Abstract:
A double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, in which one housing slidably moves relative to the other housing through double-sliding motions, which includes a main housing extending in a longitudinal axis and a sliding housing moving in said longitudinal and also lateral directions across the main housing whose upper surface faces away from the main housing to allow the sliding housing may become displaced away from the main housing and also slidably return to overlap the main housing, wherein said housings are aligned parallel to each other in the longitudinal axis or a lateral direction across the main housing to expose predetermined regions of an upper surface of the main housing with keys provided thereon.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to an application entitled “Double Sliding-Type Portable Communication Apparatus” filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 29, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-30021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to double sliding-type portable communication apparatuses, such as cellular phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), HHPs (hand held phones), and other communication apparatuses, and more particularly to a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, in which one housing slidably moves relative to the other housing through double-sliding motions. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a “portable communication apparatus” refers to an electronic appliance allowing users to communicate with other users via wired or wireless communication devices while carrying portable terminals. For the sake of portability, designs of such portable communication apparatuses tend to be compact, slim, and light. Multimedia availability, is also a consideration, where having a wider variety of functions is desirable. In particular, future portable communication apparatuses are expected to incorporate greater multi-functionality and multi-purpose utilization, as well as being more compact and lighter, while being capable of accessing various multimedia environments or Internet environments. Additionally, such portable communication apparatuses are now commonly used throughout the world, and are recognized by some people as a nearly indispensable commodity, which must always be carried. 
     Conventional portable communication apparatuses may be classified into various types according to their appearance. For example, sliding type portable communication apparatuses are classified into bar-type communication apparatuses, flip-type portable communication apparatuses and folder-type portable communication apparatuses. The bar-type portable communication apparatus has a single housing shaped like a bar. The flip-type portable communication apparatus has a flip, which is pivotably mounted to a bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit. The folder-type portable communication apparatus has a folder coupled to a single bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit to allow rotation of the holder towards the housing to close it, or away from the housing to unfold it. 
     Further, portable communication apparatuses may be classified into rotation-type communication apparatuses and sliding-type communication apparatuses depending on the particular way the communication apparatus is opened. In the rotation-type portable communication apparatus, two housings are coupled to each other to allow one housing to rotate open or closed relative to the other while facing each other. In the sliding-type portable communication apparatus, two housings are coupled to each other to allow one housing to slide open or closed relative to the other. These variously classified portable communication apparatuses can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. 
     Meanwhile, conventional portable communication apparatuses currently transmit data at high speeds in their function of performing voice communication. 
     Currently, portable communication apparatuses are equipped with camera lenses, which enable each of the communication apparatuses to transmit an image signal. That is, current conventional portable communication apparatuses may have an embedded or external camera lens or a photographing unit, which enables a user to make an image communication with a desired partner or to take a photograph of a desired subject. 
     However, since the conventional sliding-type portable communication apparatus includes two housings, in which one housing slides in one direction relative to the other housing, the overall thickness of the sliding-type portable communication apparatus consequently increases two-fold with increasing thickness of two housings. 
     In addition, in the conventional sliding-type portable communication apparatus, one housing slides in an opposite direction relative to the other only exposing a fraction of the inner surface to the user, consequently resulting in less usable surface area where keys and a liquid crystal display maybe installed. 
     This is particularly inconvenient when playing a game or manipulating keys. 
     Korean Patent Application No. 2002-71911, which has been filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office by the applicant of the present application (also filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as U.S. application Ser. No. 10/379,551), discloses a structure of a sliding-type portable communication apparatus in detail. However, the above sliding-type portable communication apparatus is somewhat bulky due to the result of combining the two housings together. Accordingly, desirability of the sliding-type portable communication apparatus of the prior art is limited. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, in which one housing slidably moves relative to the other housing through double-sliding motions to allow thickness of a portable communication terminal to be minimized, thereby resulting in a slim portable communication terminal. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, in which one housing slidably moves relative to the other housing through double-sliding motions allowing greater usable area of the inner surface of the housing, thereby allowing greater surface area with which more keys and a larger display unit may be mounted on. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, allowing users to conveniently manipulate a plurality of keys with both hands to manipulate the keys or play a game. 
     In order to accomplish the above objects, there is provided a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus comprising a main housing extending in a longitudinal direction and a sliding housing moving lengthwise and widthwise along the main housing while facing the main housing such that the sliding housing becomes distant from the main housing or closely comes to the main housing, and aligned in parallel the main housing in a longitudinal direction or a transverse direction of the main housing so as to expose predetermined regions of an upper surface of the main housing to an exterior. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a sliding housing and a double sliding member for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing rear portions of a sliding housing and a double sliding member for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a sliding housing-double sliding member assembly for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a rear portion of a sliding housing-double sliding member assembly for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a sliding housing has been moved lengthwise along a main housing; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a sliding housing-double sliding member assembly for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a sliding housing has been moved lengthwise along a main housing; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a sliding housing has been laterally displaced away from a main housing; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a sliding housing-double sliding member assembly for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the sliding housing has been moved lengthwise along a main housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers will be used throughout to refer to the same or like parts. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10 , a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus  10  according to the present invention includes a main housing  20 , a sliding housing  30 , and a double sliding member  40 . The main housing  20  has provided at an upper surface thereof first and second regions  21  and  22 . The first region  21  is recessed a predetermined depth along a first sliding direction A 1  to allow a lower portion of the double sliding member  40  to be accommodated in the first region  21 . The second region  22  is positioned adjacent to the first region  21  and protrudes from a lower portion of the first region  21  to provide for a second key array  27  in the second region  22 . 
     The sliding housing  30  moves in the first sliding direction A 1  lengthwise along the longitudinal direction of main housing  20  and parallel to the main housing  20  whose upper surface faces away from the main housing  20  to allow the sliding housing  30  to become displaced from or substantially overlap the main housing  20 . As the sliding housing  30  moves in the first sliding direction A 1  and the second sliding direction A 2 , which is perpendicular to the first sliding direction A 1 , the first and second regions  21  and  22  formed on the upper surface of the main housing  20  may be either exposed or covered by the sliding housing  30 . Preferably, the first region  21  is larger in area than the second region  22 . The sliding housing  30  moves slidingly in the first and second sliding directions A 1  and A 2 . 
     The double sliding member  40  is provided between the main housing  20  and the sliding housing  30  so as to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the first and second sliding directions A 1  and A 2 , and also to hold the sliding housing  30  in place. 
     A guide groove  25  is formed in the first region  21  in order to allow the sliding housing  30  to be laterally displaced from the main housing  20  in the second sliding direction A 2 . 
     The guide groove  25  is formed at upper and lower ends thereof with first and second stepped guide portions  23  and  24 , respectively. The first and second stepped guide portions  23  and  24  extend widthwise with respect to the longitudinal direction along the main housing  20  having predetermined heights. The sliding housing  30  moves slidingly along the first and second stepped guide portions  23  and  24 . 
     The first and second regions  21  and  22  are provided with first and second key arrays  26  and  27 , respectively. The first and second key arrays  26  and  27  include a plurality of keys  26   a  and  27   a , which maybe either exposed to or covered depending on the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30 . The number of keys  26   a  of the first key array  26  is preferably larger than the number of keys  27   a  of the second key array  27 . 
     The second key array  27  is exposed to the exterior when the sliding housing  30  is displaced away from the main housing  20  in the first sliding direction A 1 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . In addition, the first and second key arrays  26  and  27  are both exposed when the sliding housing  30  moves sequentially in the first and second sliding directions A 1  and A 2  remote from the main housing  20 , or when the sliding housing  30  is moved in the second sliding direction A 2 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The sliding housing  30  preferably has provided at an upper surface thereof a large-sized liquid crystal display unit  31 , and a first speaker unit  32  is installed adjacent to the large-sized liquid crystal display unit  31 . A third key array  33  having a plurality of keys  34  is aligned adjacent to the large-sized liquid crystal display unit  31 . 
     In addition, a second speaker unit  29  is installed on a bottom surface of the main housing  20 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The second speaker unit  29  includes a stereo speaker unit. 
     The sliding housing  30  is formed with a pair of first rail holes  35 , into which guide protrusions  44  of the double sliding member  40  are inserted in order to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the first sliding direction A 1 . The first rail holes  35  have predetermined lengths for limiting the movement of the sliding housing  30 . 
     The double sliding member  40  includes a body  41 , a pair of guide holding sections  42  and a pair of second rail holes  43 . The body  41  is accommodated in the guide groove  25  of the main housing  20  to allow that the body  41  to slidably move over the first region  21 . 
     The pair of guide holding sections  42  are provided at both sides of the body  41  and formed lengthwise along the sliding housing  30  for guiding the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the first sliding direction A 1  or for holding the sliding housing  30 . The pair of second rail holes  43  are formed in the body  41  laterally to the main housing  20 , and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Guide protrusions  28  of the main housing  20  provided in the first region  21  are inserted into the second rail holes  43  for guiding the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the second sliding direction A 2 . The second rail holes  43  have predetermined lengths for limiting the movement of the sliding housing  30  in the second sliding direction A 2 . 
     In addition, the guide protrusions  28  of the main housing  20  are formed in a predetermined portion of the first region  21  in such a manner that the guide protrusions  28  are inserted into the second rail holes  43  of the double sliding member  40  and moved along the second rail holes  43  when the sliding housing  30  slidably moves in the second sliding direction A 2 . 
     A pair of guide protrusions  44  are formed in the double sliding member  40  to allow the guide protrusions  44  to be inserted into the first rail holes  35  of the sliding housing  30  and slidably displaced within the first rail holes  35  in the first sliding direction A 1 . 
     In addition, a pair of fixing sections  45  are formed in a predetermined portion of the double sliding member  40  so as to fixedly receive the guide protrusions  44  of the double sliding member  40 . 
     Hereinafter, an operation of the double sliding-type portable communication apparatus having the above construction according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the double sliding-type portable communication apparatus  10  includes the main housing  20 , the sliding housing  30 , and the double sliding member  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first region  21  recessed by a predetermined depth is formed in a direction parallel to the main housing  20  along the longitudinal axis and the second region  22  protrudes a predetermined height above and adjacent to the first region  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sliding housing  30  moves in the first and second sliding directions A 1  and A 2  whose upper surface faces away from the main housing  20  to allow the sliding housing  30  to become displaced from or substantially overlap the main housing  20 . As the sliding housing  30  moves in the first and second sliding directions A 1  and A 2 , the first and second regions  21  and  22  formed on the upper surface of the main housing  20  may either be exposed or covered by the sliding housing  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the double sliding member  40  is provided between the main housing  20  and the sliding housing  30  to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the first and second sliding directions A 1  and A 2 , and also to support the sliding housing  30 . 
     In this state, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the sliding housing  30  is slidably displaced from the main housing  20  lengthwise along the longitudinal axis while guided by the guide holding sections  42  formed at both sides of the double sliding member  40 . At this time, the second key array  27  provided in the main housing  20  is exposed, as seen in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second key array  27  includes a plurality of keys  27   a , allowing a user to perform various functions of the portable terminal. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pair of first rail holes  35 , into which the guide protrusions  44  of the double sliding member  40  are inserted, are formed in the sliding housing  30  to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the first sliding direction A 1 , to allow the sliding housing  30  to stably move in the first sliding direction A 1  with the guide protrusions  44  sliding within the first rail holes  35 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the first rail holes  35  have predetermined lengths for limiting the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the first sliding direction A 1 . 
     Herein, the sliding housing  30  can be returned to its initial position as shown in  FIG. 1  by slidably displacing the sliding housing  30  allowing the sliding housing  30  to substantially overlap the main housing  20 . 
     In this state, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , if a user wishes to use various functions of the portable terminal, such as games, the user slidably moves the sliding housing  30  in the second sliding direction A 2  displacing the sliding housing  30  laterally away from the main housing  20 . 
     Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the double sliding member  40  accommodated in the first region  21  is slidably moved laterally across the main housing  20  together with the sliding housing  30  along the guide groove  25  formed in the first region  21 , in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     At this time, as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , the sliding housing  30  is aligned in a plane parallel to the main housing  20  so that the first and second regions  21  and  22  formed on the upper surface of the main housing  20  are exposed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , since the guide groove  25  is formed at upper and lower ends of the first region  21  of the main housing  20  with first and second stepped guide portions  23  and  24  extending laterally along the main housing  20  with respect to the longitudinal axis and having predetermined heights, upper and lower ends of the body  41  of the double sliding member  40  are guided by the first and second stepped guide portions  23  and  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the pair of second rail holes  43  are formed in the body  41  in a lateral direction of the main housing  20 . The second rail holes  43  are coupled with guide protrusions  28  of the main housing  20  provided in the first region  21  so as to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing  30  in the second sliding direction A 2 . Thus, the guide protrusions  28  of the main housing  20  move within the second rail holes  43  of the double sliding member  40  when the double sliding member  40  moves the sliding housing  30  in the second sliding direction A 2 . The second rail holes  43  have predetermined lengths for limiting the movement of the sliding housing  30  in the second sliding direction A 2 . 
     At this time, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the first and second regions  21  and  22  of the main housing  20  are exposed together with the first and second key arrays  26  and  27  provided thereon, respectively. 
     As mentioned above, the number of keys  26   a  of the first key array  26  is preferably greater than the number of keys  27   a  of the second key array  27 , so that the user can conveniently perform use various functions and games by utilizing various keys provided in the portable terminal. That is, the user can operate the keys  26   a  and  27   a  provided in the first and second regions  21  and  22  with both hands. 
     As mentioned above, the sliding housing  30  has provided at the upper surface thereof with the first speaker unit  32  and the large-sized liquid crystal display unit  31  aligned adjacent to the first speaker unit  32 . In addition, the third key array  33  having a plurality of keys  34  is aligned adjacent to the large-sized liquid crystal display unit  31 . The third key array  33  is aligned on the upper surface of the sliding housing  30  to allow the third key array  33  to always be exposed. 
     Herein, the sliding housing  30  can be returned to its initial position as shown in  FIG. 1  by slidably moving the sliding housing  30  in the second sliding direction A 2  to allow the sliding housing  30  to substantially overlap the main housing  20 . 
     As described above, the sliding housing of the portable terminal can be displaced from the main housing in the first and second sliding directions to allow the sliding housing to become aligned in parallel to the main housing, making it possible to fabricate a slim portable terminal having a relatively large usable area. Accordingly, a plurality of keys and a large-sized liquid crystal display unit can be provided in the portable terminal, so the user can conveniently operate the keys with both hands when performing functions or playing games. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the present invention may be adaptable for various portable terminals.