MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL HAVING A MODE SELECTOR AND A MODE SELECTION METHOD THEREOF

• US 20070060217A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Ji-Tae
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal having a first body and a second body rotatably coupled by a hinge assembly, and a mode selector that sets an operation mode of the mobile communication terminal based on an angle between the first body and the second body. The mode selector includes a rotation part that enables the detection of an angle between the first body and the second body, and a setting part, movably mounted on the rotation part, which sets an operation mode of the mobile communication terminal corresponding to the detected angle when the setting part is moved into contact with a holding part.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a first body and a second body rotatably connected via a hinge assembly;

a mode conversion device for performing each operation mode corresponding to an opened angle between the first body and the second body,

the mode conversion device comprises;

a mode selector mounted at the hinge assembly to allow a user to select an operation mode corresponding to an opened angle between the first body and the second body; and

an operator movably mounted at the mode selector so as to be coupled to or detached from a coupling member for controlling an output of an operation mode selected by the mode selector.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the mode selector comprises:

a rotation angle control member mounted at a side surface of the mode selector for controlling a rotation of the mode selector so as to stop the first body and/or second body at an angle corresponding to a selected operation mode;

a stopper mounted at a position adjacent to the rotation angle control member for stopping the rotation of the rotation angle control member at an angle corresponding to a selected operation mode; and

a sensor for sensing an operation mode selected by the mode selector.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein a slot is formed at the mode selector body so as to have a length from a center portion of a mode selector body to an end portion, and a slider formed at a lower portion of the operator body is movably mounted in the slot.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is mounted at an end of the first body or the second body adjacent to the mode conversion device, and a groove having a size corresponding to a width of the coupling member for inserting the coupling member is formed at one side surface of the operator.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the stopper comprises:

a case;

an elastic member mounted in the case for supporting one end of a latch; and

a latch having one end positioned in the case thus to be supported by the elastic member, and another end protruding from the case thus to contact the rotation angle control member.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is implemented as a contact coupling member or an adjacent coupling member.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the stopper is implemented as an elastic member of a plate shape.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the sensor has a variable resistance structure or a contact point switch structure.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the rotation angle control member is constructed so as to have a plurality of protrusions and grooves alternately arranged along a circular edge so that the first body and the second body can be rotated in a first angle region, a second angle region, or a third angle region.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9, wherein the first angle region has a range of 140˜

160°

, the second angle region has a range of 170˜

180°

, and the third angle region has a range of 300˜

360°

.

11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9, wherein the first angle region, the second angle region, and the third angle region are set to have different modes.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein the first angle region corresponding to an initial mode, the second angle region corresponds to a camera mode, and the third angle region corresponds to a terrestrial signal or satellite signal receive mode.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9, wherein a preset operation mode is outputted when the operator is coupled to the coupling member.

14. A method of selecting an operation mode of a mobile communication terminal, comprising:

sensing rotation of a rotating part to a predetermined angle;

detecting movement of a setting part into a set position; and

setting the mobile communication terminal to an operation mode when the setting part is moved into the set position.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein rotating the rotating part comprises rotating the rotating part to one of a plurality of predetermined angles.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of predetermined angles comprises a first angle between 140°

and 160°

, a second angle between 170° and

180°

, and a third angle between 300° and

360°

.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle correspond to respectively different operation modes of the mobile communication terminal.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the different operation modes comprise an initial mode, a camera mode and a signal reception mode.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising detecting the rotation of the rotating part to the predetermined angle and determining the operation mode corresponding to the predetermined angle.

20. A computer-readable medium which stores a program for setting an operation mode of a mobile communication terminal, the program comprising:

an angle determination code segment that determines an angle between a first body of the mobile communication terminal and a second body of the mobile communication terminal;

an operation mode determination code segment that determines an operation mode corresponding to the determined angle; and

an operation mode setting code segment that sets the mobile communication terminal to the determined operation mode.

21. A mobile terminal comprising:

at least two body members operatively connected together and movable with respect to each other for achieving a closed-together configuration and various opened configurations;

an operation mode setting unit located along an edge of at least one of the body members; and

a controller cooperating with the operation mode setting unit for controlling operation of the mobile terminal in different selected operation modes,

wherein the operation mode setting unit comprises;

an adjustable selection knob for selecting an operation mode of the mobile terminal at the closed-together configuration or the various opened configurations, and

a latching mechanism operatively connected with the selection knob for activating a selected operation mode when the latching mechanism is engaged and de-activating the selected operation mode when the latching mechanism is disengaged.

22. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the latching mechanism comprises:

a movable latch located on a first one of the body members; and

a protrusion, located on a second one of the body members, with which the movable latch may be engaged or disengaged,

wherein the movable latch and the protrusion, when engaged together, provide additional structural support for the closed-together configuration or the various opened configurations.

23. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the closed-together configuration is achieved when the first and second body members overlie one another.

24. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the opened configuration is achieved when the first and second body members are displaced relative one another.

25. The terminal of claim 22, further comprising:

a detector cooperating with at least one of the movable latch and the protrusion for detecting the engaging or disengaging in a contact or contact-less manner for activating or de-activating of the selected operation mode.

26. The terminal of claim 25, wherein the first and second body members are operatively connected together at the operation mode setting unit.

27. The terminal of claim 26, wherein the operation mode setting unit further comprises a detent unit that allows the body members to be temporarily fixed at a desired closed or opened configurations.

28. The terminal of claim 25, wherein the first and second body members are operatively hinged together via a hinge mechanism.

29. The terminal of claim 28, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a detent unit that allows the body members to be fixed at various positions relative one another for achieving a desired closed-together or opened configuration.