Abstract:
A hand-held mobile terminal for use in a mobile communications network is provided. The terminal comprises a first body comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top of the first body comprising a user interface for allowing a user to interact with the mobile terminal to input data; a second body comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the second body comprising a display panel; and a slide mechanism disposed in a cavity, formed between the first body&#39;s top portion and the second body&#39;s bottom portion, for coupling the first and second bodies and for allowing the second body to slide relative to the first body in both longitudinal and latitudinal directions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0028228, filed on Apr. 4, 2005, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a slide type mobile terminal and, more particularly, to a slide type mobile terminal that can be opened and closed when any side of a slide body is pushed.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     A flip type mobile terminal is constructed such that a cover is rotatably mounted to open and close over a main body. The main body includes dial buttons and menu buttons and the cover includes a LCD. In order to better view graphical information, there are increasing demands for larger LCDs on mobile terminals. So a slide type mobile terminal is marketed that includes a first body allowing a user to input information and a second body having a large size LCD for displaying various image information. The second body may slidably open and close over the first body.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slide type mobile terminal in accordance with a related art. The related art mobile terminal includes a first body  102  having a display panel  110  for displaying various information mounted thereon and a second body  104  on which the first body  102  is slidably mounted. A keypad  106  allows a user to input data is mounted on the front surface. A slide module is installed between the first body  102  and the second body  104 . The first body  102  slides in a longitudinal direction over the second body  104 .  
         [0005]     The slide module includes guide grooves  126  formed in a longitudinal direction at both sides of the second body  104 , and corresponding guide rails  128  are formed at both sides of the first body inserted into the guide grooves  126 , such that the first body can move in the longitudinal direction relative to the second body  104 .  
         [0006]     When a user pushes a lower end of the first body  102  in the longitudinal direction over the second body  104 , the guide rail  128  is moved along the guide groove  126  towards an open position. When the user finishes using the mobile terminal, he pushes down on an upper end of the first body  102  to close it.  
         [0007]     The above slide type mobile terminal has a problem in that the lower end of the first body  102  must slide up to open the terminal. Such movement is not convenient for users. In addition, since the first body  102  is slidably moved only in the longitudinal direction over the second body  104 , various operations cannot be performed.  
         [0008]     Methods and systems are needed to overcome the above-mentioned short comings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     A hand-held mobile terminal for use in a mobile communications network is provided. The terminal comprises a first body comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the second body comprising a display panel; a second body comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top of the first body comprising a user interface for allowing a user to interact with the mobile terminal to input data; and a slide mechanism disposed in a cavity, formed between the second body&#39;s top portion and the first body&#39;s bottom portion, for coupling the first and second bodies and for allowing the first body to slide relative to the second body in both longitudinal and latitudinal directions.  
         [0010]     In a closed position, the first body covers the top portion of the second body to prevent access to the user interface. In an open position, the first body slides relative to the top portion of the second body, by way of the slide mechanism in at least one of the longitudinal and latitudinal directions, to expose the user interface, and wherein in both the open and closed positions the longitudinal axis of the first body is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second body.  
         [0011]     The slide mechanism comprises a case, a first gear rotatably mounted on a first side of the case and coupled to the first body, a second gear rotatably mounted on the second side of the case and coupled to the second body, and a third gear engaged to the first and second gears to transfer rotational movement between the first gear and the second gear.  
         [0012]     In a preferred embodiment, the slide mechanism is diagonally positioned, between the first body and the second body, in relationship to the longitudinal axes of the first body and the second body, wherein the diagonal positioning is defined by a first angle formed between imaginary first and second axes. The first axis passes through center of the first and second gears. The second axis passes through the center of the second and third gears. The first angle is approximately between 30˜40 degrees in an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, the case comprises a first bush on which the first gear is rotatably mounted; a second bush on which the second gear is rotatably mounted; and a third bush on which the third gear is rotatably mounted. The third bush is positioned between the first bush and the second bush. A first opening is defined in the first bush and a second opening is defined in the second bush.  
         [0014]     In a certain embodiment, the mobile terminal further comprises a cable for electrically connecting the first body to the second body, wherein the cable passes through the first and second openings. A cable passage preferably connects the first and second openings, providing a thorough way for the cable to pass from the first side of the case to the second side of the case.  
         [0015]     In one or more embodiments, the sliding module further comprises a cover for covering the first and second sides of the case to protect the cable and the sliding module further comprises a position maintaining unit for maintaining a slide position of the first body relative to the second body in multiple lock states. The position maintaining unit comprises a fixed ring in operational relationship with the first and second bushes, wherein a plurality of grooves are defined at an outer circumferential surface of the fixed ring.  
         [0016]     In yet another embodiment, a ball for engaging at least one of said plurality of grooves may be provided so that each groove is associated with a lock position for maintaining the slide position of the first body relative to the second body. A biasing member may be also provided for applying pressure on the ball so that the ball engages a first groove from among said plurality of grooves, when the first body slides relative to the second body in a first lock position.  
         [0017]     Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following. They also may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slide type mobile terminal in accordance with the related art.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a slide type mobile terminal in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a slide unit of the slide type mobile terminal in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a coupled perspective view of the slide unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the slide unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the slide unit of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken along line VII-VII of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a position maintaining unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a top view showing the slide unit mounted in a closed position in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 10-13  show various operational positions of the slide unit in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment, a slide type mobile terminal comprises a first body  10  having a display panel  12  and a speaker  14 . The first body  10  is slidably mounted relative to a second body  20 . The second body  20  has a key pad  22  and a battery  24 . Various function keys  16  are installed on the front surface of the first body  10 , and an antenna  28  and a microphone  26  are installed on the second body.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , said preferred embodiment may further comprise a slide unit  30  installed between the first body  10  and the second body  20  for moving the first body  10  in a longitudinal direction relative to the second body  20 , when any side of the first body  10  is pushed. The slide unit  30  includes a case  32 , a first gear  34  rotatably mounted on the case  32 , a second gear  36  rotatably mounted on the case  32 , and a third gear  38  rotatably mounted on the case  32  and positioned between the first and second gears  34  and  36 . A first receiving recess  40  for receiving the first gear  10  is formed on the front surface of the case  32 , and a first bush  42  on which the first gear  10  is rotatably mounted is installed at the center of the first receiving recess  40 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 4, 5 ,  6  and  7 , a second recess  44  for receiving the second gear  36  is formed on the rear surface of the case  32 , and a second bush  46  on which the second gear  36  is rotatably mounted is formed at the center of the second receiving recess  44 . A third receiving recess  48  for receiving the third gear  38  is formed on the case  32 , for example.  
         [0032]     In a preferred embodiment, a third bush  50  on which the third gear  38  is rotatably mounted is formed at the center of the third receiving recess  48 . The first, second and third recesses  40 ,  44  and  48  are preferably interconnected so as to allow first and second gears  34  and  36  engage third gear  38  to mutually transfer the rotation of one gear to the others as provided in more detail below.  
         [0033]     First and second through holes  52  and  54  are formed in the first bush  42  and the second bush  46 , respectively, and a cable  56  for electrically connecting the first and second bodies  10  and  20  passes through the first and second through holes  52  and  54  (see  FIG. 4 ). A first cable passage  58  through which the cable  56  passes is formed on a front surface of the case  32 , and a second cable passage  60  through which the cable  56  passes is formed at the rear surface of the case  32  (see  FIG. 6 ). A connection passage  62  connecting the first and second cable passages  58  and  60  is formed, extending through the case  32 .  
         [0034]     The cable  56  is connected to the first body  10 , passes through the first through hole  52  formed in the first bush  42 . Cable  56  then passes through the connection passage  62  by way of the second cable passages  60  formed at the rear surface of the case  32 ; and thereafter passes through the second through hole  54  formed in the second bush  46  by way of the first cable passage  58  formed at the front surface of the case  32 . Cable  56  is then connected to the second body  20 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a protecting cover  64  for preventing the cable  56  from outside exposure is mounted over the case  32 . The cover  64  comprises a first cover portion  66  for covering the front surface of the case  32 , the second through hole  54 , and the first cable passage  58 . A second cover portion  68  is integrally connected to the first cover portion  66  and bent at a right angle to cover the connection passage  62 . A third cover portion  70  extends parallel to the first cover portion  66  and covers the rear surface of the case  32 , the first through hole  52 , and the second cable passage  60 . In one embodiment, the first and third cover portions  66  and  70  have certain biasing force by way of their connection to the second cover portion  68 , so that when the cover  64  is placed over the side of the case  32 , cover  64  clamps around the case  32 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 6  and  7 , the first gear  34  is rotatably mounted on the first bush  42  and engages the third gear  38 . A plurality of engagement holes  71  are engaged to the first body  10  and are preferably formed at equal intervals in a circular direction on the front surface of the first gear  34 . The second gear  36  is rotatably mounted over the second bush  46  and engages the third gear  38  byway of an interconnecting opening formed between recesses  44  and  48 . Engagement holes  72  are engaged to the second body  20  and are formed at equal intervals in a circular direction on the front surface of the second gear  36 .  
         [0037]     A position maintaining unit  84  is installed on the slide unit  30  to allow the first and second bodies  10  and  20  to be maintained in a closed or opened state. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the position maintaining unit  84  includes a fixed ring  80  positioned at an outer circumferential surface of the second bush  46  to rotate together with the second bush  46 . A plurality of grooves  82   a ,  82   b  and  82   c  are formed in a semi-circular arrangement at an outer circumferential surface of the fixed ring  80 . A ball  86  is positioned in a mounting recess formed in the second body and selectively inserted in one of the grooves  82   a ,  82   b  and  82   c . A spring  88  provides certain elastic force to the ball  86 .  
         [0038]     The grooves  82   a ,  82   b  and  82   c  are preferably formed in the outer circumferential surface of the fixed ring  80 . When the first body  10  is in a closed state, the ball  86  is inserted in the first groove  82   a , so that the first groove  82   a  can maintain the closed state of the first body  10 . When the first body  10  opens in a longitudinal direction over the second body  20 , the ball  86  is inserted in the second groove  82   b , so that the second groove  82   b  can maintain the opened state of the first body  10  in the longitudinal direction of the second body  20 .  
         [0039]     In one embodiment, when the first body  10  is in an opened state in a latitudinal direction (i.e., sliding sideways) relative to the second body  20 , the ball  86  is inserted in the third groove  82   c , so that the third groove  82 c can maintain the opened state of the first body  10  in the latitudinal direction relative to the second body  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the position maintaining unit  84  is installed between the outer circumferential surface of the first bush  42  and the first body  10 .  
         [0040]     Alternatively, the position maintaining unit  84  can be installed between the first bush  42  and the first body  10  and between the second bush  46  and the second body  20 , for example.  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , when the first body  10  is in the closed state, the first gear  34  is diagonally mounted with respect to the second gear  36  over the length of the second body  20 . The sliding unit is constructed such that the first and second gears  34  and  36  are disposed such that a straight line connecting the center of the first gear  34  and the center of the second gear  36  forms an angle α with respect to a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the second body  20 . Preferably, the angle α is approximately between 30˜45 degrees.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , when the first body  10  is slidably moved to be opened in the longitudinal direction relative to the second body  20 , the straight line connecting the center of the first gear  34  and the center of the second gear  36  forms an angle β with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second body  20 . Preferably, the angle β is approximately between 135˜150 degrees.  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , when the first body  10  is in an open state in the latitudinal direction with respect to the second body  20 , a straight line connecting the center of the first gear  34  and the center of the second gear  36 , and the longitudinal axis of the second body  20  form an angle φ. Preferably, the angle φ is approximately between 30˜45 degrees.  
         [0044]     When the mobile terminal is in a closed state, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the slide unit  30  is disposed diagonally by the angle α over the second body  20 . In this case, the ball  86  is inserted in the first groove  82   a , so that the terminal can be maintained in the closed state. When the user pushes the right side of the first body  10 , for example as indicated by an arrow ‘P’, in order to use the mobile terminal, the first and second gears  34  and  36  are rotated in cooperation with each other by way of the third gear  38 . As a result, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the first body  10  is moved longitudinally relative to the second body  20 .  
         [0045]     When the first body  10  is completely opened in the longitudinal direction relative to the second body  20 , the ball  86  is inserted in the second groove  82   b  of the fixed ring  80 , allowing the first body  10  to be maintained in the opened state in the longitudinal direction relative to the second body  20 . In order to close the mobile terminal, the left side of the first body  10  or the top of the first body  10  can be pushed, so that the first body  10  can be closed over the second body  20 .  
         [0046]     In order to open the first body  10  in the latitudinal direction of the second body  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , the user can push the left side of the first body  10  as shown by arrow Q. Then, the first and second gears  34  and  36  of the slide unit  30  are rotated in cooperation with each other by way of the third gear  38 , allowing the first body  10  to be moved rightwardly relative to the second body  20 . In this state, the ball  86  is inserted in the third groove  82   c  so that the first body  10  can be maintained in the opened state in the latitudinal direction relative to the second body  20 .  
         [0047]     The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structure described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.