Patent Publication Number: US-2015080064-A1

Title: Satellite terminal cradle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
     The present invention relates to a cradle for satellite terminals, and more particularly, to a cradle for satellite terminals, which has an improved structure to allow an existing cradle to be replaced by a new cradle such that the new cradle can be used for an existing satellite terminal when a smartphone terminal is changed. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A satellite terminal using a satellite as a communication means has been widespread since it has an advantage of making a call regardless of locations such as the sea, the sky, mountains, valleys, etc. 
     A general satellite communication terminal includes a satellite antenna, a satellite communication module for performing satellite communication, a controller for controlling operation of the satellite communication terminal, a key input unit for receiving an operation signal from a user, a display for displaying an operating state, a microphone for detecting a user voice signal, a loudspeaker for outputting a voice signal to a user, and a memory for storing program information of the satellite communication terminal, user setting information, phone numbers, etc. 
     Recently, there has been proposed a combination terminal achieved by adding a wireless communicator to a satellite terminal such that a terrestrial communication network can be used for communication. 
     With recent development of technology, a mobile terminal using the terrestrial communication network has been rapidly developed and a smartphone has been rapidly introduced as a new mobile terminal which provides advantages of a mobile terminal mainly used for making a call and a personal mobile terminal (e.g., a personal digital assistant (PDA)). 
     Such a smartphone enables schedule management, data communication such as facsimile transmission and Internet access, and multimedia function in addition to a general call function. On the contrary to existing mobile terminals which are released as complete products and employ only given functions, the smartphone is capable of adding or deleting hundreds of various applications as desired by a user. 
     Further, there have recently been proposed technologies of using a smartphone for satellite communication by combining the smartphone and a satellite terminal and installing an interface for satellite communication. 
     To this end, a cradle is used to physically combine and fasten the smartphone with the satellite terminal. 
       FIG. 1  is a view of a satellite terminal with a typical cradle. As shown therein, a satellite terminal  400  is provided at a front lower portion thereof with a microphone  520  receiving a caller&#39;s voice and at a front upper portion thereof with a loudspeaker  510  outputting voice to the caller. Further, a cradle  500  is integrally placed on the front side of the satellite terminal  400  such that a smartphone  600  can be physically coupled to the cradle  500 . 
     However, the cradle  500  integrally formed with the satellite terminal  400  is limited by a shape of a certain terminal and thus has a problem in that another smartphone having a different shape from that of the cradle  500  cannot be supported and used on the cradle  500  of the satellite terminal  400 . 
     In addition, when a user has a new smartphone  600 , there is a problem in that the old satellite terminal  10  cannot be used. 
     Moreover, since various models of the satellite terminal  400  having the cradle  500  of various shapes are supplied, there are problems such as a complicated manufacturing process and increase in manufacturing costs. 
     The background technique of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 1997-012567A. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention has been conceived to solve such problems in the art and it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a cradle for satellite terminals, which has an improved structure to allow an existing cradle to be replaced by a new cradle such that the new cradle can be used for an existing satellite terminal when a smartphone terminal is changed. 
     Technical Solution  
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a cradle for the satellite terminal include: a first cradle provided to a satellite terminal and formed with at least one coupling block; and a second cradle receiving a smartphone terminal and formed at one side thereof with a block coupling portion to be coupled to the coupling block of the first cradle. 
     The first cradle may be an outer casing of the satellite terminal. 
     The first cradle may include a first cradle body; and a block protruding from an outer surface of the first cradle body and having a convex-concave pattern. 
     The first cradle may include a microphone portion protruding from a lower portion of the first cradle body; and a loudspeaker portion protruding from an upper portion of the first cradle body. 
     The second cradle may include a second cradle body fat formed with a smartphone receiving recess on which a smartphone terminal is seated; and a block coupling portion formed with a plurality of coupling holes at one side of the second cradle body such that the block is inserted into the block coupling portion. 
     The second cradle may include a microphone portion receiving groove formed at a lower portion of the second cradle body and receiving a microphone portion; and a loudspeaker portion receiving groove formed at an upper portion of the second cradle body and receiving a loudspeaker portion. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a cradle for satellite terminals includes: a first cradle having an accommodating space in which a smartphone terminal is accommodated, and formed in different shapes depending upon the kind of smartphone terminal; a second cradle having a rear surface on which the first cradle formed in different shapes depending upon the kind of smartphone terminal is seated and supported, and supplying power or various electric signals to various smartphone terminals; and a coupler coupling the first cradle and an auxiliary device with each other, wherein the coupler includes a plurality of fitting grooves formed on a rear surface of the first cradle, and a plurality of fitting bosses formed on the auxiliary device so as to be press-fitted into the fitting grooves. 
     The fitting grooves and the fitting bosses may be arranged to have preset spaces in length and breadth directions on the first cradle and the auxiliary device so as to be press-fitted in a fitting manner of Legos®. 
     Each of the fitting bosses may have an oblique fitting face formed along a circumferential edge thereof so as to be easily fitted into the fitting groove, and each of the fitting grooves may have an oblique receiving face formed along an inner circumferential edge thereof corresponding to the oblique fitting face so as to easily receive the fitting boss. 
     The first cradle may be coupled to the second cradle by an auxiliary coupler, and the auxiliary coupler may include at least one auxiliary fitting groove formed on the rear surface of the first cradle, and an auxiliary fitting boss formed on a front surface of the second cradle to be fitted into the auxiliary fitting groove. 
     Each of the cradle and the auxiliary device may be formed with a separation groove on a lateral side thereof to facilitate separation of the cradle from the auxiliary device. 
     The cradle may be formed with a disassembly groove helping separation of the smartphone terminal. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the present invention, when a smartphone terminal is changed, only an existing cradle can be replaced by a new cradle such that the new cradle can be used for an existing satellite terminal. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a satellite terminal with a conventional cradle. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a cradle for satellite terminals according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled perspective view of the cradle for satellite terminals according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a cradle for satellite terminals according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view of the cradle for satellite terminals according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE  
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not to precise scale and may be exaggerated in thickness of lines or size of components for descriptive convenience and clarity only. In addition, the terms used herein are defined by taking functions of the present invention into account and can be changed according to user or operator custom or intention. Therefore, definition of the terms should be made according to the overall disclosure set forth herein. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a cradle for satellite terminals according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is an assembled perspective view of the cradle for satellite terminals according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a cradle for satellite terminals  100  according to a first embodiment includes a first cradle  110  and a second cradle  120 . 
     The first cradle  110  is provided to a satellite terminal  200  such that the second cradle  120  can be selectively attached to and detached from the first cradle  110 . The first cradle  110  includes a first cradle body  111 , blocks  112 , a microphone portion  113 , and a loudspeaker portion  114 . 
     The first cradle body  111  is a member having a rectangular shape, which forms an outer casing of the satellite terminal  200 . 
     The blocks  112  are convex-concave patterns protruding a predetermined length from the outer surface of the first cradle body  111  and are formed at regular intervals. 
     The microphone portion  113  is formed by disposing a microphone (not shown) of the satellite terminal  200  to protrude a predetermined length and be placed at a lower portion of the first cradle body  111  such that the microphone can be placed near a user after installation of the second cradle  120 . 
     In addition, the microphone portion  113  is partially coupled to a lower portion of the second cradle  120  fastened to the first cradle through the blocks  112 , thereby preventing the second cradle  120  from shaking. 
     The loudspeaker portion  114  is formed by disposing a loudspeaker (not shown) of the satellite terminal  200  to protrude a predetermined length and be placed at an upper portion of the first cradle body  111  such that the loudspeaker can be placed near a user after installation of the second cradle  120 . 
     In addition, the loudspeaker portion  114  is partially coupled to an upper portion of the second cradle  120  fastened to the first cradle through the blocks  112 , thereby preventing the second cradle  120  from shaking. 
     The second cradle  120  supports a predetermined smartphone terminal  300  to be held by the satellite terminal  200 . The second cradle  120  is formed of a plastic resin, and includes a second cradle body  121 , a smartphone receiving recess  122 , a block coupling portion  123 , a microphone portion receiving groove  124  and a loudspeaker portion receiving groove  125 . 
     The second cradle body  121  is a plate member having a rectangular shape and formed with the smartphone receiving recess  122  such that the smartphone terminal  300  having a predetermined shape along the circumferential edge thereof can be seated thereon. 
     The smartphone receiving recess  122  is formed in a predetermined size and is open forwards such that the smartphone terminal  300  can be seated thereon. 
     A plurality of block coupling portions  123  is formed through the second cradle body  121  at locations corresponding to the blocks  112  so as to be coupled to the plurality of blocks  112  formed on the first cradle body  111 . 
     That is, the block coupling portions  123  are press-fitted into the blocks  112  formed on the first cradle body  111  such that the second cradle  120  can be secured to the first cradle  110 . 
     The microphone portion receiving groove  124  allows the microphone portion  113  of the first cradle  110  to be placed at the lower portion of the second cradle body  121 , whereby the microphone portion  113  can be disposed to penetrate the second cradle body  121  while more firmly supporting the second cradle  120 . 
     The loudspeaker portion receiving groove  125  allows the loudspeaker portion  114  of the first cradle  110  to be placed at the upper portion of the second cradle body  121 , whereby the loudspeaker portion  114  can be disposed to penetrate the second cradle body  121  while being brought into close contact with the second cradle  120  to prevent the second cradle from shaking and more firmly supporting the first cradle  110  together with the microphone receiving groove  124 . 
     Next, a process of assembling the cradle for satellite terminals according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     In the cradle  100  for satellite terminals, the first cradle  110  is provided to the satellite terminal  200  for satellite communication and is formed with the plurality of blocks  112  having a plurality of convex-concave patterns at the center thereof. 
     In use of a certain smartphone terminal  300  held by the satellite terminal  200 , the smartphone terminal  300  is seated on the second cradle  120 , which in turn is closely attached to the first cradle  110  such that the blocks  112  can be press-fitted into the block coupling portions  123 . 
     In addition, for more firm coupling, the microphone portion receiving groove  124  and the loudspeaker portion receiving groove  125  of the second cradle  120  are brought into close contact with the microphone portion  113  and the loudspeaker portion  114  of the first cradle  110 , respectively. 
     Then, when a user&#39;s smartphone terminal  300  is replaced by a new smartphone terminal, an existing second cradle  120  is separated and a new second cradle  120  for holding the new smartphone terminal is attached to the first cradle  110 , whereby the new smartphone terminal  300  can be supported and used on the satellite terminal  200 . 
     Although the smartphone terminal is changed, the smartphone terminal can be used on the satellite terminal, regardless of the shape of the smartphone terminal, by replacing only the second cradle made of a plastic material. 
     Next, a cradle for satellite terminals according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a cradle for satellite terminals according to a second embodiment of the invention;  FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view of the cradle for satellite terminals according to the second embodiment of the invention;  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5 ; and  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , a cradle for satellite terminals according to a second embodiment of the invention includes a first cradle  20 , a second cradle  30 , and a coupler  40 . 
     The first cradle  20  includes an accommodating space  22  in which a smartphone terminal  10  is accommodated, and is formed in different shapes depending upon the kind of smartphone terminal  10 . The first cradle  20  is disposed between the smartphone terminal  10  and the second cradle  30 . 
     The first cradle  20  may have various front structures corresponding to different shapes of the accommodating spaces  22  depending upon the kinds, models and manufacturers of smartphone terminals  10 . 
     However, a rear structure of the first cradle  20  is not changed since the second cradle  30  will be universally used. 
     The second cradle  30  has a rear surface, on which the first cradle  20  formed in different shapes depending upon the kind of smartphone terminal  10  is stably supported, and supplies power or various electric signals to various smartphone terminals  10 . 
     The second cradle  30  can receive a high-capacity battery, a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) unit, and the like. 
     Since the rear structure of the first cradle  20  is not changed even though the front structure of the first cradle  20  is changed corresponding to the smartphone terminal  10 , it is possible to achieve universal use of the second cradle  30  corresponding to one model. 
     That is, the first cradle  20  is a very inexpensive component formed of a plastic material and can be immediately changed and manufactured when version-up of the smartphone terminal  10  is achieved. At this time, since the rear structure of the first cradle  20  is not changed even in the case where the front structure thereof is changed, the version-up first cradle  20  can be directly coupled to the universally usable second cradle  30  and used. 
     The coupler  40  couples the first cradle  20  to the second cradle  30 . 
     The coupler  40  includes a plurality of fitting grooves  42  formed on the rear surface of the first cradle  20  and a plurality of fitting bosses  46  formed on the second cradle  30  so as to be press-fitted into the fitting grooves  42 . 
     The fitting grooves  42  and the fitting bosses  46  are arranged to have preset spaces in length and breadth directions on the first cradle  20  and the auxiliary device  30  so as to be press-fitted in a fitting manner of a set of Legos®. 
     The fitting grooves  42  may have a blind-hole shape open downward and blocked at an upper side thereof, or a through-hole shape penetrated vertically. 
     The fitting grooves  42  and the fitting bosses  46  may have a circular or polygonal cross-section. In this embodiment, the fitting grooves  42  and the fitting bosses  46  have a circular cross-section. 
     Each of the fitting bosses  46  has an oblique fitting face  48  formed along a circumferential edge thereof so as to be easily inserted into the fitting groove  42 . 
     Each of the fitting grooves  42  has an oblique receiving face  44  formed along an inner circumferential edge thereof corresponding to the oblique fitting face  48  so as to easily receive the fitting boss  46 . 
     That is, even though the fitting grooves  42  and the fitting bosses  46  are not aligned with each other when coupling the first cradle  20  and the second cradle  30  to each other, the oblique fitting face  48  and the oblique receiving face  44  serve to align the fitting grooves  42  and the fitting bosses  46  with each other such that the fitting grooves  42  and the fitting bosses  46  can be correctly assembled to each other. 
     Since the pluralities of fitting grooves  42  and fitting bosses  46  are coupled in a fitting manner of Lego toys, the fitting grooves and the fitting bosses are not easily separated, but can be conveniently separated when they have to be separated. 
     An outer diameter of the fitting bosses  46  is little larger than an inner diameter of the fitting grooves  42  such that the fitting bosses can be slightly press-fitted into the fitting grooves  42 . 
     The first cradle  20  includes an auxiliary coupler  50  for secondarily fastening the second cradle  30 . 
     The auxiliary coupler  50  includes at least one auxiliary fitting groove  52  formed on the rear surface of the first cradle  20 , and an auxiliary fitting boss  54  formed on the front surface of the second cradle  30  so as to be fitted into the auxiliary fitting groove  52 . 
     Two pairs of auxiliary fitting grooves  52  and auxiliary fitting bosses  54  may be formed on upper and lower sides of the first and second cradles  20 ,  30 , respectively. Alternatively, a pair of auxiliary fitting groove and auxiliary fitting boss may be formed on the upper or lower side thereof, as needed. 
     Further, each of the first cradle  20  and the second cradle  30  is provided at a lateral side thereof with a separation groove  60  to facilitate separation of the first and second cradles  20 ,  30 . 
     The separation groove  60  may be formed in a slit shape on one or both lateral sides of the first cradle  20  and the second cradle  30  such that a user&#39;s fingertip can be inserted into the separation groove. 
     The separation groove  60  may be formed only on one of the first cradle  20  and the second cradle  30 . 
     The first cradle  20  is provided with a disassembly groove  70  that helps separation of the smartphone terminal  10 . 
     The disassembly groove  70  is formed in a cutaway shape on one or both lateral sides of the first cradle  20 . 
     Next, operation of the cradle for satellite terminals according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First, first cradles  20  are separately fabricated according to the kind of smartphone terminal  10 . In this case, the first cradle  20  is formed to have a rear structure corresponding to a second cradle  30  which will be universally used without replacement. 
     Among various first cradles  20 , a first cradle  20  corresponding to a certain smartphone terminal  10  is coupled to the second cradle  30 . 
     When the fitting bosses  46  of the second cradle  30  are inserted into the fitting grooves  42  of the first cradle  20 , the oblique fitting faces  48  of the fitting bosses  46  slide along the oblique receiving face  44  of the fitting grooves  42  to allow the fitting bosses  46  to be coupled to the fitting grooves  42  as in a fitting manner of Lego toys. 
     Then, the smartphone terminal  10  is inserted into a front accommodating space  22  of the first cradle  20 . 
     As such, when the smartphone terminal  10 , the first cradle  20 , and the second cradle  30  are coupled, a connector  24  of the first cradle  20  is connected to a charge terminal  32  of the second cradle  30 , whereby power or electric signals can be supplied via the second cradle  30 , the first cradle  20  and the smartphone terminal  10 . 
     When the auxiliary fitting grooves  52  of the first cradle  20  and the auxiliary fitting bosses  54  of the second cradle  30  are coupled to each other, the first cradle  20  and the second cradle  30  can be more firmly coupled to each other. 
     After use of the smartphone, the first cradle  20  and the second cradle  30  can be separated by inserting a fingertip into the separation groove  60 , and then the smartphone terminal  10  can be separated from the first cradle  20  by inserting a fingertip into the disassembly groove  70 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to some embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that these embodiments are provided for illustration only, and that various modifications, variations, and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be limited only by the accompanying claims and equivalents thereof.