Mobile terminal

• US 8,355,755 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cha, Yong-Duck, Kim, Jong-Hwan, Kim, Tae-Wan, Kim, Ha-Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/716,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20100227650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/425, 4555751-5754, 455/575.8, 455/90.3, 455/95, 455/100
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

Disclosed is a mobile terminal including, first and second bodies rotatably coupled to each other, and a driving unit configured to allow a relative rotation of the first and second bodies between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the first and second bodies being overlaid by each other in the closed configuration and rotated away from each other in the open configuration, wherein the driving unit includes rotation motion units connected to each of the first and second bodies and configured to generate the relative rotation, and slide motion units cooperatively operating with the rotation motion unit and configured to relatively slide the first and second bodies with respect to the driving unit between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body portion having a first end of the first body portion, a second end of the first body portion, a first side of the first body portion, a second side of the first body portion and a first face of the first body portion;

a second body portion having a first end of the second body portion, a second end of the second body portion, a first side of the second body portion, a second side of the second body portion and a first face of the second body portion; and

a unit configured to rotatably couple the first end of the first body portion to the first end of the second body portion, in order to enable the mobile terminal to transition between a closed configuration and an open configuration,

wherein the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion face each other when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration with the first side of the first body portion positioned proximate the first side of the second body portion and the second side of the first body portion positioned proximate the second side of the second body portion,

wherein the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion are rotated away from each other when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration,

wherein the unit comprises;

a first rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the first side of each of the first and second body portions;

a second rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the second side of each of the first and second body portions;

a first slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the first rotation motion unit;

a second slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the second rotation motion unit;

a first end cap configured to cover end portions of the first sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions;

a second end cap configured to cover end portions of the second sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions; and

a case member configured to link the first end cap and the second end cap and having a surface positioned parallel to and facing the first ends of the first and second body portion when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration,

wherein the first and second rotation motion units are configured to enable rotational movement between the first and second body portions during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration,

wherein the first and second slide motion units are configured to slide the first and second body portions with respect to the unit during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration,

wherein the first rotation motion unit comprises;

a first guide slot unit formed in the first end cap;

a first link member having a first end portion of the first link member movable along the first guide slot unit and a second end portion of the first link member coupled to the first body portion; and

a second link member having a first end portion of the second link portion movable along the first guide slot unit and a second end portion of the second link member coupled to the second body portion, and wherein the second rotation motion unit comprises;

a second guide slot unit formed in the second end cap;

a third link member having a first end portion of the third link member movable along the second guide slot unit and a second end portion of the third link member coupled to the first body portion; and

a fourth link member having a first end portion of the fourth link member movable along the second guide slot unit and a second end portion of the fourth link member coupled to the second body portion.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein:

each of the first, second, third and fourth link members comprises a rotation protrusion and a linear motion protrusion formed at the first end portion of the corresponding link member;

the first guide slot unit comprises;

a first rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the first link member, the first rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a second rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the second link member, the second rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a first linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the first link member and formed in a radial direction of the first rotation slot; and

a second linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the second link member and formed in a radial direction of the second rotation slot; and

the second guide slot unit comprises;

a third rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the third link member, the third rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a fourth rotation slot coupled to the rotation protrusion of the fourth link member, the fourth rotation slot having an arcuate shape;

a third linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the third link member and formed in a radial direction of the third rotation slot; and

a fourth linear motion slot coupled to the linear motion protrusion of the fourth link member and formed linearly in a radial direction of the fourth rotation slot.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein:

the first rotation motion unit comprises;

a first connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the first link member; and

a second connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the second link member, the second connection link having a same shape as the first connection link; and

the second rotation motion unit comprises;

a third connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the third link member; and

a fourth connection link coupled to the rotation protrusion and the linear motion protrusion of the fourth link member, the fourth connection link having a same shape as the third connection link.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth connection links comprises a first aperture for receiving the rotation protrusion of the corresponding first, second, third or fourth link member and a second aperture for receiving the linear motion protrusion of the corresponding link member.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the unit further comprises:

a first connection member configured to couple the first connection link to the second connection link; and

a second connection member configured to couple the third connection link to the fourth connection link.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein:

each of the first, second, third and fourth connection links comprises a connection member protrusion;

the first connection member comprises a first connection member slot and a second connection member slot configured to guide linear motions of the connection member protrusions of the first and second connection links; and

the second connection member comprises a third connection member slot and a fourth connection member slot configured to guide linear motions of the third and fourth connection member protrusions of the third and fourth connection links.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the first, second, third and fourth connection member slots are formed parallel to the corresponding first, second, third or fourth linear motion slot.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein:

each of the first and second connection members further comprises first and second ends with a first and second guide wing formed at the corresponding first and second end; and

each of the first and second end caps comprises guide rails configured to engage the first and second guide wings of the corresponding first and second connection members for guiding sliding movement of the first and second connection members during transitioning between the open and closed configurations of the mobile terminal.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein:

the surface of the case member covers the first ends of the first and second body portions in the closed configuration of the mobile terminal; and

the first ends of the first and second body portions press against the surface of the case member during transitioning between the closed and open configurations of the mobile terminal and cause the first and second connection members to move along the guide rails of the first and second end caps.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein:

the first and second connection members move in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the case member during transitioning between the closed and open configurations of the mobile terminal; and

the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion are parallel to each other and to the surface of the case member when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the unit further comprises:

a recess portion formed in each of the first and second end caps with the first slide motion unit disposed in the recess portion of the first end cap and the second slide motion unit disposed in the recess portion of the second end cap; and

first and second covers configured to cover the recess portion of the corresponding first and second end cap.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a first display positioned at the first face of the first body portion and extending to the first end of the first body portion; and

a second display positioned at the first face of the second body portion and extending to the first end of the second body portion,

wherein the first and second displays are positioned such that they are juxtaposed to each other when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein:

the first display is positioned in a recess in the first face of the first body portion, the recess extending to the first end of the first body portion and open to the first end of the first body portion; and

the second display is positioned in a recess in the first face of the second body portion, the recess extending to the first end of the second body portion and open to the first end of the second body portion.

12. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body portion having a first end of the first body portion, a second end of the first body portion, a first side of the first body portion, a second side of the first body portion and a first face of the first body portion;

a second body portion having a first end of the second body portion, a second end of the second body portion, a first side of the second body portion, a second side of the second body portion and a first face of the second body portion; and

a unit configured to rotatably couple the first end of the first body portion to the first end of the second body portion in order to enable the mobile terminal to transition between a closed configuration and an open configuration,

wherein the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion face each other when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration with the first side of the first body portion positioned proximate the first side of the second body portion and the second side of the first body portion positioned proximate the second side of the second body portion,

wherein the first face of the first body portion and the first face of the second body portion are rotated away from each other when the mobile terminal is in the open configuration,

wherein the unit comprises;

a first rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the first side of each of the first and second body portions;

a second rotation motion unit coupled to each of the first and second body portions proximate the second side of each of the first and second body portions;

a first slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the first rotation motion unit;

a second slide motion unit configured to cooperatively operate with the second rotation motion unit;

a first end cap configured to cover end portions of the first sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions;

a second end cap configured to cover end portions of the second sides of the first and second body portions proximate the first ends of the first and second body portions; and

a case member configured to link the first end cap and the second end cap and having a surface positioned parallel to and facing the first ends of the first and second body portion when the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration,

wherein the first and second rotation motion units are configured to enable rotational movement between the first and second body portions during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration,

wherein the first and second slide motion units are configured to slide the first and second body portions with respect to the unit during transitioning between the closed configuration and the open configuration,

wherein the first rotation motion unit comprises;

a first connection member having a first end portion of the first connection member and a second end portion of the first connection member, the second end portion coupled to the first body portion;

a second connection member having a first end portion of the second connection member and a second end portion of the second connection member, the second end portion coupled to the second body portion; and

a first hinge portion rotatably coupling the first end portion of the first connection member to the first end portion of the second connection member; and

wherein the second rotation motion unit comprises;

a third connection member having a first end portion of the third connection member and a second end portion of the third connection member, the second end portion coupled to the first body portion;

a fourth connection member having a first end portion of the fourth connection member and a second end portion of the fourth connection member, the second end portion is coupled to the second body portion; and

a second hinge portion rotatably coupling the first end portion of the third connection member to the first end portion of the fourth connection member.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein:

the first slide motion unit comprises;

a first guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the first connection member;

a second guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the second connection member; and

first and second guide protrusions positioned on the first end cap and configured to be positioned within the corresponding first or second guide slot; and

the second slide motion unit comprises;

a third guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the third connection member;

a fourth guide slot having an arcuate shape formed in the first end portion of the fourth connection member; and

third and fourth guide protrusions positioned on the second end cap and configured to be positioned within the corresponding third or fourth guide slot.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein:

the surface of the case member covers the first ends of the first and second body portions in the closed configuration of the mobile terminal; and

the first ends of the first and second body portions press against the surface of the case member during transitioning between the closed and open configurations of the mobile terminal and cause the first, second, third and fourth guide protrusions to move along the corresponding first, second, third or fourth guide slot.