Patent Publication Number: US-7221561-B2

Title: Telecommunication apparatus having a coupling member to prevent untimely actuation of the keypad

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a telecommunication apparatus, more particularly to a wireless telecommunication apparatus having a coupling member that is associated with a movable printed circuit board in such a manner to prevent untimely generation of a signal due to accidental contact between a keypad and the movable printed circuit board. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A mobile phone of lately is designed in compact size in order to facilitate carrying thereof. The more convenient for the user to carry the mobile phone, the smaller the dimension should become. In order to eliminate the bulky size, some mobile phones are designed in foldable types (generally known as flip-phone). Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a conventional mobile phone  10  is shown to include a lower casing  108 , an upper casing  102  connected pivotally to the lower casing  108 , and an antenna unit  112  projecting outwardly from the lower casing  108  for receiving and transmitting the radio signals. The upper casing  102  is provided with a minor window  104  via which suspending mode of the conventional mobile phone  10  can be observed. The upper casing  102  is turnable from the folded position shown in  FIG. 1A  to the unfolded position shown in  FIG. 1B , in which, the upper casing  102  reveals a major window  106  to display the inputted information when the keypad  110  is operated. 
   In the aforesaid conventional mobile phone, means to prevent untimely and undesirable transmission is provided due to accidental actuation of the keypad  110 . The preventing means includes a magnet member (not visible) disposed within the upper casing  102  and a sensor (not visible) provided in the lower casing  108  such that the sensor generates a circuit closing signal upon sensing the approach of the upper casing  102  relative to the lower casing  108 . Under this condition, any inputted signal will not be processed when the mobile phone is at the folded position. 
   It is noted that the sensor is relatively slow to respond the approach of the upper casing so that undesired actuation of the keypad to generate transmission of signals is still possible. In addition, employment of the sensor, the magnetic member and the cost of writing software result extra manufacturing expense. 
   In order to eliminate the aforesaid disadvantage, a stopper is formed on the lower casing of another conventional mobile phone so as to space the keypad apart from the upper casing when at the folded position. Since the stopper, generally made from plastics or rubber, is susceptible to wearing and therefore succumbs to wearing and results in loss of its ability after a long period of use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone having a coupling member that is associated with the printed circuit board in such a manner to prevent untimely generation of a signal due to accidental contact between the printed circuit board and a keypad. 
   A telecommunication apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes: a lower member; an upper member connected pivotally to the lower member to dispose the upper member between unfolded and folded positions with respect to the lower member; a printed circuit board disposed within the lower member; a keypad disposed above the printed circuit board and having a plurality of input keys for generating signals upon pressing to contact the printed circuit board; and a coupling member interconnecting the printed circuit board and the upper member to permit synchronous movement of the printed circuit board and the upper member with respect to the lower member. When the upper member is disposed at the folded position, the keypad is offset from the printed circuit board so as to dysfunction the input keys. When the upper member is disposed in the unfolded position, the keypad is aligned with the printed circuit board to function the input keys. 
   In a second aspect of the present invention, a coupling member is provided for use in a telecommunication apparatus that includes a lower member, an upper member connected pivotally to the lower member to dispose the upper member between unfolded and folded positions with respect to the lower member, a printed circuit board disposed in the lower member, and a keypad disposed above the printed circuit board and having a plurality of input keys for generating signals by pressing to contact the printed circuit board. The coupling member interconnects the printed circuit board and the upper member in such a manner to permit synchronous movement of the printed circuit board and the upper member with respect to the lower member, wherein when the upper member is disposed at the folded position, the keypad is offset from the printed circuit board so as to dysfunction the input keys and when the upper member is disposed in the unfolded position, the keypad is aligned with the printed circuit board to function the input keys. The coupling member includes: a cam fixed to the upper member and contacting one end of the printed circuit board for pushing the printed circuit board; and a spring member disposed in the lower member and urging the other end of the printed circuit board to offset from the key pad; wherein, movement of the upper member from unfolded position to the folded position results in compression of the spring member in order to offset the keypad from the printed circuit board, and movement of the upper member from folded position to the unfolded position results in decompression of the spring member so as to align the keypad with the printed circuit board. 
   In a third aspect of the present invention, a coupling member is provided for use in a telecommunication apparatus that includes a lower member, an upper member connected pivotally to the lower member to dispose the upper member between unfolded and folded positions with respect to the lower member, a printed circuit board disposed in the lower member, and a keypad disposed above the printed circuit board and having a plurality of input keys for generating signals upon pressing to contact the printed circuit board. The coupling member interconnects the printed circuit board and the upper member to permit synchronous movement of the printed circuit board and the upper member with respect to the lower member, wherein when the upper member is disposed at the folded position, the keypad is offset from the printed circuit board so as to dysfunction the input keys and when the upper member is disposed in the unfolded position, the keypad is aligned with the printed circuit board to function the input keys, the coupling member includes: a cam for fixing to the upper member; and a crank having a first end pivoted to the cam and a second end pivoted to the printed circuit board. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show perspective folded and unfolded views of a conventional mobile phone; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the first embodiment of a mobile phone of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3A  is a fragmentary and partly exploded view of the first embodiment of the mobile phone according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective bottom planar view of the first embodiment according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3C  is a side view of the first embodiment when the latter is disposed at an unfolded position; 
       FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of the first embodiment when the latter is disposed at a folded position; 
       FIG. 4A  is a fragmentary and partly exploded view of the second embodiment of the mobile phone according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective bottom planar view of the second embodiment of the mobile phone according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4C  is a side view of the second embodiment when the latter is disposed at an unfolded position; and 
       FIG. 4D  is a side view of the second embodiment when the latter is disposed at a folded position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a side view of the first embodiment of a wireless telecommunication apparatus (hereinafter a mobile phone) according to the present invention is shown to include a lower member  204 , an upper member  202 , a printed circuit board  206 , a keypad  208 , and a coupling member  210 . 
   As illustrated, the upper member  202  is provided with major and minor windows  2023 ,  2021 , and has an antenna unit  2029  for transmitting and receiving radio signals. The upper member  202  is connected pivotally to the lower member  204  so as to permit turning of the same between an unfolded position, in which, the upper member  202  is spaced apart from the lower member  204  (see  FIG. 3C ), and a folded position, in which, the upper member  202  contacts the lower member  204  (see  FIG. 3D ). The lower member  204  includes a casing  204 ″ (see  FIG. 2 ) that has front and rear ends and that receives the printed circuit board  206  movably therein (in the horizontal direction in the lower member). The printed circuit board  206  has a plurality of contact points  2061  (electrical contacts). In order to protect the components therein, each of the upper and lower members  202 ,  204  can be made from ABS plastics or metal in order to provide sufficient stiffness and rigidity, thereby achieving protection to the electronic components disposed therein. 
   The keypad  208  is disposed stationarily within the casing  204 ″ at an elevation above the printed circuit board  206  (see  FIG. 3A ), and has a plurality of input keys  2081  that are aligned respectively with the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206  and that project outwardly from an upper surface of the casing  204 ″. Of course, a plurality of biasing members  2083  (such as elastomeric bodies or compression springs) are disposed between the printed circuit board  206  and the keypad  208 , wherein each biasing member  2083  has top and bottom ends respectively biasing against the keypad  208  and the printed circuit board  206  in order to space the two apart from each other. Under this condition and when the upper member  202  is disposed at the unfolded position, a downward actuation of a respective input key  2081  against biasing action of a respective biasing member  2083  can result in contact between a respective one of the contact points  2061  and the respective input key  2081  to generate a signal. Since the construction of the printed circuit board  206  and the keypad  208  is not the relevant feature of the present invention, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. 
   The coupling member  210  is disposed in the casing  204 ″ (the lower member) and interconnects the printed circuit board  206  and the upper member  202  in such a manner to permit synchronous movement of the printed circuit board  206  and the upper member  202  with respect to the casing  204 ″. When the upper member  202  is disposed in the unfolded position, the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208  are aligned respectively with the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206  (see  FIG. 2 ). When the upper member  202  is disposed at the folded position, the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208  are offset respectively from the contact points of the printed circuit board  206  (see  FIG. 3D ). Under this condition, in case the input keys are pressed accidentally, no signal will be generated by virtue of non-alignment between the input keys  2081  and the contact points  2061 . 
   In order to better understanding of the present invention, a detailed description of the embodiments are given in the following paragraphs. Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the coupling member  310  of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a cam  3102 , a spring member  3104  and two restricting members  3106 . In this embodiment, the upper member  202  is formed with a lateral boss  2025 . The cam  3102  is fixed on the upper member  202  and has a concave recess  3101  to receive the lateral boss  2025 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3B , the cam  3102  contacts slidably one end of the printed circuit board  206 . The spring member  3104 , preferably a coil spring, is disposed in the casing  204 ″ for urging the other end of the printed circuit board  206  forward in such a manner that when the upper member  202  is disposed at the folded position shown in  FIG. 3D , the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206  are offset respectively from the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208 . However, movement of the upper member  202  from the folded position to the unfolded position can result in compression of the coil spring  3104  (see  FIG. 3C ) and movement of the printed circuit board  206  respect to the keypad  208  in the horizontal direction in order to align the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206  with the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208 , since the printed circuit board  206  is restricted from movement in an up-and-downward direction of the lower member  204 . 
     FIGS. 3C and 3D  respectively illustrate side views of unfolded and folded position of the upper member  202  with respect to the lower member  204 , wherein the cam  3102  is in slidable contact with the front end of the printed circuit board  206 . When the upper member  202  is disposed in the unfolded position, the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208  are aligned respectively with the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206 . Under this condition, a downward actuation of a respective input key  2081  can result in contact between a respective one of the contact points  2061  and the respective input key  2081  to generate the signal. 
   In contrast, when the upper member  202  is disposed at the folded position, the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208  are offset respectively from the contact points of the printed circuit board  206  (see  FIG. 3D ). Under this condition, in case the input keys are pressed accidentally, no signal will be generated by virtue of non-alignment between the input keys  2081  and the contact points  2061 . 
   An important to note is that the cam  3102  may be of any configuration so long as its circular rotation can cause linear movement of the printed circuit board  206  in the front-and-rear direction within the casing  204 ″. In this embodiment, the printed circuit board  206  is enhanced by virtue of the presence of the coil spring  3104  that constantly urges the printed circuit board  206  to bias against the cam  3102 . Otherwise, the front end of the printed circuit board  206  should be connected pivotally to the cam  3102 . Preferably, the two restricting members  3106  are disposed within the casing  204 ″ at the right side of the printed circuit board  206  (see  FIG. 3B ) to confine movement of the printed circuit board  206  only in the front-and rear direction of the casing  204 ″. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4A to 4B , the second embodiment of the mobile phone according to the present invention is shown to have the construction the same as the first embodiment. The only difference resides in that of the cam  3102  and the coil spring  3104 . The coupling member  410  of the second embodiment includes a cam  4102 , a crank  4104 , and two restricting member  4106 . The upper member  202  is formed with a lateral boss  2025  extending into the concave recess in the cam  4102 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4B , the crank  4104  has a first end  4107  coupled pivotally to the pin  4105  of the cam  4102  (see  FIG. 4A ) and a second end  4109  pivoted to a pin  2067  (see  FIG. 4A ) projecting outward from the front end of the printed circuit board  206 . Since the crank  4104  moves synchronously with the cam  4102  such that rotation of the upper member  202  between unfolded and folded positions with respect to the lower member  204  results in alignment and offset between the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208  and the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206 . 
     FIGS. 4C and 4D  respectively illustrate side views of unfolded and folded position of the upper member  202  with respect to the lower member  204 . Rotation of the upper member  202  to the unfolded position results in the rearward movement of the printed circuit board  206  along the horizontal direction within the lower member  204  so as to align the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208  respectively with the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206 . Under this condition, a downward actuation of a respective input key  2081  can result in contact between a respective one of the contact points  2061  and the respective input key  2081  to generate the signal. 
   In contrast, rotation of the upper member  202  to the folded position from the unfolded position results in the forward movement of the printed circuit board  206  along the horizontal direction within the lower member  204  so as to offset the input keys  2081  of the keypad  208  respectively from the contact points  2061  of the printed circuit board  206  (see  FIG. 4D ). Under this condition, in case the input keys are pressed accidentally, no signal will be generated by virtue of non-alignment between the input keys  2081  and the contact points  2061 . 
   An important to note that the present invention provides a coupling member of simple structure to eliminate the drawbacks encountered during manufacture of the conventional mobile phone. Note that no the complicated process is involved for producing the coupling member used in the present mobile phone, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. In addition, since the coupling member is enclosed within the casing of the present mobile phone, the outward appearance thereof is not affected. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.