Mobile terminal

• US 10,129,376 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Soheon, Koong, Hokyoung, Lee, Minbok, Kang, Woosun
• Primary Examiner(s): Talukder, Md
• Application Number:
  US15/559,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20180084092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751, 4555753
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. Provided is a mobile terminal comprising: a display unit having a window; a main body on which the display unit is seated, wherein an internal space is formed between the main body and the display unit; a sliding unit having a first battery accommodated therein, wherein the sliding unit implements a first state where the sliding unit is inserted into the internal space and a second state where the sliding unit is extracted from the internal space; and a second battery provided in the internal space to supply electric power when the first battery is extracted, wherein in the first state, wireless communication for mobile communication and an operation by software are performed using the first battery, and in the second state, the wireless communication for mobile communication is interrupted, and the operation by the software is performed using the second battery.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display portion with a window;

a main body portion where the display portion rests, with an inner space formed between the main body portion and the display portion;

a sliding portion that is brought into a first position for insertion into the inner space and a second position for removal from the inner space, and that accommodates a first battery;

a slide button that is exposed to an exterior of the main body portion; and

a locking device that is placed between the slide button and the sliding portion, and that selectively locks the sliding portion,

wherein the locking device comprises;

a plate member with elasticity that makes contact with a pushing protrusion protruding inwards from the slide button;

a moving member that is provided on an inside of the plate member, with one end being pressed by the pushing protrusion and another end having a shaft;

a second elastic member that surrounds the shaft of the moving member and provides restoring force to the moving member;

a base member that surrounds the moving member and the second elastic member, and that has a first through hole at one end through which the shaft passes and a second through hole at another end through which an end of the moving member makes contact with the plate member; and

a link member that rotates about a stationary shaft provided at a center of the second elastic member, with one end being attached to the other end of the moving member and another end of the link member being fastened to the sliding portion.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a second battery that is provided in the inner space and supplies electric power to the mobile terminal when the first battery is removed,

wherein, in the first position, wireless communications for mobile communication and software operations are enabled by the first battery, and in the second position, wireless communications for mobile communication are interrupted and software operations are enabled by the second battery.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the locking device further comprises:

a locking member whose one end is caught on a pushing protrusion protruding inwards from the slide button, and whose another end is fastened to the sliding portion, both of which rotate about a rotary shaft; and

a first elastic member that is attached to the locking member and provides torque to the locking member.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the other end of the locking member takes a shape of a hook, and the hook is selectively caught on a protuberance formed at a top of the sliding portion.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the first elastic member is a torsion spring.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a bump is formed on the plate member to detect movement of the pushing protrusion.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a hook is formed at the other end of the link member, and the sliding portion has a protuberance that is caught on the hook.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the moving member comprises:

an exposure portion that is exposed externally through the second through hole; and

an expanded portion that extends from the exposure portion, has a larger area than the exposure portion, and is caught in the second through hole.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a long hole is formed at one end of the link member and fastened to the moving member by a fixing pin.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the case is made of a metallic material.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the main body portion comprises:

a case with a rear and a side protruding from the rear towards a front; and

a bracket affixed to an inner side of the case,

wherein a guide rail is formed along a length, on the inner side of the case, and the sliding portion moves along the guide rail.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein a third elastic member is provided under the bracket and provides restoring force to the sliding portion.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11,

wherein the sliding portion comprises:

a first accommodating portion that is curved to accommodate the first battery, has horizontally extending flaps at both ends, and moves on the guide rail when fastened to the main body portion; and

a second accommodating portion that is placed under the first accommodating portion and has a main antenna for performing a wireless communication function.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the display portion comprises:

a display module provided on a back of the window; and

a main circuit board provided on a back of the display module,

wherein a first contact terminal of the first battery and a first connector making contact with the first contact terminal are provided on one side of the main circuit board.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein a flexible circuit board is provided in the first accommodating portion, a second contact terminal is provided at an end of the flexible circuit board, and a second connector electrically connected to the second contact terminal is provided on one side of the main circuit board.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the guide rail comprises:

a guide protruding from the inner side of the case; and

a rail that is provided within the guide and has a groove along a length in which the flaps of the sliding portion are inserted,

wherein the rail is made of a plastic material.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein ribs protruding towards an inside of the groove are formed on the rail so as to hold the sliding portion when fastened to the main body portion.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein a stopper is provided at the sliding portion, and a stopper rib is formed on the guide rail to catch the stopper to thereby restrict the movement of the sliding portion.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein a first magnet member is provided in the second accommodating portion, and a second magnet member is provided at a position in the main body portion that corresponds to the first magnet member.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the main body portion has a Hall sensor to detect a change in magnetism on the first magnet member.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein an antenna made of a metallic material forms an exterior on one side of the second accommodating portion.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein the antenna has a different frequency range depending on the sliding portion.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the second accommodating portion comprises a lighting portion made of a transparent or opaque material at a region of contact with the main body portion, and a light source is provided in the second accommodating portion to send light to outside through the lighting portion.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein a module is provided in the second accommodating portion to allow for mounting of a different module each time the sliding portion is replaced.