Folder operating apparatus for cellular phone

• US 6,628,974 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Lim, Tae Hyeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/687,226
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.3, 455/575.8, 455/90, 455/344, 455/347, 379/433.11, 379/433.13
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

Disclosed is a folder operating apparatus for a cellular phone which can stably open and close a folder by compensating for the phase difference caused by the instability and the load of the folder operating apparatus by controlling the position of the folder. The folder operating apparatus includes a rotating section provided in a folder and having driving means for generating a driving force, a fixing section, connected to a body, for rotatably supporting the body at both sides of the rotating section, a power transferring section provided with a pair of members connected to the driving means and the fixing section, and selectively engaged together to face each other, an elastic means for applying to the power transferring section a supporting force greater than a driving torque of the driving means, and being elastically compressed so that the members of the power transferring section are separated from each other when an external force is applied to the folder, and position detecting means, installed at corresponding positions of the rotating section and the power transferring section, for controlling the driving means when the rotating section and the power transferring section are in a same-phase state.

Claims

1. A folder operating apparatus for a cellular phone comprising:

a rotating section provided in a folder and having driving means for generating a driving force;

a fixing section, connected to a body, for rotatably supporting the body at both sides of the rotating section;

a power transferring section provided with a pair of members connected to the driving means and the fixing section, and selectively engaged together to face each other;

elastic means for applying to the power transferring section a supporting force greater than a driving torque of the driving means, and being elastically compressed so that the members of the power transferring section are separated from each other when an external force is applied to the folder; and

position detecting means, installed at corresponding positions of the rotating section and the power transferring section, for controlling the driving means when the rotating section and the power transferring section are in a same-phase state.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power transferring section comprises:

a male coupler connected to the driving means by a shaft, and having tapered portions formed on both sides thereof so that its center portion is projected; and

a female coupler connected to one side of the fixing section, and having tapered portions on both sides thereof so that its center portion is recessed to fit the center projected portion of the male coupler.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power transferring section comprises:

a female coupler connected to the driving means by a shaft, and having tapered portions formed on both sides thereof so that its center portion is recessed; and

a male coupler connected to one side of the fixing section, and having tapered portions formed on both sides thereof so that its center portion is projected to fit the center recessed portion of the female coupler.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position detecting means comprises at least one pair of position detectors installed on one side of a component integrally connected to the rotating section and on one side of another component integrally connected to the shaft, respectively, wherein the at least one pair of position detectors detect corresponding positions, and apply a stop signal to the driving means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving means comprises:

a motor, electrically connected to a switch, for generating a forward and reverse rotating force; and

a reduction gear assembly, connected to a shaft of the motor, for reducing a rotating speed of the motor and preventing a reverse rotation of the motor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving means stops its operation if a control signal is applied thereto from the position detecting section.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic means comprises a spring one end of which is connected to one side of the driving means and the other end of which is connected to the rotating section to apply the elastic supporting force to the power transferring section.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, the elastic means comprises a spring one end of which is connected to one side of the fixing means and the other end of which is connected to one side of the power transferring section at a predetermined space from the fixing section to apply the elastic supporting force to the power transferring section.

9. A folder operating apparatus for a cellular phone comprising:

a rotating section which is provided in a folder and in which a driving means for generating a driving force is installed, is the rotating section having a shape in that a projection is formed on one side thereof and the other end thereof is open;

a fixing section, connected to a body and having fixing holes formed therethrough to face each other, for rotatably supporting the body at both sides of the rotating section;

a hinge shaft connected to an output shaft of the driving means and having a cam formed on its end portion and positioned in the fixing hole formed on one side of the fixing section;

elastic means, installed in the fixing hole where the cam is inserted, for applying to an elastic supporting force to the cam;

a switch, provided on one side of the body, for applying an operation signal to the driving means; and

position detecting means, installed at corresponding positions of the hinge shaft and the rotating section, for controlling the driving means when the hinge shaft and the rotating section are in a same-phase state.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the driving means comprises:

a motor for generating a forward and reverse rotating force; and

a reduction gear assembly, connected to a shaft of the motor, for reducing a rotating speed of the motor and preventing a reverse rotation of the motor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the driving means stops its operation if a control signal is applied thereto from the position detecting section.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the elastic means comprises a spring which applies to the cam the elastic supporting force greater than a driving torque of the driving means and is elastically deformed by an external force applied to the folder so that the cam is rotated.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the spring comprises a pair of plate springs, installed at a predetermined interval in the fixing hole where the hinge shaft is inserted, for elastically supporting the cam at both sides thereof.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the position detecting means comprises at least one pair of position detectors installed on one side of a component integrally connected to the hinge shaft and on one side of another component integrally connected to the rotating section, respectively, wherein the at least one pair of position detectors output electric signals when the hinge shaft and the rotating section are in a same-phase state.

15. A folder operating method for a cellular phone comprising the steps of:

manipulating an open switch in a state that a folder is closed;

operating driving means if a switch signal is inputted at the switch manipulating step;

transferring a driving force to the folder by a power transferring section connected to the driving means at the driving means operating step;

detecting same-phase information by position detecting means when the folder is completely opened at the driving force transferring step; and

stopping the driving means if a detected signal is inputted from the position detecting means at the same-phase information detecting step.

16. A folder operating method for a cellular phone comprising the steps of:

manipulating an close switch in a state that a folder is opened;

operating driving means if a switch signal is inputted at the switch manipulating step;

transferring a driving force to the folder by a power transferring section connected to the driving means at the driving means operating step;

detecting same-phase information by a position detecting means when the folder is completely closed at the driving force transferring step; and

stopping the driving means if a detected signal is inputted from the position detecting means at the same-phase information detecting step.

17. A folder operating apparatus for a cellular phone comprising:

a rotating section provided in a folder and having driving means for generating a driving force;

a fixing section, connected to a body, for rotatably supporting the body at both sides of the rotating section;

a power transferring section provided with a pair of members both ends of which are connected to an elastic means installed in the driving means and the fixing section, and which are selectively engaged together to face each other;

elastic means, provided in one side of the fixing section, for applying to the power transferring section a supporting force greater than a driving torque of the driving means, and being elastically compressed so that the members of the power transferring section are separated from each other when an external force is applied to the folder; and

position detecting means, installed at corresponding positions of the rotating section and the power transferring section integrally connected to a shaft, for controlling the driving means when the rotating section and the power transferring section are in a same-phase state.