Mobile terminal

A mobile terminal having an input device that performs inputting in a tactile manner is disclosed. A touch screen of a first region and touch buttons of a second region are implemented by a single touch sheet without having touch sensing units. Thus, manufacturing, assembling and handling can be facilitated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing dates and right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2007-0114420 filed on Nov. 9, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A mobile terminal having an input device that allows various types of tactile user inputs is provided.

A mobile terminal is a device that can be carried around and has one or more functions such as voice and video call communication, inputting and outputting information, storing data, and the like.

As such functions become more diversified, the mobile terminal can support more complicated functions such as capturing images or video, reproducing music or video files, playing games, receiving broadcast signals, and the like. By comprehensively and collectively implementing such functions, the mobile terminal may be embodied in the form of a multimedia player or device.

In order to implement various functions of such multimedia players or devices, the multimedia player requires sufficient support in terms of hardware or software, for which numerous attempts are being made and implemented. For example, a user interface allowing users to easily and conveniently search for and select one or more functions is being developed.

Also, as users consider their mobile terminal to be a personal portable device that may express their personality, mobile terminals with desirable portability and various designs are being developed. For example, the mobile terminal employs a touch screen to make its front surface appear simple and minimize degradation due to user manipulation after prolonged use.

However, upon repeated user manipulation or when a particular function is immediately executed only via the touch screen, the advantages of user input via key manipulation cannot be supported, so a configuration that combines a touch screen and a key input scheme has been proposed. Nevertheless, the key input scheme of a push button still has some drawbacks in that the user interface appears to be too complicated.

SUMMARY

The present inventors recognized certain drawbacks of the related art, as explained above. Upon such recognition, the following concepts and features have been conceived.

A mobile terminal capable of improving an external appearance while supporting both the advantages of a touch screen and a key input scheme is provided herein such that a more user-friendly interface is achieved.

Such mobile terminal comprises: a terminal body having first and second regions; and a touch sheet that senses user contact applied on the first and second regions. The touch sheet may be integrally formed to sense touch inputs of the first and second regions. Accordingly, a touch sensing unit with respect to the first region and another touch sensing unit for the second region are not needed, and thus, the manufacturing, assembling and handling procedures can be improved.

The touch sheet may include a touch screen pattern portion that includes multiple conductive lines to sense user inputs (i.e., finger touching, swiping, tapping, etc.) applied to the first region, and a touch button pattern portion disposed to have a certain area on the second region. The touch screen pattern part may be suitable for a touch screen on which a position of an inputtable item or a menu is displayed at various or different changed locations on the screen, while the touch button pattern part may be suitable for receiving a repeated key inputs. Also, a display module (or other components to support display functions) may be installed at the first region and a circuit board (or other necessary components) may be installed at the second region.

A window may be provided to cover the touch sheet. The window may serve to remove or reduce a complicated border lines or assembly gaps between the first and second regions, thus improving the external appearance.

The touch sheet may include at least one transmissive insulation layer on which the touch screen pattern portion and the touch button pattern portions are formed. The transmissive insulation layer serves as a base layer to configure the patterned touch screen pattern portion and the touch button pattern portion.

The touch screen pattern portion and the touch button pattern portion may include data lines to transmit a signal. In this case, the data lines of the touch screen pattern portion may be aligned along edges of the transmissive insulation layer and may be congregated with the data lines of the touch button pattern portion so as to be connected with an FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board). Because the FPCB is not connected with each of the first and second regions in a separate manner, but collectively connected, the disposition of other components can be more easily facilitated.

A conductive shielding line for shielding the data lines of the touch screen pattern portion may be configured at edges of the first region of the touch sheet. The shielding line prevents the data lines of the touch screen pattern part from being affected by other internal components or by the surface of the mobile terminal. In this case, the shielding line may be positioned on the opposite surface of the insulation layer on which the data lines of the touch screen pattern portion are disposed. The shielding line may be configured to partition the first and second regions.

The transmissive insulation layer may be made of a flexible resin material, and the touch screen pattern portion and the touch button pattern portion may be made of ITO on the transmissive insulation layer and formed by a sputtering process. The touch screen pattern part and the touch button may be simultaneously printed on the transmissive insulation layer. Namely, they can be configured at a single time.

The touch button pattern portion may have multiple unit pattern that are spaced apart each other, and at least one through hole may be formed at a space between the touch button pattern portion. Unlike the touch screen pattern portion that has a latticed structure formed by the multiple lines, the touch button pattern portion is configured in the form of dots with a certain area spaced apart from each other, so through holes may be suitably formed between the touch button pattern portion.

A first push button that receives user push inputs may be mounted through the through hole.

The touch button pattern portion may be disposed around the first push button (e.g., top, bottom, left, right etc.). Each touch button pattern portion may be allocated to allow the user to move a cursor or a point in a certain direction. The first push button can help recognize the position of a key to be touched on the touch screen window.

The terminal body has a lower end portion that may have a round shape, and two or three second push buttons that perform inputting in the push manner may be disposed at the lower end portion. The second push button enhances usability of the touch screen pattern portion and the touch button pattern portion that perform inputting in a tactile manner together with the first push button.

The terminal body may include a first terminal body and a second terminal body that is connected to be slidably movable with respect to the first terminal body, and the first and second regions and the touch sheet may be formed on the first terminal body. The mobile terminal may be applicable to different types of mobile terminal, for example, a bar type or a folder type mobile terminal. The second terminal body may include a keypad for inputting numbers or characters.

An illumination unit for illuminating the first region may be provided at an upper portion of the circuit board. In this case, the illumination unit may be formed of an EL sheet that performs surface illumination to acquire an illumination effect of the first region on which touch inputs are made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary mobile terminal related to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal related to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the mobile terminal1includes a first terminal body10and a second terminal body20that may be configured to be slidably moved along at least one direction with respect to the first terminal body10.

A state in which the first terminal body10is disposed to overlap with the second terminal body20may be called a closed configuration, and as shown inFIG. 1, a state in which the first terminal body10exposes at least a portion of the second terminal body20may be called an open configuration.

The mobile terminal1may usually operate in a standby mode in the closed configuration, but this mode can be released by user manipulation. In the open configuration, the mobile terminal may mainly function in a call mode or the like, but may be changed to the standby mode according to user manipulation or after the lapse of a certain time.

A case (housing, casing, cover, etc.) constituting the external appearance of the first terminal body10comprises a front case11and a rear case12. Various electronic components may be installed in a space formed by the front case11and the case12.

At least one intermediate case may be additionally disposed between the front case11and the rear case12. The case can be formed by injection-molding a synthetic resin, or made of a metallic material such as stainless steel (STS), titanium (Ti), or the like.

The lower end of the first terminal body10may have a round shape, and two or three or more push buttons15may be provided at a lower end portion of the front case11having the corresponding round shape. The push buttons15may be assigned to immediately execute a send key or end key or a power ON/OFF operation or the like, or other particular functions. The push buttons15may be formed such that it is at the same or similar level as an outer surface of the front case11when not pressed to thus provide a unified image of the mobile terminal1.

The front surface of the first terminal body10, excluding the lower push buttons15, may be covered by a window13. The window13and the inner side of the window13comprise a first region40for displaying information and a second region50for receiving tactile key inputs. Namely, the first region may output visual information according to various modes of the mobile terminal1and the second region50includes some keys (i.e., buttons, pressable regions, etc.), so when the keys are touched, the second region50may execute a corresponding function or perform inputting.

With reference toFIG. 1, the window13is integrally formed. Although the surface of the window13includes the first region40and the second region50each having a different function at an inner side thereof, the first region40and the second region50may have a unified smooth form without any assembly gaps or border lines. Due to its long configuration, such window13may be deformed, so it is preferably made of a material such as tempered glass, but other suitable materials may be used.

On or near the window13, there may be formed an audio output unit14, a first image input unit16and a push button51which is disposed at a substantially central portion of the first region50.

The first image input unit16is disposed at an inner side of the window13so as not to deform the external appearance of the front surface of the first terminal body10, and a certain area of the window13has transmittance (light transmittance characteristics) to allow light to pass therethrough. The first image input unit16may be a camera module (or other image capturing means) for capturing an image or video.

The first audio output unit14is disposed within an opening (sound hole)13b(SeeFIG. 3) penetratingly formed on the window13, and to allow various notification sounds or multimedia reproduction sounds, etc., as well as a conversation voice to be output. A plurality of first audio output units14may be provided to implement a stereophonic function.

The first region40of the window13may be formed to be transmissive or translucent to allow a screen image outputted from the display module41(SeeFIG. 3) to be viewed, and the other remaining regions excluding the first region40may be formed to be opaque.

The second region50of the window13may include marks (symbols) for the respective keys. Each mark may be printed (or etched, molded, etc.) on an inner surface of the window13in a negative manner, whereby the marks are not clearly seen in a standby state, but when a touch input is detected, the marks can be clearly identified by the lightening of an illumination unit53(SeeFIG. 3) disposed within the window13. As another example, the marks may be configured as multiple sets whereby different sets of marks can be viewed by means of the illumination unit53according to a mode of the mobile terminal1.

The push button51(or other type of pressable element) disposed at the central portion of the second region50may have a reference point (or indicator) to recognize the positions of keys arranged in a divided manner. Namely, the other remaining keys, excluding the push button51, operate in a tactile manner, so it may not be easy to recognize the positions of the keys. The push button51may be configured to be protruded with a certain height to allow for an easy recognition, whereby the touch type keys arranged around the push button51may be more precisely manipulated by the user.

Like the first terminal body10, the second terminal body20may include a front case21and a rear case22.

A keypad23may be configured on a front surface of the second terminal body20, specifically, on a front case21, and side keys26, an audio input unit24, and an external interface27may be configured on at least one of the front case21and a rear case22.

The touch key of the push button51of the second region50, the push buttons15at the lower end portion of the first terminal body10, and the keypad23and side keys26of the second terminal body20may be generally called as a manipulating portion. Besides the manipulating portion, an input unit such as a wheel member, a jog dial, a joystick or the like may be additionally implemented. From the perspective of their functions, the touch key or the push buttons15and51of the first terminal body10are configured to input commands such as start, end and scroll, and the keypad23is configured to receive user input numbers, characters, and symbols, etc. The side keys26may operate as a so-called hot key (or shortcut key) for performing a special function such as activation of the first image input unit16.

The audio input unit24may be implemented in the form of, for example, a microphone to receive user voice or other sounds.

The external interface27may be used as a communication link (passage or path) through which the terminal can exchange data or the like with an external device.

For example, external interface27may be implemented as one of a connection port (terminal) for connecting an earphone to the mobile terminal via a fixed or wireless means, a port for short-range communications (e.g., an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) port, a Bluetooth™ port, a wireless LAN port, etc.), power supply ports for providing power to the external device, or the like.

The interface unit170may be a card socket (or receiving unit) for accommodating an external card, such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), a User Identity Module (UIM), a memory card for storing information, or the like.

A battery cover29may be detachably installed to cover a battery that supplies power to the mobile terminal1. The battery may be rechargeable so as to be continuously used, and unlike the battery in the present embodiment, a battery may be detachably combined in the form of a pack.

FIG. 2is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal inFIG. 1. With reference toFIG. 2, a second image input unit25may be additionally configured on or near a rear surface of the battery cover29or adjacent thereto of the second terminal body20.

The second image input unit25may have an image capture direction which is substantially the opposite to that of the first image input unit16, and may support a different number of pixels as that of the first image input unit16. For example, the first image input unit16may be used for low resolution (i.e., supporting a relatively small number of pixels) to quickly capture an image (or video) of the user's face and immediately transmit the same to the other party during video conferencing or the like. Meanwhile, the second image input unit25may be used for high resolution (i.e., supporting a relatively large number of pixels) in order to capture more detailed (higher quality) images (or video) which typically do not need to be transmitted immediately. A flash or a mirror may be additionally disposed to be adjacent to the second image input unit25.

A portion of a sliding module28that slidably combines the first terminal body10and the second terminal body20may be disposed on the rear case12of the first terminal body10. The other portion of the slide module28may be disposed on the front case21of the second terminal body20and may not be exposed as shown inFIG. 2.

The battery cover29may be configured to cover the entirety of the rear surface of the second terminal body20, without forming assembly gaps or border lines with other components on the rear surface of the second body20.

A pattern part30may be configured on the rear surface of the battery cover29to prevent the mobile terminal10from being easily moved with respect to the bottom or a sloped face and separated therefrom. The pattern part30may have a geometrical regular pattern such as lattice or comb-like pattern. The pattern part30may be configured by coating or injection-molding a resin material on a metal base or by some other appropriate means.

In the above description, the second image input unit25and so on are disposed on the second terminal body20, but such configuration is not meant to be limited. For example, one or more of the elements which are disposed on the battery cover29in the above description may be mounted on the first terminal10, mainly, on the rear case12. In this case, those elements disposed on the rear case12can be protected (or covered) by the second terminal body20in the closed configuration. In addition, even if the second image input unit25is not provided, the first image input unit16may be configured to rotate (or otherwise be moved) to thus allow image capturing in the direction of the second image input unit25as well as other directions.

The mobile terminal related to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the slide type mobile terminal as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2but may be applicable to various other structures such as a bar type, a folder, a swing type, or the like.

FIG. 3is an explosive perspective view of the mobile terminal inFIG. 1. As illustrate inFIG. 3, the first terminal body may include the window13, the front case11, a touch sheet60, a display module41, and a circuit board52.

A through hole13a(or opening) is formed on the second region50of the window13to allow the push button51as shown inFIG. 1to pass therethrough, and a through hole61(or opening) may be formed on the second region50of the touch sheet60in a corresponding manner.

Multiple through holes62(or openings) may be additionally formed on a lower end portion of the touch sheet60to allow the push button15to pass therethrough to operate dome switches55(or other switch means) formed on the circuit board52. LEDs54(or other illuminating means) may be mounted at one side of the dome switches55to illuminate the push buttons15.

The lower end of the touch sheet60may be connected to the circuit board52or the first terminal body10by a flexible PCB or other appropriate connector.

The push button51that receives user inputs in a push manner may be installed to pass through the through hole61as described above.

An illumination unit53may be installed near or around the push button51to illuminate the second region50. The illumination unit53may be configured as a light emitting element such as an electro-luminescent (EL) sheet that provides surface-illumination. The illumination unit53may individually illuminate one or more touched keys and implement various illumination effects by differently controlling an illumination time and an illumination area. For example, when the second region50is touched, a bright portion may be sequentially moved in a radial direction centering around the touched portion.

FIG. 4is an exemplary plan view of a touch sheet. With reference toFIG. 4, the touch sheet60may include a touch screen pattern portion63that senses a user touch applied to the first region40and a touch button pattern portion65that senses a touch applied to the second region50.

The touch screen pattern portion63may include a plurality of conductive lines that are formed in horizontal and vertical directions to detect and calculate a touched position. A data line66may be configured on the edges of the touch sheet60, which are connected with the touch screen pattern portion63and used to carry electrical signals. The touch screen pattern portion63may have a different pattern, other than the pattern as shown inFIG. 4. For example, a single conductive line may be formed in a zigzag (or matrix) pattern. In this case, because the touch sheet is formed of a single layer, the overall thickness can be reduced.

Compared with the configuration of the touch screen pattern portion63, the touch button pattern portion65may each be disposed with a certain area. As shown inFIG. 4, the touch button pattern portion65are disposed at four portions comprising up, down, left, and right portions around the through hole61. In this case, the touch button pattern part65may be allocated to allow the user to move the direction of a cursor or a pointer to facilitate navigation or searching with respect to multiple items outputted by the display module41. Each touch button pattern part65may have multiple key values.

The touch button pattern part65are connected by data lines65a, respectively, and each data line65ais configured to be connected with a flexible PCB70or other control circuits.

Accordingly, when an arbitrary one of the touch button pattern portion65is touched, the corresponding touch button pattern portion65senses the touch. The touch button pattern portion65senses a change in capacitance generated by the touch applied to the window13and transmits a corresponding electrical signal. Additionally, constant pressure or resistance detection methods may be implemented for the touch button pattern portion65.

Unlike the touch screen pattern portion63, the touch button pattern portion65can be spaced apart from each other and the data lines65aare disposed without being affected by each other, so the spaces (regions) between the touch button pattern portion65may be used for a different purpose, such as accommodating through holes61or other components. Accordingly, one or more push button51may be installed on the front surface of the mobile terminal1to allow the user to perform additional inputting in a tactile manner.

With reference toFIG. 4, the data lines67of the touch screen pattern part63may be arranged along the edges of the touch sheet60, and the data lines67can be connected together with the data lines65aof the touch button pattern part65and the flexible PCB70such that the parts connected with the flexible PCB70are located at the bottom of the touch sheet60(as shown). Accordingly, the flexible PCB70is not connected separately to each of the first and second regions40and50but are connected together at one region, thus not interfering with the configuration of other components and results in improved assembly procedure.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the touch sheet60may include transmissive insulation layers68and69where the touch screen pattern portion63and the touch button pattern portion65are formed. The transmissive insulation layers68and69may be formed of polyethylene film (or other appropriate materials) and several sheets of polyethylene films may be stacked to form the transmissive insulation layers68and69.

With reference toFIG. 5, the second region50of the touch sheet60may include the first transmissive insulation layer68with the touch button pattern portion65formed on an inner surface thereof, and the second transmissive insulation layer69formed at a lower side of the first transmissive insulation layer68and including a conductive film70. The first transmissive insulation layer68and the second transmissive insulation layer69may be attached by an adhesive layer75,76(or some other appropriate means). The conductive film70formed on the second transmissive insulation layer69may serve to block or minimize the influence of electric fields caused by internal components.

The touch button pattern portion65may be made of a transmissive or translucent material to allow light emitted from the illumination unit53to pass therethrough. The touch screen pattern portion63and the touch button pattern portion65may be made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) through a sputtering process.

A shielding line67for shielding the data line66of the touch screen pattern portion63may be formed on edges of the first transmissive insulation layer68. The shielding line67may extend to the first region40to shield the data line66of the touch screen pattern portion63(SeeFIGS. 4 and 5).

With reference toFIG. 4, the shielding line67may partition the first region40where the touch screen pattern portion63is formed and the second region50where the touch button pattern portion65are formed. Unlike the touch screen pattern portion63and the touch button pattern portion65, the data line66or the shielding line67of the touch screen pattern portion63may be configured by printing a copper foil or a conductive metal to thus reduce fabrication costs.

Configuring the touch screen pattern portion63and the touch button pattern portion65together on the touch sheet60has the following advantages. Namely, if the touch sheet had only the touch screen pattern and through holes were formed on the touch sheet to dispose the means such as the push buttons, because the touch screen pattern has the grid (lattice) (SeeFIG. 4) or matrix form, many problems would arise: for example, it would be difficult to detect a touch applied to the touch screen pattern, and additional complicated technical considerations should be taken to compensate for a distorted signal to extract a proper signal. Thus, by disposing both the touch screen pattern portion63and the touch button pattern part65on the touch sheet60, such problems can be minimized.

With reference toFIG. 5, the shielding line67may be positioned on the opposite surface of the first transmissive insulation layer68where the data line66of the touch screen pattern portion63is disposed, to thereby reduce the area required by the shielding line67and enhancing shielding effects.

The shielding line67may be electrically short-circuited with ground of the illumination unit53in order to prevent or minimize the touch screen pattern portion63that sense a fine touch from being affected by the illumination unit53that may cause erroneous operations.

As shown inFIG. 6, the touch screen pattern portion63may be configured by combining a horizontal pattern part63A and a vertical pattern part63B, and may include a transmissive insulation layer68A with the horizontal pattern part63A formed thereon, a transmissive insulation layer68B with the vertical pattern part63B formed thereon, and a transmissive insulation layer68with the conductive film70formed thereon. Accordingly, a user touch applied to the first region40of the window13may be sensed according to a change in capacitance (or other parameter, characteristics, etc.) of the horizontal pattern part63A and the vertical pattern part63B, and an input operation corresponding to the touched position is performed according to a combination of the corresponding positions of the horizontal pattern part63A and the vertical pattern part63B.

The horizontal pattern part63A and the vertical pattern part63B may be interchanged in their positions. In addition, the horizontal pattern part63A and the vertical pattern part63B may be made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) through sputtering in the same manner as that of the touch button pattern part65.

Referring to Figures, the features of the present invention may also be summed up as follows.

A touch sensitive member is comprised of an integrated sheet60having a planar surface divided into a first section40and a second section50respectively used to receive different types of user touch inputs; an array of touch sensors63at the first section that senses user touch inputs using a first pattern of touch sensitive elements; and a plurality of touch activated regions65at the second section that senses user touch inputs using a second pattern of touch sensitive elements.

The touch sensitive elements detect user touch inputs based on changes in at least one of capacitance, resistance, pressed duration, and pressure. The touch sensitive member further comprises a data line structure66,67formed along the edges of the integrated sheet60to provide electrical connections for the touch sensors63, and allow the touch sensors63and the touch activated regions65to be electrically connected with a circuit board at an end portion of the integrated sheet. The second section comprises at least one opening61,62formed adjacent to the touch activated regions65to accommodate push buttons that are implemented together with the integrated sheet. The integrated sheet comprises a plurality of transmissive insulation layers68,69,71stacked together with the touch sensors and touch activated regions65,72,73located at certain portions therebetween. The integrated sheet further comprises a conductive layer70,74formed at a bottom of the lowermost transmissive layer that minimizes electrical field interference from other electrical components located under the integrated sheet. The transmissive insulation layers are attached together using an adhesive means75,76. The elements of the touch sensitive member may be implemented in a mobile terminal1.

A user interface is comprised of a touch sensitive screen with a planar surface to receive user inputs and to display information; and at least one mechanical button implemented at a non-edge portion in the planar surface of the touch sensitive screen, wherein the touch sensitive screen has a first section with a first pattern of touch sensors and a second section with a second pattern of touch sensors.

The touch sensitive screen comprises: a touch matrix at the first section to form the first pattern of touch sensors; and a plurality of touch activated regions at the second section around the mechanical button to form the second pattern of touch sensors. The touch matrix and the touch activated regions detect user touch inputs according to changes in at least one of capacitance, resistance, pressed duration, and pressure.

FIG. 7is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the mobile terminal related to the present invention.

The mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a mobile communication module81, manipulation units15,26, and60, the image input units16and25, the audio input unit24, the display module41, the audio output unit14, the external interface27, a broadcast receiving module86, a memory84, a power supply unit87, a controller80, and the like.

The manipulation units15,26, and60may be configured as shown inFIGS. 1 to 4and receive commands (instructions) inputted by the user to control operations of the terminal according to the controller80.

The controller80typically controls the general operations of the mobile terminal. For example, the controller180performs the controlling and processing associated with voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. Besides controlling such general functions, the controller may receive a touch signal transferred from the touch sheet60and execute a control command according to the input touch signal.

The mobile communication module81may transmit/receive radio signals to/from a network (e.g., mobile communication base station) via an antenna. For example, the mobile communication module81may include a transmitting unit83that handles the transmission and reception of audio data, text data, image data and control data, modulates transmission signals and transmits the modulated signal, and a receiving unit82that demodulates received signals under the control of the controller80.

The image input units16and25may be implemented as a camera module (or other type of image capture unit) that captures an image or video of the user or other objects. When the image input units16and25are used, namely, when the image input units16and25are operating in an image capturing mode or a video capturing mode, the display module41displays marks (or indications) for controlling various functions of the image input units16and25under the control of the controller80.

The image input units16and25may process image frames such as still images or video acquired by an image sensor or the like. The processed image frames may be converted into image data that can be displayed on the display module41and then outputted to the display module41. The image frames processed by the image input units16and25may be stored in the memory84or transmitted externally through the mobile communication module81under the control of the controller80.

The audio input unit24may receive external audio signals via a microphone in a phone call mode, a recording mode or a voice recognition mode, etc., and process the received audio signals into electrical voice data. In the phone call mode, the processed voice data is converted into a form that can be transmitted to the network (e.g., mobile communication base station) via the mobile communication module81. In the recording mode, the processed voice data is outputted to be stored in the memory84.

The audio input unit24may include various types of noise canceling (or suppression) algorithms to cancel (or suppress) noise generated in the course of receiving and transmitting audio signals.

The display module41may output information processed in the mobile terminal. For example, when the mobile terminal100is in the phone call mode, the display module41may display a User Interface (UI) or a Graphic User Interface (GUI) associated with a call or other communication under the control of the controller80. When the mobile terminal100is in the video call mode or the image capturing mode, the display module41may display a captured image and/or received image, a UI, a GUI, and the like, under the control of the controller80.

The content outputted by the display module41may be an item or a list that can be selected by the user via the touch screen pattern part63of the touch sheet60.

The audio output unit14may convert audio data received from the mobile communication module81or stored in the memory84and output the converted data in a call signal reception mode, a phone call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, and the like, under the control of the controller80. Also, the audio output module14may provide audible outputs related to a particular function (e.g., a call signal reception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed by the mobile terminal. The audio output module152may include a speaker, a receiver, a buzzer, or the like.

The external interface27may serve as an interface with at least one external device connected with the mobile terminal. For example, the external devices may include wired/wireless headsets, external power chargers, wired/wireless data ports, card sockets (e.g., for receiving a memory card, a Subscriber Identity Module/User Identity Module (SIM/UIM) card, etc.), audio input/output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphones, microphones, and the like. The external interface27may be used to receive inputs (e.g., data, information, power, etc.) from an external device and transfer the received inputs to one or more elements within the mobile terminal, or may be used to transfer data from the mobile terminal to another external device.

The memory84may store programs or the like used for the processing and controlling performed by the controller80, or may temporarily store inputted/outputted data (e.g., a phonebook, messages, still images, video, etc.). The memory84may include at least one type of storage medium including a hard disk type, a card-type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory, etc), a flash memory, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), and the like.

The sensing unit85detects a current status (or state) of the mobile terminal such as an open/close state of the mobile terminal, a location of the mobile terminal, presence or absence of user contact with the mobile terminal, etc., and generates a sense (control) signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal. For example, when the mobile terminal is a slide type mobile phone, the sensing unit85may sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed and output the sensing result to the controller80to control the operation of the terminal. In addition, the sensing unit140can detect whether or not the power supply unit87supplies power or whether or not the external interface27is coupled with an external device.

The broadcast receiving module86may receive a broadcast signal transmitted through a satellite or terrestrial means, convert the same into a broadcast data format that can be outputted to the display module41, and output the converted data to the controller80. In addition, the broadcast receiving module86may receive supplementary data associated to a broadcast (e.g., Electronic Program Guide (EPG), a channel list, etc.). The broadcast data and supplementary data converted by the broadcast receiving module86may be stored in the memory84.

The mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention is advantageous in that the touch screen and the touch buttons can be implemented as a single touch sheet.

In particular, because the touch button pattern part formed at the second region have a certain limited area (region), additional components (or elements) such as a through hole may be included at a portion thereof, unlike the touch screen pattern part.

Because a push-type key (or button) that can provide a click sensation to the user may be mounted at the through hole, the usability can be enhanced.

In addition, because the front surface of the terminal body allows inputs in a touch manner, high capacity and high density multimedia or communication information can be easily and quickly accessed or executed and also generation of complicated border lines can be reduced, improving the external appearance.

The embodiments of the mobile terminal as described above are not to be limited in their configurations and methods, and all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined into various modifications.

As the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, various changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims, or equivalents of such scope are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.