Casing and portable terminal having the same

• US 8,150,485 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Young-Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/193,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/572, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.5, 455/575.7, 379/428.01, 379/440
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit

Abstract

A casing for a portable terminal is provided. The casing includes a first portion configured to replace a rear cover of a portable terminal so as to provide an exterior surface of the portable terminal, a second portion connected to the first portion, and an electronic component located at the second portion, the electronic component being connectable to the portable terminal to provide at least one function associated with the portable terminal.

Claims

1. A casing for a portable terminal, the casing comprising:

a first portion configured to replace a rear cover of a portable terminal so as to provide an exterior surface of the portable terminal;

a second portion connected to the first portion; and

an electronic component located at the second portion, the electronic component being connectable to the portable terminal to provide at least one function associated with the portable terminal,

wherein the electronic component comprises at least one of an auxiliary battery for extending a power supply function of a battery, an auxiliary information processing device for extending an information processing function of the portable terminal, and an auxiliary antenna for extending a radio transmitting/receiving function of the portable terminal.

2. The casing of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes:

a battery cover portion configured to cover the battery mounted in the rear of the portable terminal, the battery cover portion being detachably connectable to the portable terminal; and

an interposal portion coupled to the battery cover portion, the interposal portion being interposable between the battery cover portion and the portable terminal when the battery cover portion is connected to the portable terminal.

3. The casing of claim 2, further comprising a connecting portion configured to connect the interposal portion to the second portion such that the second portion can be folded with respect to the first portion.

4. The casing of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the first and second portion is formed of leather.

5. The casing of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is configured to provide at least one function associated with an input or an output of the portable terminal.

6. The casing of claim 5, wherein the electronic component includes at least one of a QWERTY type keypad, a gaming keypad, a keypad for playing music, a biometric information detecting sensor, a speaker, and a display.

7. The casing of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is detachably mounted in the second portion.

8. The casing of claim 1, further comprising a casing interface configured to provide data exchange between the electronic component and the portable terminal.

9. The casing of claim 8, wherein the casing interface includes a terminal portion provided at the first portion, the terminal portion being configured to communicate with a terminal of the portable terminal that is exposed only upon removal of a rear cover of the portable terminal.

10. The casing of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is electrically connectable to the battery so as to supply or receive power.

11. The casing of claim 1, wherein the second portion is foldable with respect to the first portion.

12. The casing of claim 1, wherein electronic component includes an auxiliary display disposed on a surface which faces away from said exterior surface when the second portion is folded over a front surface of the portable terminal.

13. A portable terminal comprising:

a main body having a rear portion, the rear portion including an internal terminal; and

a casing detachably coupled to the main body at the rear portion, the casing including;

a first portion defining an exterior surface of the portable terminal;

a second portion connected to the first portion;

a terminal portion connected to the internal terminal of the portable terminal, the internal terminal of the portable terminal being exposed only when the casing is detached from the main body; and

an electronic component located at the first portion, the electronic component being connectable to the terminal portion provided at the first portion,

wherein the electronic component comprises at least one of an auxiliary battery for extending a power supply function of a battery, an auxiliary information processing device for extending an information processing function of the portable terminal, and an auxiliary antenna for extending a radio transmitting/receiving function of the portable terminal.

14. The terminal of claim 13, further comprising a battery in the main body, and

wherein the first portion covers the battery in the main body, and

wherein the second portion is foldable with respect to the first portion so as to cover at least one portion of a front portion of the main body.

15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein at least one opening is formed in at least one of the first and second portions.

16. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the electronic component includes an auxiliary display disposed on a surface of the second portion that does not face the main body when the second portion is folded over the main body.

17. The terminal of claim 13, wherein at least one portion of the first and second portions is formed of leather.

18. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the first portion includes a battery cover portion detachably coupled to the main body so as to cover a battery of the portable terminal by shielding at least one portion of the rear portion of the main body in which the battery is located.

19. The terminal of claim 18, wherein the first portion includes an interposal portion coupled to the battery cover portion, the interposal portion being interposable between the battery cover portion and the portable terminal when the battery cover portion is connected to the portable terminal.

20. The terminal of claim 19, further comprising a connecting portion configured to connect the interposal portion to the second portion such that the second portion can be folded with respect to the first portion.

21. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the electronic component is configured to provide at least one function associated with an input or an output of the portable terminal.

22. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the electronic component includes at least one of a QWERTY type keypad, a gaming keypad, a keypad for playing music, a biometric information detecting sensor, a speaker, and a display.

23. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the electronic component is detachably mounted in the second portion.

24. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the casing further comprises a state detecting unit configured to determine whether the casing is in a folded state or unfolded state.