Watch type mobile terminal

• US 8,301,211 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Sunghyun, Im, Jongin
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): Navar, Erica
• Application Number:
  US12/819,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20110014956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391-53919, 368/10, 368/12, 368/13, 368/14, 368/47, 455/100, 4555751-5758, 455/566, 455/567, 455/569.1, 455 901- 903, 455/3.06, 292/335
• US Class Current: 455/575.6
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A watch type mobile terminal includes: a main body having a wireless communication module; a band connected with both ends of the main body; a buckle unit mounted to the band and detachably attaching the band to the user'"'"'s wrist through a connection and releasing operation; and a signal generating unit mounted in the buckle unit, electrically connected with the main body and generating a signal for turning on power of the main body when the buckle unit is connected.

Claims

1. A watch type mobile terminal comprising:

a main body having a wireless communication module;

a band having first and second band portions connected with first and second ends of the main body, respectively;

a buckle unit installed in the band and configured to fasten or unfasten the band;

a signal generating unit mounted in the buckle unit and electrically connected with the main body, the signal generating unit being configured to generate a first signal for turning on power of the main body when the buckle unit is fastened; and

a manipulation unit mounted in the buckle unit and inputting information to the main body according to a user manipulation,

wherein the manipulation unit comprises;

a slider slidably mounted on an outer surface of the buckle unit and disposed to be movable in both directions; and

a switch disposed in the interior of the buckle unit, generating a second signal according to a sliding movement of the slider, and having first and second switches in contact with both ends of the slider, respectively.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the buckle unit comprises:

a first buckle unit connected with the first band portion connected with the first end of the main body;

a second buckle unit connected with the second band portion connected with the second end of the main body; and

a fastening unit for fastening or separating the first and second buckle units,

wherein the signal generating unit is disposed in one of the first and second buckle units.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the signal generating unit comprises a switch mounted in the first buckle unit and pressed according to a contact with the second buckle unit.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the fastening unit comprises a pair of magnets mounted in the first and second buckle units, respectively, and the signal generating unit comprises a magnetic sensor mounted in at least one of the first and second buckle units and sensing the strength of a magnetic field of the magnets.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the signal generating unit comprises a contact sensor disposed in the first buckle unit and sensing a contact with the second bucking unit.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the signal generating unit is configured to turn off power of the main body when the connection of the buckle unit is released.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the signal generating unit is connected with the main body by a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and the band comprises a through hole through which the FPCB passes.

8. A watch type mobile terminal comprising:

a main body having a wireless communication module;

a band having first and second band portions connected with first and second ends of the main body, respectively;

a buckle unit mounted to the band and detachably attaching the band to the user'"'"'s wrist; and

a manipulation unit mounted on one surface of the buckle unit and inputting information to the main body according to a user manipulation,

wherein the manipulation unit comprises;

a slider slidably mounted on an outer surface of the buckle unit and disposed to be movable in both directions; and

a switch disposed in the interior of the buckle unit, generating a signal according to a sliding movement of the slider, and having first and second switches in contact with both ends of the slider, respectively.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the buckle unit comprises:

a first buckle unit fixed to the first band portion connected with the first end of the main body;

a second buckle unit fixed to the second band portion connected with the second end of the main body; and

a fastening unit for fastening or separating the first and second buckle units,

wherein the manipulation unit is disposed on at least one of the first and second buckle units.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the manipulation unit is configured to input at least one of an ON/OFF command of power of the main body, a call command, a cancel command, a command for moving a cursor or a pointer, and a command for adjusting a sound or a state amount of graphics.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the manipulation unit is configured to input an execution command of a pre-set operation mode previously set in the main body.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the operation mode comprises at least one of a standby mode, a menu display mode, a call mode, and a text message transmission/reception mode.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the main body further comprises a display unit configured to output visual information, and the first and second switches generate a signal for moving at least one of a cursor, a pointer, graphics, and an icon displayed on the display unit according to a movement direction of the slider.