Abstract:
A mobile terminal includes a frame having a front side and a rear side, the rear side having a first receiving space and a second receiving space located beside one another, a front cover disposed to at least partially cover the front side of the frame, the front cover having a transparent portion, a touch screen located between the front cover and the frame, the touch screen permitting transmission of a signal when the transparent portion is contacted, a camera located in one of the first and second receiving spaces, and a rear cover disposed to at least partially cover each of the first and second receiving spaces.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/777,131, filed on Jul. 12, 2007 which claims the benefit to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2006-0066575, filed on Jul. 14, 2006, and 10-2006-0071042, filed on Jul. 27, 2006, which are expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and, more particularly, to a mobile terminal that is thin. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, a mobile terminal includes a display unit having a display to display information and a terminal body that is connected to the display unit by a hinge connection unit. The terminal body has a keypad that is mounted on its front surface and inputs information and a battery that is mounted on its rear surface. A speaker that generates a sound is mounted at one end of the display unit and a microphone that inputs a sound is mounted at one end of the terminal body. 
         [0006]    In the related art mobile terminal, when the display unit is rotated centering around the hinge connection unit and opened, the display and the keypad are exposed to allow the terminal to be used in a communication mode to transmit and receive data. 
         [0007]    However, the related art mobile terminal has the following problem. That is, because the two bodies are connected to allow opening and closing thereof, the overall thickness of the terminal is undesirably large, and thus a larger sized display cannot be implemented due to limitations in size expansion. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Therefore, in order to address the above matters the various features described herein have been conceived. One aspect of the exemplary embodiments is to provide a mobile terminal which is thin and appealing aesthetical design by forming front and rear covers on both sides of a frame positioned at a middle portion of the mobile terminal. 
         [0009]    According to principles of this invention, a mobile terminal is provided that includes a frame having a front side and a rear side, the rear side having a first receiving space and a second receiving space located beside one another, a front cover disposed to at least partially cover the front side of the frame, the front cover having a transparent portion, a touch screen located between the front cover and the frame, the touch screen permitting transmission of a signal when the transparent portion is contacted, a camera located in one of the first and second receiving spaces, and a rear cover disposed to at least partially cover each of the first and second receiving spaces. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the transparent portion may be a display window. In addition, a display may be mounted in a space between the front cover and the front side of the frame, the display being visible through the display window. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, at least one circuitry supporting substrate is located in the first receiving space. In addition, a battery may be located in the second receiving space. 
         [0012]    In still another aspect, a speaker hole is located at an upper portion of the front cover. 
         [0013]    In a different aspect, a keypad mounting part is located in the front cover. 
         [0014]    In yet another aspect, the front cover is fastened by fasteners to the frame in a direction from the frame towards the front cover to prevent the fasteners from being exposed. 
         [0015]    In another aspect, the frame includes a support unit having an outer surface that is exposed, the support unit defining the edge of the frame, and a partitioning plate that divides the frame into the front side and the rear side. In addition, a display may be located on the front side of the frame, a circuitry supporting substrate may be located in the first receiving space, and the partitioning plate includes a through hole to allow a connector to connect the display to the circuitry supporting substrate through the partitioning plate. 
         [0016]    In a further aspect, the first and second receiving spaces are disposed horizontal to the rear side of the frame. 
         [0017]    In still another aspect, the rear cover covers the first receiving space and a battery cover is detachably mounted to cover the second receiving space. 
         [0018]    In a different aspect, a camera window is located in the rear cover. 
         [0019]    In still another aspect, the rear cover includes a plurality of hooks at one end and a plurality of fastening holes at the other end, the one end of the rear cover is fastened to the frame in a hooking manner and the other end thereof is fastened to the frame via fasteners passing through the fastening holes. In addition, the battery cover may cover the fastening holes of the rear cover. 
         [0020]    In yet another aspect, at least one keypad for inputting information is mounted on at least one of the four sides of the frame, and at least one keypad is mounted on the front side of the frame. In addition, the at least one keypad for inputting information mounted on at least one of the four sides of the frame may include first and second keypads, each of the first and second keypads being located at opposite sides of the frame, and the at least one keypad mounted on the front side of the frame may be a third keypad located at an edge portion of the front surface of the frame. The keypads may be push type keypads that input signals according to a pressing operation. 
         [0021]    In still a further aspect, a microphone may be mounted at the third keypad and the microphone and the third keypad are electrically connected. 
         [0022]    In another aspect, the first and third keypads may be connected by a flexible circuitry supporting substrate, and the first keypad includes a first connector electrically connectable to a circuitry supporting substrate. In addition, the second keypad includes a second connector electrically connectable to a circuitry supporting substrate. 
         [0023]    In accordance with principles of this invention, a mobile terminal is provided that includes a body having a front side and a rear side, at least a majority of the front side being a transparent portion, an outer surface of the front side including the transparent portion being substantially flat, a display located in the body and visible through the transparent portion of the front side of the body, a touch screen located between the transparent portion and the display, and a camera located at the rear side of the body. 
         [0024]    In another aspect, at least one key may be arranged on a side of the body for inputting information. 
         [0025]    In still another aspect, a speaker hole may be located at the front side. 
         [0026]    In another aspect, a microphone may be located in the body. 
         [0027]    In yet another aspect, the terminal can transmit and/or receive data. 
         [0028]    Further aspects of the mobile terminal are similar to those detailed above. 
         [0029]    Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0030]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0031]    In the drawings: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of a frame of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting structure of a keypad of the frame according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a keypad according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is a sectional vie taken along line X-X in  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the mobile terminal without a battery cover according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0042]    A slide type mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0043]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0044]    The mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a frame  20  with an external circumferential surface being exposed and supporting the entire mobile terminal, a front cover  10  fastened on a front surface of the frame  20 , and a rear cover  30  fastened on a rear surface of the frame  20 . A display  12  is mounted in a space between the front cover  10  and the frame  20 . At least one circuitry supporting substrate  14  is mounted in a space between the frame  20  and the rear cover  30  along with a battery  16 . 
         [0045]    The front cover  10  is at least partially transparent to define a display window  18  allowing information displayed on the display  12  to be seen, and a transparent touch screen  22  is attached on a rear surface of the front cover  10  to allow information to be inputted in a touch manner. 
         [0046]    A substrate  26  having a driving circuit  24  attached at one end thereof is connected with the touch screen  22 , and the substrate  26  is connected with the circuitry supporting substrate  14  by a flexible circuitry supporting substrate (not shown). 
         [0047]    A speaker hole  31  for emanating sound generated from the speaker  28  is formed at an upper end of the front cover  10 , and a keypad mounting hole  33  is formed at a lower end of the front cover  10 . A keypad  114  that inputs information is mounted at a lower end of the front cover  10  and is accessible through the keypad mounting hole  33 . Preferably, at least one or more keypads are mounted on the front surface of the front cover  10 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of a frame of the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting structure of a keypad of the frame according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0049]    The frame  20  has certain rigidity to maintain overall rigidity of the terminal. The frame  20  includes a support  32  that has a certain height and is formed in a rectangular shape in a circumferential direction at an edge portion and has an outer surface being exposed, and a partitioning plate  34  formed within the support  32  and partitioning front and rear sides of the frame  32 . 
         [0050]    A through hole  36  is formed on the partitioning plate  34  to allow a connector, which electrically connects the display  12  mounted on the front surface of the partitioning plate  34  and the circuitry supporting substrate  14  mounted on the rear surface of the partitioning plate  34 , to pass therethrough. Keypad mounting holes  38  are provided in the support  32  to allow access to keypads located therein. 
         [0051]    A camera mounting part  57  on which a camera  61  is mounted is formed at one side of the partitioning plate  34 . A speaker mounting part  40  on which the speaker  28  is mounted is formed at the side of the camera mounting part  57 . 
         [0052]    A first mounting face  42  on which the edge portion of the front cover  10  is mounted is formed at a front edge portion of the frame  20 , and a second mounting face  44  on which the edge portion of the rear cover  30  is mounted is formed at a rear edge portion of the frame  20 . 
         [0053]    Fastening holes  48  are penetratingly formed at four corner portions of the frame  20 , through which fasteners pass to be fastened with the front cover  10 . 
         [0054]    The fastening structure of the frame  20  and the front cover  10  will now be described in detail. The front cover  10  is mounted on the first mounting face  42  formed on the front surface of the frame  20 , and then the fasteners are allowed to pass through the fastening holes in the direction of the front cover  10  from the rear surface of the frame  20  so as to be fastened in the fastening holes formed at the four corner portions of the inner surface of the front cover  10 . Because the fasteners pass through a first fastening hole  48  from the rear side to the front side of the frame  20  so as to be fastened with the front cover  20 , the front surface of the front cover  10  can have a fine design without a fastener hole for fastening the fasteners. 
         [0055]    Fastening holes  50  are formed at both sides of a middle portion of the frame  20  for fastening the frame  20  with the rear cover  30 . 
         [0056]    On the rear surface of the frame  20 , there are formed a substrate mounting part  52  on which the circuitry supporting substrate  14  is mounted and a battery mounting part  54  on which the battery  16  is mounted. A partition  53  separates the substrate mounting part  52  and the battery mounting part  54  into first and second receiving spaces. The camera mounting part is formed in one of the receiving spaces, preferably the first receiving space. 
         [0057]    First and second keypads  110 ,  112  are mounted on at least one of the four sides of the frame  20 , and at least one or more keypads, such as a third keypad  114  is mounted on the front side of the frame  20 , and keypad mounting parts  130 ,  132  and  134  in which the keypads are mounted are formed at the frame  20 . The first and second keypads  110  and  112  are side keypads that are mounted at the side of the frame  20  and input information similar to the third keypad  114 . The keypads may provide many different functions including activating/deactivating the touch screen  22  to prevent inadvertent command entry via the touch screen  22 . 
         [0058]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first and second keypads  110 ,  114  are electrically connected by the flexible circuitry supporting substrate  138 . A first connector  140  is mounted at the first keypad  110  and the first connector  140  is electrically connected with the circuitry supporting substrate  14 . Accordingly, the first and third keypads  110  and  114  can be electrically connected with the circuitry supporting substrate  14  by the single connector  140 . 
         [0059]    A microphone  120  for generating a sound is mounted at the side of the third keypad  114 . Because the microphone  120  is electrically connected with the third keypad  114 , the microphone  120  is electrically connected with the circuitry supporting substrate  14  by means of the first connector  140  so that the microphone  120  generates a sound according to an electrical signal applied from the circuitry supporting substrate  14 . 
         [0060]    A microphone mounting part  122  in which the microphone  120  is mounted is formed at the frame  20 . 
         [0061]    The second keypad  112  is a side keypad mounted at the side of the frame  20 . The second keypad  113  has a second connector  142  mounted at one side thereof and is electrically connected with the circuitry supporting substrate  14 . 
         [0062]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first keypad mounting part  130 , on which the first keypad  110  is mounted, is formed at one side of the frame  20 , the second keypad mounting part  132 , on which the second keypad  112  is mounted, is formed at the other side of the frame  20 , and a third keypad mounting part  134 , on which the third keypad  114  is mounted, is formed at an edge portion of the front surface of the frame  20 . 
         [0063]    Herein, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the first and second keypad mounting parts  130  and  132  are formed in a certain space form by support ribs  146  vertically protruded at left and right edge portions of the frame  20 , in which the first and second keypads  110  and  120  are mounted. 
         [0064]    The above-described first, second and third keypads  110 ,  112 , and  114  are push type keypads, and, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , they include a keypad circuitry supporting substrate  150  fixed on the keypad mounting part, a dome switch  152  mounted on an upper surface of the keypad circuitry supporting substrate  150  for inputting a signal by a pressing operation, and a key button  154  mounted on an upper surface of the dome switch  152  and exposed so that when a user presses it, it pushes the dome switch  152 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the mobile terminal without a battery cover according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0066]    The rear cover  30  is fastened on the substrate mounting part  52  of the frame  20 . One end of the rear cover  30  is hooked at one end of the frame  20  and the other end thereof is fastener-fastened at the frame  20 . Namely, hooking protrusions  56  ( FIG. 6 ) are formed to be protruded in an inward direction at an edge portion of the rear surface of the frame  20 , and the fastener fasting holes  50  are formed at both sides of the middle portion of the rear surface of the frame  20 . Hooks  58  ( FIG. 3 ) to engage the hooking protrusions  56  are formed at one end of the rear cover  30 , and fastening holes  60  are formed at the other end of the rear cover  30  and communicate with the fastening holes  50  so as to be fastened. 
         [0067]    A camera window  62  is formed on the rear cover  30  and allows a camera lens of the camera  61  to be exposed. 
         [0068]    An assembling process of the rear cover  30  will now be described. First, the hooks  58  formed at one end of the rear cover  30  are inserted to engage the hooking protrusions  56  of the frame  20 . Thereafter, the fasteners are fastened in the fastening holes  60  formed at the rear cover  30  to make the rear cover  30  fastened to the frame  20 . 
         [0069]    A battery cover  66  ( FIG. 3 ) for protecting the battery is combined on the battery mounting part  54  of the frame  20 . Hooks (not shown for clarity) formed at one end of the battery cover  66  are inserted in recesses  70  formed at a middle portion of the frame  20 , and the other end of the battery cover  66  is locked by a battery cover locking unit  72  mounted at one end of the frame  20 . 
         [0070]    The battery cover  66  covers the fastener fasting holes  60  so that the mobile terminal can have an appealing aesthetical design without such holes for fastening. 
         [0071]    The assembling process of the mobile terminal according to the present invention will now be described. 
         [0072]    The display  12  is mounted on the front surface of the frame  20 , the circuitry supporting substrate  14  is mounted on the board mounting part  52  of the rear surface of the frame  20 , and the battery  16  is mounted on the battery mounting part  54  of the rear surface of the frame  20 . The display  12  and the circuitry supporting substrate  14  are connected by the connector. 
         [0073]    The transparent touch screen  22  is attached on the inner surface of the front cover  10 . The first and second keypads  110  and  112  are mounted on the first and second keypad mounting parts  130  and  132  formed at the side of the frame  20 , and the third keypad  114  is mounted on the third keypad mounting part  134  formed at the front surface of the frame  20 . And then, the first connector  140  mounted at the first keypad  110  and the second connector  142  mounted at the second keypad  112  are connected with the circuitry supporting substrate  14 . 
         [0074]    Thereafter, the front cover  10  is mounted on the front surface of the frame  20 . Namely, after the front cover  10  is mounted on the front surface of the frame  20 , the fasteners are inserted into the fastening holes  48  of the frame  20  from the rear side to the front side, so as to be fastened with the front cover  10 . Accordingly, because the fastening holes are not exposed from the outer surface of the front cover  10 , the terminal can have the appealing aesthetical design. 
         [0075]    The rear cover  30  is combined on the rear surface of the frame  20 . Specifically, the hooks  58  of the rear cover  30  are hooked to the hooking protrusions  56  formed at one end of the frame  20 , and then, the fasteners are allowed to pass through the fastening holes  60  of the rear cover  30  so as to be fastened with the fastening holes  50  of the frame  20 . 
         [0076]    The battery cover  66  is mounted on the rear surface of the frame  20 . Namely, the hooks formed at one end of the battery cover  66  are inserted into the recesses  70  formed at the frame  20 , and then, the other end of the battery cover  66  is locked by the battery cover locking unit  72  mounted at one side of the frame  20 . Then, because the battery cover  66  covers the fastening holes  60  of the rear cover  30 , the fastening holes are not exposed from the rear surface of the terminal, contributing to make the mobile terminal have the fine and neat design. 
         [0077]    As so far described, the mobile terminal according to the present invention has the following advantages. 
         [0078]    That is, because the front cover is combined on the front surface of the frame with its outer surface being exposed, the rear cover is combined on the rear surface of the frame, the display is mounted between the frame and the front cover, and the circuitry supporting substrate is mounted between the frame and the rear cover, the terminal can become thin and have the appealing aesthetical design. 
         [0079]    As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential 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 spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.