Patent Publication Number: US-2010120480-A1

Title: Sliding-type portable terminal

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 12, 2008 and assigned Ser. No. 10-2008-0112247, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a sliding-type portable terminal, and in particular, to a sliding-type portable terminal that can improve an aesthetic sense and a sense of unity of a sliding housing. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, portable terminals are devices that provide users with a plurality of mobile communication functions, and are classified into a bar-type terminal, a flip-type terminal, a folder-type terminal, and a sliding-type terminal according to their basic appearance. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are respective side views of a conventional sliding-type portable terminal and a conventional sliding-type portable terminal in a state in which the sliding housing has been slid to an extended or open position, and  FIGS. 3 and 4  are front-side and backside perspective views of the conventional sliding-type portable terminal of  FIG. 2  in which the sliding housing has been slid to an extended or open position. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a conventional sliding-type portable terminal  10  includes a main body housing  11  and a sliding (i.e. slidable) housing  12  for sliding away from the main body housing  11 . The sliding housing  12  includes a first surface that faces the main body housing  11 . A sliding module for sliding the sliding housing  12  from the main body housing  11  is provided between the main body housing  11  and the sliding housing  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , various buttons  11   a,  such as a number key, a character key, a menu key, and a touch key are provided on the front side of the main body housing  11 , and an opening/closing operation is performed according to sliding of the sliding housing  12 . An installation space of a battery pack (not shown) is formed in the backside of the main body housing  11  and the battery pack is mounted and covered with a battery pack cover. A front-side display  12   a  is provided on the front surface of the sliding housing  12 . A menu key  12   b  is provided on a lower portion of the front side display  12   a.    
     Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a receiver  15 , which has a speaker module (not shown) and receives a call, is provided on an upper portion of the sliding housing  12 . The sliding-type portable terminal  10  may further include a camera lens module  13  provided on the backside of the sliding housing  12 . In terms of a rear plate  14  of the sliding housing  12 , the speaker module and the camera lens module  13  are provided on an upper portion of the sliding housing  12  and protruded to the backside of the sliding housing  12 . A guide groove  14   a  can be coupled to a guide part (not shown) that is provided on an inner side of the main body housing  11  so that the sliding housing can be slid yet stay in contact to some degree with a portion of the main body housing  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the camera lens module  13  protrudes from the upper portion of the backside of the sliding housing  12 . When the main body housing  11  faces the sliding housing  12  in a closed or non-extended state, the camera lens module  13  faces the inside of the main body housing  11  is maintained. The camera lens module  13  is exposed to the outside according to opening/extending of the sliding housing  12 . The rear plate is formed to have a curvature. When the rear plate is exposed to the outside, there is a problem in that a curved surface of the rear plate is directly exposed to the outside and also the guide groove on which the sliding housing slides from the main body housing is exposed to the outside/ambient conditions. Since a mounting space of the camera lens module is protruded to the backside of the sliding housing, the backside of the sliding housing exposed to the outside has a curved shape. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the aesthetic sense of the sliding-type portable terminal may be degraded. Since a space between the sliding housing and the main body housing is relatively wide, there is a problem in that foreign materials may easily come into the inside. Also, there is a problem in that dust may enter into the sliding housing or the main body housing through the exposed guide groove. A function of the sliding module may be degraded due to incoming foreign materials between the sliding housing and the main body housing, leading to a malfunction or failure of the device. 
     It is a recent trend that a structure of the sliding housing or the sliding module is prevented from being exposed to the outside so as to promote a sense of unity of the external appearance of a portable terminal. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , since the conventional sliding-type portable terminal has a problem in that the structure of the sliding housing or the sliding module and the curvature shape of the backside of the sliding housing are all exposed, and thus, the sense of unity of the portable terminal may be degraded, Also, the sense of unity of the sliding housing may be degraded. 
     Accordingly, there has been a long-felt need in the art for a sliding-type portable terminal, which can improve an aesthetic sense of the backside of a sliding housing to be open when the sliding housing is being slid open or closed (i.e. extended or retracted), and a sense of unity of the sliding housing. 
     Also, a need exists in the art for a sliding-type portable terminal, which by design can prevent foreign materials from coming into the interior of the portable terminal by reducing a width of a space between a sliding housing and a main body housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide a sliding-type portable terminal that can improve an aesthetic sense and a sense of unity of a sliding housing by providing a clean back cover (“clean-back-cover”) on the backside of the sliding housing so as to cover a rear plate of the sliding housing that is closely adhered to a main body housing without exposing the rear plate to the outside when the sliding housing is being slid from the main body housing. 
     According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sliding-type portable terminal having a main body housing and a sliding housing making a sliding while facing the main body housing, including: a clean back cover provided on the sliding housing and closely adhered to an inner side of the main body housing, said clean back over for covering a rear plate of the sliding housing, the clean back cover being exposed to the outside when the sliding housing makes the sliding. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other exemplary aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a conventional sliding-type portable terminal in a state in which a sliding housing faces a main body housing; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the conventional sliding-type portable terminal in a state in which the sliding housing makes a sliding from a main body housing; 
         FIG. 3  is a front-side perspective view of the conventional sliding-type portable terminal in a state in which the sliding housing is slid from the main body housing; 
         FIG. 4  is a backside perspective view of the conventional sliding-type portable terminal in a state in which the sliding housing is slid; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a sliding-type portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a clean back cover exposed to the outside when a sliding housing of the sliding-type portable terminal is being slid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the clean back cover of the sliding-type portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side section view of the sliding-type portable terminal in a state in which the sliding housing faces a main body housing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side section view of the sliding-type portable terminal in a state in which the sliding housing is being slid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same or like elements, features and structures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. 
     As now illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  8 , and  9 , a sliding-type portable terminal  100  according to this exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a main body housing  110 , and a sliding housing  120  and a clean back cover  130 , both sliding over the main body housing  110  face to face. Although not illustrated, a guide part (not shown) for guiding the movement of a rear plate  121  is provided in the main body housing  110  while facing the rear plate  121  to be described later. The rear plate  121  slides on the guide part according to the amount of sliding of the sliding housing  120 . An elastic member (not shown) is formed to provide the elastic force when the sliding housing  120  makes the sliding between the rear plate  121  and the guide part. Guide grooves  121   a  are preferably formed in two side surfaces so that movement can be made along the guide part. The clean back cover  130  covers the rear plate  121  of the sliding housing  120  and is closely adhered to an inner side of the main body housing  110 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 ,  8 ,  9 , the clean back cover  130  provided on the sliding housing  120  is exposed to the outside when the sliding housing  120  is slid to an extended (open) position. Both side ends of the clean back cover  130  are preferably engaged with those of the backside of the sliding housing  120 . An upper portion of the clean back cover  130  can be attached (such as using, for example, screws) to that of the backside of the sliding housing  120 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 9 , a through-hole  121   b,  formed inside the sliding housing  120 , through which the camera lens module  13  passes is formed into the rear plate  121 . Since the camera lens module  13  may be provided, for example, on an upper portion of the backside of the sliding housing  120 , the through-hole  121   b  is formed in an upper portion of the rear plate  121 . When the rear plate  121  is coupled to the sliding housing  120 , an upper side surface of the rear plate  121  is spaced from the sliding housing  120  by a given length. The camera lens module  13  protrudes into the through-hole  121   b  corresponding to the spacing. A lens hole  131  for exposing the camera lens module  12 , which passes through the rear plate  121  to the outside, is formed in the clean back cover  130 . The top surface of the camera lens module  13  is inserted into the lens hole  131  and forms the same level as (i.e. is substantially flush as) that of the clean back cover  130 . Transparent glass or an equivalent material can be seated on the lens hole  131  so that an image of an object is captured through a lens of the camera lens module  13  and foreign materials such as dust, etc. can be prevented from coming into the inside. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the clean back cover  130  is closely adhered to an inner side of the main body housing  110  in a state in which the main body housing  110  faces the sliding housing  120 . A module  112  provided inside the main body housing  110  is interposed between the rear plate  121  and the clean back cover  130 . In general, the module  112  may include, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB), upper components electrically connected to an upper portion of the PCB, and lower components mounted on a lower portion. The clean back cover  130  covers the camera lens module  13  protruded to the backside of the sliding housing  120  and extends in a sliding direction of the sliding housing  120  to form the same surface. Accordingly, the clean back cover  130  can be closely adhered along an inner side of a rear case  111  of the main body housing  110 . A space S (shown in  FIG. 9 ) corresponding to a protrusion state of the camera lens module  13  is formed between the rear plate  121  and the clean back cover  130 . Since the clean back cover  130  slides into the space S when sliding housing  120  is slid to a closed/retracted position, modules provided inside the main body housing  110  are attached/detached between the rear plate  121  and the clean back cover  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when the sliding housing  120  slides over the main body housing  110 , the clean back cover  130  slides over the main body housing  110  and is exposed outside the main body housing  110 . Also, the camera lens module  13  is exposed to the outside and the clean back cover  130  covers a sliding module formed on the rear plate  121  and a curvature surface of the rear plate  121 . As described above, the space S is formed between the clean back cover  130  and the rear plate  121 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the sliding housing  120  slides over the main body housing  110  so that the module  112  provided inside the main body housing  110  is inserted into the space S, the clean back cover  130  and the rear plate  121  slide in accordance with the sliding of the sliding housing  120  and become far away from the module  112  provided inside the main body housing  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a fastening part  140  for fastening the clean back cover  130  to the sliding housing  120  is provided on the clean back cover  130  and the sliding housing  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the fastening part  140  includes a first female member  141 , a second female member  142 , and a male member  143 . The first female member  141  facing the clean back cover  130  is formed in the sliding housing  120 . The second female member  142  is provided in the clean back cover  130  and engaged with the first female portion  141 . The male member  143  is fastened to the first female member  141  and the second female member  142 . Applicant respectfully submits that the exemplary fastening member shown is but one way the clean back cover  130  can be fastened to the sliding housing  120 . 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first female member  141  includes a plate  141   a  and a hole  141   b.  The plate  141   a  is engaged with the second female member  142 , face to face, and is protruded in a direction vertical to a sliding direction from the side of the sliding housing  120 . The hole  141   b  formed in the plate  141   a  is coupled to the first female member  141  by the male member  143 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the second female member  142  is made of a fastening hole, which is engaged with the hole  141   b  so as to fasten the male member  143 . Although not illustrated, since the fastening part  140  is exposed to the outside when the sliding housing  120  makes a sliding, a hole cover member for covering the fastening part  140  may be provided. A groove is formed around the fastening hole  142  and the hole cover member is engaged with the groove so that a position of the fastening part is not exposed to the outside. 
     The operation of the sliding-type portable terminal having the above-described structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 9 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in a state in which the sliding housing  120  is engaged with the main body housing  110 , the clean back cover  130 , which is closely adhered to an inner side of the main body housing  110 , is formed to extend in a sliding direction. In this case, the module of the main body housing  110  is seated between the clean back cover  130  and the rear plate  121 . In this state, when the sliding housing  120  makes a sliding, the clean back cover  130  closely adhered to the inner side of the main body housing  110  is exposed to the outside. At this time, the camera lens module  13  provided on an upper portion of the clean back cover  130  disposed on the backside of the sliding housing  120  is exposed to the outside. An empty space S corresponding to a length of the camera lens module  13  protruded to the backside of the sliding housing  120  is formed between the rear plate  121  and the clean back cover  130 . 
     Since the clean back cover  130  covers the surface of the rear plate  121  when the sliding housing  120  is slid to an extended/open position, the backside of the rear plate  121  is not exposed to the outside and the guide groove  121   a  formed in the rear plate  121  is not exposed to the outside. Accordingly, the backside stays clean even after the sliding-type portable terminal  100  is slid to the extended/open position. Since the clean back cover  130  is closely adhered to the inner side of the main body housing  110 , it is difficult for foreign materials to get inside the portable terminal. Also, even when the sliding housing  120  is slid, a sense of unity of the sliding housing  120  can be improved and a sense of unity of the backside of the sliding housing  120  and the backside of the main body housing  110  can be further improved, by providing the clean back cover  130  closely adhered to the inner side of the main body housing  110 . 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a certain preferred exemplary embodiments 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. For example, the clean back cover  130  is provided as one integrated plate. Alternatively, the clean back cover  130  may be separated and provided to improve the fabrication process, the mechanical strength and the aesthetics thereof 
     In the sliding-type portable terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the external appearance of the backside of the portable terminal is kept clean by covering a rear plate of a sliding housing, providing a clean back cover closely adhered to an inner side of a main body housing when the sliding housing is slid, and covering a guide groove formed in the rear plate or a curvature surface of the rear plate. Foreign materials such as dust, etc. can be prevented from coming into the main body housing and the sliding housing through the guide groove and an aesthetic sense of the sliding-type portable terminal can be improved, by preventing the guide groove formed in the rear plate from being exposed to the outside when the sliding housing makes a sliding. Foreign materials can be prevented from coming into the inside by closely adhering the clean back cover to the inner side of the main body housing and by closely adhering an end of the clean back cover extended to an upper portion of the sliding housing to the inner side of the main body housing even when the sliding is made. When a camera lens module is exposed to the outside according to sliding of the sliding housing, a sense of unity with the sliding housing can be improved by providing the camera lens module on the clean back cover inside the sliding housing. A sense of unity of the backside of the portable terminal can be improved by covering the camera lens module with the clean back cover extended and formed in a sliding direction.