Patent Description:
"Portable sound device" refers to a sound device configured to receive a sound signal from a terminal device and to transmit sound information collected through a microphone to the terminal device. Conventionally, portable sound devices have adopted wired communication technology in which a terminal of a portable sound device is inserted into an ear port of a terminal device so as to receive sound signals. Recently, demand for wireless-communication-type portable sound devices is increasing due to convenience in mobility and use thereof.

A portable sound device may be provided with a sound output unit in order to fulfill various functions, including those of music reproduction, telecommunications, and the like. Such a portable sound device is capable of being connected to a base station by itself for telecommunications or of being directly connected to an external server so as to receive sound data. In addition, such a portable sound device is capable of fulfilling the above functions by being paired with another terminal device.

Portable sound devices, including a headphone-type portable sound device configured to have a band shape so as to be worn on a user's head, an ear-hook-type portable sound device, and an ear-fit-type portable sound device, which are designed in consideration of portability, have been developed.

Because portable sound devices, which are designed to be worn on a user's head or to be hung on a user's neck, have a somewhat large volume, demand for an earbud-type portable sound device, which is constructed such that only earbuds, which are put into a user's ears, are configured so as to be operated wirelessly, and a cradle serving as a case capable of charging the earbuds and or storing the earbuds therein is additionally provided, is recently increasing. Although the earbud-type portable sound device is convenient to use, there is a difficulty in disposition of parts such as a battery, a user input unit, and the like because the portable sound device is small.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device, comprising: a housing defining a force input surface; a first force electrode disposed within the housing; a second force electrode disposed within the housing; a spring member biasing the first force electrode toward the housing and allowing the first force electrode to move toward the second force electrode when an input force is applied to the force input surface; and a controller that is operative to determine a non-binary amount of the input force using a change in a capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode.

<CIT> discloses an earphone, wherein a measurement of an inductance resulting from a user press event, and a measurement of capacitance due to user proximity or a touch event, are used to detect user input commands.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a portable electronic device including a user input unit capable of detecting two types of input. A portable electronic device according to the present invention is set forth in claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims.

In order to accomplish the above object, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a portable electronic device including a housing, and a user input unit disposed in the housing, wherein the user input unit includes a first input unit, closely disposed on the inner surface of the housing so as to detect touch input, and a second input unit disposed inside the first input unit in the state of overlapping the first input unit so as to detect push input.

The user input unit may include a flexible board on which the first input unit and the second input unit are mounted, and a connector connecting a main board mounted on the housing to the first input unit and the second input unit.

The flexible board may include a first board on one surface of which the first input unit is mounted and on another surface of which the second input unit is mounted, and one surface of the first board may be closely disposed on the inner surface of the housing.

The first board may include a first insulation layer positioned on one surface thereof, the first input unit being disposed at the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer positioned on another surface thereof, the second input unit being disposed at the second insulation layer, and a ground layer positioned between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer.

The portable electronic device includes a carrier, on which the user input unit is seated and which is inserted into the housing, and a metal spring covering the second input unit and spaced apart from the another surface of the first board by a predetermined distance, and the metal spring may be in contact with the carrier.

The push input may be determined based on variation in the distance between the second input unit and the metal spring.

The portable electronic device may include a dielectric body that has elasticity and is disposed between the second input unit and the metal spring.

The second input unit includes the first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the another surface of the first board and spaced apart from each other, the metal spring is grounded, and variation in a distance between the first and second electrodes and the metal spring is detected based on variation in the intensity of an electrical field between the first electrode and the second electrode.

The portable electronic device may include a conductive pad, disposed on the another surface of the first board adjacent to the first electrode, and a controller, configured to periodically and alternately activate the first input unit and the second input unit and configured to periodically control potentials of the first electrode and the conductive pad to be the same upon activation of the first input unit.

The housing may include a main body, on which a sound output unit is mounted, and an extension coupled at one end thereof to the main body, the user input unit being mounted on the extension.

The first input unit may include a plurality of electrodes disposed on the extension in a longitudinal direction of the extension.

The scope within which the present disclosure is applicable will be apparent from the following detailed description. However, since various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that are included within the scope defined by the appended claims will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the detailed description and specific embodiments, such as preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, should be construed as merely illustrative.

A description will now be given in detail according to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brevity of description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components may be denoted by the same reference numbers, and a description thereof will not be repeated. In general, suffixes such as "module" and "unit", when are used in the following description, may be used to refer to elements or components for easy preparation of the specification. The use of such suffixes herein is merely intended to facilitate the description of the specification, and the suffixes do not imply any special meaning or function. Furthermore, in the following description of embodiments disclosed herein, if it is decided that a detailed description of known functions or configurations related to the invention would make the subject matter of the invention unclear, such detailed description is omitted. The accompanying drawings are used to assist in easy understanding of various technical features, and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents, and substitutes, in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be construed as being limited by these terms.

It should be understood that, when an element is referred to as being "connected with" another element, there may be intervening elements present, or the element may be directly connected with the another element. In contrast, it should be understood that, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected with" another element, there are no intervening elements present.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Terms such as "includes" or "has" used herein should be considered as indicating the presence of various features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, but it should be understood that the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof is not excluded.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a portable sound device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the portable sound device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The portable sound device <NUM> according to the present disclosure may include a controller <NUM>, a wireless communication unit <NUM>, a sound output unit <NUM>, a sensing unit <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, a user input unit <NUM>, and a power supply <NUM>, and may be received in a housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> may include a main body <NUM>, on which parts such as a sound output unit are mounted, and an extension <NUM> which extends from the main body <NUM> so as to be exposed to the outside of a user's ear. The extension <NUM> may be exposed to the outside, and may be provided therein with the input unit <NUM>, the microphone <NUM>, and the wireless communication unit <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control the sound output unit <NUM> to be activated in response to a sound signal received through the wireless communication unit <NUM>, and may control the sound output unit <NUM> to transmit the sound collected through the microphone <NUM> through the wireless communication unit <NUM> or to provide more clear sound by removing the noise from the sound collected through the microphone <NUM>.

In the controller <NUM>, a printed circuit board may be positioned in a housing <NUM>. Because a plurality of ICs are mounted on the printed circuit board <NUM>, there is a problem in that the thickness thereof is increased when the printed circuit board <NUM> is disposed so as to overlap a battery. Accordingly, a flexible circuit board may be used in order to dispose the printed circuit board so as not to overlap the battery and to realize mounting and connection of some components, such as the microphone <NUM>, the user input unit <NUM>, and the sound output unit <NUM>.

The portable sound device according to the present disclosure may include the wireless communication unit <NUM> configured to receive sound signals via wireless communication. Although the wireless communication unit <NUM> may itself be connected to a mobile communication base station to perform communication, the wireless communication unit <NUM> may generally be connected to an external device such as a mobile terminal through short-range communication.

Examples of the short-range communication may include at least one of Bluetooth™, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, Nearfield Communication (NFC), Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity), Wi-Fi Direct, and Wireless USB (Wireless Universal Serial Bus).

The sound output unit <NUM>, which is a device configured to output sound according to a sound signal, may be put into a user's ear so as to serve to transmit sound. The sound output unit <NUM> may output sound based on the sound signals received through the wireless communication unit <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> may be provided therein with a sound hole <NUM> through which the sound output from the sound output unit <NUM> is output.

The portable sound device according to the present disclosure may be of an earbud type, in which the sound output from the sound output unit <NUM> is directly transmitted to the ear canal of a user, and may include an ear tip surrounding the periphery of the sound hole <NUM> in order to improve wearing comfort and to block external noises.

The sound output unit <NUM> may further include a resonance hole <NUM> for resonance, in addition to the sound hole <NUM> through which sound is output. Here, the perceived sound may change depending on the position and size of the resonance hole <NUM>.

The sensing unit <NUM> may detect conditions inside and outside the portable sound device, and may use the result of detection in control of the portable sound device. The sensing unit <NUM> may include at least one of a proximity sensor <NUM>, an illumination sensor <NUM>, a touch sensor, a motion sensor, an RGB sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an optical sensor, a battery gauge, or an environmental sensor (for example, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, a radioactive sensor, a heat detector, a gas detector, or the like).

However, because the size of the portable sound device <NUM> is limited, the number of sensing units <NUM> may be minimized, and ambient information (temperature, illuminance, and the like) may be obtained through a terminal connected via the wireless communication unit <NUM>.

The microphone <NUM> may process an external sound signal into electric voice data. The processed voice data may be transmitted to an external terminal device or an external server through the wireless communication unit <NUM>. The microphone <NUM> may realize various denoising algorithm for removing noise generated in the course of receiving external sound signals.

Such noise removal technology is referred to as active noise control (ANC), noise canceling, or active noise reduction (ANR). ANC is technology for blocking noise by analyzing noise collected through a microphone and outputting an interference signal capable of cancelling the noise.

The power supply <NUM> may include a battery, which is mounted in the portable sound device in order to supply power required to operate the device in a wireless manner. Because the battery must be disposed in a small space and convenience in use is deteriorated when the battery is too heavy, an additional cradle may be provided in order to store and charge the battery.

When the portable sound device is inserted into the cradle, the battery disposed in the housing may be charged using an auxiliary battery provided in the cradle. For connection to the auxiliary battery in the cradle, a charging terminal <NUM> may be exposed to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

The user input unit <NUM> is a unit for inputting a user command. Although it is possible to obtain information through a mobile terminal connected to the wireless communication unit <NUM>, the simple user input unit <NUM> may be provided so as to allow simple manipulation to be performed without a mobile terminal.

For example, there is need for an input unit capable of allowing a user to select playback/pause of sound, to determine whether or not a call signal is received upon transmission of the call signal, and to control the volume of sound. Here, a button-type user input unit, which is capable of being pushed, is necessary in the case of simple function conversion, and a slide-type user input unit, which is capable of detecting input in a slide manner, is necessary when there is a need for stepwise control such as volume control.

Because the user input unit <NUM> must be exposed to the outside, the user input unit <NUM> may be positioned at the side opposite the sound hole <NUM> in the device body or at the extension <NUM>. The present disclosure is directed to a user input unit positioned at the extension <NUM>. Hereinafter, the user input unit will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The user input unit <NUM>, which will be described hereinafter, may be applied not only to a sound device including the sound output unit <NUM> but also to other small-sized portable electronic devices. For convenience of explanation, the user input unit is described based on an electronic device including the sound output unit.

The user input unit <NUM> according to the embodiment may include a first input unit <NUM> configured to detect touch input and a second input unit <NUM> configured to detect push input. The first input unit <NUM> may include a plurality of electrodes for detecting touch input in order to detect slide input in the direction in which the electrodes are arranged. When a user's finger moves in a longitudinal direction while touching the extension <NUM>, it is possible to detect slide input and to perform stepwise control of, for example, volume.

The second input unit <NUM> configured to detect push input may include a force sensor, which has a small size and is capable of detecting push input.

The first input unit <NUM> is capable of detecting touch input in such a manner as to detect variation in the potential of the electrode due to a user's finger when the user's finger comes into contact with the electrode, and is capable of detecting slide input in such a manner as to detect electrodes with which a user's finger sequentially comes into contact.

The second input unit <NUM> may include a force sensor. The force sensor may use a strain gauge, an MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) ultrasonic sensor, an inductive sensor including a coil, an electrode sensor, or the like.

The strain gauge may detect push input in such a manner as to detect variation in the resistance of a resistance wire, which is disposed in a zigzag pattern, caused when the length of the resistance wire is changed due to pressure. In order to detect the direction of pressure, a plurality of strain gauges may be used. In order to detect only whether or not strain is present, the second input unit <NUM> may be embodied as a single strain gauge.

The MEMS ultrasonic sensor, which is an ultrasonic sensor capable of recognizing the three-dimensional shape of an object in air by combining a thermally-induced ultrasonic source that uses the thermal properties of nanocrystal porous silicon with a MEMS-type condenser microphone, is capable of detecting strain.

The inductive sensor including a coil, which includes a coil and a metal object, is capable of detecting push input by detecting variation in current flowing through the coil caused when the distance between the coil and the adjacent metal object is changed upon application of pressure by a user.

The electrode sensor, which is a force sensor including two electrodes, which are spaced apart from each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, is capable of detecting push input by detecting variation in the intensity of an electrical field formed between the two electrodes that occurs when pressure is applied to the force sensor.

Although the following embodiment will be described based on an electrode sensor, the user input unit <NUM> may also be embodied as another type of force sensor.

<FIG> is a view illustrating disposition of the user input unit <NUM> of the portable sound device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure not part of the claimed invention. Referring to <FIG>, the user input unit <NUM> may be positioned at the extension <NUM>, and the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> may be positioned opposite each other.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the dotted square portion in <FIG>. The first input unit <NUM>, which is positioned at one side of the sound device, may detect slide input through the plurality of electrodes each configured to detect touch input of a user, and the second input unit <NUM>, which is positioned at the opposite side of the sound device, may detect push input.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in <FIG>. The first input unit <NUM> may be closely disposed on the inner surface of the housing <NUM>, and the second input unit <NUM> may be disposed in the state of being spaced apart from the housing <NUM> so as to detect push input by detecting variation in the distance between the second input unit <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

Although the extension <NUM> is illustrated as having a cylindrical form, the extension <NUM> may have a flat surface so as to realize a constant distance between the first input unit <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. The second input unit <NUM> may also have a flat surface so as to allow a user to recognize the position of the second input unit <NUM> using his/her sense of touch.

<FIG> is a conceptual view illustrating the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> of the portable sound device <NUM> according to the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates the first input unit <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates the second input unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first input unit <NUM> includes a plurality of electrodes <NUM>, which are sequentially arranged in one direction. When a user touches one of the plurality of electrodes <NUM>, the resistance of the electrode is changed, whereby the first input unit <NUM> detects the touch input. When sequential touch inputs on the plurality of electrodes <NUM> are detected, the first input unit <NUM> may recognize the sequential touch inputs as slide touch input, and consequently perform a function such as volume control or the like.

The first input unit <NUM> may be closely disposed on the inner surface of the housing <NUM> such that the distance between the electrode and a user's finger is constant when the user touches the housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second input unit <NUM> may include a pair of electrodes <NUM> and <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may be disposed with a predetermined gap defined therebetween so as to detect variation in the distance between the pair of electrodes.

The first electrode <NUM> may be in close contact with the inner surface of the housing <NUM>, and the second electrode <NUM> may be positioned on a carrier <NUM> positioned inside the housing <NUM>. When a user presses the housing <NUM>, variation in an electrical field between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> and consequent variation in electrostatic capacitance occur due to minute displacement of the housing <NUM>. The controller may detect whether or not user input is applied based on the variation in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a process of assembling the user input unit <NUM> of the portable sound device <NUM> according to an embodiment not part of the claimed invention. The user input unit <NUM> may be formed on a single flexible board <NUM>. The flexible board <NUM> may include a first board <NUM> at which the first input unit <NUM> is positioned and a second board <NUM> at which the second input unit <NUM> is positioned. The first board <NUM> and the second board <NUM> may be positioned opposite each other.

The portable sound device <NUM> may include a carrier <NUM> on which the user input unit <NUM> is seated and at which a battery, a microphone, an antenna, and the like are disposed. As illustrated in <FIG>, the carrier <NUM> may be inserted into the lower portion of the cylindrical form corresponding to the extension <NUM>.

In order to prevent the carrier <NUM> from catching on the inner surface of the housing <NUM> and thus from becoming difficult to insert into the housing <NUM> when the carrier <NUM> is inserted into the housing <NUM> or in order to prevent the user input unit <NUM> from breaking due to friction against the housing <NUM> when the user input unit <NUM> is assembled, there is a need to provide a clearance for erection tolerance between the housing <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>.

When a space is provided between the housing <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> for erection tolerance, there may be the case in which the gap required for detection of pressure of the second input unit <NUM> is not stably maintained. Accordingly, an elastic member, which is deformed upon compression and is then restored to the original shape, may be used.

are views illustrating various embodiments of the first input unit <NUM> of the portable sound device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure not covered by the claimed invention.

<FIG> are views illustrating various embodiments of the first input unit of the portable sound device according to an embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in <FIG>, an elastic cap <NUM>, which is made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone, may be provided between the housing <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM>. The elastic cap <NUM> may include an actuator, which projects to press the second input unit <NUM>.

Alternatively, as illustrated in <FIG>, a foam tape <NUM>, which includes elastic foam, may be provided so as to maintain a distance between the housing <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM>. Specifically, the foam tape <NUM> may be disposed between a pair of electrodes of the second input unit <NUM> so as to sense variation in the distance between the electrodes caused by application of pressure.

<FIG> illustrate an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention in which a metal spring <NUM> is used as an elastic member. The metal spring <NUM> may be compressed when the carrier <NUM> is inserted into the housing <NUM>, and may be restored to the original shape after assembly, thus maintaining the distance between the housing <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM>. The metal spring <NUM> may be compressed when pressure is applied to the second input unit <NUM> by a user, and may be restored to the original shape after release of the application of the pressure.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which electrodes forming a pair are respectively positioned at the metal spring <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which the metal spring <NUM> is electrically connected to a board on which the second input unit <NUM> is mounted and the metal spring <NUM> itself serves as an electrode.

<FIG> illustrates various embodiments of the second input unit <NUM> including the metal spring <NUM> shown in <FIG> in which the metal spring <NUM> is coupled to a flexible board <NUM> on which the second input unit <NUM> is mounted. The metal spring <NUM> may include a cover portion <NUM> covering the second input unit <NUM> and a connection portion <NUM> connected to the flexible board <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the connection portion <NUM> may be bent so as to be restored to the original shape even when the connection portion <NUM> is deformed by pressure. The metal spring <NUM> may further include an actuator <NUM> projecting therefrom. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the metal spring <NUM> may include two actuators in order to embody two second input units <NUM>.

In the case in which the portable sound device <NUM> has a small size, as in an earbud-type portable sound device, the portable sound device may include only a single second input unit <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the disposition of the user input unit <NUM> of the portable sound device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure not covered by the claimed invention. As illustrated in <FIG>, the user input unit <NUM> according to the embodiment may be configured such that the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> are positioned at the same side of the extension <NUM>.

The previous embodiment has a problem in which the first input unit and the second input unit of the user input unit <NUM> are respectively disposed at two sides of the extension <NUM> and thus the proportion of the limited space occupied by the user input unit <NUM> increases, thereby causing the amount of space for accommodating other parts such as a battery and the like to be insufficient or requiring the size of the extension <NUM> to be increased.

Accordingly, the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> may be disposed at the same side of the extension <NUM> in order to reduce the size of the user input unit <NUM> to thus improve the amount of available space inside the extension <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a user may provide input through the first input unit <NUM> by touching the side of the extension <NUM> in a slide touch manner, and may also provide push input through the second input unit <NUM> by pressing the side of the extension <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' in <FIG>. Here, the first input unit <NUM> may be closely disposed at the housing <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> may be disposed inside the first input unit <NUM>. The portable sound device may include an elastic member such as the metal spring <NUM> in order to provide a gap between the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a conceptual view of the user input unit <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The first input unit <NUM> may include a plurality of electrodes, which are positioned on one surface (the outer surface) thereof. The plurality of electrodes may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the extension <NUM>.

The second input unit <NUM> may be positioned inside the first input unit <NUM> so as to detect an electrical field, that is, the electric capacitance between two electrodes, which are spaced apart from each other by the other surface of the first input unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, when a user presses the outer surface of the housing <NUM> of the extension <NUM>, the distance between the pair of electrodes is decreased, thereby causing variation in the electric capacitance.

<FIG> is a conceptual view illustrating an embodiment of the user input unit <NUM>, in which <FIG> illustrates the user input unit <NUM> which is unfolded and <FIG> illustrates the user input unit <NUM> which is folded so as to be mounted in the housing <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the user input unit <NUM> may be disposed on the flexible board <NUM>, and the electrodes of the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> may be disposed on the surface of the flexible board <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the flexible board <NUM> may be folded such that the two parts thereof face each other, and may be mounted in the housing <NUM>. Alternatively, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> may be provided on a single flexible board <NUM>.

The flexible board <NUM> may include the first board <NUM>, on one surface of which the plurality of electrodes are positioned and the second board <NUM>, which is disposed so as to face the other surface of the first board <NUM>. The second input unit <NUM> may include the first electrode <NUM>, which is positioned on the other surface of the first board <NUM>, and the second electrode <NUM>, which is positioned at the second board <NUM> and faces the first electrode <NUM> when the flexible board <NUM> is folded as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> are views illustrating various modifications of the user input unit <NUM> of the portable sound device <NUM> according to another embodiment not covered by the claimed invention of the present disclosure, and <FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating various modifications of the user input unit <NUM> of the portable sound device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in each of which (a) illustrates a cross-section, (b) illustrates one surface of the flexible board <NUM> of the user input unit <NUM>, and (c) illustrates the other surface of the flexible board <NUM>.

First, the flexible board <NUM> according to the embodiment shown in <FIG> may include the first board 373a and the second board <NUM>, which overlap each other, and the third board <NUM>, connecting the first board <NUM> to the second board <NUM>.

The first board <NUM> may be provided on one surface thereof with the plurality of electrodes of the first input unit <NUM>, which are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the extension <NUM>. The second input unit <NUM> may include the first electrode <NUM>, which is positioned on the other surface of the first board <NUM>, and the second electrode <NUM>, which is formed on the second board <NUM> so as to face the first electrode <NUM>.

In the state in which the flexible board <NUM> is unfolded, the electrodes of the first input unit <NUM> and a piece of adhesive tape <NUM> for attaching the second board <NUM> to the carrier <NUM> may be positioned on one surface of the flexible board <NUM>, as illustrated in (b) in each of the drawings, and the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> of the second input unit <NUM> may be positioned on the other surface of the flexible board <NUM>, as illustrated in (c) in each of the drawings.

As illustrated in (a) of each of the drawings, the first input unit <NUM> may be closely coupled to the inner surface of the housing <NUM> via the piece of adhesive tape <NUM>.

In order to maintain a gap g between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, a dielectric body <NUM> having elasticity may be interposed therebetween. The dielectric body <NUM> may be made of a material that is easily deformed when pressed by a user.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the metal spring <NUM>, which is an elastic member, may be provided in order to restore the user input unit <NUM> to the original shape thereof after the pressure is released. The first board <NUM> may be coupled to the housing <NUM>, the second board <NUM> may be coupled to the metal spring <NUM>, and the metal spring <NUM> may be fixed to the first board <NUM> coupled to the housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a connector <NUM> may be provided in order to connect the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> to the controller. As illustrated in <FIG>, the connector <NUM> may be positioned at the end of an additional fourth board extending from the user input unit <NUM>. The flexible board <NUM> may include a circuit pattern <NUM> connecting the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> to the connector <NUM>.

Because this embodiment does not include an additional ground layer <NUM>, there may be interference between the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM>, which are respectively positioned on the two surfaces of the first board <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the interference between the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> by alternately activating the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> at a predetermined cycle.

Particularly, as illustrated in <FIG>, because the plurality of electrodes are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the extension <NUM> and some of the plurality of electrodes overlaps the second input unit <NUM> but others of the plurality of electrodes do not overlap the second input unit <NUM>, there is a problem in that there is a difference between the electrodes of the first input unit <NUM>.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the difference between the electrodes of the first input unit <NUM> by disposing conductive pads <NUM> at regions of the user input unit <NUM> at which the second input unit <NUM> is not present and controlling the potential of the second input unit <NUM> and the potential of the conductive pad <NUM> to be the same (for example, 0V) upon activation of the first input unit <NUM>.

In order to eliminate interference between the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM>, the ground layer <NUM> may further be provided between the one surface and the other surface of the first board <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Because the ground layer <NUM> is maintained at 0V, it is possible to isolate the first input unit <NUM> positioned on the one surface of the first board <NUM> from the second input unit <NUM> positioned on the other surface of the first input unit <NUM>.

This embodiment is capable of simultaneously activating the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> without having to periodically and alternately activate the first input unit <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM>, as in the previous embodiment.

The embodiment shown in <FIG> makes it possible to provide only the first electrode <NUM> positioned on the other surface of the first board <NUM>, among the electrodes of the second input unit <NUM>, and to obviate the second electrode <NUM>. In place of the second electrode <NUM>, the metal spring <NUM> may be electrically connected to the first board <NUM> via soldering, thereby making it possible to use the metal spring <NUM> as the second electrode <NUM>.

Because the metal spring <NUM> is a conductive body including a metal material, it is possible to detect push input based on variation in the distance between the first electrode <NUM> and the metal spring <NUM> by connecting the metal spring <NUM> to the second electrode <NUM>.

Because this embodiment is capable of omitting the second board <NUM> of the user input unit <NUM>, there is an advantage in that the structure is simplified. In addition, because the flexible board <NUM> is not disposed in the state of being bent, the efficiency of use of the internal space is improved.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the second board <NUM> may be omitted, like the previous embodiment, and all of the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may be disposed on the other surface of the first board <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so as to form an electrical field therebetween. However, because both the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> are positioned at the first board <NUM>, variation in the electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may not be very large, even when pressed by a user.

In order to increase variation in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, the metal spring <NUM> may be connected to the first board <NUM> so as to be connected to the ground layer <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the second input unit <NUM> in the embodiment shown in <FIG>. Here, the shape of the metal spring <NUM> before being pressed, as shown in <FIG>, may be changed when pressed, as shown in <FIG>. When the distance between the metal spring <NUM> and the second input unit <NUM> is decreased, current may be directed toward the metal spring <NUM>, thereby changing the electrical field between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>.

Accordingly, the variation in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may mean deformation of the metal spring <NUM>, and the controller may detect that push input is applied. The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may be square or circular pads, which are disposed adjacent to each other, and may be disposed in various fashions, as illustrated in <FIG>.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, since the portable sound device <NUM> according to the present disclosure is capable of detecting two kinds of input, it is possible to ensure a sufficient number of user instructions which are capable of being input.

In addition, the present disclosure is capable of providing a portable sound device <NUM> characterized by improved ease of assembly and stable performance by virtue of the improved structure thereof.

Claim 1:
A portable electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
a user input unit (<NUM>) configured to detect touch input and push input; and
a carrier (<NUM>), on which the user input unit (<NUM>) is seated and which is positioned inside of the housing (<NUM>),
wherein the user input unit (<NUM>) comprises:
a first board (<NUM>) disposed on an inner surface of the housing (<NUM>)
a first input unit (<NUM>) mounted on a first surface of the first board (<NUM>) and configured to detect a touch input; and
a second input unit (<NUM>) mounted on a second surface of the first board (<NUM>) in the state of overlapping the first input unit (<NUM>) and configured to detect a push input different from the touch input,
wherein the second input unit (<NUM>) includes:
a first electrode (<NUM>) positioned on the second surface of the first board (<NUM>);
a second electrode (<NUM>) disposed on the second surface of the first board (<NUM>), wherein the first electrode (<NUM>) and the second electrode (<NUM>) are spaced apart from each other, and
a metal spring (<NUM>) configured to be changed in shape in response to the push input, wherein the metal spring (<NUM>) is grounded;
wherein the metal spring (<NUM>) includes a cover portion (<NUM>) covering the second input unit (<NUM>) and a connection portion (<NUM>) connected to the first board (<NUM>) such that the cover portion (<NUM>) is spaced apart from the first board (<NUM>), and
wherein the push input of second input unit (<NUM>) is detected by detecting a variation in a distance between (a) the first and second electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>) and (b) the metal spring (<NUM>) based on a variation in an intensity of an electrical field between the first electrode (<NUM>) and the second electrode (<NUM>).