Abstract:
A mobile communication terminal case according to an aspect of the invention: a case body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a support portion provided on the first surface of the case body and having a connector insertion space; and a film type antenna having a carrier film and a conductive pattern provided on the carrier film, and provided on the first surface of the case body to expose a region of the conductive pattern to the connector insertion space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-0076481 filed on Aug. 5, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to mobile communication terminal cases and mobile communication terminals, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal case that has a structure for providing a stable contact between an antenna and a board when the antenna formed on the surface of the case of the mobile communication terminal is connected to the board disposed inside the case of the mobile communication terminal, and a mobile communication terminal. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, mobile wireless terminals that separately use various kinds of bandwidths, such as CDMA, PDA, DCS, and GSM, or use all of the bandwidths, have come into widespread use. Terminals that have various kinds of functions and designs have correspondingly appeared. As the terminals have gradually been reduced in size, thickness, and weight, the diversity of the functions of the terminals has attracted attention. Therefore, emphasis is placed on reducing the volume of the terminals while the terminals maintain the function of an antenna. 
         [0006]    Particularly, in a case of an antenna, for example, a rod antenna or a helical antenna that protrudes from the outside of a terminal by a predetermined length has excellent characteristics because of omnidirectional radiation. However, the rod antenna or the helical antenna of the terminal is most susceptible to damage when it falls down, and reduces portability. Therefore, research has been conducted on an in-molding antenna that is formed integrally with a case of a mobile communication terminal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An aspect of the present invention provides a mobile communication terminal case and a mobile communication terminal that can provide a stable contact between an antenna formed on the surface of a case of a mobile communication terminal and a printed circuit board inside the case. 
         [0008]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal case including: a case body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a support portion provided on the first surface of the case body and having a connector insertion space; and a film type antenna having a carrier film and a conductive pattern provided on the carrier film, and provided on the first surface of the case body to expose a region of the conductive pattern to the connector insertion space. 
         [0009]    The support portion may include a horizontal tunnel having the connector insertion space arranged parallel to a major surface of the case body. 
         [0010]    The support portion may include a vertical tunnel having the connector insertion space perpendicular to a major surface of the case body. 
         [0011]    The first surface of the case body may be an inner surface of the mobile communication terminal case. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal including: a case body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a support portion provided on the first surface of the case body, and having a connector insertion space; a film type antenna having a carrier film, a conductive pattern provided on the carrier film, and provided on the first surface of the case body to expose a region of the conductive pattern to the connector insertion space; a circuit board provided on the support portion; and a connector at least partially inserted into the connection insertion space and in contact with the conductive pattern and the circuit board. 
         [0013]    The support portion may include a horizontal tunnel having the connector insertion space arranged parallel to a major surface of the case body. 
         [0014]    The connector may include a curved plate including: a first region in contact with the conductive pattern; and a second region in contact with the circuit board. 
         [0015]    The plate-like connector may include a protrusion provided on the first region to make a point contact between the connector and the conductive pattern. 
         [0016]    The support portion may include a vertical tunnel having the connector insertion space arranged perpendicular to a major surface of the case body. 
         [0017]    The connector may be shaped like a C-clip. 
         [0018]    The first surface of the case body may be an inner surface of the mobile communication terminal case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication terminal case according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the mobile communication terminal case according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication terminal case according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 3B through 3D  are views various examples of a connected used in the mobile communication terminal according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view illustrating a mobile communication terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view illustrating a case of a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the case of the mobile communication terminal according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a mobile communication terminal case  100  according to this embodiment may include a case body  110 , a film type antenna  120 , and a support portion  130 . 
         [0029]    The case body  110  may be formed integrally with the film type antenna  120  by using an in-molding process. That is, a carrier film  121  having the conductive pattern  122  formed thereon is inserted into a mold used to manufacture the case body. Synthetic resin for manufacturing the case body is injected into the mold to thereby manufacture the case body. In this embodiment, the conductive pattern  122  formed on the carrier film  121  may be exposed on an inner surface of the case body  110 . 
         [0030]    The film type antenna  120  may be formed on the inner surface of the case body  110 . In the film type antenna  120 , the conductive pattern  122  may be formed on the carrier film  121 . The conductive pattern  122  may be an antenna pattern. 
         [0031]    The carrier film  121  may be formed of a material that is appropriate to perform in-molding labeling (IML). Specifically, the carrier film  121  that has the conductive pattern  122  formed on one surface thereof is inserted into a mold for manufacturing a housing of the mobile communication terminal, synthetic resin used to form the housing of the mobile communication terminal is injected into the mold, and the housing is molded from the synthetic resin at optimum temperature and optimum pressure. Therefore, the material that forms the carrier film needs to be a material that does not undergo significant deformation under the pressure and temperature during the in-molding labeling, and at the same time, can be formed integrally with the housing of the mobile communication terminal. In this embodiment, the carrier film  121  may include a thin, insulating polymer material. 
         [0032]    The conductive pattern  122  may be formed by using various kinds of methods. First, a conductive pattern may be printed onto the carrier film  121  by using conductive ink. Alternatively, a desired pattern may be directly formed on the carrier film by sputtering or evaporation. The conductive pattern  122  may be a conductive pattern that is formed of previously manufactured metal foil which is then attached to the carrier film  121 . 
         [0033]    The conductive pattern  122  includes a power feeding terminal, and may additionally include a connection terminal for providing an electrical connection to an external circuit, such as a ground terminal. In this embodiment, the power feeding terminal may be exposed to a connector insertion space  131  of the support portion. 
         [0034]    The support portion  130  may be formed integrally with the case body  110  to form the connector insertion space  131 . In this embodiment, the support portion  130  may be configured as a horizontal tunnel in which the connector insertion space  131  is arranged parallel to the major surface of the case body  110 . The support portion  130  may be formed together with the case body  110  by using injection molding. 
         [0035]    A region of the conductive pattern  122  may be exposed to the connector insertion space  131 . The exposed region of the conductive pattern may be connected to a board disposed inside the case of the mobile communication terminal through a connector that is inserted into the connector insertion space  131 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a case of a mobile communication terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a mobile communication terminal case  200  according to this embodiment may include a case body  210 , a film type antenna  220 , and a support portion  230 . 
         [0038]    The case body  210  may be formed integrally with the film type antenna  220  by using in-molding labeling. That is, a carrier film having a conductive pattern formed thereon is inserted into a mold used to manufacture the case body, and synthetic resin used to form the case body is injected into the mold, thereby manufacturing the case body. In this embodiment, the conductive pattern formed on the carrier film may be exposed on an inner surface of the case body  110 . In  FIG. 2 , the carrier film and the conductive pattern that form the film type antenna  220  are not clearly separated. However, the antenna type antenna  220  and the case body  210  may be formed as described with reference to  FIG. 1B . 
         [0039]    The film type antenna  220  may be formed on the inner surface of the case body  210 . In the film type antenna  220 , the conductive pattern may be formed on the carrier film. The conductive pattern may be an antenna pattern. 
         [0040]    The carrier film may be formed of a material that is appropriate to perform in-molding labeling (IML). Specifically, the carrier film that has the conductive pattern formed on one surface thereof is inserted into a mold for manufacturing a housing of the mobile communication terminal, synthetic resin used to form the housing of the mobile communication terminal is injected into the mold, and the housing is molded from the synthetic resin at optimum temperature and optimum pressure. Therefore, the material that forms the carrier film needs to be a material that does not undergo significant deformation under the pressure and temperature during the in-molding labeling, and at the same time, can be formed integrally with the housing of the mobile communication terminal. In this embodiment, the carrier film may include a thin, insulating polymer material. 
         [0041]    The conductive pattern may be formed by using various kinds of methods. First, a conductive pattern may be printed onto the carrier film by using conductive ink. Alternatively, a desired pattern may be directly formed on the carrier film by sputtering or evaporation. The conductive pattern may be a conductor pattern that is formed of previously manufactured metal foil which is then attached to the carrier film. 
         [0042]    The conductive pattern may include a power feeding terminal, and may also include a connection terminal for providing an electrical connection to an external circuit, such as a ground terminal. In this embodiment, the power feeding terminal may be exposed to a connector insertion space  231  of the support portion. 
         [0043]    The support portion  230  may be formed integrally with the case body to form the connector insertion space  231 . In this embodiment, the support portion  230  may be configured as a vertical tunnel in which the connector insertion space  231  is formed along a perpendicular direction to a major surface of the case body. The support portion  230  may be formed together with the case body  210  by injection molding. 
         [0044]    A region of the conductive pattern of the film type antenna  220  may be exposed to the connector insertion space  231 . The exposed region of the conductive pattern may be connected to a board disposed inside the case of the mobile communication terminal by using the connector that is inserted into the connector insertion space  231 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 3B through 3D  are views illustrating various examples of a connector used in the mobile communication terminal. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3A , a mobile communication terminal  300  according to this embodiment may include a case body  310 , a film type antenna  320 , a support portion  330 , a circuit board  350 , and a connector  340 . 
         [0047]    The case body  310  may be formed integrally with the film type antenna  320  by using in-molding labeling. That is, the carrier film  321  having the conductive pattern  322  formed thereon is injected into a mold for manufacturing a case, and synthetic resin used to form the case body is injected into the mold. In this embodiment, the conductive pattern  322  formed on the carrier film  321  may be exposed on an inner surface of the case body  310 . 
         [0048]    The film type antenna  320  may be formed on the inner surface of the case body  310 . In the film type antenna  320 , the conductive pattern  322  may be formed on the carrier film  321 . The conductive pattern  322  may be an antenna pattern. 
         [0049]    The carrier film  321  may be formed of a material that is appropriate to perform in-molding labeling (IML). Specifically, the carrier film  321  having the conductive pattern  322  formed on one surface thereof is inserted into a mold for manufacturing a housing of the mobile communication terminal, synthetic resin used to form the housing of the mobile communication terminal is injected into the mold, and the housing is molded from the synthetic resin at optimum temperature and optimum pressure. Therefore, the material that forms the carrier film needs to be a material that does not undergo significant deformation under the pressure and temperature during the in-molding labeling, and at the same time, can be formed integrally with the housing of the mobile communication terminal. The carrier film  321  may include a thin, insulating polymer material. 
         [0050]    The conductive pattern  322  may be formed by using various kinds of methods. First, a conductive pattern may be printed onto the carrier film  321  by using conductive ink. Alternatively, a desired pattern may be directly formed on the carrier film by sputtering or evaporation. The conductive pattern  322  may be a conductor pattern that is formed of previously manufactured metal foil which is then attached to the carrier film. 
         [0051]    The conductive pattern  322  includes a power feeding terminal, and may additionally include a connection terminal for providing an electrical connection to an external circuit, such as a ground terminal. In this embodiment, the power feeding terminal may be exposed to a connector insertion space  331  of the support portion. 
         [0052]    The support portion  330  may be formed integrally with the case body  310  to form the connector insertion space  331 . In this embodiment, the support portion  330  may be configured as a horizontal tunnel in which the connector insertion space  331  is arranged parallel to a major surface of the case body  310 . The support portion  330  may be formed together with the case body  310  by using injection molding. 
         [0053]    A region of the conductive pattern  322  may be exposed to the connector insertion space  331 . The exposed region of the conductive pattern may be connected to the circuit board  350  disposed in the case of the mobile communication terminal by using the connector  340  inserted into the connector insertion space  331 . 
         [0054]    The circuit board  350  is disposed inside the case of the mobile communication terminal, and a plurality of elements may be mounted onto the circuit board  350 . The circuit board  350  may be supported against the inside of the case of the mobile communication terminal by the support portion  330 . 
         [0055]    The connector  340  is inserted into the connector insertion space  331  of the support portion  330 , and may be used as an electrical connection path between the conductive pattern  322  and the circuit board  350 . In this embodiment, the connector  340  may be formed into a curved plate. The connector  340  may be in contact with the region of the conductive pattern  322  that is exposed to the connector insertion space  331 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 3B , a connector  341  according to this embodiment may be configured as a curved plate. When the connector is inserted into a connector insertion region, a height of one end  341   a  of the connector may be larger than that of the support portion  330 . The curved shape of the connector allows the connector to have elasticity. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , a connector  342  according to this embodiment may be formed into a curved plate. When the connector is inserted into a connector insertion region, a height of one end  342   a  of the connector may be larger than that of the support portion  330 . The curved shape of the connector allows the connector to have elasticity. The other end  342   b  of the connector may be caught by a groove formed in the case body, and thus firmly fixed. 
         [0058]    In this embodiment, a protrusion  342   c  may be formed at a region of the connector which is in contact with the conductive pattern. The formation of the protrusion  342   c  allows a point contact between the connector and the conductive pattern to thereby increase a contact force therebetween. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 3D , a connector  343  according to this embodiment may be shaped like a curved plate. When the connector is inserted into a connector insertion region of the support portion, a height of one end  343   a  of the connector may be larger than that of the support portion  330 . The curved shape of the connector allows the connector to have elasticity. The other end  343   b  of the connector may be caught in a groove formed in the case body, and thus firmly fixed. 
         [0060]    In this embodiment, a protrusion  343   c  may be formed on a region of the connector which is in contact with the conductive pattern. The formation of the protrusion  343   c  allows a point contact between the connector and the conductive pattern to thereby increase a contact force therebetween. 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mobile communication terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a mobile communication terminal  400  according to this embodiment may include a case body  410 , a film type antenna  420 , a support portion  430 , a circuit board  450 , and a connector  440 . 
         [0063]    The case body  410  may be formed integrally with the film type antenna  420  by using in-molding labeling. That is, the carrier film  421  having a conductive pattern  422  formed thereon is inserted into a mold used to manufacture the case body. Synthetic resin for manufacturing the case body is injected into the mold to manufacture the case body. In this embodiment, the conductive pattern  422  formed on the carrier film  421  may be exposed to an inner surface of the case body  410 . 
         [0064]    The film type antenna  420  may be formed on the inner surface of the case body  410 . In the film type antenna  420 , the conductive pattern  422  may be formed on the carrier film  421 . The conductive pattern  422  may be an antenna pattern. 
         [0065]    The carrier film  421  may be formed of a material that is appropriate to perform in-molding labeling (IML). Specifically, the carrier film  421  having the conductive pattern  422  formed on one surface thereof is inserted into a mold for manufacturing a housing of a mobile communication terminal, synthetic resin used to form the housing of the mobile communication terminal is injected into the mold, and the housing is molded from the synthetic resin at optimum temperature and optimum pressure. Therefore, the material that forms the carrier film needs to be a material that does not undergo significant deformation under the pressure and temperature during the in-molding labeling, and at the same time, can be formed integrally with the housing of the mobile communication terminal. The carrier film  421  may include a thin, insulating polymer material. 
         [0066]    The conductive pattern  422  may be formed by using various kinds of methods. First, a conductive pattern may be printed onto the carrier film  421  by using conductive ink. Alternatively, a desired pattern may be directly formed on the carrier film by sputtering or evaporation. The conductive pattern  422  may be a conductive pattern that is formed of previously manufactured metal foil which is then attached to the carrier film  421 . 
         [0067]    The conductive pattern  422  includes a power feeding terminal, and may additionally include a connection terminal for providing an electrical connection to an external circuit, such as a ground terminal. In this embodiment, the power feeding terminal may be exposed to a connector insertion space  431  of the support portion. 
         [0068]    The support portion  430  may be formed integrally with the case body  410  to form the connector insertion space  431 . In this embodiment, the support portion  430  may have a horizontal tunnel in which the connector insertion space  431  is arranged parallel to a major surface of the case body  410 . The support portion  430  may be formed together with the case body  410  using injection molding. 
         [0069]    A region of the conductive pattern  422  may be exposed to the connector insertion space  431 . The exposed region of the conductive pattern may be connected to a board disposed inside the case of the mobile communication terminal by using a connector that is inserted into the connector insertion space  431 . 
         [0070]    The circuit board  450  is disposed inside the case of the mobile communication terminal, and a plurality of elements (not shown) may be mounted therein. The circuit board  450  may be supported against the inside of the case of the mobile communication terminal by the support portion  430 . 
         [0071]    The connector  440  is inserted into the connector insertion space  431  of the support portion  430 , and may be used as an electrical connection path between the conductive pattern  422  and the circuit board  450 . In this embodiment, the connector  440  may be formed into a C-clip. The connector  440  has one end that may be in contact with the region of the conductive pattern  422  that is exposed to the connector insertion space  441 . 
         [0072]    As set forth above, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, a mobile communication terminal case and a mobile communication can provide a stable contact between a film type antenna formed on the surface of the case of the mobile communication terminal and a board disposed inside the mobile communication terminal. 
         [0073]    While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.