MOBILE TERMINAL WITH BACK-LIGHTED DIRECTIONAL KEYS

• US 20070105604A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ko, Dong-Seuck, Choo, Zhi-Min, Lee, Hyung-Woon
• Granted Patent: US 7,982,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.300
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes a first body structured to slideably engage a second body to permit opening and closing of the mobile terminal by relative sliding motion between the first body and the second body. The first body includes a plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions. A display is positioned relative to the first body at one of the distinct optically transmissive regions, and a keypad is positioned relative to the second body. The mobile terminal also includes a selection key for operatively coupling to an underlying touch pad, such that the selection key is identified by one of the distinct optically transmissive regions of the first body. The mobile terminal further includes back-lighted directional keys for operatively coupling to the underlying touch pad. Each of the directional keys is individually identified by one of the distinct optically transmissive regions of the first body, such that the directional keys are positioned at various locations relative to an outer perimeter of the selection key.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body structured to slideably engage a second body to permit opening and closing of said mobile terminal by relative sliding motion between said first body and said second body, wherein said first body comprises a plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions;

a display positioned relative to said first body at one of said plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions;

a keypad positioned relative to said second body;

a selection key for operatively coupling to an underlying touch pad, wherein said selection key is identified by one of said plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions of said first body; and

a plurality of back-lighted directional keys for operatively coupling to said underlying touch pad, wherein each of said plurality of directional keys is individually identified by one of said plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions of said first body, and wherein said plurality of directional keys are positioned at various locations relative to an outer perimeter of said selection key.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one light source positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said at least one light source structured to provide light to said selection key and said plurality of directional keys.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

an optical waveguide positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said optical waveguide structured to transmit said light.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, further comprising:

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said optical waveguide and structured to reflect said light.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, further comprising:

a separate recess associated with each of said at least one light source, said recess formed in a top surface of said optical waveguide and sized to receive at least a portion of an associated one of said at least one light source.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of light guides formed in said touch pad, each of said plurality of light guides being individually associated with one said selection key and said plurality of directional keys; and

a separate light disturbing element associated with each of said plurality of light guides and which are formed in said optical waveguide.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of light guides formed in said touch pad, each of said plurality of light guides being individually associated with one of said selection key and said plurality of directional keys.

8. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein said selection key is a back-lighted selection key.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least one light source positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said at least one light source structured to provide light to said selection key and said plurality of directional keys.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, further comprising:

an optical waveguide positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said optical waveguide structured to transmit said light.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said optical waveguide and structured to reflect said light.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a separate recess associated with each of said at least one light source, said recess formed in a top surface of said optical waveguide and sized to receive at least a portion of an associated one of said at least one light source.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of light guides formed in said touch pad, each of said plurality of light guides being individually associated with one of said selection key and said plurality of directional keys; and

a separate light disturbing element associated with each of said plurality of light guides and which are formed in said optical waveguide.

9. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body structured to slideably engage a second body to permit opening and closing of said mobile terminal by relative sliding motion between said first body and said second body;

a cover defined by an upper portion of said first body, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions;

a display positioned relative to said cover at one of said plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions;

a keypad positioned relative to said second body;

a back-lighted selection key for operatively coupling to an underlying touch pad, wherein said selection key is identified by one of said plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions of said cover; and

a plurality of back-lighted directional keys for operatively coupling to said underlying touch pad, wherein each of said plurality of directional keys is individually identified by one of said plurality of distinct optically transmissive regions of said cover, and wherein said plurality of directional keys are positioned at various locations relative to an outer perimeter of said selection key.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of light guides formed in said touch pad, each of said plurality of light guides being individually associated with one of said selection key and said plurality of directional keys.