Source: http://www.patentsencyclopedia.com/app/20120274595
Timestamp: 2017-10-23 12:01:10
Document Index: 6106751

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n12', '§1', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', '§120', 'art 113', 'art 114', 'art 113', 'art 114', 'art 113', 'art 114', 'art 129', 'art 129', 'art 129', 'art 138', 'art 138', 'art 138', 'arts 154', 'arts 154', 'arts 154', 'art 114', 'art 114', 'art 130', 'art 113', 'art 114', 'art 114', 'art 114', 'art 114', 'art 154', 'art 154', 'art 113', 'art 154', 'art 154', 'art 154', 'art 254', 'art 313', 'art 314', 'art 113', 'art 114', 'art 114', 'art 113']

Inventors: Seong-Cheol Lee (Seoul, KR) Seong-Cheol Lee (Seoul, KR) Han-Gyu Oh (Seoul, KR) Hyo-Sung Park (Seoul, KR) Hyo-Sung Park (Seoul, KR) Jun-Hyuck Song (Seoul, KR) Sang Min Park (Seoul, KR) Jea-Woon Park (Seoul, KR)
Patent application number: 20120274595
1. A mobile terminal comprising: a terminal body having first and second regions on a front surface thereof; a touch screen part on the first region and configured to display visual information and perform an inputting operation in a tactile manner; and a touch pad part corresponding to the second region and configured to input information corresponding to a touch applied to a pre-set position on the second region.
2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising: a display mounted on the first region and configured to display the visual information; and a window of a transmissive material mounted on the front surface of the first and second regions.
3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the touch screen part comprises a touch sheet attached on an inner side of the window and configured to sense a touch on the first region.
7. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the touch sheet further comprises: a conductive layer disposed on one face of the first conductive pattern; a data line electrically connected to the conductive layer and disposed at edges of the touch sheet; and electric field generating units disposed at the edges of the touch sheet and configured to generate an electric field at the conductive layer.
8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the touch sheet has a rectangular shape, and the electric field generating units are mounted at positions corresponding to vertexes of the touch sheet.
9. The mobile terminal of claim 7, further comprising: a correction pattern formed at the edges of the touch sheet and configured to linearly correct an electric field generated at the conductive layer.
10. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein a portion of the touch sheet corresponding to the touch pad part includes a second conductive pattern configured to sense a touch of the touch pad part.
12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the touch pad part comprises an illumination sheet configured to illuminate the second region, and wherein the touch sheet further comprises a shielding pattern electrically short-circuited to ground of the illumination sheet and configured to block an influence of the illumination sheet.
13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, further comprising: a data line formed at edges of the touch sheet and configured to transfer a touch signal corresponding to the first and second regions being touched, wherein the shielding pattern is formed at a position corresponding to the data line and positioned at an opposite surface of a surface of the touch sheet on which the data line is positioned.
14. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the illumination sheet has individualized illumination patterns configured to separately illuminate touched regions of the touch pad part, and wherein the illumination patterns each have a different radius and are formed in concentric circles arranged in sequence along the radius.
15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, further comprising: a control unit configured to separately control the illumination patterns to have a brightness that changes along an ambient direction based on a length of time a corresponding illumination pattern is touched.
16. The mobile terminal of claim 2, further comprising: a center key disposed in a through hole formed in the window at a position in the second region; and a switch disposed within the terminal body and configured to input information according to a pressing operation of the center key.
17. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the display is disposed at the first region, the window of a transmissive material is mounted on a front surface of the display, and the touch screen part includes the touch sheet attached on an inner side of the window.
18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the touch pad part comprises: a touch panel disposed at the second region and configured to receive a touch; and touch sensors mounted within the terminal body and configured to sense the touch input to the touch panel.
19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the touch panel has a plate shape, and the touch sensors are mounted separately at multiple positions on a printed circuit board within the body.
20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, further comprising: a center key disposed in a through hole formed in the window at a position in the second region; and a switch disposed within the terminal body and configured to input information according to a pressing operation of the center key.
[0001] The present application is a 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b) continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/172,522 filed Jul. 14, 2008, which claims priority on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0112864, filed Nov. 6, 2007, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0113394, filed Nov. 7, 2007, the entire contents of all which are hereby incorporated by reference and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120.
[0006] As the functions of the mobile terminal are becoming more diversified, the number of menu choices has also increased. That is, a user interface is provided in an attempt to simplify the operation of the mobile terminal. In addition, users now consider their mobile terminal to be a necessity, and also think of the mobile terminal as being an extension of their personality. Thus, users are now looking for particular mobile terminals that have a design that meets their particular personality. Thus, various designs are now provided for mobile terminals.
[0031] In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the first body 110 includes a touch screen part 113, a touch key pad part 114, an audio output unit 115, a first image input unit 116, and a first manipulating unit 117 on its front surface. The front surface of the front case 11 includes a first region 113a and a second region 114a, and the touch screen part 113 and the touch keypad part 114 are respectively formed on the first and second regions 113a and 114a.
[0032] Also, the touch screen part 113 is configured to display visual information and input information in a tactile manner, and the touch keypad part 114 is configured to input information by a touch applied to a particular position set on the second region. The audio output unit 115 may be a receiver or a speaker, and the first image input unit 116 may be a camera module for capturing an image or video. Further, the first manipulating unit 117 includes menu options that the user may select by pressing the corresponding menu option to thereby perform different functions on the terminal 100.
[0036] In addition, the interface 126 is configured to allow the mobile terminal 100 to exchange data with an external device. For example, the interface 126 may be implemented as one of a connection port (terminal) for connecting an ear phone to the mobile terminal via a fixed or wireless method, a port (e.g., an IrDA port), a BLUETOOTH® port, a wireless LAN port, or a power supply port that supplies power to the mobile terminal 100, or the like. The interface 126 may also be a card socket (or receiving unit) for accommodating an external card, such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), a User Identity Module (UIM), a memory card for storing information, or the like.
[0042] Further, the battery cover 127 is installed at the rear case 122 to cover a battery that supplies power to the mobile terminal 100. The battery may be detachably combined within the second body 120. Alternatively, the battery may be detachably combined in the form of a pack. Also, in the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2, a pattern part 129 is formed on the rear surface of the battery cover 127 to prevent the mobile terminal 100 from being easily moved or from slipping of a surface. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the pattern part 129 has a geometrical regular pattern such as lattice or comb-like pattern. The pattern part 129 may also be formed by coating or injection-molding a resin material on a metal base or by some other appropriate method.
[0043] Next, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile terminal in FIGS. 1 and 2, and will be used to explain an internal structure of the first body 110. As shown in FIG. 3, printed circuit boards (PCBs) 134a and 134b are mounted at an internal space between the front case 111 and the rear case 112, and electronic components that perform various functions of the mobile terminal 100 are mounted on the PCBs 134a and 134b.
[0044] Further, a display module 135 for displaying visual information is mounted on the PCB 134a, and may include an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) module, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) module, or the like. A window 136 is disposed on an outer side of the display module 135 and has a transmissive region allowing the visual information displayed on the display module 135 to be seen. In addition, the window 136 may be made of a transparent material, a synthetic resin of a translucent material, or tempered glass, etc.
[0045] A through hole 136a is also formed at a portion corresponding to a second region of the window 136, and a sound hole 115a is formed at the other end of the window 136 for inputting sounds, etc. to the audio output unit 115. In addition, a window mounting part 138 is formed at the front case 111 in order to mount and support the window 136 therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the window mounting part 138 is dented from a surface of the front case 111 so as to receive the window 136.
[0046] Further, a support frame 139 is mounted at a circumference of the window mounting part 138, and may be made of a metallic material or a semitransparent synthetic resin material. The first manipulation unit 117 is formed at one region of the support frame 139, and switches 117a are mounted at the PCB 134b to input information according to a pressing operation of the first manipulating unit 117.
[0047] Also, a touch sheet 150 that senses a touch is attached at an inner side of the window 136 and may be made of a transparent material. The touch sheet 150 is also electrically connected with the PCB 134b by a flexible PCB (FPCB) 141. In addition, a through hole 150a is formed at a region corresponding to the second region 113b of the touch sheet 150, and the center key 118 is disposed in the through hole 150a so that the center key 118 can be pressed. In addition, a switch may be mounted on a rear surface of the center key 118 to input information according to a pressing operation of the center key 118. Also, mounting holes 150b are formed at one region of the touch sheet 150 to allow the first manipulating unit 117 to be mounted thereon. The touch sheet 150 also includes a shielding pattern 155 formed at edges of the touch sheet 150.
[0048] Further, an illumination sheet 160, which is surface-illuminated, is disposed at an inner side of the touch sheet 150, and is used to illuminate a region of the window 136 or indicate a certain mark on one region of the window 136. Further, the illumination sheet 160 may include an EL (Electroluminescence) sheet. The illumination sheet 160 also includes a through-hole 160a corresponding to the through-holes 150a and 136a. A dome switch 118a or other input button is also formed on the PCB 134b to correspond with the center key 118.
[0052] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the conductive pattern 156 of the first region 151 has a zigzag form in a lengthwise direction of the first body 110, namely, in the direction from the audio output unit 115 to the first manipulation unit 117. The conductive pattern 156 also includes bent points 157a and 157b that are formed at the left and right sides of the conductive pattern 156 in zigzags, at which the direction of the pattern changes. Further, two lines adjacent to the bent point 157b are symmetrical based on a horizontal line 157c (virtual line) that passes through the bent point 152b.
[0053] Thus, when the user's finger comes in contact with the window 136, the user's finger is positioned on the region where the conductive pattern 156 is formed on the touch sheet 150. In the following description, the positioning of the user's finger on the region where the conductive pattern 156 is formed will be referred to as `contacting` the conductive pattern 156 for the sake of explanation.
[0054] In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the conductive pattern 156 is configured such that the user's finger (F) comes into contact with at least two lines 157d and 157e. For this purpose, a maximum distance between the two lines 157d and 157e is set to be shorter than the size of the user's finger (F). Further, both ends (X, Y) of the conductive pattern 151 are connected with a data line 153 disposed at an edge of the touch sheet 150. In more detail, the data line 153 transfers a touch signal inputted to the conductive pattern 156 to the interior of the first body 110, for which an end of the data line 153 is connected to the PCB 134 by the FPCB 141.
[0055] Further, conductive patterns 158 of the second region 152 implement a key input unit for inputting information by touching a pre-set region. Also, touch key parts 154 are formed to be spaced apart at the second region 152. In the present exemplary embodiment, the touch key parts 154 are disposed to be spaced apart up/down and left/right centering around the through hole 150a. The mounting holes 150b are also illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0056] An operation of the conductive pattern 156 formed at the first region 151 of the touch sheet 150 will now be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4, as the user touches the window 136, the user's finger (F) comes into contact with the at least two lines 157d and 157e of the conductive pattern 156. Therefore, current supplied within the terminal flows along the line of the conductive pattern 156, and as the user's finger (F) comes into contact with the conductive pattern 156, a resistance value of the conductive pattern 156 changes.
[0057] In addition, as the user's finger (F) contacts the two lines 157d and 157e of the conductive pattern 156, two contact points A and B are generated, and as the positions of the contact points A and B change, the distance between one end (X) of the conductive pattern 156 and one contact point (A) and the distance between the other end of the conductive pattern 156 and the other contact point (B) also change. Accordingly, the change value of the resistance varies depending on the positions of the contact points A and B.
[0065] Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, the illumination patterns 162 include first to fourth illumination patterns 162a to 162d having different radiuses, and in which the illumination patterns 162a to 162d are sequentially arranged according to their radius. In addition, each of the illumination patterns 162a to 162d may be made of a material having a brightness that can be controlled according to strength of a current, and may be individually controlled to have a brightness that changes in turn along an ambient direction in the order of time. In FIGS. 7A to 7D, the darker solid lines with a greater thickness compared to the other illumination patterns 162 indicate illumination patterns with the highest brightness.
[0066] Further, the illumination patterns 162 may be configured such that the first to fourth illumination patterns 162a to 162d are in the state of being brightest in turn over time. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when a touch is input to the touch key parts 154 of the touch sheet 150, the first illumination pattern 162a is controlled to be the brightest, and when time passes by, and as shown in FIG. 7B, the first illumination pattern 162a becomes dark while the second illumination pattern 162 is controlled to be the brightest.
[0067] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7c, as time passes by, the third illumination pattern 162c becomes the brightest, and then, as shown in 7D, after the fourth illumination pattern 162d becomes the brightest, the illuminations of the first to fourth illumination patterns 162a to 162d are stopped. Therefore, when the user inputs a touch to the touch keypad part 114, the illumination patterns 162 of the corresponding touch keypad part 114 are illuminated, and at this time, visual effects are implemented such that light is diffused in a ring shape along the ambient direction.
[0068] In addition, the illumination patterns 162 may be individually controlled to be brightest starting from the fourth illumination pattern 162d to the first illumination pattern 162a in turn, whereby light in the ring form can be diffused along the inward direction over time. Further, in the above embodiments, four illumination patterns 162a to 162d are sequentially arranged, but the number of illumination patterns may vary as necessary.
[0069] Next, FIGS. 8A to 8C are plan views of the mobile terminal used to explain operations of the mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8A, the touch screen part 130 includes a menu or an icon 113c for operating various functions of the mobile terminal 100. Here, when the user touches the part of the menu or the icon 113c (e.g., a text message), the corresponding function is performed.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 8B, the touch screen part 113 also includes a list 113d that can be selected, and a cursor or a pointer 113e positioned on the list 113d. Here, the touch keypad part 114 may be implemented in the form of a direction key that can move the cursor or the pointer positioned on the list 113d. In this instance, when the touch keypad part 114 is touched, the illumination pattern of the illumination sheet is displayed on the touch keypad part 114 to allow the user to recognize the touch keypad part 114 has been touched.
[0071] Further, in FIG. 8B, the list 113d is a phone book list, and in this instance, by touching the region corresponding to the touch key part 154 positioned at the lower portion (FIG. 4 illustrates the touch key part 154), the cursor or the pointer 113c may be moved downwardly, and then, by pressing the center key 118 positioned at the central region, information (e.g., a phone number) desired to be obtained by the user can be displayed on the touch screen part 113. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the user touches the lower portion of the touch key part 154 to scroll down the phone book list, the illumination patterns 162 are illuminated based on the amount of time the user touches the touch key part 154.
[0072] As shown in FIG. 8c, the user may input characters, numbers, symbols, etc., to the terminal by manipulating the second and third manipulating units 123 and 124 and manipulating the touch key part 154. The user can also select a phone number, for example, by touching the phone icon on the first manipulating unit 117. Thus, as shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 8A-8C, the user can easily input and select different options on the terminal and see that the appropriate regions have been touched.
[0074] Next, FIG. 9 is a plan view of a touch sheet 250 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the mobile terminal with the touch sheet in FIG. 9 mounted on a first body. In addition, in FIG. 10, the touch sheet 250 and its relevant elements are exaggerated for illustration purposes.
[0075] As shown, the touch sheet 250 includes a first region 251 and a second region 252 that extends from the first region. Conductive patterns 256 and 258 formed at the first and second regions 251 and 252. FIGS. 9 and 10 also illustrate a data line 253, touch key part 254, front case 211, rear case 212, display module 235, PCB 234a, window 236, etc. that correspond with similar components shown in the other above-described figures (except the reference numerals have been increased by 100).
[0082] As shown in FIG. 12, the mobile terminal includes a first region 313a and a second region 314a formed on a front surface of a first body 310. A touch screen part 313 and a touch keypad part 314 are disposed on the first and second regions 313a and 314a, respectively. Further, a window 336 made of a transmissive material is mounted on a front side of the first region 313a, and a touch sheet 350 for sensing a touch is mounted at an inner side of the window 336. Thus, when a touch is input to the window 336, the touch sheet 350 senses the touch and transfers a touch signal to the interior of the terminal body.
[0084] Further, in FIG. 13, a touch panel 319 is mounted on the front face of the second region 314a, and is formed in a plate shape. In addition, touch sensors 319a that sense a touch are mounted at an inner side of the touch panel 319. The touch sensors 319a are separately mounted at appropriate positions on a PCB 336. Thus, when a region corresponding to the touch sensors 319a of the touch panel is touched, the touch sensors 319a sense the touch and transfer a touch signal to the PCB 336.
[0085] Further, a through hole 318a is formed at a central portion of the touch panel 319, and a center key 318 that can be pressed is mounted in the through hole 318a. A switch 318b that inputs information according to a pressing operation of the center key 318 is also mounted at an inner side of the center key 318. In addition, an illumination sheet 360 that displays an illumination pattern on the touch panel 319 is mounted at an inner side of the touch panel 319, and the configuration and operation of the illumination sheet 360 is the same as that in the former embodiments, so its description will be omitted. Other reference numerals shown in FIG. 13 that have not been described correspond to similar reference numerals shown in FIG. 3
[0086] Further, the above embodiments describe a slide type mobile terminal, but the present invention is applicable to all types of mobile terminals such as a bar type mobile terminal, a folder type mobile terminal, a swing type mobile terminal, a swivel type mobile terminal, and the like.
[0099] Further, when the user touches the menu or the icon (e.g., the icon 113c in FIG. 8A displayed on the touch screen part 113), the sensing unit 176 senses the touch and applies a corresponding signal to the controller 170. Then, the controller 170 operates a corresponding function of the menu or the icon 113c. In addition, when the user touches the touch keypad part 114, the sensing unit 176 senses the user's touch and applies a signal to the controller 170.
[0100] When the touch keypad part 114 is implemented as a direction key, the controller 170 applies a signal for moving the cursor 113e in the list (e.g., the list 113d in FIG. 8B) displayed on the touch screen part 113, and at the same time, applies a signal for illuminating the illumination patterns 162 in FIGS. 7A to 7dD to the illumination sheet 160. As discussed above, the controller 170 individually controls the illumination patterns 162a to 162d such that brightness of the illumination patterns 162a to 162d in the concentric circles changes in the order of time.
Patent applications by Han-Gyu Oh, Seoul KR
Patent applications by Hyo-Sung Park, Seoul KR
Patent applications by Jea-Woon Park, Seoul KR
Patent applications by Jun-Hyuck Song, Seoul KR
2010-10-21 Mobile terminal