Signal connecting apparatus for a folder type mobile terminal

A signal connecting apparatus of a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. A signal connecting apparatus comprises a plurality of connectors for providing reciprocal rotation to exchange signals between a main board of a first portion of the folder type mobile terminal, and a display portion of a second portion of the folder type mobile terminal, wherein the second portion is rotatably connected to open and close relative to the first portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2003-0094038 filed on Dec. 19, 2003, contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a signal connecting apparatus for a folder type mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a signal connecting apparatus capable of enhancing reliability for exchanging signals between a first portion rotatably connected with a second portion and having increased strength against an external impact or torsional force.

2. Description of the Related Art

A folder type mobile terminal has a folder portion rotatably mounted about a hinged portion with a body.

According to the conventional art, a main board inside the body is connected to an inner circuit board of the folder portion using a flexible printed circuit board to transmit a signal between the body and the folder portion.

The conventional folder type mobile terminal will be explained in more detail as follows with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1is a frontal view illustrating an opened state of a folder type mobile terminal in accordance with the conventional art.FIG. 2is a schematic view showing an inner structure of the folder type mobile terminal in accordance withFIG. 1.

A conventional folder type mobile terminal includes a body1and a folder portion2rotatably coupled to the body1centered about a hinged portion3.

The body1is provided with a keypad4for inputting information. The folder portion2is provided with a display portion5for displaying characters and/or images.

The display portion5of the folder portion2is connected to a printed circuit board6. The printed circuit board6disposed in the body1connects through a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)7to the display portion5. The FPCB7installation includes passing through the hinged portion3, and bends when the folder portion2, centered about the hinged portion3, is rotated.

The FPCB7includes, in this example, a copper wire having more than 4 layers and approximately 20 data lines. In yet another example, the display portion5may create 65,000 colors and form 8 to 16 data lines, or alternatively more than 2 data lines may be formed for increasing brightness of an image or providing additional signal driver capability.

When the FPCB is used as a signal transmission medium between the body and the folder portion, long data lines are created along the FPCB. The long data lines create, upon data transmission, a time difference due to capacitances within of the data lines. An operation is performed to prevent generating the time difference. The operation is not easy to perform reliably. The operation results in time delays and increased costs for a mobile terminal.

Upon the folder portion or the body being rotated, the FPCB generates torsional forces during flexing which may damage the FPCB resulting in severing a data line. The severed data line in the FPCB will result in the display portion5becoming white or not outputting an image.

A repair of the severed data line is extremely difficult resulting in a FPCB requiring replacement. The replacement cost for an FPCB may be high. However if the FPCB is not replaced, the terminal may have degraded efficiency.

Therefore, there is a need for a system that overcomes the above problems and provides advantages over other signal connecting apparatuses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprising a plurality of connectors for providing reciprocal rotation to exchange signals between a main board of a first portion of the folder type mobile terminal and a display portion of a second portion of the folder type mobile terminal, wherein the second portion is rotatably connected to open and close relative to the first portion.

The plurality of connectors preferably comprise a first connector electrically connected to the main board and installed on an inner circumferential surface of a connection part, a second connector electrically connected to the display portion and installed on the inner circumferential surface of the connection part, and a third connector installed between the first connector and the second connector passing through a central axis of the connection part for electrically connecting the first connector and the second connector.

The first connector preferably comprises a first base plate installed on an inner circumferential surface of the connection part electrically connected to the main board. The third connector preferably comprises a cylindrical portion installed along the central axis of the connection part, and third connector terminals protrude along an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion electrically connected to first connector terminals of the first connector and second connector terminals of the second connector for providing signal electrical conductivity.

The first connector further preferably comprises first connector terminals formed along a surface of the first base plate and electrically connected to the third connector. The first connector terminals may protrude towards the central axis of the connection part. The first connector terminals are formed within a specified interval along a longitudinal direction of the connection part.

The second connector preferably comprises a second base plate installed on an inner circumferential surface of the connection part electrically connected to the display portion.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

These and other embodiments will also become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiments disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to a signal connecting apparatus for a folder type mobile terminal.

Although the invention is illustrated with respect to a folder type mobile terminal, it is contemplated that the invention may be utilized anywhere it is desired for providing a signal connecting apparatus for transporting signals from one location to another location. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3is a schematic view illustrating an interior view of a folder type mobile terminal according to the present invention. The folder type mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention provides a first portion11having a main board16, and a second portion12having a display portion15and rotatably connected to the first portion11by a connection part13. In one exemplary example, the first portion is the body of the mobile terminal and the second portion is the folder portion of the mobile terminal. The signal connecting apparatus provides a plurality of connectors installed in the connection part13. The plurality of connectors may perform a reciprocal rotation while maintaining electrical connection to provide signal exchange between the main board16and the display portion15while the second portion12is opened and closed relative to the first portion11.

Construction of the signal connecting apparatus for electrically connecting the main board16of the first portion11and the display portion15of the second portion12will be explained below.

FIG. 4is a front view illustrating the signal connecting apparatus ofFIG. 3according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The signal connecting apparatus comprises a first connector20electrically connected to the main board16and installed on an inner circumferential surface of the connection part13, a second connector30electrically connected to the display portion15and installed on the inner circumferential surface of the connection part13, and a third connector40installed between the first connector20and the second connector30passing through a central axis of the connection part13for electrically connecting the-first connector20and the second connector30.

When the second portion12is opened or closed relative to the first portion11, the plurality of connectors20,30, and40are reciprocally rotated while maintaining electrically connectivity with the first portion11and the second portion12. A signal transmission is performed between the first portion11and the second portion12.

The first connector20provides a first base plate22installed on the inner circumferential surface of the connection part13, which is electrically connected to the main board16of the first portion11. First connector terminals25of the first connector20are electrically connected to the third connector40along a surface of the first base plate22.

The first connector terminals25protrude toward a central axis of the connection part13, and are formed along a longitudinal direction of the connection part13.

The second connector30provides a second base plate32installed on the inner circumferential surface of the connection part13for electrical connection to the display portion15of the second portion12. Second connector terminals35of the second connector30are electrically connected to the third connector40along a surface of the second base plate32.

The second connector terminals35protrude toward a central axis of the connection part13, and are formed within a specified interval along a longitudinal direction of the connection part13. The connection part13has a plurality of connection terminals along an outer circumstantial surface.

FIG. 5is a sectional view illustrating a first lateral view of the signal connecting apparatus ofFIGS. 3 and 4according to one embodiment of the present invention.

To electrically connect the first connector terminals25to the second connector terminals35, the third connector40is installed along the central axis of the connection part13. The third connector40provides a cylindrical portion41installed at the center of the connection part13in a direction of the central axis of the connection part13, and a plurality of connection terminals protrude along an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion41.

The cylindrical portion41of the third connector40firmly installs on the circumferential surface of the connection part13. The cylindrical portion41is preferably formed of metal not easily bent or the like.

The third connector40provides first connection terminals42to electrically connect to the first connector terminals25. The third connector40provides second connection terminals43to electrically connect to the second connector terminals35.

The first connection terminals42protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion41of the third connector40towards an inner circumferential surface of the connection part13, and are formed within a specified interval along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion41.

A lateral surface, a contact, of each of the first connection terminals42contacts with a lateral surface of each of the first connector terminals25. At least one of the first connection terminals42is positioned with the connection terminals25. A lateral surface of each of the first connection terminals42contacts a lateral surface of at least one first connector terminal25between connection terminals positioned along both sides of the first connection terminal42.

At least one of the second connection terminals43protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion41of the third connector40towards the inner circumferential surface of the connection part13, and are formed within a specified interval along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion41.

A lateral surface of at least one of the second connection terminals43connects with a lateral surface of at least one of the second connector terminals35. The second connection terminals43are positioned between the second connector terminals35of the second connector30. A lateral surface of at least one of the second connection terminals43connects with a lateral surface of one connection terminal of the second connector30between the connection terminals positioned along both sides of the second connection terminal43.

The first connection terminals42and the second connection terminals43form an alternating pattern along a longitudinal direction of a cylindrical portion of the third connector40.

When the first connector20, the second connector30, and the third connector40engage, terminal positions of each of these connectors includes the connection terminals25preferably rotating about the first connection terminals42, and the connection terminals35preferably rotating about the second connection terminals43.

A conductive circuit pattern50is formed along a surface of the cylindrical portion41of the third connector40to electrically connect a signal between the first connection terminals42and the second connection terminals43.

An insulating layer44, illustrated inFIG. 4, is formed along an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion41for reliably exchanging signals between the first connection terminals42and the second connection terminals43to prevent cross-wiring of, for example, electrical connections on the main board. The conductive circuit pattern50is preferably formed on the insulating layer44for maintaining data lines and power lines.

The conductive circuit pattern50is preferably formed after forming the first connection terminals42and the second connection terminals43. In another alternative, the first connection terminals42, the second connection terminals43, and the conductive circuit pattern50are fabricated as one unit.

A plurality of vias51are preferably formed on the conductive pattern50for obtaining additional data lines if predetermined data lines are not available.

The first and second base plates22and32of the first and second connectors20and30and the connector terminals25and35formed protrude in a circumferential direction of the connection part13within a specified length, and rotate along an outer circumferential surface of the third connector40. The first and second base plates22and32and the connection terminals25and35are preferably formed as a circular arc shape.

Each end of the first connection terminals42and the second connection terminals43protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion41to form a gap with the first and second base plates22and32. The first and second connection terminals42and43may perform a relative rotation while contacting the connection terminals of the first and second connectors20and30.

An installation position of the first and second base plates22and32of and a length of the connection terminals25and35along a circumferential direction of the connection part13may be modified by redesigning the connection part13.

When the second portion12is closed, an electric signal is continuously connected to components between the main board16of the first portion11and the display portion15of the second portion12electrically powered, and no electrical power is connected to other non-electrically powered components.

When the second portion12is opened, a maximum open angle between the second portion12and the first portion11, and a rotation range up to the opened angle have to be considered.

The main board16of the first connector20is electrically connected to the display portion15of the second connector30by connection members60and70. In another example, connection members60and70, a receptacle, a soft PCB, a hard PCB, etc. may be installed in accordance with installation of the connection part13.

The first connector20and the second connector30are affixed to an inner circumferential surface of the connection part13at a certain position, and the third connector40is rotated. The first connector20, the second connector30, and the third connector40perform a relative rotation. Upon a relative rotation among the first connector20, the second connector30, and the third connector40, a signal transmission is performed between the first portion11and the second portion12as the second portion12is opened and closed.

An installation position of the first connector20and the second connector30along an inner circumferential surface of the connection part, an installation method, and a rotation of the third connector40may be modified in accordance with designing the folder type mobile terminal and designing the connection part.

FIG. 6is a sectional view showing a second lateral view of the signal connecting apparatus of the mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A signal connecting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention provides a first connector200electrically connected to the main board16of the first portion11and installed along one side of an inner circumferential surface of the connection part13. A second connector300is electrically connected to the display portion15of the second portion12and installed at one side of the inner circumferential surface of the connection part13. A third connector400is installed between the first connector200and the second connector300along a central axis of the connection part13for electrically connecting the first connector200and the second connector300.

The connectors200,300, and400of the signal connecting apparatus perform a reciprocal rotation in a state of being electrically connected to one another as the first portion11and the second portion12are moved. A signal transmission is performed between the first portion11and the second portion12.

The first connector200comprises a body220having a circular arc shape installed along the inner circumferential surface of the connection part13, and a plurality of connection terminals250protruding towards the central axis of the connection part13at one side of the body220.

The second connector300comprises a body320of a circular arc shape to be installed at the inner circumferential surface of the connection part13, and a plurality of connection terminals350protruding towards the central axis of the connection part13on one side of the body320.

The third connector400comprises a body410having a circular arc shape installed along the central axis of the connection part13, a plurality of first connection terminals420formed at an outer circumferential surface of the body410and electrically connected to the connection terminals of the first connector200, and a plurality of second connection terminals430electrically connected to the connection terminals of the second connector300.

The first connection terminals420protrude along a circumferential direction of the body410of the third connector400with a certain length, and the second connection terminals430are protruded along a circumferential direction of the body410of the third connector400within a specified length.

A length of the first connection terminal420and the second connection terminal430may be modified according to a relative motion and an electrical connection state among each connector200,300, and400according to a design of the connection part13.

The length of the first connection terminal420and the second connection terminal430can be modified according to an angle formed between the second portion and the first portion, and an electrical connection state between the second portion and the first portion.

In the signal connecting apparatus of a folder type mobile terminal according to the present invention, a plurality of connectors are constructed in the connection part serve as a medium for signal transmission between the first portion and the second portion. The signal connecting apparatus of the present invention has a high endurance against destruction due to a fatigue from repetitive opening and closing of the second portion, and a higher reliability than conventional methods upon the connection part generating a torsion force.

In the present invention, because the length of the data line are short, a capacitance between the data lines is decreased, thereby, reducing a time delay of the data line when the signal connecting apparatus is operated.

Additionally, since components of the signal carrying apparatus may be mass-produced and the components have a simple design, the fabrication cost of the mobile terminal may be reduced. If the signal connecting apparatus breaks down due to a user's carelessness, the signal connecting apparatus may be easily repaired.

Although the present invention is described in the context of a mobile terminal, the present invention may also be used in any wired or wireless communication systems using mobile devices, such as PDAs and laptop computers equipped with wired and wireless communication capabilities. Moreover, the use of certain terms to describe the present invention should not limit the scope of the present invention to certain type of wireless communication system, such as UMTS. The present invention is also applicable to other wireless communication systems using different air interfaces and/or physical layers, for example, TDMA, CDMA, FDMA, WCDMA, etc.