Swivel-type mobile terminal and control method thereof

• US 20050136970A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Bong-Yeon
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A swivel-type mobile terminal includes a terminal body having a microphone, a display unit which is rotatably and swingably connected to the terminal body and mounted with a display window, a first receiver in the display unit for outputting audio signals when the display unit is rotated to be an open position, and a second receiver in the display unit for outputting audio signal when the display unit is folded in a position which allows the display window to be viewable by a user. In this folded position, the terminal can support phone calls while adjusting the gain of the microphone. The display is also viewable by a user while in this position.

Claims

1. A swivel type mobile terminal comprising:

a terminal body including a microphone;

a display unit including a display window rotatably coupled to the terminal body;

a first receiver included in the display unit to output audio signals when the display unit is in an unfolded first position; and

a second receiver included in the display unit to output audio signals when the display unit is in a folded second position.

2. The terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller which sets the microphone to different amplification factors based on whether the display unit is in the first or second position.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the microphone is mounted at an end portion of the terminal body to be exposed when the display unit is in the second position.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the microphone is mounted along a side surface of the terminal body to be exposed when the display unit is in the second position.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second receivers are mounted on a same side of the display unit at different positions.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is included at a lower portion of the display unit.

7. The terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller that controls the microphone, the first receiver, and the second receiver during a call when the display unit is in the second position.

8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises:

a sensing unit which senses when the display unit is in the second state; and

a control unit which controls an amplification factor of an audio signal input into the microphone and selectively connects one of the first receiver and the second receiver to an audio path according to a signal applied from the sensing unit.

9. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the sensing unit comprises:

a magnet for generating a magnetic field;

a first sensor which senses a magnetic field of the magnet when the display unit is in a third position where the display window is folded over a keypad, and which applies a corresponding signal to the control unit; and

a second sensor which senses a magnetic field of the magnet when the display unit is in the second position.

10. The terminal of claim 9, wherein the magnet is mounted at one edge of the display unit, and the first and second sensors are respectively mounted at an opposing edge of the terminal body.

11. A method for controlling a swivel-type mobile terminal, comprising:

determining whether a display unit of the terminal is in a swiveled position;

if the display unit is in a swiveled position, connecting a first receiver on the display unit to an audio path and setting an amplification factor of the microphone to a predetermined level wherein a phone call is conducted while the display unit is in the swiveled position.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising;

if the display unit is not in the swiveled position, connecting a second receiver to the audio path and setting the amplification factor of the microphone to a second predetermined level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second receivers are mounted on a same side of the display unit at different positions.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first predetermined level is greater than the second predetermined level.

15. The terminal of claim 11, wherein, when the display unit is in the swiveled position, a display window of the display unit is viewable by a user.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the display unit is in a swiveled position includes:

detecting a magnetic field emanating from a magnet in the display unit at a first location on a terminal body.

17. The terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that the display unit has been rotated from a closed to an opened position by detecting the absence of a magnetic field at a predetermined location on a terminal body emanating from a magnet in the display unit.

18. The terminal of claim 15, further comprising:

connecting the first receiver to the audio path and setting the amplification factor of the microphone in a high-gain state.