MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL

A mobile communication terminal includes a case to house at least one component of the mobile communication terminal, an antenna having a power supply terminal and a first radiation pattern part, and a terminal insertion slot disposed in a portion of the case, in which a first portion of the first radiation pattern part extends from the power supply terminal towards a first end portion of the case, and a second portion of the first radiation pattern part extends from the first portion of the first radiation pattern part towards a second end portion of the case, and a plane of the second end portion of the case crosses a plane of the first end portion of the case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. does not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The use of the terms “first”, “second”, and the like does not imply any particular order, but they are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Although some features may be described with respect to individual exemplary embodiments, aspects need not be limited thereto such that features from one or more exemplary embodiments may be combinable with other features from one or more exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 1is a front view illustrating a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication terminal viewed from a lower end of a rear side according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 4is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ofFIG. 1according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5is a perspective view illustrating an antenna of a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 1,FIG. 2,FIG. 3,FIG. 4andFIG. 5, a mobile communication terminal100includes a case110and an antenna120. The case100may accommodate and protect various components included therein, such as a display module130and a circuit board140. Further, although not illustrated in the figures, a mobile communication terminal may include other various hardware components, such as one or more processors, a memory, a camera, and the like. Also, although described herein as a mobile communication terminal, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the mobile communication terminal may be a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and the like.

The case110is configured to expose a screen131of the display module130through a front panel. Since a user may use the mobile communication terminal100while viewing the screen131from the front of the screen131, the front panel of the case110may refer to a part facing the same direction as the screen131. More specifically, the front panel of the case110may be disposed on a first or top surface of the mobile communication terminal100.

A rear panel of the case110may refer to a part positioned on a surface opposite of the front panel of the case110. More specifically, the rear panel of the case110may be disposed on a second or bottom surface of the mobile communication terminal100. A receiver101to deliver a speaker's voice to a user of the mobile communication terminal100may be disposed on an upper portion of the case110. An upper end portion of the case110may be referred to as an edge area within a reference distance to the receiver101and a lower end portion of the case110may be referred to as an edge area positioned opposite of the upper end portion of the case110. Further, the upper end portion of the case110and/or the lower end portion of the case110may be shorter in length than a side portion of the case110. According to aspects of the invention, the mobile communication terminal100extends in a direction parallel to the side portions of the case110. Further, the upper end portion and the lower end portion may extend in a direction normal or perpendicular to a direction in which the mobile communication terminal100extends.

Referring toFIG. 2, the case110may include a rear case111and a front case112. The rear case111may be configured to have an opening. More specifically, the rear panel of the rear case111includes a through-hole to accommodate a battery102. The battery102may be detachable. The front case112is disposed in front of the rear case111when a user faces the screen131of the mobile communication terminal100. The front case112may be configured, such that a central region of the front panel is opened. The display module130may be accommodated or disposed in the front case112through a front panel opening of the front case112while the screen131faces the front side. Front side may refer to a side the user may view the screen131of the mobile communication terminal100.

The screen131may be protected by a glass plate151disposed to cover the screen131in the front of the front case112. A bezel113may be provided around the circumference of the front case112. The bezel113may fix an edge portion of the glass plate151to the front case112and may fix the front case112to the rear case111. A battery case114may be detachably attached in the rear panel of the rear case111.

The display module130may be configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) module or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) module. A touch window103may be attached on the screen131of the display module130. The touch window103may be attached by lamination on the glass substrate151. A button part (not illustrated) for a command input may be provided in a lower area of the screen131of the display module130or a lower area of the screen131.

A circuit board140may be accommodated between the rear case111and the front case112. Further, the circuit board140may be disposed in the rear side of the display module130. The circuit board140may include a controller to control the overall mobile communication terminal100. The controller may include an antenna signal processing unit to process a signal transmitted or received through the antenna120.

A power supply unit may be provided in the circuit board140to apply an electrical signal to the antenna120. A ground may be provided in the circuit board140to ground the antenna120. In addition, a terminal connector141may be provided in the circuit board140to connect with an external connection terminal10.

A terminal insertion slot115into which the external connection terminal10is inserted is configured in the lower end portion of the case110. For example, the terminal insertion slot115may be configured to penetrate the central portion of the lower end portion of the rear case111or case110. However, aspects of the invention may not be limited thereto, such that the insertion slot115may be configured at different locations along the case of the mobile communication terminal100. The central portion of the lower end portion of the case110may refer to a position at which a distance between the terminal insertion slot115and a left side position of the case110, and a distance between the terminal insertion slot115and a right side position of the case110are approximately similar or the same. In an example, a left side and a right side of the lower end portion of the case110may be symmetrically configured with respect to the terminal insertion slot115. The terminal insertion slot115may allow the external connection terminal10to be inserted therein to connect to the terminal connector141of the circuit board140. The external connection terminal10may be, for example, a USB terminal for charging or data communication.

The antenna120may be disposed in the lower area or portion of the case110. However, aspects of the invention are not limited thereto, such that the antenna120may be disposed in the upper area, a side area, or a central area of the case110. The lower area of the case110may refer to an area that is positioned to be lower than the battery102. More specifically, the antenna120may be disposed along or towards an edge portion of the lower area of the case110. The antenna120includes a power supply terminal121and a first radiation pattern part122. The power supply terminal121may be connected to the power supply unit of the circuit board140, which may apply electrical signals. The power supply terminal121may be disposed, without limitation, in one side of the case110with respect to the terminal insertion slot115is disposed. For example, the power supply terminal121may be disposed in one side of the end of the case110in which the terminal insertion slot115is disposed. Referring toFIG. 3, the power supply terminal121is shown to be disposed on the left side of the lower area of the case110. However, aspects of the invention are not limited thereto, such that the power supply terminal121may be disposed on the left side of other areas of the case110or the right side of the case110.

The lower area of the case110may be divided into a left side and a right side with respect to the terminal insertion slot115or a central region of the case110. A first side of the case110may referred to as one of the left or right sides of the lower area of the case110. A second side of the case110may refer to as the other of the left and right sides of the lower area of the case110.

For example, the power supply terminal121may be disposed in a left or right side with respect to the rear panel of the case110. However, aspects of the invention are not limited thereto, such that the power supply terminal121may be disposed at different areas or locations with respect to case110. A portion of the power supply terminal121other than portions connected with the power supply unit of the circuit board140may be disposed in, for example, the rear case111or case110, so as not to be exposed. The power supply terminal121may be disposed on an inner surface of the rear case111or case110.

When the electrical signal is applied through the power supply terminal121, a first radiation pattern part122connected to the power supply terminal121may transmit and/or receive electromagnetic waves by resonating at a first reference frequency band. The first radiation pattern part122may extend from a portion of the case110in which the terminal insertion slot115is disposed toward an edge portion of the case110. As shown inFIG. 3, the first radiation pattern part122may extend from one side of the end of the case110in which the terminal insertion slot115is disposed towards another side of the same end of the case110. For example, the first radiation pattern part122may extend from one side or portion of the case110toward another side or portion of the terminal insertion slot115with respect to the terminal insertion slot115by crossing through a central region of the case at a lower end portion of the case110. If the power supply terminal121is disposed in a left side or portion of the case110, the first radiation pattern part122may extend from a left side or portion of the case110toward a right side or portion of the terminal insertion slot155by crossing through a central region of the case at the lower end portion of the case110.

The first radiation pattern part122may be configured to cross through or over at least a reference portion, such as a central, a left, or a right portion, of the lower end portion of the case110. As shown inFIG. 3, the first radiation pattern part122may be configured to be disposed in a gap or an area between the terminal insertion slot115and the front panel or a surface panel of the case110along a lower end portion of the case110. More specifically, a first portion122aof the first radiation pattern part122may extend from the power supply terminal121toward the lower end portion of the case110. Further, a second portion122bof the first radiation pattern part122may further extend from the first portion122atowards a side portion of the case110, such as a right side portion, as illustrated inFIG. 5to provide for an L shape figure. More specifically, the second portion122bof the first radiation pattern part122extends along a lower end edge or portion of the case110towards the side portion of the case110and crosses through or over a central region of the case110or the terminal insertion slot115. Further, the first radiation pattern part122may be configured as a strip type and disposed in the case110not to be exposed to external elements. The first radiation pattern part122may be disposed in an inner surface of the rear case111or case110. The first radiation pattern part122may be made of a metal material.

A third portion122cof the first radiation pattern part122may be configured to further extend from the first portion122aof the first radiation pattern part122, which may be a portion extending towards the lower end portion of the rear case111or case110, towards an opposite side portion of the case110, such as a left side portion of the case110or an opposite side of the terminal insertion slot115. A fourth portion122dof the first radiation pattern part122may be configured to extend from the third portion122cof the first radiation pattern part122towards upper end portion of case110, such that the first radiation pattern part122is configured to have an inverted-F shape. The first radiation pattern part122may have a variety of shapes, which may include, without limitation, a meander shape, a loop shape, a wire shape, and other shapes that resonate at a reference frequency band. A ground terminal part123, which may be configured to ground the first radiation pattern part122in the circuit board140, may be disposed in the antenna120.

Further, since the first radiation pattern part122of the antenna120has a shape that extends from one side or portion of the terminal toward another side of the terminal by crossing through or over a central region of the terminal or the vicinity of the terminal insertion slot115, it may be possible to deploy the antenna120while securing performance of the antenna120.

More specifically, due to a configuration of the mobile communication terminal100with a larger screen while maintaining portability, in a structure having a limited space for deploying the antenna120in the case110, even when the terminal insertion slot115is disposed in the central portion of the lower end portion of the case110, the first radiation pattern part122may extend to cross through or over the terminal insertion slot115, such that both sides portions divided by the terminal insertion slot115area or a central region may be utilized. Accordingly, a degree of freedom of the antenna120design may be increased. For example, if the first radiation pattern part122is to support a high frequency band, since the first radiation pattern part122has a shape that extends across lower end portion of the case110, it may be possible to design an antenna or a radiation pattern part with a length sufficient to support the high frequency band.

In addition, the first radiation pattern part122may be disposed to be separated above a reference distance or proximity from electronic components in the circuit board140, which may influence transmission and reception of the antenna120. Compared to an operating environment in which the external connection terminal10may not be used in the mobile communication terminal100, a property value of the antenna120may deviate from a normal value in an environment in which the external connection terminal10is used. According to aspects of the invention, such deviation may be reduced. Therefore, the first radiation pattern part122may implement a pattern, such that deviation may be quantified to be corrected as a property value of the antenna120in a general environment. As a result, a pattern design of the antenna120capable of maintaining performance of the antenna120according to inclusion of the external connection terminal10may be possible.

Meanwhile, the antenna120may further include a second radiation pattern part124. As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 5, the second radiation pattern part124is connected with the power supply terminal121. The second radiation pattern part124may be configured to resonate at a frequency band different from that of the first radiation pattern part122, which may be disposed at a different side or portion of the terminal from the second radiation pattern part124. Since the antenna120includes the second radiation pattern part124, the antenna120may support multi-band transmission and reception.

The first radiation pattern part122may be configured to resonate at a low frequency band, for example, a band of 700 megahertz (MHz) to 960 MHz. The first radiation pattern part122capable of resonating at a low frequency band may support, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE) 700 MHz, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) 850 MHz, and GSM 900 MHz. The second radiation pattern part124may be configured to resonate at a high frequency band, for example, a band of 1700 MHz to 2100 MHz. The second radiation pattern part124capable of resonating at a high frequency band may support, for example, Digital Cellular Mobile Communication Service (DCS) 1.8 gigahertz (GHz), Personal Communication Service (PCS) 1.9 GHz, and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) 2.1 GHz.

According to aspects of the invention, lengths of the first radiation pattern part122and the second radiation pattern part124may be inversely proportional to a size of signal frequency and may be proportional to a length of signal wave. For example, the length of the second radiation pattern part124supporting high frequency band may be shorter than the length of the first radiation pattern part122supporting a lower frequency band.

The second radiation pattern part124may have a variety of shapes that support the high frequency band. For example, a first portion124aof the second radiation pattern part124may extend towards the lower end portion of the case110from the power supply terminal121, and a second portion124bof the second radiation pattern part124may extend from the first portion124atowards a side portion of the case, such as a left side portion, away from the first radiation pattern part122. More specifically, the second portion124bof the second radiation part124extend along a lower end edge or portion of the case110and towards a side edge or portion of the case110away from the terminal insertion slot115or central region of the case110. The second radiation pattern part124may be configured as a strip type and disposed in the rear case111or case110not to be exposed. The second radiation pattern part124may be configured in an inner surface of the rear case111or case110. The second radiation pattern part124may be made of a metal material.

FIG. 6is a perspective view illustrating an antenna of a mobile communication terminal formed in an antenna support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the antenna120may be disposed in an antenna support160. For example, the antenna120may be integrated in the antenna support160by insert injection. More specifically, after the antenna120is molded, by injection molding the antenna support160while the molded antenna120is inserted into the injection mold, the antenna120may be integrated or encased in the antenna support160. As another example, after the antenna support160is firstly molded, the antenna120may be patterned in the molded antenna support160with a method of, for example, printing and deposition.

FIG. 7is a perspective view illustrating a form in which an antenna support is integrated in a rear case of a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 7, an antenna support may be integrated in a case of the mobile communication terminal, for example, in or under the rear case111or case110. Further, the antenna support160may be integrated in the rear case111or case110by injection molding the rear case111or case110while the antenna support160having the antenna120disposed thereon is inserted into the injection mold.

If the antenna support160is integrated in the rear case111or case110, the first radiation pattern part122and the second radiation pattern part124of the antenna120may be disposed in the rear case111or case110. More specifically, the first radiation pattern part122and the second radiation pattern part124of the antenna120may be disposed in the rear case111or case110by molding. Therefore, a space for deploying or accommodating the antenna120in the case110may be reduced so that space utilization of the case120may be increased and a slim design of the mobile communication terminal100may be maintained.

In the antenna support160, a reinforcing molding part161may be molded in a portion corresponding to the terminal insertion slot115to maintain strength while molding. After the antenna support160is integrated in the rear case111or case110, the reinforcing molding part161may be removed from the antenna support160by, for example, mechanical processing. Furthermore, since a plurality of protrusions may be configured on a surface of the antenna support160, the antenna support160may be integrated in the rear case111or case110after insert injection of the antenna support160. As another example, the antenna support160may also be attached to the rear case111or case110.

According to aspects of the invention, in a structure having a limited space for deploying or accommodating an antenna in a terminal case, even when a terminal insertion slot may be disposed in a central region of a lower end portion of a case of a mobile communication terminal, a radiation pattern part may extend to penetrate the vicinity of a terminal insertion slot such that both sides of the terminal insertion slot area may be connectively utilized.

In addition, since the radiation pattern part of the antenna may be disposed to be separated beyond a reference distance or proximity from electronic components in a circuit board, which may influence transmission and/or reception of the antenna, the pattern may be corrigibly implemented, such that a property value of the antenna deviating from a normal value may be reduced in an environment in which the external connection terminal is used in the terminal. Accordingly, it may be possible to increase a degree of freedom of an antenna design while securing performance of the antenna.