Patent Publication Number: US-7713093-B2

Title: Connecting module for mobile communication terminal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2007-0054532, filed Jun. 4, 2007. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a connecting module for use in a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a connecting module for a mobile communication terminal, wherein a universal serial bus (USB) memory or an input/output device, connected to a mobile communication terminal for use, can be selectively connected to a single connecting module provided in the mobile communication terminal, rather than requiring different exclusive connecting modules. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Initial mobile communication terminals were used for simple conversation purposes only. However, at the current state of technical development, a variety of content is accessible with a mobile communication terminal, allowing the mobile communication terminal to serve a variety of purposes. For example, in addition to a simple conversation function, each day mobile communication terminals are adapted to new functions, such as for example, as personal information storage medium enabling credit card payments, and as a moving picture experts group layer—3 Audio (MP3) player, camera, game machine, mobile image storage medium, and a video telephone. 
   The above-described mobile communication terminal must include multiple connecting ports, and various shapes of connecting modules corresponding to the connecting ports, in consideration of the above described various additional functions. Of the multiple connecting modules, in particular, to allow the mobile communication terminal to be used with a USB memory, or an input/output device used to interface a signal from an earphone, remote controller, TV, etc., which has recently grown in popularity and is occasionally connected to the mobile communication terminal for use, mobile communication terminals have recently been provided with connecting modules corresponding to the USB memory and the input/output device. 
   However, in the housing of the conventional mobile communication terminal, it must have both a USB memory connecting module and an input/output device connecting module, thereby limiting miniaturization of the mobile communication terminal, conflicting with the trend towards ever leaner and smaller mobile communication terminals. Consequently, this restriction in the installation space of the connecting modules makes it impossible to achieve fabrication of a smaller and leaner mobile communication terminal. 
   SUMMARY 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting module for a mobile communication terminal, wherein a USB memory or an input/output device, connected to the mobile communication terminal for use, can be selectively connected to a single connecting module provided in the mobile communication terminal, rather than requiring different exclusive connecting modules. 
   This and other objects are achieved by a connecting module for a mobile communication terminal comprising a housing, a first connecting terminal member, and a second connecting terminal member. The first connecting terminal member is provided in an upper region of the housing for electrically connecting to connecting terminals of a universal serial bus memory. The second connecting terminal member is provided in a lower region of the housing for electrically connecting to an input/output device. The second connecting terminal member has a different length than the first connecting terminal member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a connecting module for a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of the connecting module in  FIG. 1  in an assembled state; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic front view of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a side sectional view of the connecting module in  FIG. 1  showing a state wherein a USB memory is coupled to the connecting module; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a plan sectional view of the connecting module in  FIG. 1  showing a state wherein a USB memory is coupled to the connecting module; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a side sectional view of the connecting module in  FIG. 1  showing an input/output device coupled to the connecting module; and 
       FIG. 5   b  is a plan sectional view of the connecting module in  FIG. 1  showing an input/output device coupled to the connecting module. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
   Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides a connecting module  1  for use in a mobile communication terminal, which is provided to connect a USB memory  100  ( FIGS. 4   a - 4   b ), or an input/output device  200  ( FIGS. 5   a - 5   b ) used to interface a signal from an earphone, remote controller, TV, etc., to the mobile communication terminal. In the present invention, a USB port or the input/output device  200 , connected to the mobile communication terminal for use, can be selectively connected to a single connecting module  1  provided in the mobile communication terminal, rather than requiring different exclusive connecting modules. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the connecting module  1  includes a housing  10  consisting of a guide housing  20  and a connecting terminal housing  30 . The guide housing  20  includes an entrance/exit opening for insertion of the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200 . An outer periphery of the entrance/exit opening has an outwardly-spread guiding piece  21  to facilitate easy insertion of the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200  into the guide housing  20 . The guide housing  20  is formed at positions nearby one end thereof with retaining openings  22  to retain bosses formed at the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200  when the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200  is inserted into the housing  10 . 
   The connecting terminal housing  30  is fixedly coupled with the guide housing  20  by a fixing structure  25  as it is inserted into the guide housing  20  from the other end of the guide housing  20 . The fixing structure  25  includes a fixing piece  25   a  formed at the guide housing  20 , and a fixing recess  25   b  formed at the connecting terminal housing  30  at a position corresponding to the fixing piece  25   a . When the connecting terminal housing  30  is inserted into and fixed in the guide housing  20 , the fixing piece  25   a  and the fixing recess  25   b  of the fixing structure  25  can be firmly coupled with and fixed to each other. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of connecting terminal members  40  is received in the housing  10 . The connecting terminal members  40  are located at different heights in the housing  10  and have different lengths, such that each of them is connected with only the connecting terminals  102  of the USB memory  100  ( FIGS. 4   a - 4   b ) or connecting terminals  102  of the input/output device  200  ( FIGS. 4   a - 4   b ) when the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200  is inserted into the housing  10 . The connecting terminal members  40  include a first connecting terminal member  42  for connection with the connecting terminals  102  of the USB memory  100  and the second connecting terminal member  46  for connection with the connecting terminals  102  of the input/output device  200 . The first connecting terminal member  42  is incorporated in the connecting terminal housing  30  by a general insert injection method upon fabrication of the connecting terminal housing  30 . The second connecting terminal member  46  is inserted and fixed in the connecting terminal housing  30  such that it is located below the first connecting terminal member  42 . 
   The first connecting terminal member  42  is located in an upper region of the connecting terminal housing  30  and includes a plurality of USB memory connecting terminals  44 , which are inserted rearward from a front side of the first connecting terminal member  42 . Preferably, each of the USB memory connecting terminals  44  consists of a connecting portion  44   a  formed at a front end thereof and a coupling portion  44   b  formed at a rear end thereof. The connecting portion  44   a  has an open bottom surface to be connected with a corresponding connecting terminal  202  of the USB memory  100 . The coupling portion  44   b  is spread out laterally away from the connecting portion  44   a  so as to protrude rearward from either lateral side of the connecting terminal housing  30 . The coupling portion  44   b  is used for connection of a controller provided in the mobile communication terminal. 
   The second connecting terminal member  46  includes a plurality of input/output device connecting terminals  48 , which are configured to be fixedly inserted into a plurality of insertion openings  45  formed in the connecting terminal housing  30  below the first connecting terminal member  42 . Each of the input/output device connecting terminals  48  is firmly retained in the insertion opening  45  by a retaining structure  49 . Preferably, each of the input/output device connecting terminals  48  is shorter than each of the USB memory connecting terminals  44  such that a front end of the input/output device connecting terminals  48  is spaced apart rearward from a front end of the USB memory connecting terminals  44 , so as to be connected only with the connecting terminal  202  of the input/output device  200 . In the housing  10 , rear ends of the input/output device connecting terminal  48  and the USB memory connecting terminal  44  are located on the same line as each other, for coupling with the controller of the mobile communication terminal. 
   The retaining structure  49  preferably includes at least one retaining protrusion  49   a  formed at the input/output device connecting terminal  48  and a retaining recess  49   b  formed at a bottom surface of the insertion opening  45  at a position corresponding to the retaining protrusion  49   a . In the housing  10 , more preferably, the retaining protrusion  49   a  includes a plurality of the retaining protrusions  49   a , which are inclined in an insertion direction to assure smooth insertion of the input/output device connecting terminal  48 . 
   With the above-described configuration, when it is desired to connect the USB memory  100  to the connecting module  1  of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , the USB memory  100  is inserted into the guide housing  20 , so as to be connected with the first connecting terminal member  42  incorporated in the connecting terminal housing  30 . Specifically, the connecting terminals  102  of the USB memory  100  are inserted into the entrance/exit opening of the guide housing  20 , so as to be connected with the connecting portions  44   a  of the respective USB memory connecting terminals  44  of the first connecting terminal member  42  incorporated in the upper region of the connecting terminal housing  30 . In the connecting terminal housing  30 , the second connecting terminal member  46 , which is located below the first connecting terminal member  42 , is not connected with the connecting terminals  102  of the USB memory  100  because it is shorter than the first connecting terminal member  42  and thus, the front end thereof does not reach the connecting terminals  102  of the USB memory  100 . 
   Once the USB memory  100  is inserted into the guide housing  20  and the connecting terminal housing  30  of the connecting module  1 , the USB memory  100  can be fixed to the connecting module  1  as retaining bosses formed at the USB memory  100  are inserted into and caught by the retaining openings  22  of the guide housing  20 . Accordingly, if a signal is transmitted from the connecting terminals  102  of the USB memory  100  connected to the connecting portions  44   a , the signal is sent to the controller of the mobile communication terminal through the coupling portions  44   b , enabling reception/transmission of a desired data signal. 
   Then, when it is desired to disconnect the USB memory  100  after completing the use of the USB memory  100  connected to the connecting module  1  and to again connect the input/output device  200  to the connecting module  1  of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the input/output device  200  is inserted into the entrance/exit opening of the guide housing  20  such that the connecting terminals  202  thereof are connected to the second connecting terminal member  46  provided in the connecting terminal housing  30 . 
   Specifically, as the input/output device  200  is inserted into the entrance/exit opening of the guide housing  20 , the connecting terminals  202  of the input/output device  200  are connected to the second connecting terminal member  46  provided in the connecting terminal housing  30 . The second connecting terminal member  46  is located below the first connecting terminal member  42  and is shorter than the first connecting terminal member  42  such that the front end thereof is spaced apart rearward from the front end of the first connecting terminal member  42 . Accordingly, the connecting terminal  202  of the input/output device  200  can be connected with only the input/output device connecting terminals  48  of the second connecting terminal member  46 , rather than being connected with the USB memory connecting terminals  44 . 
   In this way, a data signal from the mobile communication terminal can be transmitted through the input/output device connecting terminals  48  connected with the connecting terminal  202  of the input/output device  200 . As described above, as a result of positioning the connecting terminal members  40  having different lengths at different heights in the connecting module  1 , the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200  can be selectively connected to the connecting module  1  as occasion demands. 
   As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides the connecting module  1  for a mobile communication terminal, wherein the USB memory  100  and the input/output device  200 , connected to the mobile communication terminal for use, can be selectively connected to a single connecting module  1  provided in the mobile communication terminal, rather than requiring different exclusive connecting modules. The connecting module  1  of the present invention can be easily installed in a minimum installation space of the mobile communication terminal, enabling the mobile communication terminal to be much smaller and leaner. 
   Further, according to the present invention, the guide housing  20  and the connecting terminal housing  30 , which constitute a single housing  10  of the connecting module  1 , can be easily and simply coupled with each other. As a result, the present invention has the effect of achieving not only rapid housing assembly, but also tight fit between the guide housing  20  and the connecting terminal housing  30 . Furthermore, when the connecting terminals  102  of the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200  are inserted into the guide housing  20 , they can be tightly coupled and fixed in the housing  10  as retaining bosses formed at the USB memory  100  or the input/output device  200  are inserted into and caught by the retaining openings  22  of the guide housing  20 . This has the effect of preventing the connecting terminals  102  of the input/output device  200  from being easily separated from the connecting module  1 . 
   The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.