KR20150009033A - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal of the present invention includes a front case having a display module; a middle case which is arranged on the back surface of the front case; and a rear case which covers the back surface of the middle case and the front case. The middle case is made of a conductive metal and has a slot in a preset region.

Description

[0001] MOBILE TERMINAL [0002]

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal.

In recent years, the mobile terminal has been required to secure the communication quality so that it is lightweight and slim for users to carry easily, and convenient to implement various functions in the device.

The mobile terminal includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless electromagnetic waves for wireless communication. The antenna of the mobile terminal can be divided into an external antenna exposed to the outside and an internal antenna installed inside the terminal. Although an external antenna is mainly used at the beginning, it is disadvantage that it is easily damaged by an external impact, and the tendency is toward the development direction with the built-in antenna.

Since the built-in antenna is designed to be small enough to be built in the mobile terminal, the radiation efficiency of the antenna is lowered, the frequency band is narrowed, and the antenna gain is reduced. In spite of these problems, the miniaturization and the multifunctionalization of the mobile terminal have demanded miniaturization and high performance of the built-in antenna.

The present invention provides a mobile terminal using a predetermined region of a middle case formed of a conductive metal as an antenna.

A mobile terminal of the present invention includes: a front case having a display module; A middle case disposed on a rear surface of the front case; And a rear case covering the front case and the rear case of the middle case, wherein the middle case is formed of a conductive metal, and a slot is formed in a predetermined area.

In the present invention, a predetermined region of a middle case formed of a conductive metal is formed in a slot shape and used as an antenna. In particular, the middle case is a configuration added to enhance the durability and strength of the mobile terminal in recent years. As a result, the present invention forms an antenna using the middle case without adding other components, so that the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal can be met.

Further, the present invention can form a plurality of antennas in a predetermined area of the middle case. As a result, the present invention can cover multiple bands using a plurality of antennas while meeting the miniaturization requirement of a mobile terminal.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the front panel of Fig. 3; Fig.
5 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a side view showing a part of the lower side of part A of Fig. 5; Fig.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A in Fig. 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A of FIG. 4 according to still another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A of FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
10A to 10C are graphs showing voltage standing wave ratio according to frequency.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A in Fig. 4 according to still another embodiment of the present invention; Fig.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A of FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals throughout the specification denote substantially identical components. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. The component names used in the following description are selected in consideration of ease of specification, and may be different from actual product names.

A mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a mobile terminal, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player) And the like. However, it should be noted that the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be implemented as a fixed terminal such as a TV, a monitor, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1, a mobile terminal 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention 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. 1 are not essential, the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may have more components than the components shown in FIG. 1, or may have more components than the components shown in FIG. 1 You can have fewer components. 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 broadcast signals 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, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of a DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) or an ESG (Electronic Service Guide) of a DVBH (Digital Video BroadcastHandheld).

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 broadcasting (DMBT), a digital multimedia broadcasting satellite (DMBS), a media forward link only (MediaFLO), a digital video broadcasting ), And ISDBT (Integrated Services Digital Broadcast Terrestrial). Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other 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.

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 refers to a module for wireless Internet access, and the wireless Internet module 113 can be embedded in the mobile terminal 100 or externally. WLAN (WiFi), 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.

The location information module 115 is a module for confirming or obtaining the location of the mobile terminal 100. A typical example of the location information module is a GPS (Global Position System) module. According to the current technology, the GPS module 115 calculates information on a distance (distance) from three or more satellites to one point (entity), information on the time when the distance information is measured, , Three-dimensional position information according to latitude, longitude, and altitude of one point (individual) in one hour can be calculated. Further, a method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting the error of the calculated position and time information using another satellite is also used. The GPS module 115 continues to calculate the current position in real time and uses it to calculate speed information.

The 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 communication mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame can be displayed on the display module 151. [

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory unit 160 or may be transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ The camera 121 may be equipped with two or more cameras according to the configuration of the terminal.

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 / static), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 may sense the position 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 of the user, the orientation of the mobile terminal 100, 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 is possible to sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. In addition, it may be responsible for a sensing function related to whether 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 an orientation sensor 141 and / or a proximity sensor.

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

The display module 151 displays and outputs information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 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 module 151 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a field emission display, a plasma display panel, Or the like. Also, the display module 151 may be implemented as a flexible display or a three-dimensional display (3D display).

The display module 151 may be implemented as a transparent display. Typical examples of transparent displays include transparent LCDs and transparent OLEDs. In this case, the rear structure of the display module 151 may also be configured as a light transmitting structure. Accordingly, the user can see the object located behind the mobile terminal 100 through the area occupied by the display module 151 of the mobile terminal 100. [

There may be two or more display modules 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 one another, and may be disposed on different surfaces, respectively.

In a case where the display module 151 and the sensor for sensing the touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch sensor') have a mutual layer structure (hereinafter referred to as 'touch screen' It 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 module 151 or a capacitance generated in a specific portion of the display module 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. Thus, the control unit 180 can know which area of the display module 151 is touched or the like.

A proximity sensor may be disposed in the inner region of the mobile terminal 100 or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is wrapped 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 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.

The term "proximity touch" refers to the act of causing the pointer to be located on the touch screen in proximity to the touch screen without the pointer touching the touch screen, and "contact touch" Which means that the pointer actually touches the touch screen. 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 audio output module 152 may output 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, The sound output module 152 outputs an acoustic signal related to a function (e.g., a call signal reception sound, a 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 generated in the mobile terminal 100 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 audio signal may also be output through the display module 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 be configured to perform various functions such as an effect of stimulation by a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to a contact skin surface, an effect of stimulation by air spraying force or suction force through a jet opening or a suction opening, A variety of tactile effects such as an effect of stimulation through contact of an electrode, an effect of stimulation by an electrostatic force, and an effect of reproducing a cold sensation using a heat absorbing 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 feel the tactile effect through the muscles of the user's 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 unit 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 unit 160 may store data related to 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) At least one of a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read- Lt; / RTI > type of storage medium. The mobile 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 mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or receives power from the external device to transfer the data to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or to transmit data in the mobile terminal 100 to an external device. For example, a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, an audio I / O port, A video input / output (I / O) port, an earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 170.

The identification module is a chip 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 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various command signals input by the user to the cradle may be transmitted And may be a passage to be transmitted to the terminal 100. The various command signals or the power source inputted from the cradle may be operated as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal 100 is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The control unit 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile 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 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 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 processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, and electrical units for performing functions. In some cases such embodiments may be implemented using a controller 180 < / RTI >

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as procedures or functions may be implemented with separate software modules that perform at least one function or operation. The software code may be implemented by a software application written in a suitable programming language. Also, the software codes may be stored in the memory unit 160 and executed by the control unit 180. [

2 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the front case and the middle case of FIG. 3;

2 to 4, the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is implemented as a bar type. However, the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be realized as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, or a swivel type in which two or more bodies are movably coupled.

2 to 4, the mobile terminal 100 includes a case (a casing, a housing, a cover, etc.) which forms an appearance. Particularly, the case of the mobile terminal 100 according to the present embodiment can be divided into a front case 101 and a rear case 102. The front case 101 and the rear case 102 may be inclined or curved vertically so as to cover the side or bottom of the terminal body.

At least one intermediate case (s) may be disposed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102, such as the middle case 103 shown in Fig. The middle case 103 may be fixed to the front case 101 using a screw or the like as shown in FIG. The middle case 103 is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance durability and strength of the mobile terminal.

At least one circuit board (s) 181 and a battery 191 may be disposed between the middle case 103 and the rear case 102 as shown in Fig. The circuit board (s) 181 can be mounted with various kinds of electronic components as well as a plurality of control circuits. The circuit board (s) 181 may be implemented as a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit.

The front case 101 and the rear case 102 may be formed by injecting synthetic resin. The middle case 103 may be formed by die casting. Die casting refers to a precision casting method in which the same casting as a mold is obtained by pressing a molten alloy into a precisely machined steel die exactly in accordance with the required casting shape. It should be noted that the metal used in the die casting may be, but not limited to, an alloy of zinc, aluminum, tin, copper, magnesium and the like.

The front case 101 may include a display module 151, an audio output module 152, a camera 121, user input units 131 and 132, a microphone 122, an interface unit 170, and the like. The display module 151 occupies most of the main surface of the front case 101. The sound output module 151 and the camera 121 are disposed in a region adjacent to one end of both ends of the display module 151 and the first operation unit 131 and the microphone 122 are disposed in a region adjacent to the other end . The second operation unit 132 and the interface 170 and the like 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 portable terminal 100 and may include a plurality of operation units 131 and 132. The operation units 131 and 132 can be employed in any manner as long as the user operates in a tactile manner with a tactile impression.

The contents input by the operation units 131 and 132 can be variously set. For example, the first operation unit 131 receives a command such as a call, a call termination, and the like, and the second operation unit 132 controls the size of the sound output from the sound output unit 152, Such as switching to the touch recognition mode, can be input. The first operation unit 131 may be omitted and may also be implemented as a touch UI by the display module 151. [

A rear camera 121B may be further mounted on the rear case 102 as shown in FIG. The rear camera 121B may have a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the front camera 121, and may be a camera having different pixels. For example, the camera 121 on the front side has low pixels so that it is easy to capture a face of a user in the case of a video call or the like and transmits the face to the other party, and the rear camera 121B does not directly It is preferable to have a high pixel. The front camera 121 or the rear camera 121B may be configured to be rotated or pop-up.

In addition to the antenna for mobile communication, an antenna for receiving broadcast signals may be additionally disposed on the side surface of the mobile terminal 100. [ In addition, an antenna forming a part of the broadcast receiving module 111 may be installed to be able to be drawn out from the mobile terminal 100.

In addition, the mobile terminal 100 includes a power supply unit for receiving power. The power supply unit may be built in the mobile terminal 100 or may be configured to be detachable from the outside of the mobile terminal 100 directly.

The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110 for broadcasting reception, voice / data transmission / reception, and GPS information transmission / reception, and has an antenna for ensuring wireless communication performance. The mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention uses a predetermined region of the middle case 103 formed of a conductive metal as an antenna as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a structure of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

5 is an enlarged rear view of part A of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5, the lower region of the middle case 103 is used as an antenna, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a side region or an upper region of the middle case 103 may be used as an antenna.

4, the middle case 103 may be fixed to the back surface of the front case 101 using a screw or the like. The front case 101 may be formed of a plastic such as polycarbonate. The rim 101a of the front case 101 may also be formed of the same material as that of the front case 101. [ The middle case 103 is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance durability and strength of the mobile terminal. For this reason, the middle case 103 can be formed by die casting.

Referring to FIG. 5, a slot s1 is formed in a lower region of the middle case 103. For example, the slot s1 may be formed as an open-end slot of a "C " shape in which a space is formed in the center and one end is open. However, the slot s1 is not limited thereto and may be formed as a closed slot. 5, the middle case 103 includes a protruding portion 103a formed in a lower region thereof, and the protruding portion 103a is provided with a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as "FPCB" End slot s1 in which the opposite side of the protrusion 103a is open can be formed by connecting the protrusion 103a and the protrusion 103a. In this case, the middle case 103, the protrusion 103a and the FPCB 104 may be formed in a "C" shape. At this time, the projecting portion 103a and the FPCB 104 may be connected by a predetermined fastening means 105. [ As the fastening means 105, a conductive gasket or a screw may be used. A plurality of circuits may be mounted on the FPCB 104, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, in the mobile terminal 100, a feeding part (refer to 106 in FIG. 9) for electrically connecting the lower area of the middle case 103 formed with the slot s1 may be formed. The feeding part (refer to 106 in Fig. 9) electrically connects the circuit board 181 and the slot s1 serving as an antenna. Since the middle case 103 is formed to cover most of the front case 101 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the middle case 103 can serve as a ground plane. Therefore, the slot s1 of the middle case 103 is radiated by the current supplied from the circuit board 181, and functions as an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving a certain band.

As a result, in the present embodiment, a predetermined region of the middle case 103 formed of a conductive metal is formed in the shape of a slot s1 and used as an antenna. As a result, the present embodiment can meet the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal since there is no need to add other components to construct the antenna.

Figs. 6A and 6B are side views showing a part of the lower side of the portion A in Fig. 5; 6A and 6B, an area where the protrusion 103a of the middle case 103 is connected to the FPCB 104 is enlarged.

6A, if there is a difference D between the height of the protrusion 103a and the height of the FPCB 104, when a predetermined area of the middle case 103 in the form of a slot s1 is used as an antenna, . This is because the impedance value of the antenna is different from the design value due to the difference D between the height of the protrusion 103a and the height of the FPCB 104. [ Therefore, it is advantageous for the antenna performance to connect the FPCB 104 to the protrusion 103a so that there is no difference D between the height of the protrusion 103a and the height of the FPCB 104, as shown in FIG. 6B.

7 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A in Fig. 4 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 7, the lower area of the middle case 103 is used as an antenna. However, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a side region or an upper region of the middle case 103 may be used as an antenna.

4, the middle case 103 may be fixed to the back surface of the front case 101 using a screw or the like. The front case 101 may be formed of a plastic such as polycarbonate. The rim 101a of the front case 101 may also be formed of the same material as that of the front case 101. [ The middle case 103 is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance durability and strength of the mobile terminal. For this reason, the middle case 103 can be formed by die casting.

Referring to FIG. 7, a slot s1 is formed in a lower region of the middle case 103. For example, the slot s1 may be formed as an open-end slot of a "C " shape in which a space is formed in the center and one end is open. However, the slot s1 is not limited thereto and may be formed as a closed slot. Specifically, slot s1 may be implemented in the embodiment shown in Fig. Alternatively, the slot s1 may be formed such that the middle case 103 itself includes the slot s1 as shown in Fig. In this case, the middle case 103 includes a protrusion 103a formed in a lower region thereof and a lead-out portion 103b drawn out from the protrusion 103a. The middle case 103, the protrusion 103a and the lead portion 103b may be formed in a "C" shape. At this time, since the projections 103a and the lead portions 103b are formed at the same time when the middle case 103 is formed, a means for fastening the projections 103a and the lead portions 103b is not necessary in this embodiment.

Meanwhile, in the mobile terminal 100, a feeding part (refer to 106 in FIG. 9) for electrically connecting the lower area of the middle case 103 formed with the slot s1 may be formed. The feeding part (refer to 106 in Fig. 9) electrically connects the circuit board 181 and the slot s1 serving as an antenna. Since the middle case 103 is formed to cover most of the front case 101 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the middle case 103 can serve as a ground plane. Therefore, the slot s1 of the middle case 103 is radiated by the current supplied from the circuit board 181, and functions as an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving a certain band.

As a result, in the present embodiment, a predetermined region of the middle case 103 formed of a conductive metal is formed in the shape of a slot s1 and used as an antenna. As a result, the present embodiment can meet the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal since there is no need to add other components to construct the antenna.

8 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A of FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 8, the lower region of the middle case 103 is used as an antenna, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a side region or an upper region of the middle case 103 may be used as an antenna.

4, the middle case 103 may be fixed to the back surface of the front case 101 using a screw or the like. The front case 101 may be formed of a plastic such as polycarbonate. However, the rim 101a of the front case 101 may be formed of a conductive metal material. The middle case 103 is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance durability and strength of the mobile terminal. For this reason, the middle case 103 can be formed by die casting. In addition, the middle case 103 may be formed to abut the rim 101a of the front case 101.

Referring to FIG. 8, a slot s1 is formed in a lower region of the middle case 103. For example, the slot s1 may be formed as an open-end slot of a "C " shape in which a space is formed in the center and one end is open. However, the slot s1 is not limited thereto and may be formed as a closed slot. Specifically, the slot s1 can be implemented in any one of the embodiments shown in Figs. Alternatively, the middle case 103 itself may be formed to include the slot s1 as shown in Fig. 8, and the middle case 103 may be formed to abut the rim 101a of the front case 101. [ In this case, the area of the slot antenna s1 shown in Fig. 8 can be widened. Due to the increase in the area of the antenna, the performance of the antenna can be improved.

In order to further enhance the performance of the antenna, an area o1 corresponding to a region where one end of the slot s1 is opened from the rim 101a of the front case 101 may be opened. The slot antenna s1 can be directly exposed to the outside by abutting the middle case 103 against the rim 101a of the front case 101 formed of a conductive metal. In this case, since the edge 101a of the front case 101 does not cover the slot antenna s1 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the present embodiment can further improve the performance of the antenna.

Meanwhile, in the mobile terminal 100, a feeding part (refer to 106 in FIG. 9) for electrically connecting the lower area of the middle case 103 formed with the slot s1 may be formed. The feeding part (refer to 106 in Fig. 9) electrically connects the circuit board 181 and the slot s1 serving as an antenna. Since the middle case 103 is formed to cover most of the front case 101 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the middle case 103 can serve as a ground plane. Therefore, the slot s1 of the middle case 103 is radiated by the current supplied from the circuit board 181, and functions as an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving a certain band.

As a result, in the present embodiment, a predetermined region of the middle case 103 formed of a conductive metal is formed in the shape of a slot s1 and used as an antenna. As a result, the present embodiment can meet the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal since there is no need to add other components to construct the antenna.

9 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A in Fig. 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 10A to 10C are graphs showing voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) according to frequency. 9, the lower region of the middle case 103 is used as an antenna, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a side region or an upper region of the middle case 103 may be used as an antenna.

4, the middle case 103 may be fixed to the back surface of the front case 101 using a screw or the like. The front case 101 may be formed of a plastic such as polycarbonate. The rim 101a of the front case 101 may be formed of the same material as the front case 101 or may be formed of a conductive metal material. 8, when the rim 101a of the front case 101 is formed of a conductive metal material, it is advantageous to improve the performance of the antenna as compared with the case where the rim of the front case 101 is formed of plastic. The middle case 103 is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance durability and strength of the mobile terminal. For this reason, the middle case 103 can be formed by die casting.

Referring to FIG. 9, a slot s1 is formed in a lower region of the middle case 103. For example, the slot s1 may be formed as an open-end slot of a "C " shape in which a space is formed in the center and one end is open. However, the slot s1 is not limited thereto and may be formed as a closed slot. In FIG. 9, the slot s1 is shown substantially the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, but the slot s1 according to the present embodiment is implemented by any one of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5, 7, .

The mobile terminal 100 may include a feeder 106 for electrically connecting a lower region of the middle case 103. The feeding part 106 electrically connects the circuit board 181 and a region serving as an antenna. One end of the feed part 106 may be divided into a first feed line FL1 and a second feed line FL2. The first feed line FL1 is formed as an area in which the slot s1 is formed and the second feed line FL2 is formed in the direction opposite to the area in which the slot s1 is formed. 9, the first feed line FL1 may be formed to penetrate a portion of the first slot s1 and the second feed line FL2 may be formed to penetrate a portion of the antenna region aa have. The antenna region aa means a region which functions as an antenna by the current supplied from the second feed line FL2. The second feed line FL2 may be formed to abut the rim 101a of the front case 101. [

Although the first feed line FL1 and the second feed line FL2 are separated from one end of the feeder 106 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first feed line FL1 may be coupled to the first feeder and the second feeder line FL2 may be coupled to the second feeder to receive different currents.

The slot s1 is radiated by the current supplied from the first feed line FL1 and functions as a first antenna capable of transmitting and receiving a certain band. The antenna region aa connected to the second feed line FL2 functions as a second antenna capable of transmitting and receiving a certain band because it is radiated by the current supplied from the second feed line FL2. In this case, the first antenna may be implemented as a slot antenna, and the second antenna may be implemented as a slot or a loop antenna.

FIG. 10A shows the VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) of the first antenna, FIG. 10B shows the VSWR of the second antenna, and FIGS. 10A to 10C show the VSWR of the first antenna and the second antenna. The first antenna may be radiated at the first and third frequencies f1 and f3 as shown in FIG. 10A and the second antenna may be radiated at the second and fourth frequencies f2 and f4 as shown in FIG. 10B. In this case, the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment is radiated at the first to fourth frequencies f1, f2, f3, and f4 as shown in FIG. 10C. As a result, the present embodiment may form the first and second antennas in a predetermined area of the middle case 103. As a result, the present embodiment can cover multiple bands using the first and second antennas while meeting the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal.

10A to 10C, both the first antenna and the second antenna have been described to be implemented so as to satisfy the multi-bands of the low frequency bands f1 and f2 and the high frequency bands f3 and f4. Should be noted. For example, if the first antenna satisfies the first and second frequencies f1 and f2, which are the low frequency bands, and the second antenna, the third and fourth frequencies f3 and f4, which are the high frequency bands, . Alternatively, the first antenna may be implemented so as to satisfy the third and fourth frequencies f3 and f4, which are the high frequency bands, and the second antenna may satisfy the first and second frequency bands f1 and f2, which are the low frequency bands .

11 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A in Fig. 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 11, the lower region of the middle case 103 is used as an antenna, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a side region or an upper region of the middle case 103 may be used as an antenna.

4, the middle case 103 may be fixed to the back surface of the front case 101 using a screw or the like. The front case 101 may be formed of a plastic such as polycarbonate. The rim 101a of the front case 101 may be formed of the same material as the front case 101 or may be formed of a conductive metal material. 8, when the rim 101a of the front case 101 is formed of a conductive metal material, it is advantageous to improve the performance of the antenna as compared with the case where the rim of the front case 101 is formed of plastic. The middle case 103 is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance durability and strength of the mobile terminal. For this reason, the middle case 103 can be formed by die casting.

Referring to FIG. 11, a first slot s1 and a second slot s2 are formed in a lower region of the middle case 103. The first slot s1 may be formed as an open-end slot of a "C" shape in which a space is formed in the center and one end is open or a closed slot It is possible. Although the slot s1 is shown in Fig. 11 substantially the same as the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the first slot s1 according to this embodiment is the same as the embodiment shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8 Can be implemented as one. The second slot s2 may be formed as a closed slot having a space in the center or may be formed as an open-end slot as the first slot s1.

The mobile terminal 100 may include a feeder 106 for electrically connecting a lower region of the middle case 103. The feeding part 106 electrically connects the circuit board 181 and a region serving as an antenna. One end of the feed part 106 may be divided into a first feed line FL1 and a second feed line FL2. The first feed line FL1 is formed as an area where the first slot s1 and the second slot s2 are formed and the second feed line FL2 is formed as the area opposite to the area where the slot s1 is formed have. 11, the first feed line FL1 is formed to penetrate a part of the first slot s1 and a part of the second slot s2, and the second feed line FL2 is formed to penetrate the antenna area aa As shown in Fig. The antenna region aa means a region which functions as an antenna by the current supplied from the second feed line FL2. The second feed line FL2 may be formed to abut the rim 101a of the front case 101. [

Although the first feed line FL1 and the second feed line FL2 are separated from one end of the feeder 106 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first feed line FL1 may be coupled to the first feeder and the second feeder line FL2 may be coupled to the second feeder to receive different currents.

The first slot s1 functions as a first antenna capable of transmitting / receiving a certain band because it is radiated by the current supplied from the first feed line FL1. The second slot s2 functions as a second antenna capable of transmitting / receiving a certain band because it is radiated by the current supplied from the first feed line FL1. In addition, the antenna region aa connected to the second feed line FL2 functions as a third antenna capable of transmitting / receiving a certain band because it is radiated by the current supplied from the second feed line FL2. In this case, the first to third antennas may be configured to radiate in different frequency bands. The first and second antennas may be implemented as slot antennas, and the third antenna may be implemented as a slot or loop antenna.

As a result, the present embodiment may form the first to third antennas in a predetermined area of the middle case 103. As a result, the present embodiment can cover multiple bands using the first to third antennas while meeting the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal.

12 is an enlarged rear view of a portion A in Fig. 4 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 12, the lower region of the middle case 103 is used as an antenna, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a side region or an upper region of the middle case 103 may be used as an antenna.

4, the middle case 103 may be fixed to the back surface of the front case 101 using a screw or the like. The front case 101 may be formed of a plastic such as polycarbonate. The rim 101a of the front case 101 may be formed of the same material as the front case 101 or may be formed of a conductive metal material. 8, when the rim 101a of the front case 101 is formed of a conductive metal material, it is advantageous to improve the performance of the antenna as compared with the case where the rim of the front case 101 is formed of plastic. The middle case 103 is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance durability and strength of the mobile terminal. For this reason, the middle case 103 can be formed by die casting.

Referring to FIG. 12, a first slot s1 is formed in a lower region of the middle case 103. The first slot s1 may be formed as an open-end slot of a "C" shape in which a space is formed in the center and one end is open or a closed slot It is possible. In FIG. 12, although the slot s1 is shown substantially the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the first slot s1 according to this embodiment is the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 7, Can be implemented as one.

The mobile terminal 100 may include a feeder 106 for electrically connecting a lower region of the middle case 103. The feeding part 106 electrically connects the circuit board 181 and a region serving as an antenna. One end of the feeder 106 may be divided into a first feed line FL1, a second feed line FL2, and a third feed line FL3. The first feed line FL1 may be formed as an area where the first slot s1 is formed and the second feed line FL2 may be formed as an area opposite to the area where the slot s1 is formed. 12, the first feed line FL1 may be formed to penetrate a portion of the first slot s1 and the second feed line FL2 may be formed to penetrate a portion of the antenna region aa have. The antenna region aa means a region which functions as an antenna by the current supplied from the second feed line FL2. The third feed line FL3 may be formed to be parallel to the edge 101a of the front case 101 by a predetermined length and may be formed to abut the edge 101a of the front case 101. [ The second feed line FL2 may also be formed to abut the rim 101a of the front case 101. [

Although the first feed line FL1, the second feed line FL2 and the third feed line FL3 are separated at one end of the feeder 106 in the present embodiment, Should be noted. For example, the first feed line FL1 is connected to the first feeding part, the second feed line FL2 is connected to the second feeding part, and the third feed line FL3 is connected to the third feeding part So that different currents can be supplied.

The first slot s1 functions as a first antenna capable of transmitting / receiving a certain band because it is radiated by the current supplied from the first feed line FL1. The antenna region aa connected to the second feed line FL2 functions as a second antenna capable of transmitting and receiving a certain band by being radiated by the current supplied from the second feed line FL2. The third feed line FL3 functions as a third antenna capable of transmitting and receiving a certain band by being radiated by the current supplied to the third feed line FL3. In this case, the first to third antennas may be configured to radiate in different frequency bands. The first antennas may be implemented as slot antennas, and the second antenna may be implemented as a slot or loop antenna.

As a result, the present embodiment may form the first to third antennas in a predetermined area of the middle case 103. As a result, the present embodiment can cover multiple bands using the first to third antennas while meeting the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal.

As described above, according to the present invention, a predetermined region of a middle case formed of a conductive metal is formed in a slot shape and used as an antenna. In particular, the middle case is formed of a conductive metal material to enhance the durability and strength of the mobile terminal. As a result, the present invention forms an antenna using the middle case without adding other components, so that the miniaturization requirement of the mobile terminal can be met.

Further, the present invention can form a plurality of antennas in a predetermined area of the middle case. As a result, the present invention can cover multiple bands using a plurality of antennas while meeting the miniaturization requirement of a mobile terminal.

100: mobile terminal 101: front case
101a: rim of the front case 102: rear case
103: Middle case 103a:
104: FPCB 105: fastening means
106: power feeder 151: display module
181: circuit board 191: battery
s1: slot, first slot s2: second slot
FL1: first feed line FL2: second feed line

Claims (11)

A front case having a display module;
A middle case disposed on a rear surface of the front case;
And a rear case covering the front case and the rear case of the middle case,
Wherein the middle case is formed of a conductive metal, and a slot is formed in a predetermined area. The method according to claim 1,
The slot
A middle case, a protrusion protruding from the middle case, and a flexible printed circuit board connected to the protrusion. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the protruding portion and the flexible printed circuit board are fastened by fastening means. The method according to claim 1,
The slot
A middle case, a protrusion protruding from the middle case, and a lead-out portion drawn out from the protrusion. The method according to claim 2 or 4,
The slot
And the opposite side of the protrusion is opened. The method according to claim 2 or 4,
In the middle case,
And is formed to abut the rim of the front case. The method according to claim 6,
And an area corresponding to an open area of the slot is opened in a rim of the front case. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a power feeder for electrically connecting a predetermined region of the middle case with the slot to the circuit board. 9. The method of claim 8,
One end of the feeding part is divided into a first feed line and a second feed line,
Wherein the slot is provided with a current from the first feed line to serve as a first antenna and a region connected to the second feed line serves as a second antenna by receiving current from the second feed line, terminal. 9. The method of claim 8,
The slot including a first slot and a second slot,
One end of the feed part is divided into a first feed line and a second feed line,
Wherein the first slot functions as a first antenna by receiving current from the first feed line and the second slot functions as a second antenna by receiving current from the first feed line, And the connected region is supplied with a current from the second feed line and functions as a third antenna. 9. The method of claim 8,
One end of the feed part is divided into first to third feed lines,
Wherein the first slot is supplied with a current from the first feed line and functions as a first antenna, an area connected to the second feed line functions as a second antenna by receiving current from the second feed line, And the third feed line functions as a third antenna by the current supplied to the third feed line.

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