Abstract:
A portable communication device that cradles a first and a second display units at a same angle, and a slide-type cradling apparatus thereof are disclosed. The portable communication device includes: a first housing; a second housing including a first display unit and facing the first housing when being slid and cradled at a known incline angle; and a third housing including a second display unit, and being introduced into the first housing before the second housing is slid and being withdrawn from the first housing after the second housing is slid such that the second housing is inclined and the third housing is inclined in an extension direction of the second housing.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of an earlier application entitled “Portable Communication Device And Slide-Type Cradling Apparatus Thereof”, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 18, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0013439, the contents of which are incorporated by reference, herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable communication device and more particularly to a communication device that includes an apparatus that enables the sliding of a first and second display unit such that the second display unit is positioned at a same angle of the first display unit so as to form an extended display. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a “portable communication device” refers to a device that can perform wireless communication with a counterpart while the user is carrying it. Such portable communication devices include a hand-held phone (HHP), a CT-2 terminal, a cellular phone, a digital phone, a personal communications service (PCS) phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA), and are classified into various types according to their outer appearances. For example, portable communication devices or wireless terminals are classified into a bar-type wireless terminal, a flip-type wireless terminal, a folder-type wireless terminal, and a slide-type wireless terminal. The above-described existing portable communication devices essentially include an antenna unit, a data input/output unit, and a data transmitting/receiving unit. Here, the data input/output unit generally is a keypad that is pressed mainly by a finger to input data. 
     A slide-type wireless terminal includes a main body having a keypad, a slide body having a display unit, and a slide module that slides the slide body from the main body. 
     However, the existing slide-type wireless terminal has the following problems. A separate cradle is used for the user to conveniently see information displayed on a display unit, causing an uneconomical problem to the user. It is known that the user substantially needs to face a display unit that is inclined to conveniently see the information displayed on a display unit. However, conventionally, without a separate cradle, the user needs to face the wireless terminal with its body being held in a hand of the user at an angle (i.e., an included position), and it is actually inconvenient for the user to see a screen displayed on the display unit of a wireless terminal held on a table or the like without a separate cradle. 
     In order to solve the above-described problems, Korean Patent No. 10-0678215 discloses a portable terminal and a slide-type cradling apparatus in detail. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the slide-type cradling apparatus  10  of a portable communication device includes a first housing  20  having a plurality of keys  21 , a second housing  30  having a display unit  31  and being cradled on the first housing  20  at an inclined angle after being slid from the first housing  20  (see  FIG. 2 ), a first member  50  provided in the first housing  20 , a second member  60  coupled to the second housing  30 , a slide guide unit  70  provided between the first and second members  50  and  60  to guide the position of the second housing  30 , and a hinge unit  80  provided in the first member  50  and the slide guide unit  70  to rotate the slide guide unit  70  about a hinge shaft A 1 . 
     However, since the existing slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device has a structure in which the second housing is slid and then inclinedly cradled to provide access to the keys of the first housing, the installation space for the keys is restricted. Moreover, since the display unit is provided in the second housing, a large-sized display unit cannot be used. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , since the existing hinge unit has a hinge arm, a rod, a cam, and a coil spring, spaces for these parts are necessary, and the large number of parts results in an increase in manufacturing costs and the number of assembling processes. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus that can make a large-size display unit, use a wide keypad, miniaturize a product by reducing the number of parts, and reduce manufacturing costs and the number of assembling processes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a portable communication device that can slide and cradle a display unit and extend and cradle another display unit at a same angle so that the display units constitutes one large-sized screen and the large-sized screen is used as a keypad. 
     The present invention also provides a portable communication device that can slide and cradle a display unit at a first angle and extend and cradle another display unit at the same angle so that a large-sized screen is created, a portion of which may be used as a touch screen. 
     The present invention also provides a portable communication device including a slide-type cradling apparatus that can be miniaturized by utilizing an inner space of a housing while reducing manufacturing costs, through a reduction in the number of assembling processes caused by reducing the number of parts using a slide-type cradling apparatus that extends a display unit introduced and withdrawn into and from the housing and inclinedly cradled at a same angle at one end of the housing. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable communication device including: a first housing; a second housing including a first display unit and facing the first housing when being slid and inclinedly cradled; and a third housing including a second display unit, and being introduced into the first housing before the second housing is slid and being withdrawn from the first housing after the second housing is slid such that the second housing is inclinedly cradled and the third housing is inclinedly cradled in an extension direction of the second housing. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device which includes a first housing, a second housing including a first display unit and facing the first housing when being slid and cradled at an angle, and a third housing including a second display unit, and being introduced into the first housing before the second housing is slid and being withdrawn from the first housing after the second housing is slid such that the second housing is cradled at an angle and the third housing is inclined cradled in an extension direction of the second housing, the slide-type cradling apparatus including: a movable plate coupled to the second housing; a first rotary link unit provided at one end of the movable plate to slidably couple the movable plate and inclinedly rotate the movable plate about a first link axis after the movable plate is slid; a second rotary link unit rotatably coupled to the first rotary link unit and rotated about a second link axis when the first rotary link unit is inclinedly rotated; and a third rotary link unit coupled to the third housing, rotatably coupled to the first housing and the second rotary link unit, and rotated to introduce or withdraw the third housing into or from the first housing when the second rotary link unit is rotated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, 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 illustrating an existing slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an operation of the slide-type cradling apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating a first rotary link unit and a hinge stopper unit of the slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating the first rotary link unit and the hinge stopper unit of the slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of the slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an initial state of a portable communication device before the slide-type cradling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is operated; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view illustrating the initial state of a portable communication device before the slide-type cradling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is operated; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a slide movement of the slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view illustrating a slide movement of the slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating a cradled state of a portable communication device after the slide-type cradling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is operated; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view illustrating a cradled state of a portable communication device after the slide-type cradling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is operated; and 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a cradled state of a portable communication device after the slide-type cradling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is operated. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that since the embodiment of the present invention described in the specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings represent merely one of the most exemplary embodiments of the present invention and does not contain all technical spirits of the present invention, there may be various modifications that can replace them at the time of the present application. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 13 , a slide-type cradling apparatus  200  of a portable communication device  100  includes first, second, and third housings  110 ,  120 , and  130 , a movable plate  210 , and first, second, and third rotary link units  220 ,  230 , and  240 . The first housing  110  faces the second housing  120 , which is slid and inclinedly cradled with respect to the first housing  110  and the third housing  130 , which can be embedded in the first housing  110  and be introduced and withdrawn into and from the first housing  110 . The second housing  120  includes a first display unit  121  and is provided on the top surface of the first housing  110  so that it can be slid and inclinedly cradled while facing the first housing  110 . The third housing  130  includes a second display unit  131  and is provided in the first housing  110  so that it is introduced into the first housing  110  before the second housing  120  is slid and is withdrawn from the first housing  110  such that the second housing  120  is slid and inclinedly cradled and the third housing  130  is inclinedly cradled as the second housing  120  extends. An introduction/withdrawal space  111  for embedding and introducing/withdrawing the third housing  130  is formed in the first housing  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 13 , the third housing  130  has a keypad (not shown) in which a plurality of keys are arranged. The first and second display units  121  and  131  (see  FIG. 9 ) are arranged in parallel to each other at the same angle to make the viewable area to comprise the combination of display units  121  and  131  when the second and third housings  121  and  131  are extended. The third housing  130  extends below the second housing  120  and is inclined at the same angle as that of the second housing  120  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the movable plate  210  is coupled to the second housing  120  such that it is slidably coupled to a first rotary link unit  220 . The first rotary link unit  220  is provided at one end of the movable plate  210  such that the movable plate  210  is slid and then rotated about the first link axis A 1  to achieve a desired inclined angle with respect to the first housing. The second rotary link unit  230  is rotatably coupled to the first rotary link unit  220  such that it is rotated about the second link axis A 2  when the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated. The third rotary link unit  240  is rotatably coupled to the first housing  110  and the second rotary link unit  230  is coupled to the third housing  130  such that the second rotary link unit  230  is rotated about the third link axis A 3  to introduce or withdraw the third housing  130  into and from the first housing  110  when the second rotary link unit  230  is rotated. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 13 , the first rotary link unit  220  ( FIG. 3 ) is rotatably coupled to the first housing  110 , and a stopper pin  270  ( FIG. 3 ) passing through a link stopper hole  224  of the first rotary link unit  220  passes through the first housing  110  and supports the first rotary link unit  220  such that the rotation of the first rotary link unit  220  is limited. A hinge stopper unit  250  provides a click feeling when the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated and achieves a desired inclined angle with respect of the first housing  110 . The hinge stopper unit  250  includes a screw coupler  251 , a hinge hole  252 , a stopper hole  253 , and at least one click recess  254 . The screw coupler  251  is screw-coupled to the first housing  110  to support the hinge stopper unit  250  and the first rotary link unit  220 . The hinge hole  252  is formed adjacent to the screw coupler  251  such that the hinge pin  260  passes through the link hinge hole  223  of the first rotary link unit  220  so that the first rotary link unit  220  can be rotated. The stopper hole  253  is formed adjacent to the hinge hole  252  such that the stopper pin  270  passes through it. The click recess  254  is adapted to engage or detach from a detachable ball  280  provided in the first rotary link unit  220  and provides a click feeling to the first rotary link unit  220  as the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the first rotary link unit  220  includes a guide mover  221 , a rotary boss  222 , a link hinge hole  223 , and a link stopper hole  224 . The guide mover  221  is coupled to one end of the movable plate  210  such that the movable plate  210  can be slid. The rotary boss  222  is formed at one end of the first rotary link unit  220  so as to be rotatably coupled to the second rotary link unit  230 . The link hinge hole  223  provides the first link axis A 1  and is formed adjacent to the guide mover  221  such that the hinge pin  260  passes through it. The stopper pin  270  passes through the link stopper hole  224 , and the link stopper hole  224  is formed adjacent to the link hinge hole  223  such that the rotation of the first rotary link unit  220  can be limited. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the ball recess  225  ( FIG. 4 ) for accommodating the detachable ball  280  and the coil spring  281  is formed adjacent to the link stopper hole  224 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a first link hole  231  rotatably coupled to the rotary boss  222  formed in the first rotary link unit  220  is formed at one end of the second rotary link unit  230 . The second link axis A 2  is formed at a central portion of the second rotary link unit  230 . The link support  232  supports the second rotary link unit  230  such that the second rotary link unit  230  can be rotated and balanced about the second link axis A 2 . A second link hole  233  rotatably coupled to a link rotating boss  241  formed in the third rotary link unit  240  is formed at the opposite end of the second rotary link unit  230 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the third rotary link unit  240  includes a link rotating boss  241  and a rotation supporting boss  242 . The link rotating boss  241  is formed at one end of the third rotary link unit  240  such that it is rotatably coupled to the second link hole  233  of the second rotary link unit  230 . The rotation supporting boss  242  provides the third link axis A 3  and is rotatably coupled to the first housing  110  to support the rotation of the third rotary link unit  240 . 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 13 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the slide-type cradling apparatus of a portable communication device  100  includes the first, second, and third housings  110 ,  120 , and  130 , the movable plate  210 , the first, second, and third rotary link units  220 ,  230 , and  240 , and the hinge stopper unit  250 . The movable plate  210  is coupled to the second housing  120 , and the hinge stopper unit  250  is coupled to the first housing  110 . Then, since the hinge stopper unit  250  has the screw coupler  251 , it is coupled to the first housing  110  using the screw coupler  251 . 
     In this state, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the guide mover  221  formed in the first rotary link unit  220  is coupled to one end of the movable plate  210  so that the movable plate  210  can be slid. At the same time, the link hinge hole  223  and the link stopper hole  224  of the first rotary link unit  220  are aligned with the link hinge hole  252  and the link stopper hole  253  of the hinge stopper unit  250 . The hinge pin  260  passes through the aligned link hinge hole  223  and hinge hole  252 , and the stopper pin  270  passes through the aligned link stopper hole  224  and stopper hole  253 . 
     Then, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , since the ball recess  225  for accommodating the detachable ball  280  and the coil spring  281  is formed adjacent to the link stopper hole  253 , the coil spring  281  and the detachable ball  280  are accommodated in the ball recess  225  and the detachable ball  280  is then inserted into the click recess  254  formed in the hinge stopper unit  250 . 
     In this state, the rotary boss  222  formed in the first rotary link unit  220  is rotatably coupled to the first link hole  231  of the second rotary link unit  230 , and the link rotating boss  241  formed in the third rotary link unit  240  is rotatably coupled to the second link hole  233  of the second rotary link unit  230 . 
     The link support  232  formed at a central portion of the second rotary link unit  230  is coupled to the first housing  110  such that it can be rotated about this point. The third rotary link unit  240  is coupled to the third housing  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 8 , the second housing  120  is slidably coupled to the first housing  110  while it is facing the top surface of the first housing  110 , and the third housing  130  is coupled to the first housing  110  such that it can be introduced into and withdrawn from the introduction/withdrawal space  111  formed in the first housing  110 . 
     In this state, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the second housing  120  is slid from the first housing  110 . Then, the movable plate  210  coupled to the second housing  120  is also slid by the guide mover  221  of the first rotary link unit  220 . 
     Here, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , when the second housing  120  is lifted from the first housing  110  to be inclinedly cradled, the movable plate  210  is inclinedly rotated together with the first rotary link unit  220 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11-13 , the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated about the first link axis A 1  by the hinge pin  260  and then the link stopper hole  224  of the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated together. The rotation of the first rotary link unit  220  is limited by the stopper pin  270  provided in the link stopper hole  224 . Then, the detachable ball  280  provided in the first rotary link unit  220  is separated from a first click recess  254  formed in the hinge stopper unit  250  and is inserted into a second click recess  254  to provide a click feeling. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , when the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated about the first link axis A 1  (see  FIG. 11 ), the guide mover  221  is lifted and the rotary boss  222  of the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated and lowered. Then, the first link hole  231  formed at one end of the second rotary link unit  230  rotatably coupled to the rotary boss  222  is also lowered. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the opposite end of the second rotary link unit  230  is lifted as the front end is lowered. The link support  232  formed at a central portion of the second rotary link unit  230  is rotated about the second link axis A 2  (see  FIG. 11 ) to lift the second link hole  233  formed at the opposite end of the second rotary link unit  230 . Since the second link hole  233  is rotatably coupled to the link rotating boss  241  formed in the third rotary link unit  240 , the third rotary link unit  240  is also lifted by the link rotating boss  241  as the second link hole  233  is lifted. 
     As described above, the second rotary link unit  230  is balanced about the second link axis A 2 , and if one side of the second rotary link unit  230  is lowered, the opposite side thereof is lifted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the rotation supporting boss  242  of the third rotary link unit  240  is rotated about the third link axis A 3  (see  FIG. 13 ), and if the rotation supporting boss  242  is rotated, the third rotary link unit  240  and the third housing  130  are rotated together. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the third housing  130  is rotated and withdrawn from the introduction/withdrawal space  111  (not shown) of the first housing  110  at the same time, and then is cradled in a direction in parallel to the second housing  120 . Thus, the second housing  120  is slid and cradled and the third housing  130  is rotated together to be inclined at the same angle as the inclined angle of the second housing  120 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the first display unit  121  provided in the second housing  120  and the second display unit  131  of the third housing  130  are arranged in parallel at a same inclined angle such that the first and second display units  121  and  131  can be used as one large-sized screen. In one aspect of the invention the large-sized screen may be used, for example, as a single display, or as a display and a keypad or as a touch screen and a keypad (not shown). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the second housing  120  is lowered toward the first housing  110  to face the first housing  110 , and then the movable plate  210  is also lowered. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the stopper pin  270  limits rotation due to the stopper hole  224  of the first rotary link unit  220 , and the detachable ball  280  is rotated to be separated from a first click recess  254  and is inserted into a second click recess  254  to provide a click feeling. Then, the first rotary link unit  220  is rotated about the first link axis A 1  and is lowered along the guide mover  221  of the first rotary link unit  220  and then the rotary boss  222  of the first rotary link unit  220  is lifted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the rotary boss  222  lifts the first link hole  231  at one end of the second rotary link unit  230  and the link support  232  of the second rotary link unit  230  is rotated and balanced (hinged) about the second link axis A 2  to lower the second link hole  233  formed at the opposite end of the second rotary link unit  230 . If the second link hole  233  is lowered, the link rotating boss  241  of the third rotary link unit  240  and the third rotary link unit  240  are lowered together. Then, the rotation supporting boss  242  of the third rotary link unit  240  is rotated about the third link axis A 3 , and the third rotary link unit  240  is lowered and the third housing  130  is introduced into the introduction/withdrawal space  111  of the first housing  110  at the same time. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the second housing  120  is slid again and is moved to the original position, facing the first and third housings  110  and  130 . 
     While the portable communication device and the slide-type cradling apparatus thereof according to the invention have been shown and described with reference to a certain exemplary embodiment 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.