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 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display display, and 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 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 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.
2 and 3, the mobile terminal 200 includes 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, 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 202 covering a surface opposite to the front case, and a battery cover 203 coupled to the rear case 202. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 201 and the rear case 202. 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).
A display unit 210, a first sound output unit 211, an input manipulation unit 217, and a front camera unit 216 are formed on the front surface of the terminal body.
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 input operation unit 217 is operated 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 .
Content input by the input operation unit 217 may be variously set. For example, to enter start, end, scroll, and the like.
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 image frame processed by the front camera 216 can be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ The front camera 216 may be provided in two or more depending on the use environment.
The rear case 202 is provided with a side key 214, an interface unit 215, a sound input unit 213, and the like.
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, the side keys 214 may be used to control commands of the image input units 216 and 221, adjust the volume of sound output from the audio output unit 211, or switch the display unit 210 to the touch recognition mode. 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 power supply unit 240 and the rear camera unit 242 are disposed at the rear of the terminal body.
The power supply unit 240 supplies power to the mobile terminal 200. The power supply unit 240 may be built in the terminal body or may be detachable from the outside of the terminal body.
A flash (not shown) and a mirror (not shown) may be disposed adjacent to the rear camera unit 242. The flash shines toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the rear camera 242.
A mirror (not shown) may be disposed adjacent to the flash. The mirror 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 242.
In addition, the rear camera 242 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 low pixels so that it is easy to photograph and transmit a user's face to a counterpart in a video call, and the rear camera unit 242 captures a general subject and transmits it immediately. In many cases, it is desirable to have a high pixel. The front and rear camera units 216 and 221 may be installed in the terminal body in a rotatable or pop-up manner.
4 is a conceptual diagram of a mobile terminal having a sensing reduction pattern 303 associated with an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile terminal may include a terminal body, a proximity sensor 301, a sensing reduction pattern 303, and the like.
A display may be disposed on one surface of the terminal body. The display may be disposed to cover the entirety of the one surface, or may be disposed to cover only a portion of the one surface.
The proximity sensor 301 may be a sensor 301 that detects an approach of an object in a capacitive manner. The sensor 301 may be mounted on the terminal body to be adjacent to the one surface to detect that an object approaches the one surface. The sensor 301 may be an electrode (ITO eletrode) using a transparent electrode material. The proximity sensor may detect whether the user is in a call and may perform various functions such as a function of preventing battery consumption by limiting power supplied to the display while the user is in a call.
The sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed on one side of the terminal. That is, it may be formed on any one of the upper, lower, left, right side of the terminal in contact with the surface on which the display of the terminal is disposed. The sensing reduction pattern may prevent the sensor from malfunctioning by lowering the sensitivity of a surface other than the surface to be sensed. The sensing reduction pattern may serve as a ground shield. The ground shield may be grounded to the ground and serve to exclude interference from electromagnetic fields. When the sensing reduction pattern is attached to the side of the terminal, there is an advantage of improving the directivity of the sensor without using an additional bezel space. In addition, when the sensor is disposed on the bezel of the terminal, since the ground shield surrounding the sensor does not need to be installed on the bezel, the size of the sensor may be increased. Compared to the conventional technology in which the ground shield is installed on the bezel, space required for up, down, left, and right can be saved.
The sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed along the side surfaces to surround a portion of the sensor 301. For example, the sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed on the side of the terminal to surround the sensor 301 as shown in FIG. 4. When the sensing reduction pattern 303 is formed as described above, noise in the lateral direction of the terminal can be removed, thereby improving the directivity of the sensor 301.
The sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed on all surfaces other than the surface to be sensed. For example, when it is desired to detect an object approaching from the front of the terminal, a sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed on the back and side surfaces of the terminal.
The sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed to be symmetrical with respect to two sides facing each other. For example, the sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed on the left and right sides of the terminal, and in this case, since the noise caused by an object approaching the left and right sides of the terminal may be removed, the sensing sensitivity may be sensed at either of the left and right sides. Can prevent falling.
The sensing reducing member 304 may be mounted inside the terminal. The sensing reducing member 304 is disposed to be adjacent to the sensor 301, and the sensor 301 is disposed between the sensing reducing pattern 303 and the sensing reducing member 304. Since the noise generated from the side surface of the terminal is reduced by the sensing reduction pattern 303 and the sensing reduction member 304, the directivity of the sensor 301 is improved.
The sensing reduction pattern 303 may be a conductor electrically connected to a ground portion. The ground portion may be a main ground portion of a printed circuit board mounted on the main body, or may be a separate ground portion formed inside the terminal. In the present invention, the ground line is moved toward the inner surface of the terminal and the shield property of the electromagnetic field can be maintained as it is.
5 and 6 are conceptual views illustrating a sensing reduction effect by the sensing reduction pattern 303.
Referring to FIG. 5, the sensor 301 may sense the first, second and third directions perpendicular to each other. A vector sum of the direction components perpendicular to each other may represent all direction components.
The sensor 301 may be an electrostatic sensor that detects an approach of an object by measuring a change in an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field may be formed to be concentrated toward the first direction. However, even in this case, since the electromagnetic fields are formed in all directions around the sensor, the sensor even senses changes in the electromagnetic fields in the second and third directions.
Referring to FIG. 6, a sensing reduction pattern 303 is formed on the side of the terminal adjacent to the sensor 301. The sensing reduction pattern 303 prevents the electromagnetic field from changing when an object approaches in the second and third directions. Therefore, the sensor 301 may detect only the approach of the object in the first direction.
7 and 8 are conceptual views illustrating a mobile terminal equipped with a sensing reduction pattern 303 and a sensing reduction member 304 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The window 300 may be disposed on one surface of the terminal body. The window 300 may be formed to have an area larger than that of the display. As a result, the empty space between the display and the case can be covered. In this case, the window 300 may be divided into a transparent area and an opaque area. The transparent area is one area of the window 300 that covers the display, and the opaque area is another area of the window 300 that covers the empty space.
Referring to FIG. 7, the sensor 301 and the sensing reducing member 304 may be attached to an opaque region on the window 300. As a result, the sensor 301 and the sensing reducing member 304 may detect an object near the window 300 without being exposed to the outside. Since the sensing reducing member 304 is formed at an adjacent side, noise generated at the adjacent side is reduced.
Referring to FIG. 8, the proximity sensor may include a first sensor 301a and a second sensor 301b. The first sensor 301a and the second sensor 301b are spaced apart from each other. The sensing reduction pattern 303 may be formed on the side surface of the terminal to surround the first sensor 301a and the second sensor 301b.
The operation of the terminal may be controlled by using a difference in sensing strength between the first sensor 301a and the second sensor 301b. For example, when an object moves to approach the second sensor 301b in the vicinity of the first sensor 301a, the magnitude of sound or the brightness of the display may be changed using the difference in sensing intensity of the sensors.
A sensing reducing member 304 may be formed between the first sensor 301a and the second sensor 301b. The sensing reducing member 304 may generate a region where sensing is cut off between the first sensor 301a and the second sensor 301b. Thus, when an object is detected by the first sensor 301a and when an object is detected by the second sensor 301b, the terminal may perform different operations.
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.
