MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20100227650A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Tao-Wan, Cha, Yong-Duck, KIM, Ha-Yong, Kim, Jong-Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

Disclosed is a mobile terminal including, first and second bodies rotatably coupled to each other, and a driving unit configured to allow a relative rotation of the first and second bodies between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the first and second bodies being overlaid by each other in the closed configuration and rotated away from each other in the open configuration, wherein the driving unit includes rotation motion units connected to each of the first and second bodies and configured to generate the relative rotation, and slide motion units cooperatively operating with the rotation motion unit and configured to relatively slide the first and second bodies with respect to the driving unit between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a first body portion having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side and a first face;

a second body portion having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side and a first face; and

a unit configured to rotatably couple the first end of the first body portion to the first end of the second body portion, the unit enabling the mobile terminal to transition between a closed configuration and an open configuration,

wherein the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion face each other when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration with the first side of the first body portion positioned proximate the first side of the second body portion and the second side of the first body portion positioned proximate the second side of the second body portion,

wherein the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion are rotated away from each other in the open configuration,

wherein the unit comprises;

a first rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the first side of each of the first and second body portions;

a second rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the second side of each of the first and second body portions;

a first slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the first rotation motion unit; and

a second slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the second rotation motion unit, and

wherein the first and second rotation motion units are configured to enable rotational movement between the first and second body portions during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration and the first and second slide motion units are configured to slide the first and second body portions with respect to the unit during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the unit further comprises:

a first end cap configured to cover end portions of the first sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions;

a second end cap configured to cover end portions of the second sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions; and

a case member configured to link the first end cap and the second end cap and having a surface positioned parallel to and facing the first ends of the first and second body portion when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration.

3. The terminal of claim 2, wherein:

the first rotation motion unit comprises;

a first guide slot unit formed in the first end cap;

a first link member having a first end portion movable along the first guide slot unit and a second end portion coupled to the first body portion; and

a second link member having a first end portion movable along the first guide slot unit and a second end portion coupled to the second body portion; and

the second rotation motion unit comprises;

a second guide slot unit formed in the second end cap;

a third link member having a first end portion movable along the second guide slot unit and a second end portion coupled to the first body portion; and

a fourth link member having a first end portion movable along the second guide slot unit and a second end portion coupled to the second body portion.

4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein:

each of the first, second, third and fourth link members comprises a rotation protrusion and a linear motion protrusion formed at the first end portion;

the first guide slot unit comprises;

a first rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the first link member, the first rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a second rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the second link member, the second rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a first linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the first link member and formed in a radial direction of the first rotational slot; and

a second linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the second link member and formed in a radial direction of the second rotational slot; and

the second guide slot unit comprises;

a third rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the third link member, the third rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a fourth rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the fourth link member, the fourth rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a third linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the third link member and formed in a radial direction of the third rotational slot; and

a fourth linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the fourth link member and formed linearly in a radial direction of the fourth rotational slot.

5. The terminal of claim 4, wherein:

the first rotation motion unit comprises;

a first connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the first link member; and

a second connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the second link member, the second connection link having the same shape as the first connection link; and

the second rotation motion unit comprises;

a third connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the third link member; and

a fourth connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the fourth link member, the fourth connection link having the same shape as the third connection link.

6. The terminal of claim 5, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth connection links comprises a first aperture for receiving the rotation protrusion of the first, second, third and fourth link member, respectively, and a second aperture for receiving the linear motion protrusion of the first, second, third and fourth link member, respectively.

7. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the unit further comprises:

a first connection member configured to couple the first connection link to the second connection link; and

a second connection member configured to couple the third connection link to the fourth connection link.

8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein:

each of the first, second, third and fourth connection links comprises a connection member protrusion;

the first connection member comprises a first slot and a second slot configured to guide linear motions of the first and second connection member protrusions, respectively; and

the second connection member comprises a third slot and a fourth slot configured to guide linear motions of the third and fourth connection member protrusions, respectively.

9. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the first, second, third and fourth connection member slots are formed parallel to the first, second, third and fourth linear motion slots, respectively.

10. The terminal of claim 7, wherein:

each of the first and second connection members further comprises first and second ends with a first and second guide wing formed at the first and second ends, respectively; and

each of the first and second end caps comprises guide rails configured to engage the first and second guide wings of the first and second connection members, respectively, for guiding sliding movement of the first and second connection members during transitioning between the open and closed configurations of the mobile terminal.

11. The terminal of claim 10, wherein:

the surface of the case member of the unit facing the first ends of the first and second body portions covers the first ends of the first and second body portions in the closed configuration of the mobile terminal; and

the first ends of the first and second body portions press against the surface of the case member of the unit facing the first ends of the first and second body portions during transitioning between the closed and open configurations of the mobile terminal and cause the first and second connection members to move along the guide rails of the first and second end caps.

12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein:

the connection members move in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the case member of the unit facing the first ends of the first and second body portions during transitioning between the closed and open configurations of the mobile terminal; and

the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion are parallel to each other and to the surface of the case member of the unit facing the first ends of the first and second body portions when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration.

13. The terminal of claim 2, wherein the unit further comprises:

a recess portion formed in each of the first and second end caps, the first slide motion unit is disposed in the recess portion of the first end cap and the second slide motion unit is disposed in the recess portion of the second end cap; and

first and second covers configured to cover the recess portions of the first and second end caps, respectively.

14. The terminal of claim 2, wherein:

the first rotation motion unit comprises;

a first connection member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion is coupled to the first body portion;

a second connection member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion is coupled to the second body portion; and

a first hinge portion rotatably coupling the first end portion of the first connection member to the first end portion of the second connection member; and

the second rotation motion unit comprises;

a third connection member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion is coupled to the first body portion;

a fourth connection member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion is coupled to the second body portion; and

a second hinge portion rotatably coupling the first end portion of the third connection member to the first end portion of the fourth connection member.

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the first slide motion unit comprises;

a first guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the first connection member;

a second guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the second connection member; and

first and second guide protrusions positioned on the first end cap and configured to be positioned within the first and second guide slots, respectively; and

the second slide motion unit comprises;

a third guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the third connection member;

a fourth guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the fourth connection member; and

third and fourth guide protrusions positioned on the second end cap and configured to be positioned within the third and fourth guide slots, respectively.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein:

the surface of the case member of the unit facing the first ends of the first and second body portions covers the first ends of the first and second body portions in the closed configuration of the mobile terminal; and

the first ends of the first and second body portions press against the surface of the case member of the unit facing the first ends of the first and second body portions during transitioning between the closed and open configurations of the mobile terminal and cause the first, second, third and fourth guide protrusions to move along the first, second, third and fourth guide slots, respectively.

17. The terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a first display positioned at the first face of the first body and extending to the first end of the first body; and

a second display positioned at the first face of the second body and extending to the first end of the second body,

wherein the first and second displays are positioned juxtaposed to each other when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein:

the first display is positioned in a recess in the first face of the first body, the recess extending to the first end of the first body and is open to the first end of the first body; and

the second display is positioned in a recess in the first face of the second body, the recess extending to the first end of the second body and is open to the first end of the second body.

19. A mobile terminal comprising:

a first body portion having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a first face and a recess in the first face, the recess extending to the first end and open to the first end;

a second body portion having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a first face and a recess in the first face, the recess extending to the first end and open to the first end;

a unit configured to rotatably couple the first end of the first body portion to the first end of the second body portion, the unit enabling the mobile terminal to transition between a closed configuration and an open configuration,

a first display positioned in the recess of the first body portion and extending to the first end of the first body portion;

a second display positioned in the recess of the second body portion and extending to the first end of the second body portion,

wherein the first display in the first body portion and the first display in the second body portion face each other when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration,

wherein an end of the first display at the first end of the first body portion and an end of the second display at the first end of the second body portion are positioned juxtaposed to each other when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration with the first and second displays parallel and substantially coplanar to each other,

wherein the unit is configured to cover the first ends of the first and second body portion and ends of the first and second displays exposed at the first ends of the first and second body portions, respectively, when the mobile terminal is in the closed position, and

wherein the unit is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first and second displays in the open configuration of the mobile terminal during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the unit further comprises:

a first end cap configured to cover end portions of the first sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions;

a second end cap configured to cover end portions of the second sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions; and

a case member configured to link the first end cap and the second end cap and having a surface positioned parallel to and facing the first ends of the first and second body portion when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration.

21. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the unit comprises:

a first rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the first side of each of the first and second body portions and coupled to the first end cap;

a second rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the second side of each of the first and second body portions and coupled to the second end cap;

a first slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the first rotation motion unit; and

a second slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the second rotation motion unit,

wherein the first and second rotation motion units are configured to enable rotational movement between the first and second body portions during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration and the first and second slide motion units are configured to slide the first and second body portions with respect to the unit during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

22. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the first and second displays form a display region and a non-display region, and in an initial position of the mobile terminal the first display is configured to display a main part of a first image data and the second display is configured to display a sub-part of the first image data and the non-display region, the terminal further comprising:

a memory configured to store the first image data;

a sensing unit configured to detect a rotation of the first and second displays when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration and to generate a rotation detection signal when a rotation of the first and second displays is detected; and

a controller configured to receive the rotation detection signal from the sensing unit and to display the main part of the first image data on the second display and to display the sub-part of the first image data and the non-display region on the first display upon receiving the rotation detection signal,

wherein at least one of the first display or the second display is a touch screen.

23. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to display a control menu for the first image data on the non-display region.

24. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to display additional information related to the first image data on the non-display region.

25. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to display second image data on the non-display region.

26. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to display call-related information on the non-display region.

27. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to store the first image data in the memory according to the rotation detection signal and to reproduce the stored first image data after a preset time elapses.

28. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to display a still image of the first image data according to the rotation detection signal and to store the first image data in the memory.

29. The terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to display an icon for controlling a size of the first image data on the non-display region.