Abstract:
A sliding swing apparatus of a portable apparatus having a body and a sliding housing adapted to be exposed/covered through sliding and swing motions while facing the body including a guide means mounted on a base, a swing shaft adapted to slide while being contained in the guide means, a sliding plate adapted to slide along the longitudinal direction of the base by means of the guide means, a force supply means positioned between the sliding plate and the guide means and adapted to provide a stopping force in the initial and final positions and an opening or closing force between the initial and final positions; and a swing plate connected to the swing shaft, the rotational motion of the swing plate being limited by the guide means during the sliding movement, and the swing plate being adapted to swing only after the sliding movement is completely performed.

Description:
PRIORITY 
   This application claims priority to an application entitled “Sliding Swing Apparatus for Portable Apparatus” filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jul. 30, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-60306, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to digital portable apparatuses including cellular phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), HHPs (hand held phones), MP3 phones, game phones, camera phones, Internet phones, and communication apparatuses combining them, and more particularly to a sliding swing apparatus for a portable apparatus adapted to perform a sliding motion in combination with a swing motion so that displayed information can be viewed conveniently. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In general, a “portable communication apparatus” refers to an electronic apparatus, which a user can carry with him to perform wireless communication with a desired partner. In consideration of portability, designs of such portable communication apparatuses tend to not only be compact, slim, and light, but also have greater multimedia availability, with a wider variety of functions. In particular, future portable communication apparatuses are expected to incorporate greater multi-functionality and multi-purpose utilization, as well as becoming even more compact and light, but also will be modified to be suitable for various multimedia environments or Internet environments. Additionally, such portable communication apparatuses are now commonly used by all kinds of people throughout the world and are recognized by some people as a nearly indispensable part of life. 
   Conventional portable communication apparatuses may be classified into various types according to their appearance, such as bar-type portable communication apparatuses, flip-type portable communication apparatuses, and folder-type portable communication apparatuses. In addition, portable communication apparatuses may be classified into neck wearable type communication apparatuses and wrist wearable type communication apparatuses according to the position at or the way in which a user puts on the communication apparatuses. Furthermore, portable communication apparatuses may be classified into swing-type communication apparatuses and sliding-type communication apparatuses according to ways of opening and closing the communication apparatuses. These variously classified portable communication apparatuses can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. 
   Meanwhile, conventional portable communication apparatuses now tend to have a function of transmitting data at a high speed in addition to the basic function of performing voice communication. In other words, according to the increase of demand by consumers, portable communication apparatuses now tend to provide a service using a wireless communication technology capable of transmitting data at a high speed. 
   According to current trends, conventional portable communication apparatuses are equipped with a camera lens to transmit video signals. Portable communication apparatuses generally have an external or embedded camera lens module to perform video communication with a desired partner or to take pictures of a desired object. 
   However, conventional sliding-type portable communication apparatuses, such as those disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2002-71911 commonly assigned with this application (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference), is adapted to slide only in one direction from the body and only one display device is fixedly mounted on the housing. 
   As such, conventional portable communication apparatuses are inconvenient for watching videos or TVs through the display device. This is because the display device must have a larger display screen in order to display information in a TV or video-watching mode. Accordingly, there is a need for a portable apparatus capable of performing a sliding motion in combination with a swing motion and a sliding swing apparatus for the same. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sliding swing apparatus having a sliding function in combination with a swing function for use in a sliding swing type portable apparatus. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a sliding swing apparatus adapted to implement a swing movement after a complete sliding movement. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sliding swing apparatus maximizing slimness. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sliding swing apparatus adapted to make smooth sliding and swing movements in a TV or video-watching mode so that the displayed screen can be watched conveniently. 
   In order to accomplish this object, there is provided a sliding swing apparatus of a portable apparatus having a body and a sliding housing adapted to be exposed/covered through sliding and swing motions while facing the body, the sliding swing apparatus including a base constrained by the body, a first guide means mounted on the base, a second guide means positioned adjacently to the first guide means, a swing shaft adapted to slide by means of the second guide means, a sliding plate adapted to slide along the longitudinal direction of the base while continuously facing the base by means of the first guide means, a force supply means positioned between the sliding plate and the second guide means and adapted to provide a stopping force in the initial position, a closing force between the initial position and within a first sliding distance, an opening force between out of the first sliding distance and the final position, and a stopping force in the final position, and a swing plate connected to the swing shaft, while being constrained by the sliding housing, and positioned in such a manner that it faces the sliding plate to provide tension between each other, the swing plate being adapted to be rotated only when a compulsive force larger than the tension is applied while facing the sliding plate at a first rotation angle. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sliding swing apparatus of a portable apparatus having a body and a sliding housing adapted to be exposed/covered through sliding and swing motions while facing the body, the sliding swing apparatus including a guide means mounted on a base, a swing shaft adapted to slide while being contained in the guide means, a sliding plate adapted to slide along the longitudinal direction of the base by means of the guide means, a force supply means positioned between the sliding plate and the guide means and adapted to provide a stopping force in the initial and final positions and an opening or closing force between the initial and final positions, and a swing plate connected to the swing shaft, the rotational motion of the swing plate being limited by the guide means during the sliding movement, and the swing plate being adapted to swing only after the sliding movement is completely performed. 
   In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sliding swing apparatus of a portable apparatus having a body and a sliding housing adapted to be exposed/covered through sliding and swing motions while facing the body, the sliding swing apparatus including a sliding plate adapted to slide along a guide constrained by a base, a force supply means positioned between the sliding plate and the guide and adapted to provide a stopping force in first and second positions and an opening or closing force between the first and second positions; and a swing plate adapted to accompany the sliding plate as one unit during linear sliding together with the sliding plate by means of the guide, the rotational motion of the swing plate being limited during the sliding, and the swing plate being adapted to swing only after the sliding movement ends. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a sliding swing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view showing a sliding swing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a guide rail of a siding swing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the guide rail shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line X-X of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a swing shaft of a sliding swing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a sliding swing apparatus having a sliding plate, which is equipped with a roller using a tension spring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8A  is a front view showing a tension spring before a movement of a sliding plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8B  is a front view showing a tension spring after a movement of a sliding plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a front view showing a guide rail before and after a swing of a swing shaft according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10A  is a front view showing a sliding swing apparatus before a movement of a sliding plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10B  is a front view showing a sliding swing apparatus after a movement of a sliding plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a front view showing a sliding swing apparatus after a swing of a swing plate after a movement of a sliding plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a front view showing a portable apparatus equipped with a sliding swing apparatus after a sliding of a sliding swing housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 13  is a front view showing a portable apparatus equipped with a sliding swing apparatus after a swing of a sliding swing housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a sliding swing apparatus for use in a sliding swing type portable apparatus according to the present invention includes a base  10 , first guide means (explained below) positioned on both sides of the base  10 , a second guide means  20  positioned adjacent to the first guide means, a swing shaft  30  adapted to slide by means of the second guide means  20 , a sliding plate  40  constrained by the first guide means and adapted to slide while continuously facing the base  10 , a force supply means (not shown) positioned between the sliding plate  40  and the second guide means  20  to provide the sliding plate  40  with a sliding force; and a swing plate  50  adapted to swing while facing the sliding plate  40 . The force supply means, which includes an elastic body and a rolling member (not shown in the drawings), will be described later in detail. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the swing plate  50  has a number of tension protrusions  51  to  54  to maintain tension between the sliding plate  40  and the swing plate  50 . The swing plate  50  remains stationary on the sliding plate  40  and, if an external constant force larger than the tension is applied, swings while facing the latter at a first rotation angle. The tension protrusions  51  to  54  are made by pressing and bending predetermined parts of the swing plate. 
   The sliding plate  40  is adapted to slide along a pair of guide rods  15  and  16 . The swing plate  50  proceeds to swing after completing a sliding movement on the sliding plate  40 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first guide means includes a pair of guide grooves  11  and  12  recessed from the base  10  the length of the sliding distance of the sliding plate  40  between its initial and final positions, a pair of guide rods  15  and  16  having both ends fixed by laser welding in such a manner that they traverse the pair of guide grooves  11  and  12 , and a pair of fastening portions  41  and  42  made by bending both ends of the sliding plate  40  in such a manner they surround a predetermined length of the pair of guide rods  15  and  16  and adapted to slide along the pair of guide rods  15  and  16 . The base  10  has fine holes formed adjacently to the pair of guide grooves  11  and  12  so that both ends of the pair of guide rods  15  and  16  can be welded thereto. The pair of guide grooves  11  and  12  extend linearly and provide the pair of fastening portions  41  and  42  with a space to move therein. 
   The second guide means  20  according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the second guide means  20  includes guide rails of light aluminum alloy material. Specifically, the guide means  20  includes a pair of first guide rails  210  and  220  formed on both lateral surfaces thereof, respectively, and a pair of second guide rails  230  and  234  formed on the upper surface thereof and positioned between the pair of first guide rails  210  and  220 . 
   The first guide rails  210  and  220  have first stop grooves  212  and  222  for determining the initial position of the sliding plate  40 , second stop grooves  218  and  228  for determining the final position of the sliding plate  40 , first slant surfaces  214  and  224  gradually extending away from the first stop grooves  212  and  222  perpendicularly to the sliding direction, and second slant surfaces  216  and  226  gradually approaching the second stop grooves  218  and  228  from the first slant surfaces  214  and  224  perpendicularly to the sliding direction. Preferably, curved portions are formed between the first stop grooves  212  and  222  and the first slant surfaces  214  and  224 , between the first slant surfaces  214  and  224  and the second slant surfaces  216  and  226 , and between the second slant surfaces  216  and  226  and the second stop grooves  218  and  228 , respectively, so that the sliding plate  40  can slide smoothly thereon. 
   In addition, rolling grooves  240  and  242  of a predetermined depth are continuously positioned between the first stop grooves  212  and  222  and the second stop grooves  218  and  228  in order to support the rolling guide movement of a rolling member which will be described later. 
   The second guide rails  230  and  234  include a first guide groove  236  recessed a predetermined depth from the upper surface thereof so that the swing shaft can slide therein and a second guide groove  235  recessed a predetermined depth from the first guide groove  236  to limit the swing motion of the swing plate during sliding. Both ends of the first guide groove  236  are of a semi-cylindrical shape, which corresponds to that of the swing shaft. The second guide groove  235  linearly extends for the length of the sliding distance. 
   The second guide rail  234  preferably has a circular opening  230  through which a flexible circuit (not shown) passes and a swing opening  232  formed along the outer periphery of the opening  230 . The principle of operation of the swing opening  232  will be described later. 
   The construction of the swing shaft  30  according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The upper end of the swing shaft  30  is integrated to the swing plate by laser welding. The swing shaft  30  has a stopper S formed on the lower end thereof and an opening formed in the opposite direction to the stopper S. As will be described later, the stopper S limits the amount of rotation of the swing plate  30  and prevents the swing movement during the sliding movement. A flexible circuit (not shown) passes through the opening. The lower end of the swing shaft  30  is guided to slide on the second guide groove  236 . 
   A rotation limitation means of the swing shaft  30  according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 . When the swing shaft  30  and the swing plate  50  are assembled to each other, the stopper S of the swing plate slides along the second guide rail  234  as the sliding plate  40  slides. 
   When the sliding movement of the sliding plate  40  ends as shown in  FIG. 9 , the stopper S is positioned on an end  232   a  of the swing opening  232 . As the swing plate is rotated, the stopper S is rotated to the other end  232   b  of the swing opening  232 . As such, the rotational movement of the stopper S is guided by the swing opening  232 , and this limits the rotation of the swing plate. It is to be noted that, although the length of the swing opening  232  along the outer peripheral direction is shown to correspond to a rotational angle of 90° in the drawing, the length may correspond to a different rotational angle. 
   A semi-automatic sliding force supply means according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 8B . As shown in  FIGS. 7 to 8B , the force supply means provides a stopping force in the initial position P 1 , a closing force within the region of P 2 , an opening force within the region of P 3 , and a stopping force in the final position P 4 . 
   Specifically, the force supply means includes a pair of elastic bodies  410  and  420  and a pair of rolling members  430  and  440  adapted to roll while sliding and continuously being forced against the first guide rails  210  and  220  by a force from the pair of elastic bodies  410  and  420 . The pair of elastic bodies  410  and  420  are made of torsion springs. The torsion springs  410  and  420  have fixed ends  411  and  421  constrained by the sliding plate, free ends  413  and  423  adapted to be guided along the lateral surface of the first guide rails  210  and  220 , and center portions  412  and  422  positioned between the fixed ends  411  and  421  and the free ends  413  and  423  and fixed at the sliding plate  40  to provide a predetermined trajectory according to the sliding movement. The rolling members  430  and  440  are provided on the free ends  413  and  423  and are adapted to roll on the rolling grooves  240  and  242  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) formed on the lateral surface of the first guide rails  210  and  220 . The rolling members  430  and  440  are made of light metallic material. 
     FIG. 10A  shows a state before a sliding of the sliding plate (hidden by the swing plate  50 ). The rolling members are positioned in the first stop grooves  212  and  222  in  FIG. 10A .  FIG. 10B  is a front view showing a state after a complete sliding of the sliding plate (hidden by the swing plate  50 ). The rolling members have passed through the first and second slant surfaces  214 ,  224 ,  216 , and  226  are positioned in the second stop grooves  218  and  228  and the stopper (shown in  FIG. 9 ) is positioned on an end of the swing opening in  FIG. 10B .  FIG. 11  is a front view showing a state after a complete swing of the swing plate. The stopper (shown in  FIG. 9 ) has traveled along the swing opening and is positioned on the other end of the swing opening in  FIG. 11 . 
   The operation of the portable apparatus equipped with the sliding swing apparatus according to the present invention will now be described. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the portable apparatus includes a body  1  and a sliding swing housing  2  adapted to travel on the body  1 . The body  1  has a first keypad  6  adapted to be exposed/covered according to whether the sliding swing housing  2  has slid or not and a second keypad  8  adapted to be exposed/covered according to whether the sliding swing housing  2  has swung or not. 
     FIG. 12  shows a state after the sliding swing housing  2  has slid in a linear direction. The sliding swing housing  2  has linearly slid on the body  1  while continuously facing the latter.  FIG. 13  shows a state after the sliding swing housing  2  has swung about 90°. The sliding swing housing  2  has swung on the body  1  while continuously facing the latter. The sliding swing housing  2  has a first speaker  3  device positioned on the upper surface thereof, a display device  5  positioned adjacently to the first speaker device  3 , a third keypad  7  positioned adjacently to the display device  5 , and a second speaker device  4  positioned adjacently to the third keypad  7 . The first and second speaker devices  3  and  4  provide a stereoscopic sound. 
   It is convenient to watch a displayed screen, such as a TV or a video, in a state as shown in  FIG. 13 . This is because the display device  5 , which displays a screen, and the first and second speaker devices  3  and  4  are positioned in such a manner that the displayed screen can be watched in a widescreen mode and listened to in stereo. 
   As mentioned above, the sliding swing apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to watch the displayed screen in a stable and convenient manner in a TV or video-watching mode. In addition, it is possible to avoid the erroneous operation of the sliding swing housing and make the apparatus in a slim size by realizing a swing motion after a sliding movement. 
   While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.