the slider ( It is possible to reduce the step difference between the 220).

5 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a user input unit illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of the push key 132. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the push key 132 will be referred to as a key button assembly 300. In the present exemplary embodiment, the key button assembly 300 is implemented in the form of 'side key', but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is not limited thereto. If the shape can be modified in various ways, the mounting position of the 'pushiki' may also be set in various positions of the terminal body.

The key button assembly 300 according to the present invention includes a key button 310 and a key holder 320.

The key button 310 is mounted on the terminal body, specifically, the key mounting unit 250 provided in the slide unit 221. The key button 310 is mounted to the key mounting unit 250 so as to be pressed.

The key holder 320 is mounted on one side of the key mounting unit 250 and restricts the outward movement of the key button 310 to prevent the key button 310 from escaping to the outside of the terminal body.

6 is an exploded perspective view of the key button assembly shown in FIG. 5, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the key button assembly of FIG. 5.

The key mounting unit 250 is formed with a support 260 for supporting the key button 310. A recess area 251 may be formed in the key mounting part 250 to provide an arrangement space of the key button 310, and the support part 260 may be formed inside the recess area 251.

The support part 260 includes an outer surface 261 facing the outer side of the terminal body and an inner surface 262 facing the inner side of the terminal body (the direction in which the inner space is located).

The key button 310 is assembled from the outside of the key mounting unit 250 and is disposed inside the recess area 251 to be linearly movable. The key button 310 is supported by the outer surface 261 of the support part 260 when the key button 310 is mounted on the key mounting part 250.

The dome switch 330 for generating a signal by pressing the key button 310 is disposed on the outer surface 261 of the support part 260. The dome switch 330 may be provided on the substrate 331, and in this case, the substrate 331 may be supported by an outer surface of the support 260. The substrate 331 may be electrically connected to the main board 215 of the main body 210 by a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The substrate 331 provided with the dome switch 330 may be seated on the outer surface 261 of the support part 260 through the assembly groove 255 formed on one surface of the key mounting part 250.

A push protrusion 311a for pressing the dome switch 330 may be formed on the rear surface of the key button 310. As the push protrusion 311a presses the dome switch 330, the dome switch 330 is deformed to connect the contacts of the substrate 331, thereby generating an input signal.

The key holder 320 is located on the inner surface 262 of the support 260 and is coupled to the key button 310. The key holder 320 is configured such that the outward movement of the key holder 320 is limited by the inner surface 262 of the support 260, thereby limiting the outward movement of the key button 310 coupled with the key holder 320. Will be.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the key button 310 and the key holder 320 will be described.

The key button 310 may include a body 311 and guide parts 311 and 312.

The body 311 may have a pressing surface for pushing the outer side of the body 311, and may have a cross section corresponding to the recessed area.

The guide parts 312 and 313 are formed to extend in the inward direction of the terminal body from the body 311. The support part 250 is formed with guide holes 252 and 253 for penetrating the guide parts 312 and 313. The guide parts 311 and 312 are inserted into the guide holes 252 and 253, and linearly move the guide holes 252 and 253 when the body 311 is pressed.

The guide parts 312 and 313 may include a first guide part 312 and a second guide part 313 respectively formed at both ends of the body 311, and the guide holes 252 and 253 may respectively include the first guide parts 252 and 253. The guide hole 252 and the second guide hole 253 may be included.

The key holder 320 may include coupling parts 322 and 323 and the connection part 312, and the connection part 312 and the coupling parts 322 and 323 may be formed by bending a plate-shaped member several times. The inner surface 262 of the support 260 may be formed stepped to have different heights, and the key holder 320 may have a stepped surface corresponding thereto to be supported by the inner surface 262 of the support 260. .

The coupling parts 322 and 323 are structured to be coupled to the guide parts 312 and 313, and the coupling parts 322 and 323 are coupled to the plurality of guide parts 312 and 313, that is, the first and second guide parts 312 and 313, respectively. The coupling part 322 and the second coupling part 323 may be included.

The connection part 321 is a structure for connecting a plurality of coupling parts, that is, the first and second coupling parts 322 and 323. The first and second coupling parts 322 and 323 are formed at both ends of the connection part 321, and they are formed as a single member.

A protruding stopper 270 is formed at a position spaced apart from the inner surface of the support part 260 by a predetermined distance, and the stopper 270 restricts the inward movement of the key holder 320. In addition, the stopper 270 may serve to guide the assembly position of the key holder 320 when the key holder 320 is assembled.

The guide parts 312 and 313 may be formed in a cylinder shape, and insertion grooves 312a and 313a for inserting the coupling parts 322 and 323 may be formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the guides 312 and 313. Here, the end portions of the coupling portions 322 and 323 may be formed to be bent to surround the portion where the insertion grooves 312a and 313a are formed. Accordingly, when assembling the key holder 320, the engaging portions 322 and 323 are caught by a portion where the insertion grooves 312a and 313a are formed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the coupling parts 322 and 323 are inserted into and fixed to the insertion grooves 312a and 313a as an example of the coupling method of the guide parts 312 and 313 and the coupling parts 322 and 323. Not only the scheme but also other types of coupling schemes are possible.

On the other hand, one portion of the connection portion 321 may have a reduced width (W) compared to the peripheral portion, which is easy to make the elastic deformation of the key holder 320 with a small force to assemble the key holder 320 This is to facilitate the.

Hereinafter, the operating state of the key button assembly 300 according to the present invention.

When the body 311 of the key button 310 is pressed in the state of FIG. 7A, the body 311 moves in the key mounting part 250 in the pressed direction, and thus the guide parts 312 and 313 support the support part 260. The guide holes 252 and 253 are moved on. In this process, the key holder 320 fixed to the guide parts 312 and 313 moves together with the guide parts 312 and 313 in the inward direction of the terminal body.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the push protrusion 311a of the key button 310 presses the dome switch 330 according to the movement of the key button 310, and the input signal is generated as the dome switch 330 elastically deforms. do. When the inner side of the key button 310 moves, the stopper 270 limits the inner side movement of the key holder 320 to limit the movement of the key button 310.

When the external force applied to the key button 310 is removed, the button 310 is returned to its original position by the elastic restoring force of the dome switch 330. The key holder 320 is also returned to its original position. In this process, the key holder 320 is caught by the inner surface 261 of the support part 260, thereby restricting its movement. Accordingly, the movement of the key button 310 is also limited, so that the key button 310 can be prevented from moving outward.

Looking at the process of assembling the key button assembly 300 in the terminal body, first inserting the substrate 331 into the assembly groove 255 of the key mounting portion 250 to position the substrate 331 on the outer surface of the support portion 260. . Then, the key button 310 is assembled in the direction toward the key mounting portion 250 from the outside of the terminal body. In this process, the guide parts 312 and 313 of the key button 310 are inserted into the guide holes 252 and 253 of the support part 260.

Then, the coupling portions 322 and 323 of the key holder 320 are inserted into the insertion grooves 312a and 313a of the guide portions 312 and 313 to fix the key holder 320 to the key button 310. In this process, the narrow portion of the connection part 321 is elastically deformed and then restored so that the coupling parts 322 and 323 are fixed to the guide parts 312 and 313, thereby completing the assembly of the key button assembly 300.

In general, the separation prevention structure of the key button is achieved by forming a flange on the key button itself so that it is caught by the terminal body, but this structure increases the mounting space of the key button due to the space due to the thickness and length of the flange. Cause.

The present invention is to reduce the mounting space of the key button 310 by placing the key button 320, that is, the key holder 320 inside the support portion 260. The above problem was solved. Accordingly, the size of the terminal can be reduced, or the mounting space of other electronic components can be expanded.

In addition, the present invention improved the assembly convenience through the structure that can be assembled to a plurality of guide portion (312, 313) of the key holder 320 consisting of a single member.

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

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are front perspective views of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a rear perspective view of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a cross-sectional view showing an open state of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a perspective view of a keypad assembly related to one embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exploded perspective view of the key button assembly shown in FIG.

7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the key button assembly of FIG. 5.

Claims (9)

A terminal body having a key mounting portion; A support part formed on the key mounting part and having an outer surface and an inner surface; A key button operatively mounted to the key mounting portion and assembled from an outer side of the key mounting portion and supported by an outer surface of the support portion; And Located on the inner surface of the support, the mobile terminal including a key holder for limiting the movement of the key button in the outward direction to prevent the key button from being separated. The method of claim 1, wherein the key button, A body having a pressing surface for pressing operation; And And a guide part extending from the body and inserted into a guide hole formed in the support part. The method of claim 2, wherein the key holder, A plurality of coupling parts coupled to the guide parts formed in the body in plurality; And A mobile terminal comprising a connecting portion for connecting the coupling portion. The method of claim 3, Mobile terminal, characterized in that the insertion groove for inserting the coupling portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide portion. The method of claim 3, Mobile terminal, characterized in that the end of the coupling portion is formed to be bent to surround the portion where the insertion groove is formed. The method of claim 3, And a stopper protruding at a predetermined distance from an inner surface of the support and limiting an inward movement of the key holder. The method of claim 6, One portion of the connection portion is formed to have a reduced width compared to the peripheral portion. The method of claim 1, The outer surface of the support portion is a mobile terminal, characterized in that the dome switch for generating a signal by pressing the key button is mounted. The method of claim 8, A mobile terminal, characterized in that an assembly groove is formed on one surface of the key mounting portion to assemble the substrate with the dome switch.

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