Display apparatus and mobile communication terminal having the same

• US 8,013,834 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jae-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Viet
• Application Number:
  US11/482,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-177, 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A display apparatus and a mobile communication terminal having the same. The display apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: a case; a display module mounted in the case for outputting visual information; a window mounted at a window groove of the case, and providing a visual passage through which the visual information can be seen from outside; and a signal generating unit mounted between the window and the display module, for generating a signal when the window is pressed. An additional input button for controlling an output from the display module need not be provided.

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a case;

a display module mounted in the case and having a surface for outputting visual information, the visual information including an image formed on the surface of the display module;

a window movably mounted on the case relative to the display module, and through which visual information is seen from outside;

a spacer arranged between a display body of the display module and the window, the spacer being elastically-deformed when the window is pressed;

a signal generating unit mounted between the window and the display module, for generating a signal when the window is pressed to be moved toward the display module, the signal generating unit including;

a circuit board; and

at least one pressable switch formed on the circuit board and applying a signal onto the circuit board when the window is pressed, the at least one pressable switch being located between the window and the circuit board, the at least one pressable switch being coplanar with the spacer; and

a limiting unit formed between the case and the window, for rotating the window towards only an inner side of the case when the window is pressed whereby the window presses the at least one pressable switch.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display module comprises:

a display body; and

a display panel mounted at the display body so as to be electrically connected to the display body, for outputting visual information provided from the display body.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the limiting unit comprises:

a stepped portion formed at an inner portion of the case; and

a stopping portion protruding from a side surface of the window so as to be engaged with the stepped portion.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is an FPCB electrically connected to the display module, and the pressing switch is a dome-shaped switch.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressing protrusion protruding at an inner surface of the window, for pressing the at least one pressable switch when the window is pressed.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the window comprises:

a center portion corresponding to a display panel of the display module; and

an extended portion outwardly extended from the center portion,

wherein the signal generating unit is formed at a position corresponding to the extended portion.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

an indicator formed on the extended portion, for selecting and displaying each function performed according to a signal generated when the extended portion is pressed.

8. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a terminal body; and

a display apparatus mounted at the terminal body, for outputting visual information, wherein the visual information includes an image formed on the surface of the display module, and wherein the display apparatus comprises;

a display module mounted in the terminal body and having a surface for outputting visual information, the display module having a display body and a display panel mounted on the display body so as to be electrically connected to the display body, for outputting visual information provided from the display body;

a window movably mounted at a window groove of the terminal body relative to the display module, and through which visual information outputted by the display panel is seen from outside, the window being disposed above the display panel;

a spacer arranged between the display body of the display module and the window, the spacer being elastically-deformed when the window is pressed; and

a signal generating unit mounted between the window and the display module, for generating a signal when the window is pressed to be moved toward the display module, wherein the signal generating unit comprises;

a circuit board; and

at least one pressable switch formed on the circuit board and applying a signal onto the circuit board when the window is pressed, the at least one pressable switch being located between the window and the circuit board; and

a limiting unit formed between the terminal body and the window, for rotating the window towards only an inner side of the terminal body when the window is pressed whereby the window presses the at least one pressable switch.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8, wherein the limiting unit comprises:

a stepped portion formed at an inner portion of the terminal body; and

a stopping portion protruding from a side surface of the window so as to be engaged with the stepped portion.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8, wherein the circuit board is an FPCB electrically connected to the display module, and the pressing switch is a dome-shaped switch.

11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8, further comprising:

a pressing protrusion protruding at an inner surface of the window, for pressing the at least one pressable switch when the window is pressed.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8, wherein the window comprises:

a center portion corresponding to a display panel of the display module; and

an extended portion outwardly extended from the center portion,

wherein the signal generating unit is formed at a position corresponding to the extended portion.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, further comprising:

an indicator formed on the extended portion, for selecting and displaying each function performed according to a signal generated when the extended portion is pressed.