KR20110045238A - A portable terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable terminal is provided to generate various user input signals by physical transformation of a body. CONSTITUTION: At least one part of a body(200) is comprised of a material available for elastic transformation. The body includes a first and second body. A display unit(151) is included in the body. The display unit displays a screen. One or more sensing units are included in the body. The sensing units output an electrical signal according to a degree of a bending of the body.

Description

[0001] Portable terminal [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a portable terminal that is portable and portable and can be used by an individual.

A portable terminal is an electronic device having at least one function of performing voice and video communication, capable of inputting and outputting information, data transmitting and receiving function, and data storing function while being portable.

As the functions of portable terminals are diversified, they have complicated functions such as photographing and photographing of movies, playing of music and video files, reception of games, broadcasting, wireless Internet, etc., and they are implemented as a multimedia player .

In order to implement complicated functions, portable terminals implemented in the form of multimedia devices are being applied new and various attempts in terms of hardware or software. For example, a portable terminal is provided with a user interface environment in which a user can easily and conveniently search for or select a function.

In addition, while the portable terminal is regarded as a personal item for expressing the user's personality, the portable terminal is a product that is applied to both sides LCD (Liquid Crytal Display), flexible display, front touch screen, Is also being developed.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable terminals have been devoid of separate keypads in response to demands for thin and light shortening, and use of a touch screen type display device has been a trend. However, when the touch screen type display is inactivated according to the setting in the portable terminal, there is a limit in that the user input is not smoothly performed.

In addition, when a separate keypad is provided on the outside of the portable terminal, the appearance of the main body of the terminal is deteriorated, and the user input method is not intuitive and thus it is difficult for the user to be interested.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal capable of generating various user input signals by physical modification of the body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal capable of sensing a pressure generated by bending of a body and converting the pressure into a user input signal.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, It will be possible.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body including a body made of an elastically deformable material at least in part; A display unit provided on the body for displaying a screen; And at least one sensing unit provided on the body and outputting an electrical signal according to a degree of bending of the body.

The body includes: a first body; And at least one second body coupled to the first body such that the first body can be bent.

Wherein one of the first body and the second body is made of a flexible material and the other is made of a rigid material.

The sensing unit is provided on a joint surface between the first body and the second body and outputs different electrical signals according to the degree of contact between the first body and the second body.

The sensing unit is mounted on the second body of a rigid material to detect the degree of contact of the first body of flexible material.

The sensing unit includes a pair of first sensing units and second sensing units spaced from each other in the thickness direction of the body.

The first body made of a flexible material is provided with a first contact portion and a second contact portion corresponding to the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion, respectively, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion are independently provided, Are prevented.

The present invention is characterized in that an insertion slit is formed to be long along the joining surface of the first body and the second body, and a coupling rib inserted into the insertion slit is provided to correspond to the first body and the second body, .

The present invention further includes a mounting rib provided on the first body or the second body corresponding to the coupling rib, on which the sensing unit is mounted.

The sensing unit is provided between the mounting rib and the engaging rib.

The present invention further comprises a fastening boss for passing through the coupling rib inserted into the insertion slit in the first body or the second body.

The fastening bosses are provided separately from each other, and their fastening force is maintained by fastening through the fastening bosses.

The sensing unit is disposed long in the longitudinal direction of the body.

A plurality of the sensing units are provided so as to correspond to the corners of the body and are spaced apart from each other.

The display unit includes a flexible display capable of coping with bending of the body.

The present invention further includes a flexible circuit board of a flexible material provided at a portion bent at the body.

The sensing unit comprises a pressure sensor for measuring an absolute pressure or a relative pressure.

The sensing unit includes a pair of first sensing units and second sensing units spaced from each other in a thickness direction of the flexible portion of the body.

The sensing unit is inserted into the flexible portion of the body so that the flexible portion of the body surrounds the sensing unit.

The flexible portion of the body is provided to selectively provide a compressive force to the sensing unit by its bending.

The pair of first sensing portions and second sensing portions are each long in the thickness direction of the body.

The present invention further comprises a flexible circuit board which is arranged long in the thickness direction of the body and on which the pair of first sensing portions and second sensing portions are mounted.

The first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are respectively disposed at portions where tensile force and compressive force are generated by bending of the body.

According to the present invention, there is provided a sensing unit that is physically deformable and capable of sensing a physical change of the body, so that a user can intuitively transmit a user input signal without using a keypad or a touch- There is an advantage to be able to do.

In addition, since the compression force and the tensile force generated by the bending of the body can be detected by the user input signal, when the menu based on the game or the user interface is used, the utility is maximized and the user can be interested.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the portable terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The portable terminal described in this specification includes a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), navigation, .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of a portable terminal according to the present invention.

The portable terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video (A / V) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, An output unit 150, a memory unit 160, an interface unit 170, a control unit 180, a power supply unit 190, and the like.

The wireless communication unit 110 is configured to include one or more modules for enabling wireless communication between the terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the terminal 100 and the network in which the 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 distance communication module 114, and a location information module 115 .

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

The broadcast channel may be a satellite channel, a terrestrial channel, or the like. The broadcast management server may be a server for generating and transmitting broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information, or a server for receiving broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information generated by the broadcast management server and transmitting the generated broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information to the terminal 100.

The broadcast signal may include a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, a data broadcast signal, and a broadcast signal in which a data broadcast signal is combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast-related information may be 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, and in this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

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

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals using various broadcasting systems. In particular, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S) ), Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H), Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like.

Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 is configured to be suitable for all the broadcasting systems that provide broadcast signals as well as the digital broadcasting system described above. The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory unit 160.

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

The wireless Internet module 113 is a module for wireless Internet access, and the wireless Internet module 113 can be built in or externally attached to the terminal 100. WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

The short-range communication module 114 refers to a module for short-range communication. Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as the short distance communication technology.

In addition, the position information module 115 is a module for acquiring the position of the terminal 100, such as a GPS (Global Position System), and receives position information from a plurality of satellites.

The A / V (Audio / Video) input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal. The audio / video input unit 120 may include a camera module 121 and a microphone module 122.

The camera module 121 processes image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. Then, the processed image frame can be displayed on the display unit 151. [

The image frame processed by the camera module 121 may be stored in the memory unit 160 or may be transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ At least two camera modules 121 may be provided according to the configuration of the terminal 100.

The microphone module 122 receives an external sound signal through a microphone in a communication mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or the like, and processes it as 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. Various noise reduction algorithms for eliminating noise generated in the process of receiving the acoustic signals outside the microphone module 122 may be implemented.

The user input unit 130 generates key input data that the user inputs for controlling the operation of the terminal 100. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (static / static), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current state of the terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the terminal 100, the position of the terminal 100, the presence of the user, the orientation of the terminal 100, And generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the terminal 100.

For example, when the terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it is possible to sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. Also, it is responsible for a sensing function related to whether or not the power supply unit 190 is powered on, whether the interface unit 170 is connected to an external device, and the like. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 is for generating output related to visual, auditory or tactile sense and includes a display unit 151, an acoustic output module 152, an alarm output module 153, a haptic module 154, (155), and the like.

The display unit 151 displays and outputs information to be processed by the terminal 100. For example, when the terminal 100 is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with the call is displayed. In addition, when the terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the captured image and / or the received image or UI and GUI are displayed.

The display unit 151 may be a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, a three-dimensional display 3D display).

Some of these displays may be transparent or light transmissive so that they can be seen through. This can be referred to as a transparent display, and a typical example of the transparent display is TOLED (Transparent OLED) and the like.

The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be of a light transmission type. With this structure, the user can see an 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 embodiment of the terminal 100. For example, in the terminal 100, a plurality of display portions may be spaced apart from one another or may be disposed integrally with each other, or may be disposed on different surfaces.

(Hereinafter, referred to as a 'touch screen') in which a display unit 151 and a sensor (hereinafter referred to as 'touch sensor') for sensing a touch operation form a mutual layer structure Can be used. The touch sensor may have the form of, for example, a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

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

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

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner area of the terminal 100 or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is enclosed 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 a nearby object without mechanical contact using the force of an electromagnetic field or infrared rays. The proximity sensor has a longer life span than the contact sensor and its utilization is also high.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection type photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection type photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the act of recognizing that the pointer is positioned on the touch screen while the pointer is not in contact with the touch screen is referred to as "proximity touch & The act of actually touching the pointer on the screen is called "contact touch. &Quot;

The position where the pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer corresponds vertically to the touch screen when the pointer is touched.

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

The sound output module 152 outputs audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory unit 160 in a call signal reception mode, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, In addition, the sound output module 152 outputs an acoustic signal related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the terminal 100. [ The sound output module 152 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm output module 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the terminal 100 include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like.

The alarm output module 153 may output a signal for informing occurrence of an event in a form other than a video signal or an audio signal, for example, vibration. The display unit 151 and the audio output module 152 may be classified as a part of the alarm unit 153 because the video signal or the audio signal can be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152 .

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

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 154 may include a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a spraying force or a suction force of the air through the injection port or the suction port, a touch on the skin surface, contact with an electrode, And various tactile effects such as an effect of reproducing a cold sensation using an endothermic or exothermic element can be generated.

The haptic module 154 can be implemented not only to transmit the tactile effect through the direct contact but also to allow the user to feel the tactile effect through the muscular sensation of the finger or arm. More than two haptic modules 154 may be provided according to the configuration of the terminal 100.

The projector module 155 is an element for performing an image project function using the terminal 100 and may be the same as the image displayed on the display unit 151 according to a control signal of the controller 180 At least some of which can display other images on an external screen or wall.

Specifically, the projector module 155 includes a light source (not shown) that generates light (for example, laser light) for outputting an image to the outside, a light source And a lens (not shown) for enlarging and outputting the image at a predetermined focal distance to the outside. Further, the projector module 155 may include a device (not shown) capable of mechanically moving the lens or the entire module to adjust the image projection direction.

The projector module 155 can be divided into a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) module, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) module and a DLP (Digital Light Processing) module according to the type of the display means. In particular, the DLP module may be advantageous for miniaturization of the projector module 151 by enlarging and projecting an image generated by reflecting light generated from a light source on a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) chip.

Preferably, the projector module 155 may be longitudinally provided on a side, front or back side of the terminal 100. It goes without saying that the projector module 155 may be provided at any position of the terminal 100 as required.

The memory unit 160 may store a program for processing and controlling the control unit 180 and temporarily store the input / output data (e.g., telephone directory, message, audio, For example. The memory unit 160 may store the frequency of use of each of the data (for example, each telephone number, each message, and frequency of use for each multimedia). In addition, the memory unit 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a touch is input on the touch screen.

The memory unit 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) (Random Access Memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM) A magnetic disk, and / or an optical disk. The terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory unit 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or supplies power to each component in the terminal 100 or transmits data to the 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 for storing various information for authenticating the usage right of the terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), a universal user authentication module A 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 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the terminal 100 when the terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle or various command signals input from the cradle by the user 100). ≪ / RTI > Various command signals input from the cradle or the power source may be operated as a signal for recognizing that the terminal 100 is correctly mounted on the cradle.

A controller 180 typically controls the overall operation of the terminal 100. For example, voice communication, data communication, video communication, and the like.

The control unit 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for multimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the control unit 180 or may be implemented separately from the control unit 180. [

The control unit 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing handwriting input or drawing input performed on the touch screen as characters and images, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 180 and supplies power necessary for operation of the respective components.

The various embodiments described herein may be embodied 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 may be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays May be implemented using at least one of a processor, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and other electronic units for performing other functions. In some cases, The embodiments described may be implemented by the control unit 180 itself.

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

2 is a perspective view showing a front structure of a preferred embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to these figures, the main body of the terminal 100 is provided with a bar-shaped terminal body. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, and a swivel type in which two or more bodies are relatively movably coupled.

The body includes a case (a casing, a housing, a cover, and the like) which forms an appearance. In this embodiment, the case may be divided into a front case 101 and a rear case 102. [ Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. At least one intermediate case may be additionally disposed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [ Such bodies and cases may be mixed with the main body and are not clearly distinguished.

The cases may be formed by injection molding a synthetic resin, or may be formed to have a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti) or the like.

The front body 101 mainly includes a display unit 151, an audio output unit 152, a camera module 121, user input units 130/131 and 132, a microphone module 122, an interface unit 170, .

The display unit 151 occupies most of the main surface of the front case 101. A sound output unit 152 and a camera module 121 are disposed in an area adjacent to one end of both ends of the display unit 151 and a user input unit 131 and a microphone module 122 are disposed in an area adjacent to the other end . The user input unit 132 and the interface unit 170 may be disposed on the side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

The user input unit 130 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the terminal 100 and may include a plurality of operation units 131 and 132. The operation units 131 and 132 may be collectively referred to as a manipulating portion and may be employed in any manner as long as the user operates in a tactile manner.

The contents input by the first or second operation units 131 and 132 may be variously set. For example, the first operation unit 131 receives commands such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the second operation unit 132 controls the size of the sound output from the sound output unit 152 or the size of the sound output from the display unit 151 To the touch recognition mode of the touch screen.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a back surface configuration of a preferred embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to this figure, a camera module 121 'may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the terminal body, that is, the rear case 102. The camera module 121 'may have a photographing direction substantially opposite to the camera module 121 (see FIG. 2), and may be a camera module having different pixels from the camera module 121.

For example, the camera module 121 has low pixels so that it is easy to capture a face of a user in case of a video call or the like and to transmit it to the other party, and the camera module 121 ' It is preferable to have a high pixel. The camera modules 121 and 121 'may be installed in the terminal body such that they can be rotated or pop-up.

A flash 123 and a mirror 124 are additionally disposed adjacent to the camera module 121 '. The flash 123 illuminates the subject when the subject is photographed by the camera module 121 '. The mirror 124 allows the user to illuminate the user's own face or the like when the user intends to photograph himself / herself (self-photographing) using the camera module 121 '.

An acoustic output 152 'may be additionally disposed on the rear surface of the terminal body. The sound output unit 152 'may implement the stereo function together with the sound output unit 152 (see FIG. 2) and may be used for the implementation of the speakerphone mode in a call.

An antenna (not shown) for receiving a broadcast signal may be additionally disposed on the side of the terminal body in addition to an antenna for a call or the like. An antenna constituting a part of the broadcast receiving module 111 (see FIG. 1) can be installed to be able to be drawn out from the terminal body.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the terminal 100 is mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit 190 may be built in the terminal body or may be detachable from the outside of the terminal body.

The rear case 102 may further include a touch pad 135 for sensing a touch. The touch pad 135 may also be of a light transmission type like the display unit 151. [ In this case, if the display unit 151 is configured to output time information on both sides, the time information can be recognized through the touch pad 135 as well. The information output on the both sides may be all controlled by the touch pad 135. Alternatively, a display may be additionally mounted on the touch pad 135, and a touch screen may be disposed on the rear case 102 as well.

The touch pad 135 operates in correlation with the display portion 151 of the front case 101. The touch pad 135 may be disposed parallel to the rear of the display unit 151. The touch pad 135 may have a size equal to or smaller than that of the display unit 151.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration and a change of a body according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration and a change of a body according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to these drawings, a terminal 100 includes a body 200 made of a material that is at least partially elastically deformable, a display unit 151 provided on the body 200 to display a screen, And at least one or more sensing units 500 (see FIGS. 6 to 9) for outputting an electrical signal according to the degree of bending of the body 200.

The display unit 151 includes a flexible display capable of coping with bending of the body 200. Flexible displays are literally forms of flexible displays that ultimately can bend or fold. The flexible display is configured to provide flexibility to be folded and unfolded.

In addition, a general printed circuit board (P) and a flexible printed circuit board (f) of flexible material can be selectively used in the interior of the body (200). That is, the flexible printed circuit board f may be provided on the flexible body of the body 200, the printed circuit board P may be provided on the portion of the flexible body formed of a rigid material, A flexible printed circuit board (f) is disposed.

The printed circuit board (P) is a thinly printed copper wiring board. The printed circuit board (P) is an electronic component that can connect various components such as semiconductor, condenser, and resistance. To reduce the size of electronic devices and improve performance. A general printed circuit board P is formed of a rigid substrate having a predetermined rigidity. However, the flexible printed circuit board f is suitable for a structure in which an electronic device is attached to a substrate that is bent like a plastic, so that the electronic circuit is mounted.

In this embodiment, the body 200 consists of a frame or the like provided substantially inside the cases 101 and 102, but is not clearly separated from the cases 101 and 102 substantially. In other words, the body 200 can be described as constituting the entire skeleton of the terminal 100 including the cases 101 and 102 and the frame forming the internal shape thereof.

Since the body 200 is constructed so as to be capable of bending itself, at least a part of the body 200 is made of an elastically deformable material and is exposed to the outside, or when separate cases 101 and 102 are provided according to design conditions, (200), so that the terminal (100) can be physically deformed in appearance.

The body 200 may include a first body 210 and at least one second body 230 coupled to the first body 210 in a bendable manner. The second body 230 may include a second body 230a provided on one side of the first body 210 and a second body 230b provided on the other side of the first body 210. In this case, However, it is not widely distinguished in structure or functional part.

At this time, one of the first body 210 and the second body 230 is made of a flexible material and the other is made of a rigid material. For example, when the first body 210 is made of a soft material, the second body 230 may have a predetermined rigidity, and the first body 210 and the second body 230 May be integrally formed so as to have a flexible material.

Referring to FIG. 4, the body 200 may be formed of a flexible material, and the second body 230 may be formed of a rigid material. At this time, the flexible printed circuit board f may be provided on the first body 210 and the printed circuit board P and the battery 190 may be provided on the second body 230.

That is, a flexible printed circuit board (f) suitable for bending is applied to a first body (210) made of a soft material, and a printed circuit board (P) A battery 190 requiring stability is provided.

At this time, the display unit 151 is configured as a flexible display capable of bending, and is disposed on one side of the body 200. At this time, the display unit 151 may be provided in the first body 210 and the second body 230, but may be provided only in the first body 210 or the second body 230 according to design conditions . When the first body 210 is made of a flexible material, when an external force is applied to the second body 230, the first body 210 is elastically deformed to guide the relative movement of the second body 230.

5, the first body 210 may be formed of a rigid material, and the second body 230 may be formed of a flexible material. At this time, the first body 210 is provided with a printed circuit board P and a battery 190, and the second body 230 is provided with a flexible printed circuit board f.

When the second body 230 is made of a flexible material, when an external force is applied to the second body 230, the second body 230 is elastically deformed by itself and is moved relative to the first body 210 (rotation or bending) do. As described above, the first body 210 and the second body 230 can be designed differently according to their materials.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure of a plurality of bodies according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a pressure sensing position according to a deformation of a body in an embodiment of the present invention have.

Referring to these drawings, the first body 210 and the second body 230 are provided so as to be able to bend. In this embodiment, the first body 210 is made of a flexible material so as to have ductility, and the second body 230 is made of a rigid material and has a predetermined rigidity.

The first body 210 and the second body 230 are provided with an engagement rib 212 and an insertion slit 232 for mutual engagement. The insertion slit 232 is elongated along the joint surface 1 of the first body 210 and the second body 230 and the insertion rib 212 is inserted into the insertion slit 232 .

A sensing unit 500 is provided at a connection portion between the first body 210 and the second body 230. The sensing unit 500 may also constitute the sensing unit 140. The sensing unit 500 may include a first sensing unit 500a and a second sensing unit 500b.

The first body 210 is provided with a coupling rib 212 inserted into the second body 230. The coupling rib 212 extends along the coupling surface of the first body 210 and the second body 230. That is, the coupling rib 212 is formed to protrude toward the second body 230 along one side edge of the first body 210.

The first body 210 is provided with contact portions 214 and 216 which can contact the sensing unit 500 and apply a predetermined pressure. The contact portions 214 and 216 are provided corresponding to the number of the sensing units 500.

The contact portions 214 and 216 may be a part of the first body 210 or the coupling rib 212 and may not be physically separated from the first body 210 or the coupling rib 212. However, the contact portions 214 and 216 may be configured to have different shapes and structures in the first body 210 or the coupling rib 212 according to design conditions.

The contact portions 214 and 216 may include a first contact portion 214 and a second contact portion 216 corresponding to the first sensing portion 500a and the second sensing portion 500b, respectively. The first contact portion 214 and the second contact portion 216 are provided independently of each other to prevent mutual interference due to physical deformation.

The second body 230 is formed with an insertion slit 232 into which the engagement rib 212 is inserted. The insertion slit 232 is partly embedded in the second body 230. It is preferable that the engaging rib 212 and the insertion slit 232 are not exposed to the outside when they are coupled to each other.

The first body 210 or the second body 230 may be provided with a mounting rib 234. The mounting rib 234 is provided with a sensing unit 500. In this embodiment, the mounting rib 234 is provided correspondingly to the engaging rib 212 in the second body 230.

The mounting ribs 234 are protruded toward the first body 210 with respect to the contact surface 1 so that the first ribs 212 protrude toward the second body 230 with respect to the contact surface 1, (210) and the second body (230).

The body 200 is further provided with a fastening boss 236 which penetrates through the coupling rib 212 inserted into the insertion slit 232 in the first body 210 or the second body 230. The fastening bosses 236 are provided at the portions where the insertion slits 232 are formed, and at least two or more fastening bosses 236 are preferably spaced apart from each other to maintain a constant fastening force.

At least two of the fastening bosses 236 may be provided separately from each other and the fastening bosses 236 may be configured such that the fastening bosses 236 are fastened by the fastening holes f. However, the first body 210 and the second body 230 do not have the fastening bosses 236 and are fastened through the first body 210 and the second body 230 according to the design conditions. (f).

The sensing unit 500 may be disposed at the tip of the mounting rib 234 to be mounted on the second body 230 but may be positioned on the first body 210 side. The reason why the sensing unit 500 is positioned on the first body 210 side is that the first body 210 is made of a flexible material so that a certain signal can be effectively sensed without damaging the sensing unit 500 .

The sensing unit 500 is provided on a joint surface between the first body 210 and the second body 230 and generates different electrical signals according to the degree of contact between the first body 210 and the second body 230 .

The sensing unit 500 may be mounted on a second body 230 of a rigid material to sense the degree to which the first body 210 of a flexible material is in close contact. The sensing unit 500 includes a pair of a first sensing unit 500a and a second sensing unit 500b that are spaced apart from each other in the thickness direction of the body 200. [

The first sensing unit 500a and the second sensing unit 500b sense a pressure change at each position and transmit the electrical signal to the control unit 180. The control unit 180 controls the first and second sensing units 500a, And determines the bent direction of the body 200 as a user input signal.

The sensing unit 500 may be arranged long in the longitudinal direction of the body 200. This is because the first body 210 and the second body 230 are coupled in the longitudinal direction. That is, when the first body 210 or the second body 230 is bent, the deformation of the mounting ribs 234 or the coupling ribs 212 occurs in the thickness direction of the body 200, And is arranged to be long in the longitudinal direction of the body 200 to easily detect bending. In this embodiment, the sensing unit 500 is positioned between the pair of engaging ribs 212.

It is preferable that a plurality of sensing units 500 are provided so as to correspond to the corners of the body 200 and be spaced apart from each other. As such, the sensing unit 500 is disposed at a plurality of corners of the body 200, so that the terminal 100 can receive a desired signal from various parts.

The sensing unit 500 may include a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, and an acceleration sensor. The proximity sensor makes it possible to detect the presence of an object to be approached or nearby, without mechanical contact. The proximity sensor can detect a nearby object by using the change of the alternating magnetic field or the change of the static magnetic field, or the rate of change of the capacitance. The proximity sensor may be equipped with two or more sensors according to the configuration.

The pressure sensor can detect whether pressure is applied to the terminal 100, the magnitude of the pressure, and the like. The pressure sensor may be installed in a portion of the terminal 100 where pressure detection is required, depending on the use environment.

An acceleration sensor is a device that converts an acceleration change in one direction into an electric signal and is widely used in conjunction with the development of MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) technology. The acceleration sensor measures the acceleration of a small value built in the airbag system of an automobile and recognizes the minute motion of the human hand and measures the acceleration of a large value used as an input means such as a game There are various types. Acceleration sensors are usually constructed by mounting two or three axes in one package. Depending on the usage environment, only one axis of Z axis is required. Therefore, when the acceleration sensor in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction is used instead of the Z-axis direction for some reason, the acceleration sensor may be mounted on the main substrate by using a separate piece substrate.

The sensing unit 500 may include at least one of a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, a tension sensor, a current sensor, a tactile sensor, and a tilt sensor to determine whether the body 200 is folded or bent, And the like can be detected.

In this embodiment, the sensing unit 500 is constituted by a pressure sensor for measuring the absolute pressure or the relative pressure which is changed by the bending of the body 200.

7, when the second body 230 is bent in the direction of the display unit 151, the second contact unit 216 is deformed to apply a constant pressure to the second sensing unit 500b, And receive input.

On the contrary, when the second body 230 is bent in the direction opposite to the display unit 151, the first contact unit 214 is deformed to apply a predetermined pressure to the first sensing unit 500a, .

The coupling structure of the first body 210 and the second body 230 and the arrangement relationship of the sensing unit 500 may be changed according to design conditions. In the other embodiments of the present invention, the same elements as those in the above-described embodiment will not be described in detail.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure of a plurality of bodies according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a pressure sensing position according to a deformation of a body in an embodiment of the present invention have.

Referring to these drawings, the first body 210 and the second body 230 are provided so as to be able to bend. In this embodiment, the first body 210 is made of a rigid material and has a predetermined rigidity, and the second body 230 is formed of a flexible material so as to have ductility.

The first body 210 and the second body 230 are provided with an engagement rib 212 and an insertion slit 232 for mutual engagement. The insertion slit 232 is elongated along the joint surface 1 of the first body 210 and the second body 230 and the insertion rib 212 is inserted into the insertion slit 232 .

A sensing unit 500 is provided between the first body 210 and the second body 230. The sensing unit 500 may include a first sensing unit 500a and a second sensing unit 500b.

The first body 210 is provided with a coupling rib 212 inserted into the second body 230. The coupling rib 212 extends along the coupling surface of the first body 210 and the second body 230. That is, the coupling rib 212 protrudes toward the second body 230 along one side edge of the first body 210.

The first body 210 is provided with contact portions 214 and 216 which can contact the sensing unit 500 and apply a predetermined pressure. The contact portions 214 and 216 are provided corresponding to the number of the sensing units 500. The contact portions 214 and 216 may include a first contact portion 214 and a second contact portion 216 corresponding to the first sensing portion 500a and the second sensing portion 500b, respectively. In this embodiment, the contact portions 214 and 216 may be formed as a part of the engagement rib 212.

The first body 210 or the second body 230 may be provided with a mounting rib 234. The mounting rib 234 is provided with a sensing unit 500. In this embodiment, the mounting rib 234 is provided correspondingly to the engaging rib 212 in the second body 230.

The body 200 is further provided with a fastening boss 236 which penetrates through the coupling rib 212 inserted into the insertion slit 232 in the first body 210 or the second body 230. At least two of the fastening bosses 236 may be provided separately from each other and the fastening bosses 236 may be configured such that the fastening bosses 236 are fastened by the fastening holes f.

The sensing unit 500 is mounted on the second body 230 at the tip of the mounting rib 234. The sensing unit 500 is disposed on the side of the second body 230 with respect to the joint surface 1 of the first body 210 and the second body 230.

The sensing unit 500 may be mounted on a second body 230 of a rigid material to sense the degree to which the first body 210 of a flexible material is in close contact. In this embodiment, the sensing unit 500 is provided to receive a selective pressure substantially by a part of the engaging rib 212 of the first body 210. In this embodiment, a pair of coupling ribs 212 are disposed between the pair of first sensing portions 500a and the second sensing portions 500b. In other words, the sensing unit 500 is provided between the mounting rib 324 and the engaging rib 234.

The sensing unit 500 includes a pair of a first sensing unit 500a and a second sensing unit 500b that are spaced apart from each other in the thickness direction of the body 200. [ The sensing unit 500 may be arranged long in the longitudinal direction of the body 200. It is preferable that a plurality of sensing units 500 are provided so as to correspond to the corners of the body 200 and be spaced apart from each other.

9, when the second body 230 is bent in the direction of the display unit 151, the first contact unit 214 is deformed to apply a predetermined pressure to the first sensing unit 500a, You will receive.

On the contrary, when the second body 230 is bent in the direction opposite to the display unit 151, the second contact unit 216 is deformed to apply a predetermined pressure to the second sensing unit 500b, .

Next, another embodiment of a portable terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Other embodiments of the present invention are different in the arrangement relationship of the sensing units and the like, and the description of the same components as those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 9 will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a body and a sensing sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to this figure, the body 200 is made of a flexible material so that it can be bent as a whole. The body 200 can be manufactured by injection molding a synthetic resin such as rubber. Inside the body 200, a sensing unit 600 is provided. The flexible portion of the body 200 is provided to selectively provide the sensing unit 600 with a compressive force by its bending.

The body 200 is provided with a display unit 151 which can cope with bending. The display unit is constituted by a flexible display which is a flexible type screen. A flexible printed circuit board (f) of flexible material is provided inside the body (200).

The flexible circuit board (f) is arranged long in the thickness direction of the body (200). The flexible printed circuit board (f) is provided with a sensing unit (600). The sensing unit 600 includes a pair of first sensing portions 600a and a second sensing portion 600b spaced from each other in the thickness direction of the flexible portion of the body 200. [

The sensing unit 600 is inserted into the flexible portion of the body 200 so that the flexible portion of the body 200 surrounds the sensing unit 600. This is to allow the bending of the body 200 to transmit a direct compression or tensile force to the sensing unit 600. Accordingly, the body 200 and the sensing unit 600 maintain a constant close contact state.

Also, the pair of first sensing portions 600a and second sensing portions 600b are arranged long in the thickness direction of the body 200, respectively. The first sensing unit 600a and the second sensing unit 600b are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the body 200. The first sensing unit 600a and the second sensing unit 600b are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the body 200, So as to smoothly detect the compressive force and the tensile force transmitted to the body 200. [ That is, a portion to be sensed by the sensing unit 600 is provided so as to face the longitudinal direction of the body 200.

In more detail, the first sensing unit 600a and the second sensing unit 600b are respectively disposed at portions where a tensile force and a compressive force are generated by the bending of the body 200. [ In other words, when the flexible body 200 is bent to one side, the tensile force and the compressive force act on a certain reference line, respectively. The first sensing unit 600a and the second sensing unit 600b They are placed in different directions to sense changes in tensile and compressive forces.

11 is an explanatory view showing a pressure change according to deformation of the body in another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to this figure, when the body 200 is bent in a direction opposite to the display unit 151, a tensile force is generated in the first sensing unit 600a disposed adjacent to the display unit 151, A compressing force is generated in the second sensing unit 600b, which is located relatively far away from the second sensing unit 600b.

When the body 200 is bent in the direction of the display unit 151, a compressive force is generated in the first sensing unit 600a disposed adjacent to the display unit 151, A tensile force is generated in the second sensing unit 600b to receive a user signal set for the operation.

The bending direction of the body 200 can be known through the pressure change sensed by the pair of the first sensing unit 600a and the second sensing unit 600b and the magnitude of the force can be subdivided .

In addition, in order to perform more sensitive measurement, it is also possible to provide a constant pressure to the sensing unit 600 in an initial state, so that a change in pressure can be immediately displayed. At this time, the pressure in the portion of the body 200 where the tensile force acts is decreased.

Therefore, when the sensing unit 600 is provided at the center of the body 200, the direction and intensity of the bending of the body 200 can be measured. When the sensing unit 600 is provided at a specific portion such as a corner, You can also measure the direction and intensity of moving a region.

Hereinafter, the operation of the portable terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail.

12 is a perspective view showing a modification of the body in the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to this figure, the terminal 100 is provided with a bendable body 200 and receives a user signal by bending or twisting the edge or edge of the body 200 to operate the terminal 100 .

In this way, when the body 200 is physically deformable and the sensing unit 500 capable of sensing a physical change of the body 200 is provided, it is possible to intuitively use the sensing unit 500 without using a keypad or a touch- It can transmit the input signal.

Further, since the compression force and the tensile force generated by the bending of the body 200 can be detected as a user input signal, when a menu based on a game or a user interface is used, the utility is maximized and an advantage have. When the physical deformation of the body 200 is recognized as one user input signal, the operation of the terminal 100 can be controlled in various ways.

13 and 14 are explanatory diagrams showing a process of executing an operation control menu according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13A, when the left edge of the terminal 100 is bent (711), the menu item 712 located on the left side of the display unit 151 can be selected. The selected menu item may be executed immediately, or may be executed according to selection of execution or the like.

Similarly, referring to FIG. 13B, when the right edge of the terminal 100 is bent (713), a menu item 714 located on the right side of the display unit 151 can be selected. The menu item 716 located at the center of the display unit 151 can be selected when the upper end of the terminal 100 is bent forward or backward.

14 (a), when the left edge of the terminal 100 is bent 731, the selected menu item 735 may be executed according to a touch and drag input 740 Can be preset among the menu items. Referring to FIG. 14B, a menu item to be executed is set when the right edge of the terminal 100 is warped (732) for touch and drag input. Referring to FIG. 14 (c), menu items selected when the terminal 100 is bent may be set to two or more. In such a case, a menu item to be executed may be displayed as a message for the user to select.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of displaying an operation control menu according to a deformation of a body in the embodiment of the present invention.

15A and 15B, when an operation screen is displayed on the display unit 151 and one side of the terminal 100 is bent (751), an operation executable by the display unit 151 The control menu 760 is displayed. When any one menu item is selected by the touch input 761 in the displayed operation control menu 760, the operation corresponding to the selected menu item is executed. In FIG. 15C, an operation screen is displayed on the display unit 151 according to the execution result of the selected menu item.

As described above, the terminal 100 enables various operation controls according to the bending of the body 200 including the flexible portion.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments but is defined by the appended claims, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications within the scope of the claims It is self-evident.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of a portable terminal according to the present invention;

2 is a perspective view showing a front structure of a preferred embodiment of a portable terminal according to the present invention;

3 is a perspective view showing a back surface configuration of a preferred embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration and a change of a body in an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration and change of the body in another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure of a plurality of bodies in an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an explanatory view showing a pressure sensing position according to a deformation of a body in an embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure of a plurality of bodies in another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an explanatory view showing a pressure sensing position according to a deformation of a body in an embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of a body and a sensing sensor in another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is an explanatory view showing a pressure change according to deformation of a body in another embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a perspective view showing a modification of the body in the embodiment of the present invention.

13 and 14 are explanatory views showing a process of executing an operation control menu according to an embodiment of the present invention.

15 is an explanatory view showing a process of displaying an operation control menu according to a deformation of a body in the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

100: Terminal 151:

200: body 210: first body

230: second body 500: sensing unit

500a: first sensing unit 500b: second sensing unit

Claims (23)

A body made of a material at least a part of which is elastically deformable; A display unit provided on the body for displaying a screen; And at least one sensing unit provided on the body and outputting an electrical signal according to a degree of bending of the body. The method according to claim 1, The body, A first body; And at least one second body coupled to the first body such that the first body can be bent. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein one of the first body and the second body is made of a flexible material and the other is made of a rigid material. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the sensing unit is provided on a joint surface of the first body and the second body and outputs different electrical signals according to the degree of contact between the first body and the second body. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the sensing unit is mounted on the second body of a rigid material to sense the degree of contact of the first body of flexible material. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the sensing unit comprises a pair of first sensing units and second sensing units spaced from each other in the thickness direction of the body. The method according to claim 6, The first body made of a flexible material is provided with a first contact portion and a second contact portion corresponding to the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion, respectively, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion are independently provided, To prevent mutual interference by the mobile terminal. 3. The method of claim 2, Further comprising: an insertion slit provided to correspond to the first body and the second body so as to be elongated along a joint surface of the first body and the second body; and a coupling rib inserted into the insertion slit, Gt; 9. The method of claim 8, The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a mounting rib provided on the first body or the second body so as to correspond to the coupling rib, on which the sensing unit is mounted. 10. The method of claim 9, Wherein the sensing unit is provided between the mounting rib and the coupling rib. 11. The method of claim 10, And a coupling boss for passing through the coupling rib inserted in the insertion slit in the first body or the second body, 12. The method of claim 11, Wherein the fastening boss is provided separately from the fastening boss, and the fastening boss is retained in its fastening force by a fastener passing through the fastening boss. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the sensing unit is disposed long in the longitudinal direction of the body. The method according to claim 1, Wherein a plurality of the sensing units are provided so as to correspond to corners of the body and are spaced apart from each other. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the display unit comprises a flexible display capable of responding to bending of the body. The method according to claim 1, And a flexible circuit board made of a flexible material and provided on the bent portion of the body. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the sensing unit comprises a pressure sensor for measuring an absolute pressure or a relative pressure. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the sensing unit includes a pair of first sensing units and second sensing units spaced from each other in a thickness direction of the flexible portion of the body. 19. The method of claim 18, Wherein the sensing unit is inserted into a flexible portion of the body so that a flexible portion of the body surrounds the sensing unit. 19. The method of claim 18, Wherein the flexible portion of the body is provided to selectively provide a compressive force to the sensing unit by its bending. 19. The method of claim 18, Wherein the pair of the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are respectively disposed in the thickness direction of the body. 19. The method of claim 18, And a flexible circuit board which is disposed in the thickness direction of the body and on which the pair of first sensing portions and second sensing portions are mounted, 19. The method of claim 18, Wherein the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are respectively disposed at portions where tensile force and compression force are generated by bending of the body.

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