Communication terminal having bone conduction function

The present invention relates to a communication terminal having a bone conduction function. To this end, the present invention provides a communication terminal having a bone conduction function equipped with a bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker (300) for converting a sound signal (electric signal) into a vibration, so as to enable sound reception from the entire front surface of the communication terminal when the communication terminal closely contacts the face, and having at least one thereof attached to the rear surface of an inner liquid crystal screen (401) or liquid crystal panel (402) of the communication terminal (example: smartphone, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Phone, cellular phone, PDA, MP3, iPhone, iPad, walkie-talkie, et cetera) (400). Also, provided is a communication terminal having a bone conduction function, comprising a bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone (200) having at least one thereof attached to the inner top section of the communication terminal (example: smartphone, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Phone, cellular phone, PDA, MP3, iPhone, iPad, walkie-talkie, et cetera) (400), for enabling transmission/reception of the voice of a person on the phone regardless of the surrounding noise using a bone conduction microphone function when the communication terminal closely contacts the face, and for converting minute vibrations into a sound signal (electric signal).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is the U.S. national state application of International Application PCT/KR2011/005308, file Jul. 19, 2011, which international application was published on Aug. 9, 2012, as International Publication WO2012/105735. The international application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0010278, filed on Feb. 1, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a communication terminal having a bone conduction function, and more particularly, to a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can form an entire front surface of the terminal into a screen window by removing a receiver hole (speaker) provided at the front surface of a conventional communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a personal digital, assistant (PDA), a moving picture experts group layer-3 (MP3), an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set) and that can receive sound at the entire front surface of the terminal by attaching a vibrator to a liquid crystal screen or a front panel of the terminal and that can receive sound of high sensitivity with a bone conduction function when close contacting with the terminal with an ear or a peripheral portion of an ear of a face and that can transmit only a communicating person's voice regardless of peripheral noise, thereby providing a good image to a consumer by greatly improving a quality and reliability of a product.

BACKGROUND ART

As shown inFIG. 1, in a conventional mobile communication terminal1, at a position of an upper portion of the mobile communication terminal1contacting with a user's ear, a speaker unit10is formed, and at a position of a lower portion of the mobile communication terminal1adjacent to the user's mouth, a microphone40is formed, and at a front surface thereof, a liquid crystal display (LCD)20as a display unit that outputs a driving state of the mobile communication terminal1and a keypad30for inputting the user's control command are generally disposed.

In the above-described configuration, the speaker unit10is shown inFIG. 2, and the speaker unit10includes a speaker11, an external frame12for supporting and protecting the speaker, and a decoration portion13formed in a shape such as a convex circular arc shape using a material such as a steel material having luster in a central portion of the external frame for decoration. A controller2of the mobile communication terminal1formed with a micro controller unit (MCU) or a mobile station modem (MSM) outputs an audio signal received by an RF signal through a vcoder and a digital analog converter (DAC) or an audio signal by reproduction of a multimedia file, and the speaker11is vibrated by receiving an input of an audio signal in which the controller2outputs and operates to output a sound signal.

However, as described above, in the conventional mobile communication terminal1, because a user can adjust a magnitude of a output sound volume of the speaker, but even when the output sound volume of the speaker is set to be small, another party may still hear output sound of the speaker and thus there is a problem that the user's private life is not protected.

Further, the conventional mobile communication terminal has a problem that the user cannot appropriately recognize another party's voice or audio sound of reproduced multimedia due to interference by noise at a location having serious noise.

As conventional art for solving the above problem, Korean Patent No. 0687265 (Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0050222) (title: A mobile communication terminal having a bone conduction speaker and the operating method thereof) is disclosed.

That is, as shown inFIGS. 3,4, and5, in the conventional art, at a position of an upper portion of a mobile communication terminal100contacting with the user's ear, an audio speaker unit110is formed, and at a position of a lower portion of the mobile communication terminal100adjacent to the user's mouth, a microphone140is formed, and at a front surface thereof, an LCD120as a display unit for outputting a driving state of the mobile communication terminal100and a keypad130for inputting a user control command are disposed, and at an adjacent position of the audio speaker unit110, a bone conduction speaker unit150is provided.

The mobile communication terminal100includes a controller101including an MSM or an MCU for outputting a switching unit control signal that controls voice and data communication by the mobile communication terminal and that outputs an audio signal and that selectively drives the audio speaker unit110and the bone conduction speaker unit150. In an audio signal output terminal of the controller101, a switching unit160for outputting an audio signal by selecting the audio speaker unit110and the bone conduction speaker unit150is provided, and the controller101and the switching unit160have a structure that connects an audio signal line102for outputting an audio signal and a switching unit control signal line103for outputting a switching signal to the switching unit160. The switching unit160includes an audio speaker terminal161and a bone conduction speaker terminal162and is switched according to a switching signal of the controller101to selectively output an audio signal to the audio speaker unit110or the bone conduction speaker unit150. A speaker111of the audio speaker unit110is connected to the audio speaker terminal161of the switching unit160, and the bone conduction speaker unit150is connected to the bone conduction speaker terminal162of the switching unit160. Here, the above-described bone conduction speaker unit150transfers a vibration of a bone of a side surface of the user's face to a cochlea of a screw shape positioned at the inside of an eardrum instead of directly inserting into the user's ear and thus the user can recognize sound.

Next, the audio speaker unit110includes a speaker111and an external frame112having a hollow portion and mounted at a front surface of the speaker unit110to protect the speaker111, and in the hollow portion of the external frame112, a pressing button113is supported by a spring114, and in a lower end portion of the pressing button113, when the pressing button113is pressed, a ground switch115that outputs a ground signal to the controller101is provided. One end of the ground switch115is grounded, and the other end thereof has a structure connected to the controller101to be parallel to a reference voltage source VCC. The above-described spring114may be replaced with an elastic member of various forms and materials that can provide an elastic force to the pressing button113.

In the mobile communication terminal100having the above-described bone conduction speaker, a method of driving a mobile communication terminal by a selective operation of the audio speaker unit110and the bone conduction speaker unit150will be described as follows.

First, in a general state, the switching unit160of the mobile communication terminal100maintains a state in which an audio signal is input to the audio speaker unit110(S10). Thereafter, the controller101determines whether the pressing button113is pressed (S20). By enabling the user to contact the audio speaker unit110with a periphery of an ear or a jaw, if the pressing button113is pressed, the ground switch115is switched to be grounded and thus a low signal is output to the controller101. When the controller101senses pressing of the pressing button113by a low signal, the controller101outputs a switching control signal that enables the switching unit160to be switched to the bone conduction speaker unit150through the switching signal line103. The switching unit160, having received an input of the switching control signal is switched to input an audio signal input through the audio signal line102to the bone conduction speaker unit150. Thereby, the user can hear an audio signal through a bone conduction speaker without an output of a sound signal, but another party cannot hear a sound signal and thus a private life of the user can be protected (S30). Thereafter, the controller101determines whether pressing of the pressing button113is released (S40). If pressing of the pressing button113is not released, by maintaining a present switching state to the bone conduction speaker unit150, after outputting audio through the bone conduction speaker unit150, the controller101determines whether pressing of the pressing button is released (S50). Alternatively, as the user separates the audio speaker unit110from a contact portion of a periphery of an ear or a jaw bone, the pressing button113is returned to an original position by the spring114and thus if pressing of the pressing button113is released at step S40, a ground switch is separated from the ground and thus a high signal is input again to the controller101by the reference voltage source VCC. The controller101, having received an input of a high signal again outputs a switching control signal for switching to the audio speaker unit110to the switching unit160and thus the switching unit160is switched and is operated to output an audio signal to the audio speaker unit110. In the above-described processing process, if the pressing button113is pressed at step S20, when an audio signal is output by communication or reproduction of a multimedia file, if the user contacts the audio speaker unit110with the ear so that the pressing button113is not pressed, the switching unit160maintains a state that outputs an audio signal to the audio speaker unit110(S60).

The conventional art relates to a mobile communication terminal including a bone conduction speaker and an audio speaker and including the bone conduction speaker that outputs an audio signal through the bone conduction speaker when a speaker is positioned at a position other than the ear by sensing the user's speaker contact position and a method of driving the same.

However, the conventional art has the following many problems.

That is, at the conventional art, at a front surface of the terminal, because a receiver hole (speaker unit) is provided, there is a large problem that cannot form an entire front surface of the terminal into a screen window.

Further, in the conventional art, because a vibrator does not attach to a liquid crystal screen or a front panel of the terminal, there is a large problem that an entire front surface of the terminal cannot receive sound.

Further, the conventional art has a problem that sound can be received only when close contacting a speaker portion with the ear, i.e., a problem that sound of high sensitivity cannot be received with a bone conduction function when close contacting the terminal with the ear or a periphery portion of the ear of the face.

Particularly, the conventional art has a problem that peripheral noise is together transferred while communicating, i.e., a large problem that only a communicating person's voice cannot be transmitted regardless of peripheral noise.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a first object of providing a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can include at least one bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker attached to an inner liquid crystal panel or a rear surface of a liquid crystal screen of the communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set) and at least one bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone attached to an upper end portion of the inside of the communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set), a second object of providing a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can form an entire front surface of the terminal into a screen window and can enable various new designs by enlarging receiver hole space to a liquid crystal screen by removing a receiver hole (speaker) provided at the front surface of the conventional communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set), a third object of providing a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can improve a waterproof effect because the receiver hole (speaker) can be removed, a fourth object of providing a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can receive sound at the entire front surface of the terminal by attaching a vibrator to a liquid crystal screen or a front panel of the terminal, a fifth object of providing a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can receive sound of high sensitivity with a bone conduction function when close contacting with the terminal with an ear or a peripheral portion of an ear of a face, a sixth object of providing a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can transmit only a communicating person's voice regardless of peripheral noise, and a seventh object of providing a communication terminal having a bone conduction function that can provide a good image to a consumer by greatly improving a quality and reliability of a product.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal having a bone conduction function having at least one bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker attached to an inner liquid crystal panel or a rear surface of a liquid crystal screen of the communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set) and for converting a sound signal (electrical signal) to a vibration so as to receive sound at an entire front surface of the communication terminal when close contacting the communication terminal with a face.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal having a bone conduction function having at least one bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone attached to an upper end portion of the inside of the communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set) and for converting a micro vibration to a sound signal (electrical signal) so as to transmit only a communicating person's voice regardless of peripheral noise with a bone conduction microphone function when close contacting the communication terminal with a face.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, a communication terminal of the present invention includes at least one bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker attached to an inner liquid crystal panel or a rear surface of a liquid crystal screen of the communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set) and at least one bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone attached to an upper end portion of the inside of the communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set).

By removing a receiver hole (speaker) provided at a front surface of a conventional communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set), the communication terminal according to the present invention having the above configuration can enlarge receiver hole space to a liquid crystal screen and can thus form an entire front surface of the terminal into a screen window.

Because the receiver hole (speaker) can be removed, a waterproof effect can be improved.

Particularly, by attaching a vibrator to a liquid crystal screen or a front panel, of the terminal, an entire front surface of the terminal can receive sound.

Further, when close contacting a terminal with an ear or a peripheral portion of an ear of a face, sound of high sensitivity can be received with a bone conduction function.

Further, only a communicating person's voice can be transmitted regardless of peripheral noise.

By greatly improving a quality and reliability of a product due to the above effect, the present invention can provide a good image and various convenience to a consumer.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A communication terminal having a bone conduction function applied to the present invention may be formed, as shown inFIGS. 6 to 13.

Further, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

The following terms are set in consideration of a function in the present invention and may be changed according to a producer's intention or custom and thus a definition thereof is made based on entire contents of this specification.

First, as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, a communication terminal of the present invention includes at least one bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300attached to an inner liquid crystal screen401or a rear surface of a liquid crystal panel402of the communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set)400and for converting a sound signal (electrical signal) to a vibration so as to receive sound at an entire front surface of the communication terminal when close contacting the communication terminal400with a face and is formed in a compact square or rectangular form.

In this case, a detailed configuration of the bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300is formed, as shown inFIGS. 6,7,8.

That is, a top cover310is attached to the liquid crystal screen401or the liquid crystal panel402and has a hole311at the center.

Further, at one end of the top cover310, vibration spiders (damper)315a,315b, and315care assembled and have a vibration hole317to respond to a micro vibration by bone conduction at the outside about a hole316of the center.

The vibration spiders (damper)315a,315b, and315cmay be formed in various shapes, as shown inFIG. 7.

At one end of the vibration spiders (damper)315a,315b, and315c, a yoke320is assembled and installed.

Further, at one end of the yoke320, a magnet325is assembled and has a hole326at the center.

Further, at one end of the magnet325, a voice coil330is assembly and installed.

At one end of the voice coil330, a bottom cover340is assembled and has a protrusion341protruded to an upper portion.

Further, at one end of the bottom cover340, a PCB335is assembled and has a hole336at the center.

At one end of the PCB335, a frame345is assembled and has a hole346at the center.

Finally, at one end of the frame345, a rubber cover350is provided, and at one side of the rubber cover350, a hole351is formed, and when using a bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker, the rubber cover350absorbs a vibration emitted to the outside from a rear surface of the vibrator, and when using a vibration no-noise microphone, the rubber cover350blocks vibration transfer noise that enters from the outside.

Particularly, it is preferable that the voice coil330applied to the present invention is formed by winding a coil of 0.06 to 1.0 mm in a structure of 4 to 6 layers.

Further, it is preferable that the voice coil330is formed with a low impedance coil of 4 to 16Ω.

As shown inFIG. 13, a communication terminal of the present invention includes at least one bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200attached to an upper end portion of the inside of the communication terminal (e.g., a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, and an iPad)400and for converting a micro vibration to a sound signal (electrical signal) so as to transmit only a communicating person's voice regardless of peripheral noise with a bone conduction no-vibration microphone function when close contacting the communication terminal400with a face and is formed in a compact square or rectangular form.

In this case, a detailed configuration of the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200is formed, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12.

That is, a top cover210is attached to an upper end portion of the inside of the communication terminal400and has a hole211at the center.

Further, at one end of the top cover210, a first inside cushion201is assembled, has a hole202at the center, and performs a buffer function of an external signal.

A vibration spider (damper)215is assembled at one end of the inside cushion201to perform a buffer function of a large external signal and has a vibration hole217formed to respond to a micro vibration by bone conduction at the outside about a central hole216of the center.

Further, at one end of the vibration spider (damper)215, a yoke220is assembled and installed.

At one end of the yoke220, a magnet225is assembled and has a hole226at the center.

Further, at one end of the magnet225, a voice coil230is assembled and installed.

At one end of the voice coil330, a second inside cushion203is assembled and performs a buffer function of a large external signal using the second inside cushion203having a hole at the center.

Further, at one end of the second inside cushion203, a PCB235is assembled and has a hole236at the center.

At one end of and the PCB235, a bottom cover240is assembled and has a protrusion241protruded to an upper portion.

Further, a frame245is assembled at one end of the bottom cover240and has a hole246at the center.

Finally, a rubber cover250is provided at one end of the frame245, has a hole251at one side, absorbs a vibration emitted to the outside from a rear surface of a vibrator when using a bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker, and blocks vibration transfer noise that enters from the outside when using a vibration no-noise microphone.

Particularly, it is preferable that the voice coil230applied to the present invention is formed by winding a coil of 0.02 to 0.06 mm in a structure of 8 to 10 layers.

It is preferable that the voice coil230is formed with a high impedance coil of 150 to 200Ω.

When applying the configuration of the present invention, the configuration may be variously changed and have various forms.

An operation and function of a communication terminal having a bone conduction function according to the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described.

In the present invention, by removing a receiver hole (speaker) provided at a front surface of a conventional communication terminal (e.g., a smart phone, a Galaxy Tab, a Galaxy Phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, an MP3, an iPhone, an iPad, and a wireless set), an entire front surface of the terminal can be formed in a screen window, and particularly, by attaching a vibrator to a liquid crystal screen or a front panel of the terminal, the entire front surface of the terminal can receive sound, and when close contacting the terminal with an ear or a peripheral portion of an ear of a face, the terminal can receive sound of high sensitivity with a bone conduction function and can transmit only a communicating person's voice regardless of peripheral noise.

For this purpose, when sequentially coupling parts shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300applied to the present invention is assembled as shown inFIG. 8, and by forming a existing circular shape in a quadrangular shape, the bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300can be formed in a compact structure, and when inserting into a groove without a jig, the bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300can be simply assembled and installed and thus productivity can be improved.

As shown inFIG. 9, when attaching and using the bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300assembled as described above to a rear surface of the liquid crystal screen401of the communication terminal400, a receiving receiver positioned at an upper end portion of the mobile phone can be removed, and thus by enlarging space of a receiving receiver to a liquid crystal screen, a screen larger than a present screen can be formed and used.

As shown inFIG. 10, when attaching and using the bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300to a rear surface of liquid crystal panel402of the communication terminal400, a conventional receiver hole for transferring sound can be removed and thus a waterproof effect can be improved.

Particularly, the present invention is used by attaching the bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker300to the liquid crystal screen401or the liquid crystal panel402of the communication terminal400, a front surface entire of the communication terminal400can receive sound (air conduction), and when close contacting the communication terminal400with a face, the present invention can receive sound with a bone conduction function.

Further, it is preferable that the voice coil330applied to the present invention is formed by winding a coil of 0.06 to 1.0 mm in a structure of 4 to 6 layers.

That is, when the coil is 0.06 mm or less, the coil is so thin and may be thus cut, and when the coil is 1.0 mm or more, there is a problem that a sound signal is deteriorated.

When the coil is formed in 4 layers or less, an insecure electrical signal occurs, and when the coil is formed in 6 layers or more, a cost increases, and thus it is preferable that the voice coil330is formed by winding a coil of 0.06 to 1.0 mm in a structure of 4 to 6 layers.

Further, it is preferable that the voice coil330is formed with a low impedance coil of 4-16o, and when impedance is 4o or less, it is difficult to perform impedance matching with a driving amplifier, and when impedance is 16o or more, a high output driving amplifier is necessary and thus it is preferable that the voice coil330is formed with a low impedance coil of 4-16o.

Further, it is preferable that the voice coil330is formed with a low impedance coil of 4 to 16Ω, and when impedance is 4Ω or less, a current response is so slow, and when impedance is 16Ω or more, a current response is so fast and thus transmission is impossible, whereby it is preferable that the voice coil330is formed with a low impedance coil of 4 to 16Ω.

The bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200applied to the present invention is assembled as shown inFIG. 12by sequentially coupling parts shown inFIG. 11, and by forming an existing circular shape into a quadrangular shape, the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200may be formed in a compact structure, and when the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200is inserted into a groove without a jig, the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200can be simply assembled and installed and thus productivity can be improved.

As shown inFIG. 13, the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200assembled as described above is used by attaching to a rear surface of the liquid crystal screen401of the communication terminal400, and in a state in which the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200is attached to an upper end portion of the communication terminal400, when a communicating person communicates by close contacting this portion with a face, the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200can transmit only communicating person's voice regardless of peripheral noise with a bone conduction microphone function.

Particularly, it is preferable that the voice coil230applied to the bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone200applied to the present invention is formed by winding a coil of 0.02 to 0.06 mm in a structure of 8 to 10 layers.

That is, when the coil is 0.02 mm or less, the coil is so thin and may be thus cut, and when the coil is 0.06 mm or more, there is a problem that a sound signal is deteriorated.

When the coil is formed in 8 layers or less, an insecure electrical signal occurs, and when the coil is formed in 10 layers or more, a cost increases, and thus it is preferable that the voice coil230is formed by winding a coil of 0.02 to 0.06 mm in a structure of 8 to 10 layers.

Further, it is preferable that the voice coil230applied to the present invention is formed with a high impedance coil of 150-200o, and when impedance is 150o or less, an electromotive force (voltage) induced to a voice coil is slow, and when impedance is 200o or more, an induced electromotive force (voltage) is appropriate, but economic efficiency is largely deteriorated, and thus it is preferable that the voice coil230is formed with a high impedance coil of 150-200o.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A communication terminal having a bone conduction function according to the present invention can actually repeatedly obtain the same result, and the present invention promotes technical development and contributes to industrial development and thus has an enough value to protect.