Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20060154702?dq=ELIST
Timestamp: 2013-12-10 01:17:55
Document Index: 606195373

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Patent US20060154702 - Three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Advanced Patent Search | Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsDisclosed herein is a three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal includes a body part, a folder part disposed on the body part in the thickness-wise direction of the body part, and a hinge unit. The hinge unit includes a first hinge part mounted at one...http://www.google.com/patents/US20060154702?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20060154702 - Three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminalPublication numberUS20060154702 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 11/330,674Publication dateJul 13, 2006Filing dateJan 11, 2006Priority dateJan 13, 2005Also published asUS7565185Publication number11330674, 330674, US 2006/0154702 A1, US 2006/154702 A1, US 20060154702 A1, US 20060154702A1, US 2006154702 A1, US 2006154702A1, US-A1-20060154702, US-A1-2006154702, US2006/0154702A1, US2006/154702A1, US20060154702 A1, US20060154702A1, US2006154702 A1, US2006154702A1InventorsKwon Kang, Jung-Ohn YimOriginal AssigneeLg Electornics Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (5), Classifications (8), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetThree-axial rotation type mobile communication terminalUS 20060154702 A1Abstract Disclosed herein is a three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal includes a body part, a folder part disposed on the body part in the thickness-wise direction of the body part, and a hinge unit. The hinge unit includes a first hinge part mounted at one corner of the body part such that the first hinge part can be rotated relative to the body part about a rotation axis arranged in the thickness-wise direction of the body part, a second hinge part mounted at the top of the first hinge part such that the second hinge part can be hingedly rotated relative to the first hinge part about a hinged rotation axis arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first hinge part, and a third hinge part having one end coupled to the second hinge part such that the third hinge part can be rotated relative to the second hinge part about a rotation axis perpendicular to the hinged rotation axis of the second hinge part and the other end coupled to the folder part. Images(10) Claims(18)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a hinge unit of the three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the hinged rotation of a folder part in the longitudinal direction of a body part of the three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the hinged rotation of the folder part in the lateral direction of the body part of the three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the rotation of the folder part of the three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 3, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a hinge pin driving mechanism according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal according to the present invention comprises: a body part 11; a folder part 21 disposed on the body part 11 in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11; and a hinge unit 31 including a first hinge part 33 mounted at one corner of the body part 11 such that the first hinge part 33 can be rotated relative to the body part 11 about a rotation axis arranged in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11, a second hinge part 43 mounted at the top of the first hinge part 33 such that the second hinge part 43 can be hingedly rotated relative to the first hinge part 33 about a hinged rotation axis arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first hinge part 33, and a third hinge part 53 having one end coupled to the second hinge part 43 such that the third hinge part 53 can be rotated relative to the second hinge part 43 about a rotation axis perpendicular to the hinged rotation axis of the second hinge part 43 and the other end coupled to the folder part 21. At the front of the body part 11 are disposed a plurality of keys 13, which are arranged in the same manner as a QWERTY keyboard while the upper part of the QWERTY board is disposed at the left edge of the body part 11. At the lower end of the front of the body part 111 is mounted a microphone 15 for a user to input sound information. To the rear of the body part 11 is detachably attached a battery 17 for supplying power necessary to operate the mobile communication terminal. At the outside of the folder part 21 is mounted an outer display unit 23 for displaying time information. At the outside of the folder part 21 adjacent to one side of the outer display unit 23 are disposed a plurality of keys 24 for the user to input operation instructions. At the inside of the folder part 21 is mounted an inner display unit 25, which has a longitudinal length extending in the longitudinal direction of the folder part 21 greater than a lateral length extending in the lateral direction of the folder part 21. At the inside of the folder part 21 adjacent to opposite sides of the inner display unit 25 are mounted a pair of speakers 27. The hinge unit 31 is mounted at the left corner of the upper front of the body part 11 for allowing the folder part 21 to be rotated about rotation axes arranged in the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction, and the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11. At the body part 11 is also mounted a guide unit 19, which is disposed opposite to the hinge unit 31 in the lateral direction of the body part 11 for guiding the hinged rotation of the folder part 21. The first hinge part 33, which is one component of the hinge unit 31, is mounted in the body part 11 such that the rotation axis is arranged in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11. The second hinge part 43, which is another component of the hinge unit 31, is mounted at the top of the first hinge part 33 such that the second hinge part 43 can be hingedly rotated relative to the first hinge part 33. The third hinge part 53, which is the other component of the hinge unit 31, is mounted in the folder part 21 at one end thereof, and is coupled to the second hinge part 43 at the other end thereof such that the third hinge part 53 can be rotated relative to the second hinge part 43. The first hinge part 33 includes a stationary hinge part 34, formed in the shape of a disc, fixedly mounted in the body part 11, and a movable hinge part 35 mounted at the top of the stationary hinge part 34 such that the movable hinge part 35 can be rotated relative to the stationary hinge part 34. At the top of the movable hinge part 35 are disposed hinge supporting members 36, which protrude upward in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11 for supporting one end of the second hinge part 43 such that the second hinge part 43 can be hingedly rotated. The second hinge part 43 includes a yoke 45 coupled to the hinge supporting members 36 such that the yoke 45 can be hingedly rotated and a journal 46 integrally formed with the yoke 45 for performing a sliding rotation relative to the third hinge part 53. The rotatable connection between the yoke 45 and the hinge supporting members 36 may be accomplished using various well-known technologies. For example, the rotatable connection between the yoke 45 and the hinge supporting members 36 is accomplished using pin joints. Specifically, the hinge supporting members 36 are formed in the shape of pin joints fixedly mounted at the movable hinge part 35. Each of the pin joints has a pin hole. At the yoke 45 is formed an eye, through which a pin is inserted. By inserting the pin through the pin holes formed at the hinge supporting members 36 and the eye formed at the yoke 45, the second hinge part 43 is coupled to the first hinge part 33 such that the second hinge part 43 can be hingedly rotated relative to the first hinge part 33. At opposite sides of the circumferential surface of the yoke 45 are formed flat parts 44, respectively, which are parallel with each other such that the yoke 45 can be fitted between the hinge supporting members 36, and therefore, the rotatable connection between the hinge supporting members 36 and the yoke 45 is stably accomplished. The third hinge part 53 includes a boss 54 fitted on the journal 46, which is integrally formed with the yoke 45, and a coupling unit 55 integrally formed with the boss 54. The coupling unit 55 has coupling members, by which the coupling unit 55 is coupled to the folder part 21. The coupling members may be formed using various well-known technologies. For example, the coupling members are screw holes 56 formed at the coupling unit 55 such that screws (not shown) are threadedly inserted through the screw holes 56. Preferably, the screw holes 56 are provided in large numbers such that the hinge unit 31 is stably coupled to the folder part 21. At one corner of the folder part 21 is formed a hinge coupling part 26, to which the third hinge part 53 is coupled. At the other corner of the folder part 21 in the lateral direction of the folder part 21 is formed a cutoff section 29, which corresponds to the guide unit 19. At the cutoff section 28 is formed a pin receiving groove 29, which is depressed in the lateral direction of the folder part 21. At the guide unit 19 is mounted a hinge pin 61, which corresponds to the pin receiving groove 29, such that the hinge pin 61 can be extended outward from the guide part 19. At the outside of the guide unit 19 is disposed a control knob 71, which is slid in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11 such that the hinge pin 61 is disengaged from the pin receiving groove 29 in the lateral direction of the body part 11, and therefore, the hinge pin 61 is withdrawn into the guide unit 19. In the guide unit 19 is mounted a pin spring 64, for example, a tension spring, which is disposed at one side of the guide unit 19 for applying an elastic force to the hinge pin 61 such that the hinge pin 61 can be extended outward. Between the hinge pin 61 and the control knob 71 is disposed a transmission unit 75, by which the hinge pin 61 is extended outward from the guide unit 19 and is withdrawn inward into the guide unit 19, i.e., the hinge pin 61 is reciprocated, when the control knob 71 is slid in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11. The transmission unit 75 converts the displacement of the control knob 71 moved in the direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the hinge pin 61 into the reciprocating movement of the hinge pin 61. Consequently, the user can easily and conveniently slide the control knob 71 using his/her thumb. The transmission unit 75 is an articulated link having a first arm 76 and a second arm 79, which are formed by bending the transmission unit 75. The first arm 76 and the second arm 79 are rotatably mounted at the guide unit 19. At the end of the first arm 76 is formed a transmission pin hole 77, in which a connection pin 62 formed at the hinge pin 61 opposite to the pin receiving groove 29 is engaged such that the connection pin 62 can be slid in the transmission pin hole 77. At the end of the second arm 79 is formed a coupling pin 80, which is engaged in a control knob pin hole 72 formed at the control knob 71 such that the coupling pin 80 can be slid in the control knob pin hole 72. Consequently, when the control knob 71 is slid upward in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11, the hinge pin 61 is moved toward the pin receiving groove 29 side, i.e., the left side, by the transmission unit 75. When the control knob 71 is slid downward in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11, on the other hand, the hinge pin 61 is moved away from the pin receiving groove 29 side, i.e., the right side, by the transmission unit 75. As shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable that one end of the pin spring 64 be connected to the first arm 76, and the other end of the pin spring 64 be connected to the guide unit 19, whereby the operation of the transmission unit 75 is properly carried out. The hinge pin driving mechanism may be constructed as shown in FIG. 9. Specifically, the hinge pin 61 is coupled to the guide unit 19 at a predetermined position corresponding to the pin receiving groove 29 such that the hinge pin 61 can be extended outward from and withdrawn inward into the guide unit 19 the guide unit 19, and a pin spring 82, for example, a compression spring, is disposed in the guide unit 19 at the rear of the hinge pin 61 to apply an elastic force to the hinge pin 61 such that the hinge pin 61 can be extended outward from the guide unit 19. In this case, when a predetermined force is applied to the folder part 21 such that the folder part 21 is hingedly rotated about the second hinge part 43, the pin spring 82 is compressed by the force applied to the folder part 21, and therefore, the hinge pin 61 is disengaged from the pin receiving groove 29. To this end, guide surfaces are formed at the end of the hinge pin 61 and/or the pin receiving groove 29. Consequently, the engagement or disengagement of the hinge pin 61 into or from the pin receiving groove 29 is accomplished by a manipulation of the folder part 21. In the three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal with the above-stated construction according to the present invention, when the folder part 21 is disposed on the body part 11 such that the front of the body part 11 is hidden by the folder part 21, as shown in FIG. 3, the mobile communication terminal is on standby. At this time, the user can appropriately press the keys 24 such that time information, for example, current time or a short-sentence message, is displayed on the outer display unit 23. When the user wishes to vocally communicate with a third party, the user hingedly rotates the third hinge part 53 about the second hinge part 43 in the longitudinal direction of the body part 11 such that the front of the body part 11 and the inside of the folder part 21 are fully exposed. Now, the user can vocally communicate with the third party using the microphone 15 and the speakers 27. When the user wishes to watch a screen having a relatively large width or to input characters, on the other hand, the user slides the control knob 71 downward in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11, in the state that the folder part 21 is disposed on the body part 11 as shown in FIG. 3, such that the hinge pin 61 is disengaged from the pin receiving groove 29. Subsequently, the user applies a force to the folder part 21 such that the second hinge part 43 is hingedly rotated relative to the first hinge part 33. As a result, the folder part 21 is disposed at the left edge of the body part 11, as shown in FIG. 6, such that the user can easily and rapidly input data using keys having the QWERTY keyboard arrangement. In the state that the folder part 21 is hingedly rotated relative to the body part in the longitudinal direction of the body part 11 such that the front of the body part 111 and the inside of the folder part 121 are exposed, as shown in FIG. 5, the user slides the control knob 71 downward in the thickness-wise direction of the body part 11 such that the hinge pin 61 is disengaged from the pin receiving groove 29, and then rotates the folder part 21 relative to the body part 11 about the first hinge part 33. When the user wishes to vocally communicate with a third party while the folder part 21 is disposed at the left edge of the body part 11, on the other hand, the user rotates the folder part 21 relative to the body part 11 about the first hinge part 33. As a result, the hinge pin 61 is inserted into the pin receiving groove 29, and the folder part 21 is aligned with the body part 11 in the longitudinal direction of the body part 11. Now, the user can vocally communicate with the third party using the microphone 15 and the speakers 27. As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a three-axial rotation type mobile communication terminal according to the present invention comprising a body part, a folder part disposed on the body part in the thickness-wise direction of the body part, and a hinge unit. The hinge unit includes a first hinge part mounted at one corner of the body part such that the first hinge part can be rotated relative to the body part about a rotation axis arranged in the thickness-wise direction of the body part, a second hinge part mounted at the top of the first hinge part such that the second hinge part can be hingedly rotated relative to the first hinge part about a hinged rotation axis arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first hinge part, and a third hinge part having one end coupled to the second hinge part such that the third hinge part can be rotated relative to the second hinge part about a rotation axis perpendicular to the hinged rotation axis of the second hinge part and the other end coupled to the folder part. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of accomplishing appropriate rotation of the folder part relative to the body part, thereby improving a user's convenience. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7419099 *Sep 22, 2004Sep 2, 2008Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Portable terminal and swing hinge module thereofUS7907978 *Apr 1, 2004Mar 15, 2011Nec CorporationMobile terminalUS7925313 *Feb 13, 2008Apr 12, 2011Sharp Kabushiki KaishaPortable electronic deviceUS7979099 *Oct 23, 2006Jul 12, 2011Lg Electronics Inc.Slide module and mobile terminal incorporating the slide moduleUS20100248790 *Oct 30, 2008Sep 30, 2010Kyocera CorporationPortable electronic apparatus* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification455/575.3, 455/90.3International ClassificationH04B1/38, H04M1/00Cooperative ClassificationH04M1/0212, H04M1/0222European ClassificationH04M1/02A2B4T, H04M1/02A2B2FLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 14, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 11, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: LG ELECTRONICS INC., KOREA, REPUBLIC OFFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KANG, KWON JIN;YIM, JUNG-OHN;REEL/FRAME:017474/0678Effective date: 20060110RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google