Cover for a mobile device and mobile device having same

• US 7,884,808 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Joo, Won Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US11/846,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20080223708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345173-179, 361/681, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0279 Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A cover for a mobile device is provided. The cover includes a support member having an upper surface, and a touch sensitive portion located on the upper surface of the support member, the touch sensitive portion being configured to generate a signal when touched to control the mobile device. A mobile device is also provided. The mobile device has a cover including a support member having an upper surface, and a touch sensitive portion located on the upper surface of the support member, the touch sensitive portion being configured to generate a signal when touched to control the mobile device. The mobile device also includes a display unit located in the mobile device.

Claims

1. A cover for a mobile device, the cover comprising:

a support member having an upper surface; and

a touch sensitive portion located on the upper surface of the support member, the touch sensitive portion being configured to generate a signal when touched to control the mobile device,

wherein the support member includes at least one side surface, and the touch sensitive portion includes an upper portion and at least one side portion, the upper portion of the touch sensitive portion is located on the upper surface of the support member and is configured to generate a first input signal, the at least one side portion is located on the at least one side surface and is configured to generate a second input signal different than the first input signal.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive portion is located on the entire upper surface.

3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the support member is curved.

4. The cover of claim 1, further comprising a protection film located on a surface of the touch sensitive portion, the protection film including a printed layer.

5. The cover of claim 4, wherein the touch sensitive portion is located on a surface of the printed layer of the protection film.

6. The cover of claim 4, wherein the protection film is integrally molded with the support member by in-mold injection.

7. The cover of claim 1, further comprising connecting terminals connected to the touch sensitive portion, the connecting terminals being configured to transmit a touch signal from the touch sensitive portion to a circuitry supporting substrate.

8. The cover of claim 7, wherein the connecting terminals are integrally molded with the support member when the support member is molded.

9. The cover of claim 7, wherein terminal holes are located in the support member, and the connecting terminals are inserted into the terminal holes and electrically connected to the touch sensitive portion.

10. A mobile device comprising:

a cover including;

a support member having an upper surface; and

a touch sensitive portion located on the upper surface of the support member, the touch sensitive portion being configured to generate a signal when touched to control the mobile device; and

a display unit located in the mobile device,

wherein the support member includes at least one side surface, and the touch sensitive portion includes an upper portion and at least one side portion, the upper portion of the touch sensitive portion is located on the upper surface of the support member and is configured to generate a first input signal, the at least one side portion is located on the at least one side surface and is configured to generate a second input signal different than the first input signal.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the at least one side surface and the upper surface of the support member are connected in a curved shape.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the touch sensitive portion is integrally molded with the support member.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein a key display portion is located at the at least one side surface of the support member.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the cover further includes a protection film having a printed layer, and the key display portion is located on the printed layer of the protection film.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, further comprising a light emitting portion located at the at least one side surface of the support member, the light emitting portion being configured to illuminate the key display portion.

16. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the display unit includes an upper display portion located beneath the upper surface of the support member and a side display portion located behind the at least one side surface of the support member.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the upper display portion and the side display portion are integrally formed.

18. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the upper display portion displays information and displays a key area to indicate a region on the upper portion of the touch sensitive portion that can be touched to generate the first input signal.

19. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the side display portion displays information, other than that displayed on the upper display portion, and displays a key area to indicate a region on the side portion of the touch sensitive portion that can be touched to generate the second input signal.

20. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the cover includes a protection film having a printed layer, and the touch sensitive portion is located between the support member and the protection film.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the touch sensitive portion is located on a surface of the printed layer of the protection film.

22. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the protection film is integrally molded with the support member by in-mold injection.

23. The mobile device of claim 10, further comprising:

a circuitry supporting substrate located in the mobile device; and

connecting terminals connected to the touch sensitive portion, the connecting terminals being configured to transmit a touch signal from the touch sensitive portion to the circuitry supporting substrate.

24. A mobile device comprising:

a cover having an upper portion and a side portion, the side portion being oriented in a different direction than the upper portion; and

a display located adjacent the cover, the display having an upper portion and a side portion oriented in a different direction than the upper portion, the upper portion of the display being visible through the upper portion of the cover, and the side portion of the display being visible through the side portion of the cover,

wherein the cover includes;

a support member having an upper surface; and

a touch sensitive portion located on the upper surface of the support member, the touch sensitive portion being configured to generate a signal when touched to control the mobile device,

wherein the support member includes at least one side surface, and the touch sensitive portion includes an upper portion and at least one side portion, the upper portion of the touch sensitive portion is located on the upper surface of the support member and is configured to generate a first input signal, the at least one side portion is located on the at least one side surface and is configured to generate a second input signal different than the first input signal.

25. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein the display follows the contour of the cover.