KR20080100707A - Portable terminal with a movable keypad - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a movable keypad portion. The portable terminal of the present invention includes a main body portion, a first keypad portion, and a second keypad portion. The main body has an internal display on the top surface. The first keypad portion and the second keypad portion are in contact with each other and positioned above the upper end surface of the main body portion. The first keypad portion is movable by sliding, and the second keypad portion is coupled to the main body portion through the hinge and rotatable by a predetermined angle about the hinge.

According to the present invention, a large display unit is provided inside the portable terminal, so that the user can conveniently watch digital broadcasting or play a game. In addition, the keypad can be arranged to be convenient for playing games.

Description

Mobile terminal having a movable keypad unit {Mobile device having movable keypads}

1 is a plan view showing a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view showing that the first keypad portion of the mobile terminal is moved by sliding according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view showing that the second keypad portion of the mobile terminal rotates and moves according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a plan view showing that the first keypad portion and the second keypad portion of the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention are completely exposed to the outside by the internal display portion.

5 is a plan view showing a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a plan view showing that the first keypad portion and the second keypad portion of the portable terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention is completely exposed to the outside of the internal display portion.

The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a movable keypad portion, and more particularly, to a portable terminal having a first keypad portion sliding and moving and a second keypad portion rotatable at a predetermined position of the main body portion.

In general, a mobile terminal is an electronic device that allows a user to freely use functions such as wireless communication, Internet connection, and digital broadcast reception regardless of time and place. Recently, movies, music listening functions, and game functions have been added to mobile terminals. Such a mobile terminal has a small size for convenience of carrying. In the case of merely a call function, the size of the portable terminal is not a problem. However, miniaturization of the portable terminal leads to miniaturization of the display unit of the portable terminal, and miniaturization of the display unit may be inconvenient for the user when watching a movie, watching a digital broadcast, or playing a game.

In particular, in the case of playing a game, it may be necessary to further include a key used for the game, and the arrangement position of the key should also be a position suitable for playing the game. However, the smaller the size of the portable terminal is, the more difficult it is to have a key used for a game. In addition, when the main function of the mobile terminal is for the call, the arrangement of the keys is not for the game, but for the call, which is inconvenient when playing the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a large internal display unit inside a portable terminal so as to conveniently watch a movie, watch a digital broadcast, and play a game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient keypad portion when using a function that uses a lot of keys of the mobile terminal, such as a game.

In order to achieve the above objects, the portable terminal according to the present invention includes a main body portion, a first keypad portion, and a second keypad portion. The main body has an internal display on the top surface. The first keypad portion and the second keypad portion each have a key for input. The first keypad portion and the second keypad portion are located above the internal display portion while being in contact with each other and are movable.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, the first keypad can be moved by sliding on the upper surface of the main body. The first keypad unit may include an external display unit and may also include an external speaker. The second keypad portion may be coupled to the main body portion through the hinge, and may be rotatable by a predetermined angle about the hinge.

The portable terminal according to the present invention can operate the internal display when the first keypad is moved and a predetermined portion or more of the internal display is exposed to the outside.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, the external display may be an LED, and the internal display may be an LCD.

The first keypad portion of the portable terminal according to the present invention may have an external display portion at one end in contact with the second keypad portion and a key used for a game at the other end. The second keypad portion may include a function key and a navigation key at one end thereof in contact with the first keypad portion, and a numeric key at the other end thereof. A hinge may be positioned below the other end having the numeric keys.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, the first keypad portion and the second keypad portion may be coupled to the main body portion through the hinge, respectively, and may be rotatable by a predetermined angle about the hinge. The first keypad unit may include a key used for a game at one end that contacts the second keypad unit, and an external display unit at the other end. The hinge may be positioned below the other end having the external display unit. The second keypad portion may include a function key and a navigation key at one end thereof in contact with the first keypad portion, and a numeric key at the other end thereof. The hinge may be positioned below the other end having the numeric keys.

Example

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

In describing the embodiments, descriptions of technical contents which are well known in the technical field to which the present invention belongs and are not directly related to the present invention will be omitted. This is to more clearly communicate without obscure the subject matter of the present invention by omitting unnecessary description.

For the same reason, in the accompanying drawings, some components are exaggerated, omitted or schematically illustrated. In addition, the size of each component does not fully reflect the actual size. The same or corresponding components in each drawing are given the same reference numerals.

1 is a plan view illustrating a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable terminal 100 includes a first keypad portion 200 and a second keypad portion 300. Body parts (not shown) are positioned below the first keypad part 200 and the second keypad part 300. The first keypad portion 200 and the second keypad portion 300 have a circumferential border and are in contact with each other.

The first keypad 200 has a key 220 used for a game. The key 220 used for the game may be used for other purposes according to the purpose of use of the mobile terminal 100. The first keypad unit 200 may include an external display unit 210 and an external speaker 230. The external display unit 210 allows the external terminal to know the state of the mobile terminal. In the present exemplary embodiment, the external display unit 210 displays time, battery level, reception sensitivity, and the like when the portable terminal is in an idle state. The external speaker 230 is positioned at both sides of the external display unit 210. When the user plays a game or watches a digital broadcast, the user may hear the sound from the mobile terminal through the external speaker 230 without using the earphone. The external display unit 210 and the external speaker 230 are located at one end where the first keypad unit 200 and the second keypad unit 300 are in contact, and the key 220 used for the game is located at the other end.

The second keypad unit 300 includes a numeric key 330 for inputting numbers, a navigator 320 for inputting a moving direction on a display unit, and a function key 310 for using various functions of the mobile terminal 100. do. In the present embodiment, the numeric key 330 refers to the keys '0' to '9', '*' and '#', and the function key 310 refers to the 'menu', 'OK', 'SEND', and 'C'. , Say 'END' key. The function key 310 and the navigation key 320 are positioned at one end in contact with the first keypad 200, and the numeric key 330 is located at the other end. A hinge (not shown) is located at the lower end of the other end having the numeric keys.

2 is a diagram illustrating a sliding movement of a first keypad part of a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When the portable terminal 100 is used for a call function, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the first keypad 200 of the portable terminal 100 may be slid upward. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 receives a call, the caller's telephone number is displayed on the external display unit 210. When the user wants to answer the call, the user moves the first keypad 200 by sliding upward. As the first keypad portion 200 moves upward, the internal display portion 410 positioned on the upper surface of the main body portion 400 is exposed to the outside. The controller of the portable terminal 100 cuts off the power of the external display unit 210 when the predetermined portion (predetermined range) or more of the internal display unit is exposed to the outside, and controls the internal display unit 410 to operate. When the user wants to end the call, the user may end the call by pressing the 'END' key or sliding the first keypad 200 downward.

3 is a view showing that the second keypad portion of the portable terminal rotates and moves according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The second keypad 300 is coupled to the main body 400 through the hinge, and as shown in FIG. 3, the second keypad 300 may rotate by a predetermined angle about the hinge. In the present embodiment, the hinge couples the second keypad 300 and the main body 400 to a position between the '5' and '6' keys. The second keypad part 300 may rotate 180 ° counterclockwise around the hinge. In another embodiment, the second keypad 300 may rotate in a clockwise direction. As the second keypad unit 300 rotates and moves, the internal display unit 410 is exposed to the outside.

4 is a plan view showing that the first keypad portion and the second keypad portion of the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention move completely to expose the internal display portion to the outside.

When the portable terminal 100 is used for the purpose of digital broadcasting, movie watching, games, etc., the larger the display unit of the portable terminal 100, the more convenient it can be used. In the present exemplary embodiment, a large internal display unit 410 is provided in the main body of the portable terminal 100. When the portable terminal is not used, the first keypad 200 and the second keypad 300 prevent the internal display 410 from being exposed. Thus, the inner display portion 410 is protected from external impact.

When the portable terminal 100 is used for the purpose of watching a movie or playing a game, the first keypad 200 is slid and moved, and the second keypad 300 is rotated. As the first keypad portion 200 and the second keypad 300 move, the internal display portion 410 is completely exposed to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to play a game, watch a movie, or digital broadcast using the internal display unit 410.

A typical game controller has a means for adjusting the direction on the left side and a key for input on the right side. In the present embodiment, when playing a game using the mobile terminal 100, the second keypad unit 300 is rotated and moved to provide a user with a usage environment such as a general game controller. Specifically, in the case of a typical mobile terminal, as shown in FIG. 1, a display unit is located above the mobile terminal 100, a navigation key and a function key are located in the middle, and a numeric key is located below. The portable terminal 100 according to the present embodiment also provides a user with the same usage environment as a typical portable terminal. In the case of playing a game, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the key 220 used for the game is positioned on the right side by sliding the first keypad 200. As the second keypad part 300 rotates and moves, the navigator 320 is located on the left side. Therefore, the portable terminal 100 has the same structure as a conventional game controller.

In the present embodiment, since the external display unit 210 is exposed to the outside and receives a lot of shocks from the outside, it is preferable to use an LED (Luminescent Diode) resistant to the impact. The internal display unit 410 is relatively less exposed to external impact, but it is preferable to use a liquid crystal display (LCD) because a large screen must be displayed. In another embodiment, the external display unit 210 and the internal display unit 410 may be different.

5 is a plan view illustrating a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the portable terminal 500 according to another exemplary embodiment, the first keypad 600 and the second keypad 700 are positioned on the main body 800. The first keypad 600 and the second keypad 700 are in contact with each other, one end of each contact is an arc shape.

The first keypad 600 includes a key 620 used for a game at one end in contact with the second keypad 800, and an external display 610 and an external speaker 630 at the other end. The external speaker 630 is positioned at both sides of the external display unit 610. The first keypad 600 includes a hinge at the lower end of the other end having the external display 610 and is coupled to the main body 800 through the hinge. The first keypad 600 may be rotated 180 ° clockwise around the hinge.

The second keypad 700 includes a numeric key 730 for inputting a number, a navigator 720 for inputting a moving direction on a display unit, and a function key 710 for using various functions of the portable terminal 500. do. The function key 710 and the navigation key 720 are positioned at one end in contact with the first keypad 600, and the numeric key 730 is located at the other end. The second keypad 700 has a hinge at the lower end of the other end having the numeric keys 730 and is coupled to the main body 800 through the hinge. The second keypad 700 may be rotated 180 ° counterclockwise around the hinge.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating that the first display unit and the second keypad unit of the portable terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention move completely to expose the internal display unit to the outside.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first keypad 600 and the second keypad 700 are moved to completely expose the internal display 810 located on the top surface of the main body 800. Accordingly, it is possible to play a game, watch a movie, or digital broadcast using the internal display unit 810.

The structure of the portable terminal 500 is that the navigation key 720 is located on the left side, and the key 620 used for the game is located on the right side. Therefore, the portable terminal 500 has the same structure as a conventional game controller, and the user can conveniently play the game.

As described above, the present specification and drawings have been described with respect to preferred embodiments of the present invention, although specific terms are used, it is only used in a general sense to easily explain the technical contents of the present invention and to help the understanding of the present invention. It is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention can be carried out in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

The present invention allows a user to conveniently use the portable terminal by using a large internal display unit located on the upper surface of the main body of the portable terminal when watching a movie or digital broadcast or playing a game using the portable terminal. . In this case, the keypad is positioned above the internal display to protect the internal display from external impact.

In addition, when the portable terminal is used for a call, the keypad portion may have the same structure as a conventional portable terminal, and when the portable terminal is used for a game, the keypad portion may have a structure suitable for a game. Therefore, the user can change the structure of the keypad of the portable terminal according to the purpose of use of the portable terminal.

Claims (11)

A main body having an internal display on an upper surface thereof; And And a first keypad portion and a second keypad portion each having a key for input. And the first keypad portion and the second keypad portion are located above the internal display portion while being in contact with each other and are movable. The method of claim 1, The first keypad portion slides on the upper surface of the main body portion, The second keypad portion is coupled to the main body portion through a hinge, characterized in that rotatable by a predetermined angle around the hinge. The method of claim 2, The first keypad unit further comprises an external display unit. The method of claim 3, The first keypad unit further comprises an external speaker. The method of claim 3, And the internal display unit operates when the first keypad is moved and a predetermined portion or more of the internal display unit is exposed to the outside. The method of claim 5, A portable terminal, wherein the external display is an LED, and the internal display is an LCD. The method of claim 3, The first keypad portion has the external display portion at one end in contact with the second keypad portion, the other end has a key used for the game, The second keypad unit is provided with a function key and a navigation key at one end in contact with the first keypad unit, having a numeric key at the other end, characterized in that the hinge is located at the lower end of the other end having the numeric key terminal. The method of claim 1, And the first keypad portion and the second keypad portion are coupled to the main body portion through hinges, respectively, and are rotatable by a predetermined angle about the hinge. The method of claim 8, The first keypad unit further comprises an external display unit. The method of claim 9, The first keypad unit further comprises an external speaker. The method of claim 9, The first keypad portion has a key used for a game at one end in contact with the second keypad portion, an external display portion at the other end, the hinge is located at the lower end of the other end having the external display portion, The second keypad unit is provided with a function key and a navigation key at one end in contact with the first keypad unit, having a numeric key at the other end, characterized in that the hinge is located at the lower end of the other end having the numeric key terminal.

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