MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20100053861A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Chi-Young, CHOI, Hyun-Bo
• Granted Patent: US 8,471,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A mobile terminal is provided that includes a housing having an opening, a display provided in the opening of the housing, a bezel provided on the housing, and at least one sensor or a touch screen/sensor provided at the bezel. The at least one sensor or touch screen detects a user selection on the bezel such that an image on the display changes or a command is performed by the mobile terminal. The sensor or the touch screen/sensor also allows images on the main display to be not hidden because items or commands are selected on the bezel.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a display provided in the opening of the housing;

a bezel provided on the housing; and

at least one sensor provided at the bezel, the at least one sensor detecting a user selection on the bezel such that an image on the display changes or a command is performed by the mobile terminal.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bezel is transparent.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent with the at least the portion of the bezel that is transparent.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the bezel is transparent at an area where the at least one sensor is provided.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a front case and a bottom case attached to each other.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the optical sensor is a photodiode.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the optical sensor emits light to indicate a location for user selection.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting element provided with the at least one sensor.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the light emitting element is provided beneath the sensor.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a light guide is provided at the bezel, and the light guide is substantially aligned with the at least one sensor.

12. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display;

a housing to house the display;

a transparent bezel provided at at least one edge of the housing; and

a touch screen provided at the transparent bezel, wherein the touch screen to display at least one item, and upon selection of the at least one item on the touch screen, an image on the display changes or a command is performed by the mobile terminal.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, further comprising at least one sensor provided at the bezel.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the transparent bezel is transparent where the at least one sensor is provided.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the optical sensor is a photodiode.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the optical sensor emits light to indicate a location for user selection.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 13, further comprising a light emitting element provided with the at least one sensor.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the light emitting element is provided beneath the sensor.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein a light guide is provided at the transparent bezel, and the light guide is substantially aligned with the optical sensor.