Mobile terminal

• US 8,626,252 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jaeeon, Kang, Dongguk, Kim, Eunjung, Choo, Zhimin, Lim, Seunggeun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US13/561,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20130040711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/347, 455/90.3
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/005 adapted for connection with printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/014 Slide selector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/028 perpendicular to base of keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/006 having an operating member slidable in a plane in one direction and pivotable around an axis located in the sliding plane perpendicular to the sliding direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An input unit for an electronic device comprising a body, a first switch adjacent a first location of the body, a second switch adjacent a second location of the body, and a third switch adjacent a third location of the body. When the body moves in a first direction to a first position, the third switch generates a signal to activate a first operational mode and the first and second switches generate signals to perform first and second functions when the body moves in a second direction different from the first direction. When the body moves in the first direction to a second position, the third switch generates a signal to activate a second operational mode and the first and second switches generate signals to perform third and fourth functions when the body moves in the second direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for an electronic device, comprising:

a body;

a first input unit disposed in a first location of the body;

a second input unit disposed in a second location of the body;

a third input unit disposed in a third location of the body, wherein;

when the body moves in a first direction to a first position, the third input unit generates a signal to activate a first operational mode and the first and second input units generate signals to perform first and second functions when the body moves in a second direction different from the first direction, and

when the body moves in the first direction to a second position, the third input unit generates a signal to activate a second operational mode and the first and second input units generate signals to perform third and fourth functions when the body moves in the second direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second input units are actuated when pressure is applied or contact is made in the first direction and the third input unit is actuated when pressure is applied or contact is made in the second direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third input unit is between the first and second switches along an axis extending in the first direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

another function is performed in at least one of the first mode or the second mode when the first and second input units simultaneously generate signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon activation of the first mode:

the first input unit generates a signal to perform the first function when a first location of the body is moved in the first direction, and

the second input unit generates a signal to perform the second function when a second location of the body is moved in the first direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein upon activation of the second mode:

the first input unit generates a signal to perform the third function when the first location of the body is moved in the first direction, and

the second input unit generates a signal to perform the fourth function when the second location of the body is moved in the first direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a first limiter to limit movement of the body in the second direction when the body is moved in the first direction to at least the first position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first limiter is located at or near the first switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a second limiter to limit movement of the body in the second direction when the body is moved in the first direction to at least the first position, wherein the second limiter is located at or in the second input unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the body is allowed to move in the second direction when the body is moved in the first direction to at least the second position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first input unit, second input unit, or third input unit includes a switch.

13. An mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body;

a second body which moves relative to the first body;

a first input unit disposed in a first location of the first body;

a second input unit disposed in a second location of the first body;

a third input unit disposed in a third location of the first body, wherein;

when the second body moves in a first direction to a first position, the third input unit generates a signal to activate a first operational mode and the first and second input units generate signals to perform first and second functions when the second body moves in a second direction different from the first direction, and

when the second body moves in the first direction to a second position, the third input unit generates a signal to activate a second operational mode and the first and second input units generate signals to perform third and fourth functions when the second body moves in the second direction.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the first body does not move.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the second body moves the first body in the second direction to activate or contact the first and second input units.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the second body moves relative to a first surface of the first body and the first and second input units are located at a second surface of the first body.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein:

the third input unit moves towards a first surface of the first body when the second body is moved in the first direction to the first position, and

the third input unit moves towards a second surface of the first body when the second body is moved in the first direction to the second position.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein a top surface of the third input unit is higher than top surfaces of the first and second input unit.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the third input unit is between the first input unit and the second input unit.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first input unit, second input unit, or third input unit includes a switch.