KR20100033812A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable terminal is provided to implement a slide module which slips bodies along with multiple directions with a slim thickness. CONSTITUTION: A second body(120) is connected with a fist body(110) by a slide module(140) and slides along with a first or a second direction with different direction in a closed state. The slide module includes a first and a second slide members(141,142). The first slide member is fixed to the first body and includes a first and a second rail units(143,144) which respectively follow the first and the second direction. The second slide member is fixed to the second body and slides along with the first and the second rail units.

Description

Mobile terminal {PORTABLE TERMINAL}

The present invention relates to a slide type portable terminal having a structure slidable along a plurality of different directions.

A portable terminal is a portable device that is portable and has one or more functions such as voice and video calling, information input and output, and data storage.

As the functions are diversified, for example, the mobile terminal has complex functions such as taking a picture or video, playing a music or video file, playing a game, and receiving a broadcast, and is realized in the form of a comprehensive multimedia player. It is becoming.

Many new attempts are being applied to these multimedia devices in terms of hardware or software to implement complex functions. For example, a user interface environment is provided for a user to easily and conveniently search for or select a function.

In addition, while a mobile terminal is regarded as a personal portable device for expressing its individuality, various designs are required. The portable terminal generally has a structure such as a bar type, a folder type, a slide type, a swing type, a swivel type, and the like.

Among the structures described above, the slide-type portable terminal generally has a structure in which two bodies are disposed to overlap each other and move relative to each other in one direction.

Recently, various attempts have been made to present a structure for providing a more convenient user interface to a user as well as the above structure.

The present invention provides a slide module having a slimmer thickness in a slide module for moving relative slides along a plurality of directions.

The present invention for realizing the above object and a first body; A second body connected to the first body by a slide module and sliding in a closed state along a first or second direction having a different direction, wherein the slide module is fixed to the first body, A first slide member having first and second rail portions along the first and second directions, respectively; Disclosed is a portable terminal comprising a second slide member which is fixed to the second body and slides along the first or second rail portion.

The first slide member is a support for supporting the second slide member in a closed state; A first extension part provided with the first rail part and extending from the support part toward the first direction; The second rail part may include a second extension part extending from the support part toward the second direction.

The slide module may further include a support member extending from the first and second rail portions to the support portion and supporting the second slide member so that the second slide member does not tilt in a closed state.

The present invention provides a structure for slidingly coupling the second slide member to the first slide member having the first and second rail parts, thereby realizing a slimmer thickness slide module.

In addition, the present invention provides a slide module with a magnetic force providing a slim semi-automatic structure of the slide module and can improve the reliability of the slide module.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the portable terminal which concerns on this invention is demonstrated in detail with reference to drawings.

1 to 3 are perspective views of an example of a mobile terminal according to the present invention viewed from the front.

The mobile terminal according to the present invention includes a first body 110 and a second body 120 configured to be slidable along a first or second direction having different directions on the first body 110.

As shown in FIG. 1, a state in which the first body 10 is disposed to overlap the second body 20 may be referred to as a closed configuration, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first body The state in which the 110 exposes at least a portion of the second body 120 may be referred to as an open configuration.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the second body 120 slides along the first direction X, and FIG. 3 illustrates that the second body 120 slides along the second direction Y. Referring to FIG. Hereinafter, the state of FIG. 2 will be referred to as a first open state, and the state of FIG. 3 will be referred to as a second open state.

The portable terminal operates mainly in the standby mode in the closed state, but the standby mode may be released by the user's operation. In addition, the portable terminal operates mainly in a call mode or the like in an open state, but may be switched to a standby mode by a user's operation or a lapse of a predetermined time.

The case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) forming the exterior of the first body 110 is formed by the front case 111 and the rear case 112. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed by the front case 111 and the rear case 112.

At least one intermediate case may be further disposed between the front case 111 and the rear case 112.

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 display body 113, the first sound output unit 114, the first image input unit 115, or the first manipulation unit 116 may be disposed on the first body 110, specifically, the front case 111.

The display unit 113 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, an organic light emitting diodes (OLED) module, and the like, which visually express information, and the display unit 113 further includes a touch screen. The input of information may also be enabled.

The first sound output unit 114 may be implemented in the form of a receiver or a speaker, and the first image input unit 115 may be in the form of a camera module for capturing an image or a video for a user. Can be implemented.

The first manipulation unit 116 receives a command for controlling the operation of the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Like the first body 110, the front case 121 and the rear case 122 may form a case of the second body 120. The second manipulator 123a and the third manipulator 123b may be disposed on the front surface of the second body 120, specifically, the front case 121.

The fourth manipulation unit 124, the sound input unit 125, and the interface 126 may be disposed on at least one of the front case 121 and the rear case 122.

The first to fourth manipulation units 116, 123a, 123b, and 124 may be collectively referred to as manipulating portions, and may be employed in any manner as long as the user is tactile in a tactile manner.

For example, the operation unit may be implemented as a dome switch or a touch screen that can receive a command or information by a user's push or touch operation, a touch pad, a wheel that rotates keys, a jog method, or a method such as a joystick. It can also be implemented as.

In the functional aspect, the first operation unit 116 is for inputting a command such as start, end, scroll, etc., and the second operation unit 123a inputs numbers, letters, symbols, etc. in the first open state. It is to.

The third manipulation unit 123b is for inputting a command for operating in a specific mode in the second open state. For example, the user may input a command (play, stop, etc.) for controlling the execution of the music or the video by operating the third operation unit 123b when the music or the video viewing mode is executed.

One side of the third manipulation unit 123b may further include an auxiliary display unit 123c for outputting specific visual information in the second open state.

In addition, the fourth manipulator 124 may operate as a hot-key that performs a special function such as activation of the first image input unit 115.

The sound input unit 125 may be implemented in the form of, for example, a microphone to receive a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.

The interface 126 serves as a passage for allowing a portable terminal related to the present invention to exchange data with an external device. For example, the interface 126 may be wired or wirelessly, and a connection terminal for connecting to an earphone, a port for short-range communication (for example, an infrared port (IrDA port), a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port ( wireless LAN port), or at least one of power supply terminals for supplying power to the mobile terminal.

The interface 126 may be a card 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.

On the rear case 122 side, a power supply unit 127 (see FIG. 9) for supplying power to the portable terminal is mounted. The power supply unit 127 may be detachably coupled for charging, for example, as a rechargeable battery. The battery case 127a covering the battery may be detachably mounted to the rear case 122.

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

Referring to FIG. 4, a second image input unit 128 may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the rear case 122 of the second body 120. The second image input unit 128 may be a camera having a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the first image input unit 115 (see FIG. 1) and having different pixels from the first image input unit 115.

For example, the first image input unit 115 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 second image input unit 128 immediately photographs a general subject. It is preferable to have a high pixel because it is not transmitted in many cases.

The flash 129 and the mirror unit 130 are further disposed adjacent to the second image input unit 128. The flash 129 shines light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the second image input unit 128. The mirror unit 130 allows the user to see his / her own face or the like when the user wants to photograph himself (self-photographing) using the second image input unit 128.

The second sound output unit 131 may be further disposed in the rear case 122.

The second sound output unit 131 may implement a stereo function together with the first sound output unit 114 (see FIG. 1), and may be used for a call in the speakerphone mode.

In addition, an antenna 132 for receiving a broadcast signal may be disposed on one side of the rear case 122 in addition to an antenna for a call or the like. The antenna 132 may be installed to be pulled out of the second body 120.

In the above description, the second image input unit 128 and the like have been described as being disposed in the second body 120. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, at least one or more of the components 128 to 132 described as disposed on the rear case 122, such as the second image input unit 128, may be disposed on the first body 110, mainly the rear case 112. It is also possible to be mounted. If so, there is an advantage that the configuration (s) disposed on the rear case 112 in the closed state are protected by the second body 120. In addition, even if the second image input unit 128 is not separately provided, the first image input unit 115 may be rotatably configured to allow shooting up to the shooting direction of the second image input unit 128.

5 is an exploded perspective view of a portable terminal related to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the slide module shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the slide module along the VIII-VIII line of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, a slide module 140 is installed between the first body 110 and the second body 120. The slide module 140 has the second body 120 in the first direction X. Referring to FIG. Alternatively, the first body 110 and the second body 120 are connected to move along the second direction (Y).

The slide module 140 includes a first slide member 141 fixed to the first body 110 and a second slide member 142 fixed to the second body 120. The first and second slide members 141 and 142 may be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel.

The first slide member 141 includes a first rail portion 143 along the first direction X and a second rail portion 144 along the second direction Y. As shown in FIG. The first and second directions X and Y may have directions perpendicular to each other as in the present embodiment. However, the first and second directions X and Y may have not only directions perpendicular to each other but also various directions having a predetermined angle to each other.

The second slide member 142 is configured to slide along the first rail portion 143 or the second rail portion 144 in a closed state. When the second slide member 142 moves along the first rail portion 143 in the closed state, the portable terminal is placed in the first open state. In addition, when the second slide member 142 moves along the second rail portion 144 in the closed state, the portable terminal is placed in the second open state.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first slide member 141 may include a support part 141a, a first extension part 141b, and a second extension part 141c.

The support part 141a supports the second slide member 142 in the closed state, and has a shape corresponding to the second slide member 142.

The first extension part 141b extends from the support part 141a toward the first direction X, and the first extension part 141b includes a first rail part. The first rail part 143 may include first and second rail grooves 143a and 143b formed at both sides of the first extension part 141b. Among them, the second rail groove 143b formed on the outer side of the first slide member 141 is formed to extend to the support part 141a.

The second extension part 141c extends from the support part 141a toward the second direction Y, and the second extension part 141c is provided with a second rail part 144. Like the first rail part 143, the second rail part 144 may include third and fourth rail grooves 144a and 144b formed at both sides of the second extension part 141c. Among them, the fourth rail groove 144b formed on the outer side of the first slide member 141 is formed to extend to the support part 141a.

As described above, the first slide member 141 is formed by the first and second extension parts 141b and 141c extending from the support part 141a in the first and second directions X and Y, respectively. It may be formed in the shape of a ruler.

Referring to FIG. 7, insertion parts 142a and 142b which are inserted into and moved in the first and second rail grooves 143a and 143b are formed at left and right sides of the second slide member 142. The insertion parts 142a and 142b may be formed by bending both ends of the second slide member 142 into the first and second rail grooves 143a and 143b.

Inserts inserted into the third and fourth rail grooves 144a and 144b may be formed on both upper and lower sides of the second slide member 142. This is the same as the configuration of the insertion portion (142a, 142b) to be inserted into the first and second rail grooves (143a, 143b), the description thereof will be replaced with the above description.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a friction reducing member 145 is formed on the inner wall of the second rail groove 143b to surround the insertion portion 142b. The friction reducing member 145 may be formed of a material having a low friction coefficient such as a synthetic resin. The friction reducing member 145 prevents abrasion from occurring due to friction between the insertion portion 142b and the second rail groove 143b when the first and second slide members 141 and 142 move relative to each other.

In FIG. 7, the friction reducing member 145 is described as being installed in the second rail groove 143b. However, the friction reducing member 145 may be applied to all of the first to fourth rail grooves 143a to 144b. .

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6, the first slide member 141 is further provided with a supporting member 146 supporting the second slide member 142 to prevent the second slide member 142 from tilting in the closed state. Can be.

The support member 146 may include first and second support members 146a and 146b extending from the first and second rail portions 143 toward the support portion 141a, respectively.

The first support member 146a extends from the first rail groove 143a toward the support portion 141a to support the rear surface of the second slide member 142. The first support member 146a may be formed to extend from the friction reducing member installed in the first rail groove 143a.

The second support member 146b extends from the third rail groove 144a toward the support portion 141a to support the rear surface of the second slide member 142. The second support member 146b may be formed to extend from the friction reducing member installed in the third rail groove 144a.

In the closed state, the second slide member 142 is supported by the friction reducing members installed in the second and fourth rail grooves 143b and 144b and the first and second support members 146a and 146b so that the horizontal state is improved. maintain.

A magnetic force providing unit may be provided between the first and second slide members 141 and 142 to provide a magnetic force to the first and second bodies 110 and 120 when they move relative to each other.

The magnetic force providing part includes first to fourth magnetic force providing parts that are mounted in pairs of the first and second slide members 141 and 142, respectively, to generate attraction force.

The first magnetic force providing unit 147a and 147b includes a pair of magnets 147a and 147b having different polarities. One of these magnets 147a and 147b is provided on the upper side of the support 141a and the other 147b is provided on the upper side of the second slide member 142. The second slide member 142 may maintain its position by the attraction force generated between the magnets 147a and 147b in the closed state.

The second magnetic force providing portions 147c and 147d include a pair of magnets 147c and 147d having different polarities, similarly to the first magnetic force providing portions 147a and 147b. One of these magnets 147c and 147d is provided at the end of the first extension portion 141b, and the other 147d is provided at the lower side of the second slide member 142.

When the second slide member 142 moves in the first direction X and the portable terminal is switched to the first open state, the second slide member 142 may be subjected to an attraction force generated between the magnets 147c and 147d. By the magnetic force acts in the first direction X, the position can be maintained after the movement is completed.

As described above, the third magnetic force providing parts 147e and 147f may include a pair of magnets 147e and 147f mounted to the right side of the support part 141a and the second slide member 142, respectively. In addition, the fourth magnetic force providing unit 147g and 147h may include a pair of magnets 147g and 147h mounted to the end of the second extension unit 141c and the second slide member 142, respectively.

The third and fourth magnetic force providing parts 147e, 147f, 147g, and 147h are provided with the first and second magnetic force providing parts except that the second slide member 142 is operated when the second slide member 142 moves in the second direction (Y). 147a, 147b, 147c, and 147d, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, when the second slide member 142 relatively moves between the closed state and the first open state, the closed state and the second open state, the second slide member 142 provides the first to fourth magnetic force. It is automatically moved by the manpower provided by the supplement or maintains its position when the movement is completed.

8A to 8C are plan views illustrating slide modules illustrating an operating state of a slide module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8A illustrates the state of the slide module 140 when the portable terminal is in the closed state.

Here, the second slide member 142 is located at the support 141a. The second slide member 142 is supported by the first and second support members 146a and 146b to maintain a horizontal state. The second slide member 142 maintains its current position by the attraction force by the first and third magnetic force providing units 147a, 147b, 147e, and 147f.

When the user moves the second body 120 in the first direction X in the closed state, the second slide member 142 moves along the first rail part 143. Accordingly, the second slide member 142 is placed on the first extension portion 141b as shown in FIG. 8B. 8B illustrates a state of the slide module 140 corresponding to the case where the portable terminal is placed in the first open state.

The second slide member 142 is automatically moved by the manpower provided by the second magnetic force providing unit (147c, 147d) after moving over a predetermined period. In addition, the second slide member 142 maintains its position by the attraction force provided by the second magnetic force providing units 147c and 147d in the state of FIG. 8B.

8C illustrates a state of the slide module 140 corresponding to the case where the portable terminal is placed in the second open state. When the user moves the second body 120 in the second direction (Y) in the closed state, the second slide member 142 moves along the second rail part 144 and the second extension part 141c as shown in FIG. 8C. ).

The second slide member 142 is automatically moved by the manpower provided by the fourth magnetic force providing unit (147g, 147h) after moving over a predetermined period. In addition, the second slide member 142 is maintained by the attraction force provided by the fourth magnetic force providing units 147g and 147h in the state of FIG. 8C.

9 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to the present invention.

9, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless communication module 151, an operation unit 116, 123a, 123b, 124, an image input unit 115, 128, an audio input unit 125, and a display unit 113. ), Sound output units 114 and 131, a sensing unit 156, an interface 126, a broadcast receiving module 155, a memory 154, a power supply unit 127, and a controller 150.

The controller 40 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like.

In addition to the normal function control, the controller 150 additionally controls the operation of the mobile terminal related to the present invention. That is, when the portable terminal is placed in the first or second open state, the controller 150 may control the portable terminal to execute another function in the first or second open state.

The wireless communication module 151 transmits / receives a radio signal with a mobile communication base station through an antenna. For example, under the control of the controller 150, the transmitter 153 is responsible for transmitting and receiving voice data, text data, image data, and control data, and modulates and transmits a signal to be transmitted, and a receiver for demodulating the received signal. 152).

The operation units 116, 123a, 123b, and 124 are configured as shown in FIG. 1 to provide the control unit 150 with key input data input by the user for controlling the operation of the terminal. The operation units 116, 123a, 123b, and 124 are composed of a dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure / capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The image input units 115 and 128 process image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by an image sensor in a video call mode or a photographing mode. The processed image frame is converted into image data displayable on the display unit 113 and output to the display unit 113.

The image frames processed by the image input units 115 and 128 are stored in the memory 154 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication module 151 under the control of the controller 150.

The sound input unit 125 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, etc., and processes the external sound signal into electrical voice data. In the case of the call mode, the processed voice data is converted into a form transmittable to the mobile communication base station through the wireless communication module 151 and output to the wireless communication module. In the recording mode, the processed voice data is output to be stored in the memory 154.

The sound input unit 125 may implement various noise removing algorithms for removing noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The display 113 displays and outputs information processed by the portable terminal. For example, when the mobile terminal is in a call mode, the control unit 150 displays and outputs a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to the call. When the mobile terminal is in a video call mode or a photographing mode, the mobile terminal displays and outputs the captured image, UI, or GUI under the control of the controller 150. When the display unit 113 includes a touch screen, the display unit 113 is used as an input device in addition to the output device.

The sound output units 114 and 131 may receive sound data or memory 154 received from the wireless communication module 151 under the control of the control unit 150 in a call signal reception, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, and a broadcast reception mode. The stored sound data is converted and output to the outside.

In addition, the sound output units 114 and 131 output sound signals related to a function (for example, a call signal reception sound and a message reception sound) performed in the portable terminal.

The sensing unit 156 detects a current state of the portable terminal such as an open / closed state of the portable terminal, a position of the portable terminal, presence or absence of a user contact, and generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the portable terminal. For example, when the portable terminal is in the form of a slide phone, whether the slide phone is opened or closed is sensed so as to output a sensing result to the controller 150 to control the operation of the terminal. In addition, it is responsible for sensing functions related to whether the power supply unit 127 is supplied with power, whether the interface 126 is coupled to an external device, and the like.

The interface 126 may be connected to a mobile terminal using a wired / wireless headset, an external charger, a wired / wireless data port, a card socket (eg, a memory card, a SIM / UIM card), or the like. It serves as an interface with the device. The interface 126 receives data from an external device or receives power and transfers the data to each component inside the mobile terminal or transmits data within the mobile terminal to the external device.

The memory 154 may store a program for processing and controlling the controller 150, and may provide a function for temporarily storing input / output data (for example, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). It can also be done.

The memory 154 also stores a program for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal according to the present invention.

This memory 154 includes concepts such as hard disks, card type memory (e.g. SD or XD memory, etc.), flash memory, RAM, ROM, and the like, which are generally known.

The broadcast receiving module 155 receives a broadcast signal transmitted through a satellite or terrestrial wave, converts the broadcast signal into a broadcast data format that can be output to the sound output units 114 and 131 and the display unit 113, and outputs the broadcast signal to the controller 150. In addition, the broadcast receiving module 155 receives additional data related to the broadcast (for example, an EPG (electric program guide), a channel list, etc.). The broadcast data and additional data converted by the broadcast receiving module 155 may be stored in the memory 154.

The power supply unit 127 receives an external power source and an internal power source under the control of the controller 150 to supply power for operation of each component.

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

1 to 3 are front perspective views of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a rear perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal related to one embodiment of the present invention;

6 is an exploded perspective view of the slide module shown in FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the slide module along the VIII-VIII line in FIG.

8A to 8C are plan views of a slide module showing an operating state of a slide module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a block diagram of a portable terminal related to one embodiment of the present invention;

Claims (3)

First body; And A second body connected to the first body by a slide module and slidingly moving along a first or second direction having a different direction in a closed state, The slide module, A first slide member fixed to the first body and having first and second rail portions along the first and second directions, respectively; And And a second slide member which is fixed to the second body and slides along the first or second rail portion. The method of claim 1, wherein the first slide member, A support for supporting the second slide member in a closed state; A first extension part including the first rail part and extending from the support part toward the first direction; And And a second extension part provided with the second rail part and extending from the support part toward the second direction. The method of claim 2, wherein the slide module, And a support member extending from the first and second rail portions to the support portion and supporting the second slide member so that the second slide member does not tilt in a closed state.

Images