Mobile terminal and terminal system having the same

• US 8,442,455 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Byungsung
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/945,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20120004000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/507, 455/90.3, 455/573, 455/575.1, 4553431- 2, 455/343.5, 320/115
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a body having a battery configured to be mounted on a cradle, a first connection port disposed at one surface of the body to be electrically connected to power supply terminals of the cradle if the body is mounted on the cradle, a second connection port disposed at another surface different from the one surface of the body to be covered by at least part of the cradle if the body is mounted on the cradle, and a power supply path for electrically connecting the battery to the first and the second connection port respectively to charge the battery if power is supplied to the first and the second connection port.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body having a battery and configured to be mounted on a cradle having power supply terminals;

a first connection port disposed at one surface of the body and configured to be electrically connected to the power supply terminals of the cradle when the body is mounted on the cradle;

a second connection port disposed at another surface of the body, the another surface being different from the one surface of the body and configured to be covered by at least part of the cradle when the body is mounted on the cradle;

a power supply path arranged to electrically connect the battery to the first connection port and the second connection port so as to charge the battery when power is supplied to the first and the second connection port;

a first antenna configured to transmit and/or receive radio signals to and/or from a first base station; and

a second antenna configured to transmit and/or receive radio signals to and/or from a second base station,

wherein the body comprises a front surface portion, a rear surface portion, and a lateral surface portion, and

wherein the first antenna is mounted on the body between the first and the second connection port along the lateral surface portion, and the second antenna is mounted on the body adjacent to the lateral surface portion.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1,

wherein the one surface and the another surface are located on the lateral surface portion.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2,

wherein the one surface and the another surface face in opposite directions, and

wherein the first antenna is disposed adjacent to a surface intersected by the one surface and the another surface.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, further comprising:

a window and a keypad configured to receive control commands, the window and the keypad being disposed at the front surface portion,

wherein the battery is mounted on the rear surface portion, and

wherein the first antenna is formed to be deviated from the keypad and battery in a direction passing from the front surface portion to the rear surface portion.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 3, further comprising:

a through hole through which the first connection port is passed, the through hole being formed on the lateral surface portion to expose the first connection port to the outside.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 2,

wherein the body is formed to be mounted on a mounting portion recessed at the body of the cradle, and

wherein the one surface is accommodated in the mounting portion and the second connection port is formed to be covered by a cover portion protruding from a body of the cradle when the body is mounted on the mounting portion.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1,

wherein the first connection port is exposed to an outside at one surface of the body, and

wherein the second connection port is formed to be opened or closed by a port cover mounted on the another surface of the body.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the port cover is formed such that opening or closing thereof is limited by at least part of the cradle when the body is mounted on the cradle.

9. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body having a battery and formed to be mounted on a cradle;

a first connection port disposed at one surface of the body and configured to be electrically connected to the battery along a first power supply path;

a second connection port electrically connected to the battery along a second power supply path, and disposed at another position different from the first connection port; and

a power supply control device configured to cut off the second power supply path when the body is mounted on the cradle or to cut off the second power supply path when power is supplied to the first connection port,

wherein the power supply control device comprises;

a detection unit configured to detect that the body is mounted on the cradle;

a switching unit disposed on the second power supply path and configured to be switched to connect or disconnect the power supply; and

a controller connected to the detection unit and the switching unit, the controller configured to control the switching unit to cut off the second power supply path when mounting to the cradle of the body is detected.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the detection unit comprises a detection sensor mounted on the body and configured to generate a detection signal when a magnet mounted on the cradle is within a predetermined distance of the detection sensor.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a monitoring unit on the body and configured to monitor a charge state of the battery,

wherein the first and the second power supply path are arranged to connect the first and the second connection port to the monitoring unit, respectively.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

an integrated power controller connected to electronic elements mounted on the body and configured to control power supplied to the electronic elements,

wherein the monitoring unit is configured to transfer power supplied through either one of the first and the second power supply path to the integrated power controller.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a first antenna configured to transmit or receive radio signals,

wherein the first antenna is mounted on the body and disposed to be deviated from a region adjacent to a surface at which the first connection port is disposed.

14. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body having a battery and formed to be mounted on a cradle;

a first connection port disposed at one surface of the body and configured to be electrically connected to the battery along a first power supply path;

a second connection port electrically connected to the battery along a second power supply path, and disposed at another position different from the first connection port; and

a power supply control device configured to cut off the second power supply path when the body is mounted on the cradle or to cut off the second power supply path when power is supplied to the first connection port,

wherein the power supply control device comprises a cut-off switch exposed on a surface of the body and disposed on the second power supply path, the cut-off switch being configured to be switched to cut off the second power supply path when pressure is applied to the cut-off switch.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the cradle is formed to press the cut-off switch when the body is mounted thereon.

16. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body having a battery and formed to be mounted on a cradle;

a first connection port disposed at one surface of the body and configured to be electrically connected to the battery along a first power supply path;

a second connection port electrically connected to the battery along a second power supply path, and disposed at another position different from the first connection port; and

a power supply control device configured to cut off the second power supply path when the body is mounted on the cradle or to cut off the second power supply path when power is supplied to the first connection port,

wherein the power supply control device comprises;

a signal generation unit configured to generate a supply signal when power is supplied to the first connection port;

a switching unit disposed on the second power supply path and configured to connect or disconnect the power supply; and

a controller connected to the signal generation unit and the switching unit, the controller configured to control the switching unit to cut off the second power supply path when the supply signal is received.

17. A terminal system, comprising:

a mobile terminal having a battery and configured to perform radio communication;

a cradle including a body, a mounting portion recessed at the body to mount a body of the terminal, and power supply terminals disposed at the mounting portion;

a first connection port disposed at one surface of the body of the terminal and configured to be electrically connected to the power supply terminals of the cradle when the body is mounted on the cradle;

a second connection port disposed at another surface of the body of the terminal different from the one surface of the body of the terminal, and formed to be covered by a cover portion protruding from the body of the cradle when the body of the terminal is mounted on the cradle;

a power supply path arranged to electrically connect the battery to the first and the second connection port respectively to charge the battery when power is supplied to the first and the second connection port;

a first antenna configured to transmit and/or receive radio signals to and/or from a first base station; and

a second antenna configured to transmit and/or receive radio signals to and/or from a second base station,

wherein the body of the terminal comprises a front surface portion, a rear surface portion, and a lateral surface portion, and

wherein the first antenna is mounted on the body of the terminal between the first and the second connection port along the lateral surface portion, and the second antenna is mounted on the body of the terminal adjacent to the lateral surface portion.