Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9877389B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-03-21 19:02:47
Document Index: 210928718

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 119', 'Application No. 10', 'arts 219', 'art 219', 'arts 219', 'art 219', 'art 219', 'art 378']

US9877389B2 - Mobile terminal - Google Patents
US9877389B2
US9877389B2 US14928410 US201514928410A US9877389B2 US 9877389 B2 US9877389 B2 US 9877389B2 US 14928410 US14928410 US 14928410 US 201514928410 A US201514928410 A US 201514928410A US 9877389 B2 US9877389 B2 US 9877389B2
US14928410
US20160128217A1 (en )
Kyungsu YOO
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and rights of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2014-0152132, filed on Nov. 4, 2014 the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the mobile terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the terminal body 204 and one or more modules 210, 230, and 250 that are detachable from a back side of the terminal body 204. Recesses 220, 240, and 260 for receiving the modules are formed at the back side of the terminal body 204. The modules 210, 230, and 250 are accommodated by the recesses 220, 240, and 260 and electrically connected to a printed circuit substrate 280. In this case, first to third contact terminals 214 a, 234, and 254 are formed in the modules 210, 230, and 250 and configured to come in contact with connectors 225, 245, and 265 having one or more electrode regions R1, R2, R3, and R4. Thus the modules 210, 230, and 250 are electrically connected with the printed circuit board 280.
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a first module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 17, the first module 210 is a back side input module, as described above, and includes a first button 211 configured to receive a push input for a first function, a second button 212 disposed adjacent to the first button 211 and configured to receive a push input for a second function, a dome switch 213 disposed below the first button 211 and the second button 212 and configured to transfer the push input from the first button 211 or second button 212, and a flexible printed circuit board 214 disposed below the dome switch 213 and having a plurality of first contact terminals 214 a formed therein.
Furthermore, the first module 210 may further include a support body disposed below the first and second buttons 211 and 212 and configured to support the first and second buttons 211 and 212 and also further include a bracket 217 configured to accommodate the support body 212 a, the first and second buttons 211 and 212 and the flexible printed circuit board.
The plurality of first contact terminals 214 a are formed in the flexible printed circuit board 214, and the plurality of first contact terminals 214 a are in electrical contact with an electrode 225 a of a first connector 225 disposed inside the first recess 220. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along BB of FIG. 3. It can be seen from FIG. 6 that the flexible printed circuit board 214 is bent to be connected to the first connector 225. The first connector 225 may be a zebra connector. A second connector and a third connector 265 to be described below may also be a zebra connector.
The first connector 225 is designed to have at least 14 or more pins such that the first connector 225 is connected to contact lines allocated thereto and connected to the flexible printed circuit board 214 through the contact lines. For example, various sensors 211′ and 211″ (see FIG. 5) may be built in the first module 210. In particular, the sensors, for example, a heart rate sensor, a fingerprint recognition sensor, or a laser detection auto-focus (LDAF) sensor may be built in the first button 211. Contact terminals for driving the hear rate sensor, the fingerprint recognition sensor, and the LDAF sensor may be formed in separate regions on the flexible printed circuit board 214. When the contact terminals are formed in separate regions of the flexible printed circuit board 214, electrodes should be formed in regions R1, R2, R3, and R4 of the first connector 225. However, if the sensors share the first contact terminals 214 a formed on the flexible printed circuit board 214, the number of electrodes 225 a in the first connector 225 would be reduced.
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the first module 210 seen from behind and a perspective view of the flexible printed circuit board 214 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8A, a plurality of grooves 216 are formed at the back side of the first module 210. Among these grooves, three grooves 216 a, 216 b, and 216 c are spaces for accommodating the first metallic members 221, and another groove 216 d is a space for accommodating the first connector 225. As shown in FIG. 8B, it can be seen that the flexible printed circuit board 214 is bent to be in contact with the first connector 225.
As shown in FIG. 17, the dome switch 213 is formed on the flexible printed circuit board 214. The flexible printed circuit board 214 is bent to the outside through a through hole 217 a formed in the bracket 217 that supports the first button 211 and the second button 212. Thus, the flexible printed circuit board 214 is electrically connected to the first connector 225.
In this case, the cover 219 includes slip-resistant parts 219 a formed at a predetermined distance from one another on an outer surface thereof and a catching part 219 b having a greater width than a passage (not shown) formed at the back side of the terminal body 204. The slip-resistant parts 219 a may be formed as a straight line and used to prevent a slide when a user presses and pushes an upper surface of the cover 219. In addition, the approximately T-shaped catching part 219 b is formed in the cover 219, and the catching part 219 b prevents the cover 219 from falling out.
FIG. 20A is a cross sectional view showing a state in which the first module 210 is installed in the first recess 220, and FIG. 20B is a cross sectional view taken along JJ of FIG. 20A. FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view of the first recess 220 when the first module 210 is separated from the first recess 220. Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, it can be seen that a first elastic member 224 is formed on a side surface of the first recess 220, a first projection 224 a is formed at one side of the first elastic member 224, and a first groove 217 b into which the first projection 224 a may be inserted is formed on a bottom of the first module 210. In this way, the first module 210 may be attached or detached using the first projection 224 a and the first groove 217 b.
In this case, the first elastic member 224 may slightly protrude into a space of the first recess 220. When the first module 210 is inserted while the first elastic member 224 protrudes into an inner space of the first recess 220, the first elastic member 224 is pushed back. When the installation of the first module 210 is complete, the first projection 224 a formed on the first elastic member 224 is inserted into the first groove 217 b formed on the first module 210, thus fixing the first module 210. In this case, a top of the first elastic member 224 is formed to be inclined toward an inner side of the first recess 220 such that the first module 210 may be inserted without being caught by the first elastic member 224. In this case, the detachment grooves 222 are formed at both sides of the first recess 220 such that a user may easily take out the first module 210 upon attachment or detachment of the first module 210.
An embodiment of the present invention provides three solutions to attach or detach the first recess 220 to or from the first recess 220. That is, a method of a fixing method using a magnetic force between the magnetic member 215 and the metallic member 221, a fixing method using the cover 219 and the protrusion 223, and a fixing method using the projection 224 a and the groove 217 b are illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that these methods need not be used separately, and two or more of the methods may be used together. For example, the first module 210 may be fixed using the groove 217 b formed in the first module 210 and the projection 224 a formed in the elastic member 224 in addition to using the first magnetic member 215 and the first metallic member 221.
The second module 230 is attached or detached by sliding from a side surface of the terminal body 204. A guide 232 is formed at both sides of the second module 230 in the sliding direction. A first guide rail 242 is disposed in the second recess 240 such that the guide 232 slides therealong. A second contact terminal 234 is formed at a front surface of the second module 230. The second contact terminal 234 is electrically connected to an electrode 245 a of a second connector 245 formed inside the second recess 240.
A second elastic member 243 is formed at an end of the first guide rail 242 to apply a pressure to the second module 230. A second projection 243 a that inserted into a second groove 231 formed at each of both sides of the second module 230 is formed in an outer surface of the second elastic member 243. In this case, the second elastic member 243 is formed in the sliding direction of the second module 230, and one or both sides of the first guide rail 242 and the second elastic member 243 are inclined such that the second module 230 may slide smoothly 243 b (see FIG. 11). If the guide 232 and the second elastic member 243 formed not to be inclined but vertically, a scratch may occur in the second module 230.
In addition, the second elastic member 243 slightly protrudes toward an inner side of the second recess 240. This may be intended to generate a restoring force that allows the second elastic member 240 to move back and then move forth when the installation of the second module 230 is complete while the second module 230 slides to be installed in the second recess. The second projection 243 a is formed on an outer surface of the second elastic member 243. Thus, when the second module 230 is completed installed, the second module 230 is fixed to the second groove 231 formed at the side surface of the second module 230. Since the second elastic member 243 is formed to protrude as described above, the second elastic member 243 pushes the second projection 243 a toward the second module 230. Thus, the second projection 243 a does not easily fall out of the second groove 213. In this case, FIG. 11A shows surroundings of the second recess 240, and FIG. 11B is a cross sectional view taken along DD of FIG. 11A.
As shown in FIG. 10, the second contact terminal 234 is formed on the front surface of the second module 230, and the second contact terminal 234 is electrically connected to the electrode 245 a of the second connector 245. The second connector 245 may be a zebra connector. A plurality of electrodes are formed in the second connector 245 such that various second modules 230 may be utilized in contact with the plurality of electrodes. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, examples of the second module may include a camera module 230′, a display module 230″, a speaker module, and an optical mirror module and may further include a heart rate sensor module, an LDAF module, and a fingerprint recognition module. In order to replace and use such a plurality of modules, a plurality of utilizable electrodes should be secured. Accordingly, a zebra connector that may secure a plurality of electrodes in a narrow space is utilized in an embodiment of the present invention. This is the same in the case of the third connector 265 to be described below and the case of the first connector 225 described above. That is, like in the first connector 225, a plurality of electrodes 225 a are formed in a plurality of regions R1, R2, R3, and R4, and respective electrodes formed in the regions R1, R2, R3, and R4 are coupled with different modules, thus enabling the plurality of modules to be replaced and used.
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the third contact terminal 254 is formed on the front surface of the third module 250, and the third connector 265 including a plurality of electrodes 265 a is disposed in the third recess 260 to electrically connect the third contact terminal 254 and the printed circuit board 280.
The structure in which the first to third modules 210, 230, and 250 are installed in the first to third recesses 220, 240, and 260, respectively, has been described above. However, the installation structure is not limited to that described above. The first to third modules 210, 230, and 250 may be installed in the first to third recesses 220, 240, and 260 in various combinations. For example, a structure of the second elastic member 243, the second projection 243 a, and the second groove 231, which is the coupling structure of the second module 230 and the recess 240, may be added to the coupling structure of the third module 250 and the third recess 260. Furthermore, a magnetic member and a metallic member may be used to install the second module 230 in the second recess 240.
In the mobile terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a first pin module 370 a may be disposed on bottoms of the first to third recesses 320, 340, and 360, and first to third contact terminals 334 may be formed on bottoms of the first to third modules 310, 330, and 350 and electrically connected with the first pin module 370 a. The first pin module 370 a is a single module, and all of the first to third modules 310, 330, and 350 are electrically connected to the first pin module 370 a.
It has been described that the second module 230 and the third module 250 are attached or detached by sliding from a side surface of the mobile terminal 200. In FIG. 22, however, the first to third modules 310, 330, and 350 are attached or detached in a thickness direction of the mobile terminal 300. To this end, third magnetic members 375 a and 375 c are included at bottoms of each of the first to third modules 310, 330, and 350, and third metallic members 371 a and 371 c are included in each of the first to third recesses 320, 340, and 360. In this case, it is appreciated that positions of the third magnetic members 375 a and 375 c may be exchanged with positions of the third metallic members 371 a and 371 c and the third magnetic members 375 a and 375 c may be used instead of the third metallic members 371 a and 371 c.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 25, the first pin module 370 a is electrically connected with the first to third contact terminal through the first through hole 381 formed in the printed circuit board 380. In this case, the third metallic members 371 a and 371 c are disposed in the printed circuit board 380 or the first to third recesses 310, 340, and 360 and the third magnetic members 375 a and 375 c are adhered to bottoms of the first to third modules 310, 330, and 350. Thus, the first to third modules 310, 330, and 150 are bound to the first to third recesses 320, 340, and 360. In addition, the first to third contact terminals 334 are formed on bottoms of the first to third modules 310, 330, and 350 and are in contact with the plurality of pins 376 of the pin module 370.
In this case, when the first pin module 370 a is disposed at centers of the first to third recesses 320, 340, and 360, the third metallic member 371 a and 371 c and the third magnetic member 375 a and 375 c may be disposed in a region except for a region in which the first pin module 370 a is disposed. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, the third magnetic members 375 a and 375 c disposed at bottoms of the second and third modules 330 and 350 and the corresponding third metallic members 371 a and 371 c disposed in the second and third recesses 340 and 360 are C-shaped.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 351 may be combined as a front surface to the printed circuit board 380 by the pin module 370. That is, the mobile terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a display unit 351 disposed on the terminal body 304 and including a window 351 a and a second pin module 370 b mounted on the printed circuit substrate 370 and having a plurality of pins 376 exposed through a second through hole 382 formed in the printed circuit board 380. The flexible printed circuit board 354 of the display unit 351 is electrically connected with the second pin module 370 b.
The display may be combined with the printed circuit board 380 at a front side by bringing the second pin module 370 b in direct contact with the flexible printed circuit board 354 of the display unit 351 through the printed circuit board 380 as described above.
Accordingly, the display unit 351, which is integrated by combining a window 351 a and an LCD module 351 b with an assembly of the rear case 302 and the printed circuit board 380, may be assembled in a direction of a front side.
More specifically with reference to FIG. 27, the flexible printed circuit board 354 connected to the LCD module 351 b is disposed over the printed circuit board 380, the second through hole 382 is formed on the printed circuit board 380, and the pins 376 of the second pin module 370 b are exposed through the second through hole 382. The LCD module 351 b is driven by bringing contact terminals formed on the flexible printed circuit board 354 in contact with the pins 376. In this case, the pin module 370 is fixed to the printed circuit board 380 through the mounting part 378.
If the printed circuit board 480 is a one-board, the printed circuit board 480 is formed throughout the mobile terminal 400. A battery 491 is installed on a back surface of the printed circuit board A thickness of the mobile terminal 400 is increased due to a thickness of the battery 491. According to an embodiment of the present invention, in order to reduce the thickness of the mobile terminal 400, a region R of the printed circuit board in which the battery 491 is installed is recessed, and the battery 491 is disposed in the recessed region R.
a first, second and third module detachable from a back surface of the terminal body; and
wherein the back surface of the terminal body includes a first, second and third recess to receive the first, second and third module, respectively,
wherein the second recess is located to one side of the first recess and the third recess is located to another side of the first recess,
a contact terminal configured to contact the printed circuit board through a connector having one or more electrode regions such that the first module is electrically connected to the printed circuit board when the first module is received in the first recess,
a protrusion through a side surface of the first recess,
a first button configured to receive a push input for a first function,
a second button configured to receive a push input for a second function,
a flexible printed circuit board including a plurality of contact terminals,
a dome switch located between the flexible printed circuit board and the first and second buttons, the dome switch configured to transfer a push input received from the first button or the second button to at least one of the plurality of contact terminals such that the at least one contact terminal makes contact with the printed circuit board through the connector,
wherein the terminal body further includes a cover configured for selectively covering the protrusion and maintaining the first module in the first recess when the cover is covering the protrusion.
2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the connector is disposed in the first recess.
3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the first module further comprises one or more magnetic members, and wherein one or more first metallic members are disposed in the first recess in locations corresponding to the one or more magnetic members when the first module is received in the first recess.
4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface includes a plurality of slip-resistant formations.
5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 further comprising an elastic member associated with a side surface of the first recess, wherein the first module further comprises a side surface that includes a depression therein, wherein the elastic member comprises a surface facing the side surface of the first module when the first module is received in the first recess, the surface of the elastic member including a projection that aligns with and is received by the depression when the first module is received in the first recess.
6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal body includes a concave detachment groove on opposite sides of the first recess.
7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises a first side surface that includes a first groove-shaped guide, a second side surface that includes a second groove-shaped guide and a third side surface that includes a second contact terminal, wherein the second recess comprises a first side surface that includes a first guide rail and a second side surface that includes a second guide rail, the first groove-shaped guide configured to receive the first guide rail and the second groove-shaped guide configured to receive the second guide rail when the second module is slidably inserted into and received in the second recess, and wherein a second connector disposed in the second recess is configured to make contact with the second contact terminal when the second module is received in the second recess.
8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein one of the side surfaces of the second recess further comprises an elastic member, the elastic member including a surface, with a projection thereon, that faces a corresponding one of the side surfaces of the second module when the second module is received in the second recess, and
wherein the corresponding side surface of the second module further comprises a depression therein, and when the second module is received in the second recess, the projection on the surface of the elastic member aligns with and is received by the depression on the side surface of the second module.
9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the second recess further comprises a third side surface facing the third surface of the second module when the second module is received in the second recess, the third side of the second recess including a projection, and
wherein the third side surface of the second module comprises a depression that aligns with and is configured to receive the projection on the third side surface of the second recess when the second module is received in the second recess.
10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the third module comprises a first, second and third side surface and a groove-shaped guide along the first, second and third side surfaces, wherein the third recess comprises a first, second and third side surface, each facing the first, second and third surface of the third module, respectively, when the third module is received in the third recess, wherein the third recess further comprises a guide rail along the first, second and third side surfaces of the third recess, and wherein the groove-shaped guide along the first, second and third side surfaces of the third module is configured to receive the guide rail along the first, second and third side surfaces of the third recess when the third module is slidably inserted into and received in the third recess.
11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the third module further comprises a third contact terminal on one of the first, second or third side surfaces of the third module, and
wherein a third connector disposed in the third recess is configured to make contact with the third contact terminal when the third module is received in the third recess.
12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the third module further comprises a magnetic member, and wherein the third recess further comprises a metallic member disposed within one of the first, second or third side surfaces of the third recess, the magnetic member and the metallic member aligning with each other when the third module is received in the third recess.
13. The mobile terminal of claim 1 further comprising:
a display unit disposed on the terminal body; and
a pin module mounted on the printed circuit board having a plurality of pins exposed through an opening in the printed circuit board,
wherein the display unit comprises a flexible printed circuit board that is configured to make an electrical connection with the pin module.
14. The mobile terminal of claim 1 further comprising:
a battery, wherein the printed circuit board has a recess in which the battery is disposed.
15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein electronic components are mounted on the printed circuit board above and below the battery.
16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein a rib is disposed outside the recessed region in which the battery is disposed.
a terminal body including first, second and third recesses formed in a back surface of the terminal body;
first, second and third detachable modules, wherein the first, second and third recesses are configured to receive the first, second and third modules, respectively;
a pin module mounted to the printed circuit board and exposed through a bottom surface of the first, second and third recesses,
wherein a first, second and third contact terminal is disposed on a bottom-facing surface of the first, second, and third modules, respectively, and
wherein each of the first, second and third contact terminals are configured to make an electrical connection with the pin module when the first, second and third modules are received in the first, second and third recesses, respectively, and
wherein the pin module connects with the first, second and third contact terminals through an opening in the printed circuit board, and
wherein the pin module comprises:
a plurality of pins, exposed through the opening in the printed circuit board, which come in contact with the first, second and third contact terminals;
a pin body on which the plurality pins are disposed; and
a mounting part formed at both sides of the pin body and mounted on the printed circuit board.
18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein each of the first, second and third modules are configured to be inserted into or removed from the first, second and third recesses, respectively, by moving the first, second and third modules in a direction perpendicular to the back surface of the terminal body,
wherein the bottom-facing surface of each of the first, second, and third modules further comprises a magnetic member, and the bottom surface of each of the first, second and third recesses includes a metallic member, and
wherein each magnetic member is configured to align with a corresponding one of the metallic members when the first, second and third modules are received in the first, second and third recesses.
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US20160128217A1 true US20160128217A1 (en) 2016-05-05
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YOO, KYUNGSU;LEE, BOHYOUNG;REEL/FRAME:036925/0541