MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20130027892A1
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: LIM, Seunggeun, LEE, Kyuho, KANG, Dongguk, CHOO, Zhimin
• Granted Patent: US 8,885,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/748
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14778 the article consisting of a material with particular properties, e.g. porous, brittle
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2705/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes a terminal body, a case defining an appearance of the terminal body, the case formed of a non-metal, and a metal frame formed of a metal, at least part of the metal frame extending through the case from inside to outside of the terminal body so as to be externally exposed, wherein the case and the metal frame are integrally formed with each other. Accordingly, a specific pattern can be realized at the appearance of the terminal body to arouse distinctive attraction to the appearance, thereby providing a terminal with such attractive appearance.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a terminal body defining an interior space and having an exterior;

a case defining an appearance of the terminal body, the case formed of a non-metal; and

a metal frame formed of a metal, at least a portion of the metal frame extending through the case from the interior space to the exterior of the terminal body so as to be externally exposed,

wherein the case and the metal frame are integrally formed together.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the externally exposed portion of the metal frame is formed to have a specific pattern to define the appearance of the terminal body together with the case.

3. The terminal of claim 2, wherein the specific pattern is a plurality of stripe patterns formed along one surface of the terminal body, each stripe pattern being formed by a protruding portion of the metal frame and the protruding portions being connected to each other within the case.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the metal frame supports a display module disposed on one surface and a circuit board disposed on another surface thereof.

5. The terminal of claim 4, further comprising a shielding member to cover electrical elements mounted on the circuit board,

wherein the metal frame comprises a through hole at a central portion thereof, and

wherein the shielding member is coupled to the metal frame to cover at least part of the through hole.

6. The terminal of claim 4, wherein the metal frame is connected to at least one of the display module and the circuit board to operate as part of a ground for said at least one of the display module and the circuit board.

7. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the metal frame includes a first frame member, a second frame member and an insulating member connecting the first frame member to the second frame member.

8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the display module is connected to one of the first and second frame members and the circuit board is connected to the other of the first and second frame members.

9. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the case comprises an opening opened toward the exterior of the terminal body, and

wherein a portion of the metal frame is formed to surround the opening.

10. The terminal of claim 9, wherein a connector terminal is located at the opening, the connector terminal being electrically connected to one of a manipulation unit and an external interface of the terminal body.

11. The terminal of claim 1, wherein an antenna is disposed adjacent to one side of the terminal body within the terminal body, the antenna be configured to transmit and receive radio signals based on a portion of the terminal body defining a main radiation direction, and

wherein the metal frame is formed to obscure other radiation directions except for the portion of the terminal body defining the main radiation direction so as not to interfere with radiation efficiency of the antenna.

12. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the metal frame includes a plurality of metal members, at least one metal member operating as a part of a radiation member of an antenna configured to transmit and receive radio signals.

13. A mobile terminal comprising:

a terminal body defining an interior space and having an exterior, the interior space being configured to receive at least one of a display module and a circuit board;

a case defining an appearance of the terminal body; and

a metal frame formed of a metal, at least a portion of the metal frame extending through the case from the interior space to the exterior of the terminal body so as to be externally exposed, the case and the metal frame being integrally formed together,

wherein at least a portion of the metal frame extends into the case to support at least one of the display module and the circuit board.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the externally exposed portion of the metal frame is formed to have a specific pattern to define the appearance of the terminal body together with the case.

15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the metal frame is connected to at least one of the display module and the circuit board to operate as part of a ground for said at least one of the display module and the circuit board.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the metal frame includes a first frame member, a second frame member and an insulating member connecting the first frame member to the second member.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the display module is connected to one of the first and second frame members and the circuit board is connected to the other of the first and second frame members.

18. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the case comprises an opening opened toward the exterior of the terminal body, and

wherein a portion of the metal frame is formed to surround the opening.

19. The terminal of claim 18, wherein a connector terminal is located at the opening, the connector terminal being electrically connected to one of a manipulation unit and an external interface of the terminal body.

20. The terminal of claim 13, further comprising a shielding member to cover electrical elements mounted on the circuit board,

wherein the metal frame comprises a through hole at a central portion thereof, and

wherein the shielding member is coupled to the metal frame to cover at least part of the through hole.