SLIDE MODULE AND MOBILE TERMINAL HAVING THE SAME

• US 20090247247A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Chang-Yong
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.400
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a first body, a second body slidably moveable with respect to the first body such that the first body is moved between a closed position and an open position, a connector electrically connecting the first body to the second body, and a slide module connecting the first body to the second body to allow the second body to move with respect to the first body between the closed position and the open position is provided. The slide module includes a first slide member connected to the first body, a second slide member connected to the second body, the second slide member being slidably connected to the first slide member, and a cover unit disposed between the first and second slide members, the cover unit being configured to prevent exposure of the connector when the first body is in the open position.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a first body;

a second body slidably moveable with respect to the first body such that the first body is moved between a closed position and an open position;

a connector electrically connecting the first body to the second body; and

a slide module connecting the first body to the second body to allow the second body to move with respect to the first body between the closed position and the open position, the slide module including;

a first slide member connected to the first body;

a second slide member connected to the second body, the second slide member being slidably connected to the first slide member; and

a cover unit disposed between the first and second slide members, the cover unit being configured to prevent exposure of the connector when the first body is in the open position.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first slide member includes a connector hole to receive a portion of the connector when the first body is in the closed position.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the cover unit covers and uncovers the connector hole according to relative movement of the first and second slide members.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the cover unit includes:

a cover body unit slidably connected to at least one of the first and second slide members to slidably cover and uncover the connector hole; and

a connection unit configured to connect the cover body unit to the second slide member such that the second slide member is configured to move a first distance with respect to the first slide member independently of the cover body unit and to move a second distance with respect to the first slide member together with the cover body unit.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the connection unit includes a torsion spring having one end connected to the second slide member and the other end connected to the cover body unit.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the second slide member is configured to move the first distance while the torsion spring is compressed, whereby the cover body unit covers the connector hole, and to move the second distance with the cover body unit to uncover the connector hole when the torsion spring is not compressed.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the connection unit includes:

a slot formed in the cover body unit such that the slot extends in the direction of movement of the second slide member; and

a protrusion formed on the second slide member, the protrusion configured to move along the slot.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the second slide member is configured to move a first distance separately from the cover body unit such that the cover body unit covers the connector hole and to move a second distance with the cover body unit to uncover the connector hole when the protrusion is caught at one end of the slot.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the slide module further includes an elasticity providing unit to apply elastic force to assist in moving the first body between the closed and open positions according to the relative movement of the first and second slide members.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the elasticity providing unit is disposed between the first body and the first slide member.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the first slide member further includes a cover member that covers the cover unit and the elasticity providing unit, the cover member connecting the first slide member to the first body.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second body is exposed when the first body is in the open position and said at least a portion of the second body is covered when the first body is in the closed position.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a flexible printed circuit board that is deformed during relative movement of the first and second bodies.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the slide module further includes a hinge connection unit configured to position the first body at a certain angle greater that 0°

with respect to the second body.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first body includes a first display, the second body includes a second display, and the first and second display units are configured to receive user inputs via touching of displayed information.

16. A slide module for a mobile terminal having a first body, a second body slidably connected to the first body such that the first body is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and a connector electrically connecting the first body to the second body, the slide module comprising:

a first slide member connectable to the first body;

a second slide member connectable to the second body, the first slide member being slidably connected to the second slide member to allow the first and second bodies to move between the closed and open position, the first and second slide members being configured to allow the connector to pass therethrough; and

a cover unit configured to prevent exposure of the connector when the first body is in the open position, the cover unit being disposed between the first and second slide members.

17. The slide module of claim 16, further comprising a connector hole formed in the first slide member, the connector hole being configured to receiving a portion of the connector when the first body is in the closed position.

18. The slide module of claim 17, wherein the cover unit covers and uncovers the connector hole according to relative movement of the first and second slide members.

19. The slide module of claim 18, wherein the cover unit includes:

a cover body unit slidably connected to at least one of the first and second slide members to slidably cover and uncover the connector hole; and

a connection unit configured to connect the cover body unit to the second slide member such that the second slide member is configured to move a first distance with respect to the first slide member independently of the cover body unit and to move a second distance with respect to the first slide member together with the cover body unit.

20. The slide module of claim 19, wherein the connection unit includes a torsion spring having one end connected to the second slide member and the other end connected to the cover body unit.

21. The slide module of claim 19, wherein the connection unit includes:

a slot formed in the cover body unit such that the slot extends in the direction of movement of the second slide member; and

a protrusion formed on the second slide member, the protrusion configured to move along the slot.