Hereinafter, a mobile terminal related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are given to different embodiments in the same or similar configurations. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The mobile terminal described in this specification may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), and navigation. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to a fixed terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, unless the configuration is applicable only to a mobile terminal.
The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, A controller 170, a controller 180, a power supply 190, and the like. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, and 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 for enabling wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and the 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 refer to 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. 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 refer to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or information related to 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).
For example, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), a Media Forward Link Only Broadcast-Handheld (ISDB-T), Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like. Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems 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 160.
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. 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 may be built in or externally attached 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. Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as a short range communication technology.
The position information module 115 is a module for obtaining the position of the mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a Global Position System (GPS) module.
Referring to FIG. 1, an A / V (Audio / Video) 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 can 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 depending on the use environment.
The microphone 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 may be implemented in the microphone 122 to remove noise generated in receiving an external sound signal.
The user input unit 130 generates input data for a 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 senses the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the mobile terminal 100, the position of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence of user contact, the orientation of the mobile terminal, And generates 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. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.
The output unit 150 is for generating output related to the visual, auditory or tactile sense and includes a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154 .
The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with a call is displayed. When the mobile terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the photographed and / or received video or UI and GUI are displayed.
The display unit 151 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display (flexible) and at least one of a 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 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 each other, or may be disposed on different surfaces.
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 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 controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and 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 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 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. And to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field along the proximity of the pointer when the touch screen is electrostatic. 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 pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer is vertically corresponding 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 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 also outputs sound signals related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. [ The audio output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.
The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in a form other than the video signal or the audio signal, for example, vibration. The video signal or the audio signal may be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152 so that they may be classified as a 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 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 be used for stimulation such as a pin array vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a jetting force or suction force of air through an injection or inlet, grazing to the skin surface, contact of an electrode, and electrostatic force. 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 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. The haptic module 154 may include two or more haptic modules 154 according to the configuration of the portable terminal 100.
The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input / output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, etc.). The memory 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a touch is input on the touch screen.
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), a RAM (Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), PROM A disk, and / or an optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.
The interface unit 170 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or supplies power to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or transmits data to the external device. For example, a port for connecting a device with a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, an identification module, an audio I / 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 use right of the mobile terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), a general user authentication module A 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.
When the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, the interface unit 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various commands A signal may be a path through which the signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The various command signals or the power source input from the cradle may be operated as a signal 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, 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 controller 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 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 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 160 and can be executed by the control unit 180. [
Hereinafter, a mobile terminal related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar reference numerals are given to different embodiments in the same or similar configurations. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The mobile terminal described in this specification may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), and navigation. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to a fixed terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, unless the configuration is applicable only to a mobile terminal.
The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, A controller 170, a controller 180, a power supply 190, and the like. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, and 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 for enabling wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and the 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 refer to 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. 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 refer to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or information related to 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).
For example, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), a Media Forward Link Only Broadcast-Handheld (ISDB-T), Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like. Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems 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 160.
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. 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 may be built in or externally attached 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. Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as a short range communication technology.
The position information module 115 is a module for obtaining the position of the mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a Global Position System (GPS) module.
Referring to FIG. 1, an A / V (Audio / Video) 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 can 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 depending on the use environment.
The microphone 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 may be implemented in the microphone 122 to remove noise generated in receiving an external sound signal.
The user input unit 130 generates input data for a 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 senses the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the mobile terminal 100, the position of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence of user contact, the orientation of the mobile terminal, And generates 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. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.
The output unit 150 is for generating output related to the visual, auditory or tactile sense and includes a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154 .
The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with a call is displayed. When the mobile terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the photographed and / or received video or UI and GUI are displayed.
The display unit 151 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display (flexible) and at least one of a 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 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 each other, or may be disposed on different surfaces.
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 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 controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and 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 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 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. And to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field along the proximity of the pointer when the touch screen is electrostatic. 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 pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer is vertically corresponding 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 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 also outputs sound signals related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. [ The audio output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.
The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in a form other than the video signal or the audio signal, for example, vibration. The video signal or the audio signal may be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152 so that they may be classified as a 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 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 be used for stimulation such as a pin array vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a jetting force or suction force of air through an injection or inlet, grazing to the skin surface, contact of an electrode, and electrostatic force. 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 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. The haptic module 154 may include two or more haptic modules 154 according to the configuration of the portable terminal 100.
The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input / output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, etc.). The memory 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a touch is input on the touch screen.
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), a RAM (Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), PROM A disk, and / or an optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.
The interface unit 170 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or supplies power to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or transmits data to the external device. For example, a port for connecting a device with a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, an identification module, an audio I / 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 use right of the mobile terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), a general user authentication module A 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.
When the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, the interface unit 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various commands A signal may be a path through which the signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The various command signals or the power source input from the cradle may be operated as a signal 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, 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 controller 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 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 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 160 and can be executed by the control unit 180. [
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the mobile terminal of FIG. 3.
2, 3, and 4, the mobile terminal 100 includes a terminal body having a bar shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, and a swing type in which two or more bodies are coupled to be movable relative to each other. Further, the mobile terminal described herein may be any portable electronic device having a camera and flash, for example, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a Personal Digital Assistants ), A PMO (Portable Multimedia Player), and the like.
The terminal body includes a case (which may be referred to as a casing, a housing, a cover, and the like) that forms an appearance. The case may be divided into a front case 201, a rear case 203 covering a surface opposite to the front case, and a middle case 202 formed between the front case 201 and the rear case 203. have. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 201 and the rear case 203. The cases may be formed by injecting synthetic resin or may be formed of a metal material, for example, a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).
The front of the terminal body, the display unit 210, the first sound output unit 211, the front camera unit 216, the side key 214, the interface unit 215, the sound input unit 213 and the signal input unit 231 It includes.
The display unit 210 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) module, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) module, and an e-paper for visually expressing information. The display unit 210 may include touch sensing means for inputting data by a touch method. Hereinafter, the display unit 210 including the touch sensing unit will be referred to as a 'touch screen'. If any one of the touches on the touch screen 210 is touched, the contents corresponding to the touched position are input. The content input by the touch method may be a letter or a number, an instruction in various modes, a menu item which can be designated, and the like. The touch sensing means is formed in a translucent manner so that the display portion can be seen, and a structure for enhancing the visibility of the touch screen in a bright place may be included. Referring to FIG. 2, the touch screen 210 occupies most of the front surface of the front case 201.
The first sound output unit 211 may be implemented as a receiver for delivering a call sound to a user's ear or a loud speaker for outputting various alarm sounds or multimedia playback sounds.
The side key 214 may be collectively referred to as an operation unit, and may receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 200. The side key 214 may be employed in any manner as long as the user is operating in a tactile manner with a tactile impression. The content input by the side key 214 can be variously set. For example, commands such as control of the image input unit 216, control of the volume of the sound output from the sound output units 211 and 211 ′, or switching to the touch recognition mode of the display unit 210 by the side key 214. Can be input.
The sound input unit 213 may be implemented, for example, in the form of a microphone to receive a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.
The interface unit 215 is a channel through which the mobile terminal 200 related to the present invention can exchange data with an external device. For example, the interface unit 215 may be a wired or wireless connection terminal for connecting to an earphone, a port for short-range communication (for example, an IrDA port, a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port A wireless LAN port) or the like, or power supply terminals for supplying power to the mobile terminal 200. The interface unit 215 may be implemented in the form of a socket for receiving an external card such as a subscriber identification module (SIM) or a user identity module (UIM), a memory card for storing information.
The antenna unit 226 is configured to process a wireless signal corresponding to the wireless electromagnetic wave transmitted and received. The antenna unit 226 mainly transmits and receives radio signals through the rear case 203. The antenna unit 226 is configured to transmit and receive radio signals for wireless communication, global positioning system (GPS), MediaFLO (Media Forward Link Only), and the like, and may be configured as a main antenna unit of a mobile terminal. Can be.
The signal input unit 231 is manipulated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 200, and may include a plurality of operation units. The manipulation units may also be referred to collectively as a manipulating portion, and may be employed in any manner as long as the user is in a tactile manner with a tactile feeling.
For example, a dome switch or touch screen capable of receiving a command or information by a push or touch operation of a user, a touch pad, or a wheel, a jog type or a joystick for rotating a key . The front camera unit 216 processes an image frame such as a still image or a moving image obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame can be displayed on the display unit 210. [
The signal input unit 231 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 200 and may include a plurality of input keys. The input keys may also be referred to as a manipulating portion and may be employed in any manner as long as the user has a tactile sense and operates in a tactile manner.
The power supply unit 222, the rear camera unit 225 and the second sound output unit 221 'is disposed on the rear of the terminal body.
The power supply unit 222 supplies power to the mobile terminal 200. The power supply unit 222 may be built in the terminal body or may be directly detachable from the outside of the terminal body.
The flash 223 is disposed adjacent to the rear camera 225. The flash 223 may be disposed adjacent to the rear camera unit 225. The flash 223 shines light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the rear camera unit 225.
The mirror 224 may be disposed adjacent to the flash 223. The mirror 224 allows a user to see his / her own face or the like when the user wants to photograph himself (self photographing) using the rear camera unit 225.
The second sound output unit 221 ′ may implement a stereo function together with the first sound output unit 211 disposed on the front of the terminal body, and may be used to implement a speakerphone mode during a call.
In addition, the rear camera 225 may be a camera having a photographing direction substantially opposite to the front camera 216 disposed on the front surface, and having a different pixel from the front camera 216.
For example, the front camera unit 216 has a low pixel so that it is easy to take a picture of a user and transmit it to a counterpart in a video call, and the rear camera unit 225 photographs a general subject and transmits it immediately. In many cases, it is desirable to have a high pixel. The front and rear camera unit 225 may be installed in the terminal body to be rotatable or pop-up.
The front, back and side of the mobile terminal may be attached to the logo or additional decoration of the company that produced the product. The logo or decoration can be made of various kinds of materials to enhance the appearance of the terminal. The present invention can implement a logo or decoration due to the pattern portion formed in the rear case 203 and the front case 201.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of the rear case according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3.
4 and 5, the rear case 202 includes a base portion 21, a film 22, and a pattern portion 23.
The base portion 21 forms an appearance of the mobile terminal and functions as a base member that provides durability. The base may be formed by injecting a synthetic resin, for example, polycarbonate (PC). Accordingly, the rear case 202 has a high degree of freedom in product appearance and inner shape, and can be manufactured at low cost regardless of the complexity of the shape.
The film 22 is formed on the base portion 21. The film constitutes an appearance of the mobile terminal. The film 22 may be formed of a lenticular sheet. The lenticular sheet has a structure in which transparent hemispherical lenses are formed as an upper surface and a fine pattern is formed. The micro pattern may be formed to form an appearance of the mobile terminal.
Although not shown in the drawings, an adhesive layer (not shown) may be formed on the lower surface of the film 22. This allows the film 22 to easily contact the film 22 and the base portion 21, which may be formed of the synthetic resin.
The rear pattern portion 230 is formed of an exposure member 23 patterned in a predetermined shape. The rear pattern portion 230 may be formed of a logo and various patterns. The exposure member 23 may be formed of metal. The metal has a property of reflecting light, so that the rear pattern portion 230 is prominently formed and can improve the appearance of the high quality.
The exposure member 23 is formed to be exposed to the appearance of the mobile terminal. The outer surface of the exposure member 23 is formed to be coplanar with the outer surface of the film 22. That is, the rear pattern portion 230 is not recessed or protruded based on the outer surface of the film 32.
Thus, damage to the rear pattern portion 230 can be reduced. For example, when the pattern portion is recessed than the film, a contaminant may enter the rear pattern portion 230 to contaminate the pattern portion. When the pattern portion protrudes from the film, the problem that the exposed member 23 of the metal material of the rear pattern portion 230 is worn may be reduced.
The exposure member 23 is formed by press-fitting into the film 22. That is, the remaining area except the outer surface of the exposure member 23 exposed to the outside of the mobile terminal is formed to be in close contact with the film 22. There is no space spaced between the exposure member 23 and the film 22.
Therefore, a separate adhesive member for fixing the exposure member 23 to the film 22 is unnecessary, and a filling member for filling between the film 22 and the exposure member 23 is also unnecessary. In addition, foreign matter does not enter between the film 22 and the exposure member 23 can improve the sense of quality of the appearance of the mobile terminal, the outer surface of the film 22 and the exposure member 23 smoothly It can be formed, to realize the beauty of the tactile design.
6A to 6D are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing the rear case of FIG. 5.
Referring to FIG. 6A, the exposure member 23 is disposed on the film 22. The exposure member 23 may be arranged to form a pattern.
Referring to FIG. 6B, the film 22, to which the exposure member 23 is matched, is seated on a mold. The mold includes an upper mold 501 and a lower mold 502.
The upper mold 501 and the lower mold 502 are combined to form an inner space. The film 22 on which the exposure member 23 is disposed is seated in the internal space. The inner space may be formed to be greater than or substantially equal to the sum of the heights of the exposure member 23 and the film 22. The height of the inner space is the thickness of the rear case 201.
Referring to FIG. 6C, a mold member is introduced into the inner space along a passage formed in the lower mold 502 to lead to the inner space. As the mold member flows into the inner space, the space occupied by the exposure member 23 and the film 22 is reduced. Accordingly, the exposure member 23 formed of metal having a stronger strength than the film enters the inside of the film 22 while pressing the film 22.
That is, the exposure member 23 is pressed into the film 22 by the pressure of the inflow mold member, and the film 22 is pushed up to the periphery of the exposure member 23.
Referring to FIG. 6D, the exposure member 23 is completely embedded in the film 22. That is, the film 22 and the exposure member 21 are in close contact with the surface of the upper mold 501 at the same time. In addition, the film 22 pushed up by the pressure is in close contact with the periphery of the exposure member 23.
The mold member is formed under the film 22. This becomes the base portion 21 constituting the shape of the rear case 201.
Therefore, when the mold is removed, the film 22 is formed on the base portion 21, and the exposure member 23 is pressed into the film 22. Since the surface of the film 22 and the exposure member 23 is pressed together by the surface of the upper mold 501, it is formed flat.
According to the figure, the surface which the said film 22 and the said base part 21 contact is formed flat. However, when the film 22 is pushed downward by the exposure member 23, the film 22 may be formed to protrude downward while forming a thickness substantially the same as or less than the thickness of the exposure member 23.
Including the step of placing the exposed member 23 before the film 22 is seated in the mold, the outer surface of the film 22 and the exposed member 23 is flat, the space between them The rear case 203 (see FIG. 4) may be formed so as not to be formed. Accordingly, since the rear pattern portion 230 may be formed by only placing the exposed member 23 on the film 22 in the injection molding process of forming the base portion 21, the rear pattern portion 230 may be formed. ), The manufacturing process is simplified.
In comparison, there is a process of adhering the exposed member using the adhesive member on the film or inserting the adhesive member in the space provided by etching the film. Structurally, it is difficult to form the outer surface of the case to be flat using the process or the like and to form the film and the exposure member in close contact. In addition, the process of etching the thin film to a suitable height complicates the case manufacturing process.
According to the manufacturing process of the rear case according to the present invention, it is possible to form a rear pattern portion to improve the sense of quality of the outer surface of the mobile terminal through a simple process without the additional process of modifying the produced film and attaching the exposure member thereto.
7 is a cross-sectional view cut along the rear case A-A according to another embodiment of FIG.
4 and 7, the rear case 202 includes a base portion 21, a film 22, an exposure member 23, and a protective layer 24. The mobile terminal according to the present exemplary embodiment may include components similar to those of the mobile terminal of FIG. 5A except for the protective layer 23, and the description thereof will be replaced with the description of FIG. 5A.
The protective layer 23 is formed on at least one of the film 22 and the exposure member 23. The protective layer 23 may include a translucent material so that the exposure member 23 including the metal material may reflect light.
The protective layer 23 may be formed of an antioxidant film for preventing oxidation of the exposed member 23 of the metal material. The antioxidant film prevents the exposure member 23 including the metal material from being oxidized.
However, in order to form the outer surface of the rear case 202 smoothly, the protective layer 23 is preferably formed on both of the film 22 and the exposure member 23.
8 is a cross-sectional view cut along the rear case A-A according to another embodiment of FIG.
4 and 8, the rear case 202 includes a base portion 21, a film 22, an exposure member 23, and an adhesive layer 25. The mobile terminal according to the present exemplary embodiment may include components similar to those of the mobile terminal of FIG. 5A except for the adhesive layer 25, which will be replaced with the description of FIG. 5A.
The adhesive layer 25 is formed between the film 22 and the exposure member 23.
6A-6D. In the process of disposing the exposed member 23 on the film 22, the adhesive layer 25 may be formed on the lower portion of the exposed member 23 and attached to the film 22.
Attaching the adhesive layer 25 to the exposure member 23 prevents the movement of the exposure member 23 forming the pattern. Thus, the pattern can be implemented more accurately.
9 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment. 10 is an exploded view of the mobile terminal of FIG. 2.
2, 9 and 10, the mobile terminal 220 includes a rear case 201, a middle case 202, a display 210, a first sound output 211, and a side key 214. , An interface unit 215, and a front camera unit 216. The mobile terminal according to the present exemplary embodiment may include components similar to those of the mobile terminal of FIGS. 4 and 5 except for the front pattern unit 232, and the description thereof will be replaced with the description of FIG. 2.
2, 9 and 10, a window 210a and a display panel 210b coupled to one surface of the front case 201 constituting the display unit 210 are mounted. The battery 222 is disposed between the middle case 202 and the rear case 203.
The front case 201 includes a bezel portion recessed from one surface of the window 210a to allow a portion of the window 210a to be seated. Unlike the drawing, the bezel part may be provided separately from the front case 201.
The window 210a is coupled to the bezel part. The window 201a is made of a material through which light can pass, for example, a light transmissive synthetic resin, tempered glass, and the like.
The front pattern portion 232 is formed on the bezel portion on which the window 210a is mounted. The front pattern portion 232 may be formed of a company logo or a pattern for improving the sense of quality of the appearance of the mobile terminal. Since the front pattern part 232 is covered by the window 210a formed of the light transmissive material, the front pattern part 232 can be recognized from the outside.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the front case of FIG. 7 taken along line B-B. FIG.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 11, the front case 201 includes a base portion 31, a film 32, and an exposure member 33. The characteristics of each of the base portion 21, the film 22 and the exposure member 23 shown in FIG. 5 are substantially the same except for the arrangement. Therefore, the characteristics of each of the base portion 31, the film 32, and the exposure member 33 are replaced with the description of FIG. 5.
The base portion 31 is formed by recessing the window 210a to be seated. The film 32 is formed on a surface of the base portion 31 facing the window 210a.
The front pattern portion 232 is formed of an exposed member 33 to be patterned. The exposure member 33 is formed to be exposed to the appearance of the mobile terminal, and the outer surface of the exposure member 33 is formed to be coplanar with the outer surface of the film 32. In addition, the exposure member 33 and the film 32 is formed in close contact with no space.
Therefore, the window 210a may be mounted on the exposure member 33 and the film 32, and damage due to the collision between the window 210a and the exposure member 33 formed of the metal material may be caused. You can prevent it. The interior of the window 210a may be prevented from generating contaminants that are difficult to remove by the user, thereby realizing the appearance of the mobile terminal. In addition, since the window 210a covers the exposure member 33 formed of the metal material, damage to the exposure member 33 may be prevented.
Although not shown in the drawings, a protective layer or an adhesive layer may be further formed between the window 210a and the exposure member 33.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the signal input unit of FIG. 10 taken at C-C.
10 and 12, the signal input unit 231 includes a base portion 31, a film 32, and an exposure member 33. The characteristics of each of the base part 31, the film 32, and the exposure member 33 shown in FIG. 11 are substantially the same except for the arrangement and function of the signal input part 231. Therefore, the characteristics of each of the base portion 31, the film 32, and the exposure member 33 will be replaced with the description of FIGS. 5 and 11.
The exposure member 33 is patterned to display a signal input by the signal input unit 231. That is, the pattern may be patterned in letters or patterns corresponding to the signal.
An actuator 231 ′ is formed below the base 31. The user presses the signal input unit 231 so that the actuator 231 'presses a switch unit (not shown) formed inside the mobile terminal so that a signal is input.
In the drawing, a signal input method using the actuator 231 ', that is, a pressure signal input method is illustrated, but it may be formed as a key of a signal input unit using a touch signal input method.
As discussed above, the outer surface of the film 32 and the outer surface of the exposure member 33 form the same plane, and are formed in close contact with each other without a space between the film 32 and the exposure member 33. However, since the exposing member 33 and the film 32 are formed of different materials, and a hairline is formed between the exposing member 33 and the film 32, the user may use the film ( 32 and the exposure member 33 can be detected.
The mobile terminal described above can be applied to not only the configuration and method of the embodiments described above but also all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made to the embodiments It is possible.
