Module for expanding function of mobile device and mobile device having the same

• US 8,300,389 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Laio, Lee, Taegyun, Moon, Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Application Number:
  US12/857,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20110216485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A mobile device includes a main body having a coupling element mounted thereon, and an expansion module electrically connected to the main body, wherein the expansion module comprises a magnet disposed to apply a magnetic force to the coupling element to couple the expansion module with the main body, and a movement converter configured to move the magnet away from the coupling element so as to decrease the magnetic force between the coupling element and the magnet thereby decoupling the main body from the expansion module.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a main body having a metallic element mounted thereon; and

an expansion module electrically connected to the main body,

wherein the expansion module comprises;

a holder configured to be coupled to the main body;

a magnet mounded at the holder and disposed to apply a magnetic force to the metallic element to couple the expansion module with the main body; and

an input device configured to allow input of a control command to the main body when the main body is coupled to the holder of the expansion module.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises a metallic substance with a groove that is aligned to correspond to a protrusion formed on a magnet case including the magnet.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a connection region formed at the main body, and

an expansion connection region formed at the expansion module, the expansion connection region being electrically connected to the connection region when the main body is coupled to the expansion module.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein interfaces for exchange of data or power between the main body and the expansion module are provided, respectively, at the connection region and the expansion connection region.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the interfaces comprise connection terminals disposed in the connection region and the expansion connection region, respectively,

wherein connection terminals is configured to elastically press each other when the expansion module is coupled to the main body.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the main body comprises an insertion hole in which the metallic element is inserted and wherein at least part of the magnet or part of a magnet case having the magnet therein is inserted into the insertion hole when the expansion module is coupled to the main body.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a connection unit comprising:

a plurality of connection terminals protruding from the main body; and

a shielding portion surrounding the connection terminals wherein the shielding portion is configured to be pressed when the main body is coupled to the expansion module so as to expose the connection terminals thereby achieving an electric connection between the connection terminals and the expansion module.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the expansion module further comprise a sliding guiding unit configured to allow sliding of the magnet.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sliding guiding unit comprises:

a magnet case having the magnet therein; and

a hollow body configured to allow the magnet case to slide toward or away from the metallic element.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the sliding guiding unit further comprises an elastic member configured to support at least part of the magnet case so as to apply an elastic force to the magnet case in a direction opposite to the metallic element.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the hollow body is mounted to the expansion module and a profile member is formed at a surface adjacent to the opening of the hollow body.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a movement converter configured to move the magnet away from the coupling element so as to decrease the magnetic force between the coupling element and the magnet thereby decoupling the main body from the expansion module, wherein the movement converter comprises:

a manipulation member disposed at a side of the expansion module;

a rotation generator configured to rotate the magnet when the manipulation member is manipulated; and

a sliding generator configured to slide the magnet along an axial direction of a rotation of the magnet when the magnet rotates.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the rotation generator comprises:

a rotation plate wherein at least part of an outer circumference of the rotation plate is connected to the manipulation member so as to be rotated; and

a connection bar having one end connected to the rotation plate and another end connected to a magnet case including the magnet.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the sliding generator comprises:

a protrusion protruded from an outer circumference of the magnet case; and

a profile member at which the protrusion is placed, the profile member being slanted along the outer circumference of the magnet case such that the magnet case is slid in the axial direction when the protrusion rotates.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a front case having a display unit and a rear case configured to couple to one surface of the expansion module,

wherein the metallic element is a metallic substance disposed at the rear case of the main body.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the expansion module further comprises an external battery to supply power to the main body when the main body is coupled to the expansion module.

17. An expansion module for a mobile device comprising:

an expansion body detachably coupled to one surface of the mobile device;

a magnet disposed at the expansion body to apply a magnetic force to a coupling element in the mobile device thereby coupling the expansion body with the mobile device; and

a movement converter configured to move the magnet away from the coupling element so as to decrease the magnetic force between the coupling element and the magnet thereby decoupling the mobile device from the expansion body, wherein the movement converter comprises;

a manipulation member disposed at the expansion body;

a rotation generator configured to rotate the magnet when the manipulation member is manipulated; and

a sliding generator configured to slide the magnet along an axial direction of a rotation of the magnet when the magnet rotates.