This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Oct. 28, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0106041, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charging device for a mobile terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a charging device for a mobile terminal that can perform a plurality of functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
As various functions are added to a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal becomes more complex. Recent mobile terminals provide various functions, such as an audio communication function, an audiovisual communication function, a wireless Internet function, a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-1 or MPEG-2 audio layer-3 (MP3) player function, and a digital broadcasting function. The mobile terminal is driven using power from an internal battery. In order to charge the battery, the mobile terminal is electrically connected to a separate charging device. The charging device charges the battery of the mobile terminal.
However, when using the mobile terminal, a user of the mobile terminal may not be able to charge the battery. The user of the mobile terminal may need to position the mobile terminal in a manner appropriate for a function currently being performed by the mobile terminal. For example, when viewing digital broadcasting through the mobile terminal, the user of the mobile terminal should arrange the mobile terminal in a position suitable for viewing the content on the mobile terminal, which may be difficult when the mobile terminal is connected to a charging device for charging. As a result, convenience of the user of the mobile terminal is deteriorated.
Aspects of the present invention are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a charging device for a mobile terminal that can improve convenience of a user of the mobile terminal by sustaining a posture of the mobile terminal using the charging device.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a charging device for a mobile terminal is provided. The charging device includes a charging unit for sustaining a posture of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is connected to the charging device and for charging the mobile terminal by electrically connecting to the mobile terminal, and a stand, detachably coupled to the charging unit and protruded from the charging unit to be interposed between the charging unit and the ground, for sustaining a posture of the mobile terminal by supporting the mobile terminal separately from the charging unit when the stand is detached from the charging unit, wherein the stand includes a stand groove for fixing the mobile terminal by housing at least a portion of the mobile terminal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a stand for a mobile terminal is provided. The stand includes a stand groove for fixing a mobile terminal by housing at least a portion of the mobile terminal, wherein the stand is connectable to a charging unit such that, when the stand is connected to the charging unit, the stand protrudes from the charging unit, and wherein the stand sustains a posture of the mobile terminal by supporting the mobile terminal separately from the charging unit when the stand is not connected to the charging unit.
Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding, but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.
The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustration purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
Referring to
The charging unit 110 performs a charging function and a stand function of a mobile terminal 10. The charging unit 110 has a predetermined thickness. The charging unit 110 has an insertion groove 111 in an upward direction, for example a Z-axis direction, from a lower surface disposed most adjacent to the ground in the charging unit 110. The insertion groove 111 has a predetermined depth at the inside of the charging unit 110 in an upward direction, for example a Z-axis direction from a lower surface of the charging unit 110. The insertion groove 111 may be inclined by a predetermined angle from the ground, for example, a plane formed by an X-axis and a Y-axis in the charging unit 110. The insertion groove 111 has a depth less than a thickness of the charging unit 110. The insertion groove 111 has a predetermined shape with a predetermined width in a horizontal direction, for example an X-axis or Y-axis direction at the inside of the charging unit 110.
The charging unit 110 has a charging circuit (not shown) and a charging terminal 113 for charging the mobile terminal 10. The charging circuit is provided within the charging unit 110. The charging circuit is connected to an external power source (not shown) through one end portion. The charging terminal 113 is connected to the other end portion of the charging circuit and at least a portion thereof is exposed (or protruded) to the outside. The charging terminal 113 is electrically connected to the mobile terminal 10. The charging terminal 113 is inserted into the mobile terminal 10 to be electrically connected to the mobile terminal 10.
The charging unit 110 includes a support 115 and a posture support 117 for supporting the mobile terminal 10. The support 115 supports the mobile terminal 10 by contacting with at least a portion of the mobile terminal 10. The support 115 supports the mobile terminal 10 in a vertical direction, for example a Z-axis direction from the ground. The support 115 is formed in a plane parallel to the ground. The support 115 exposes the charging terminal 113 to the outside. The posture support 117 supports the mobile terminal 10 to have a predetermined posture by contacting with at least a portion of the mobile terminal 10. The posture support 117 is extended from the support 115 to support the mobile terminal 10 together with the support 115. The posture support 117 supports the mobile terminal 10 in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, for example X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions from the ground. The posture support 117 is formed in a plane inclined by a predetermined angle from the ground.
Referring to
The stand 120 performs a movement prevention function of the charging unit 110 and a stand function of the mobile terminal 10. The stand 120 is detachably attached to the charging unit 110. The stand 120 is mounted in the charging unit 110 or separated from the charging unit 110 through the insertion groove 111. The stand 120 has a shape corresponding to the insertion groove 111.
The stand 120 is formed in a frame structure for coupling to the charging unit 110. In order to be inserted into the insertion groove 111 of the charging unit 110, the stand 120 is formed in a structure having a coupling hole 121 in a central portion. As shown in
The stand 120 is formed in a structure having a stand groove 123 for supporting the mobile terminal 10 separately from the charging unit 110. The stand groove 123 may be extended in a vertical direction, for example a Z-axis direction to correspond to the ground in the stand 120 or may be extended in an opposite direction thereof.
Referring to
Referring to
The charging unit 210 performs a charging function and a stand function of a mobile terminal 20. The charging unit 210 has a predetermined thickness. The charging unit 210 has an insertion groove 211 in an upward direction, for example a Z-axis direction from a lower surface disposed most adjacent to the ground in the charging unit 210. The insertion groove 211 has a predetermined depth at the inside of the charging unit 210 in an upward direction, for example a Z-axis direction from a lower surface of the charging unit 210. The insertion groove 211 has a predetermined depth at the inside of the charging unit 210 from at least one side surface extended from a lower surface of the charging unit 210. The insertion groove 211 is formed to be inclined by a predetermined angle from the ground, for example a plane formed by an X-axis and a Y-axis in the charging unit 210. The insertion groove 211 has a depth less than a thickness of the charging unit 210.
The charging unit 210 includes a charging circuit (not shown) and a charging terminal 213 for charging the mobile terminal 20. The charging circuit is provided within the charging unit 210. The charging circuit is connected to an external power source (not shown) through one end portion. The charging terminal 213 is connected to the other end portion of the charging circuit, and at least a portion thereof is exposed (or protruded) to the outside. The charging terminal 213 is electrically connected to the mobile terminal 20. The charging terminal 213 is inserted into the mobile terminal 20 to be electrically connected to the mobile terminal 20.
The charging unit 210 includes a support 215 and a posture support 217 for supporting the mobile terminal 20. The support 215 supports the mobile terminal 20 by contacting with at least a portion of the mobile terminal 20. The support 215 supports the mobile terminal 20 in a vertical direction, for example a Z-axis direction from the ground. The support 215 is formed in a plane parallel to the ground. The support 215 exposes the charging terminal 213 to the outside. The posture support 217 supports the mobile terminal 20 to have a predetermined posture by contacting with at least a portion of the mobile terminal 20. The posture support 217 is extended from the support 215 to support the mobile terminal 20 together with the support 215. The posture support 217 supports the mobile terminal 20 in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, for example X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions from the ground. The posture support 217 is formed in a plane inclined in a predetermined angle from the ground.
Referring to
The stand 220 performs a movement prevention function of the charging unit 210 and a stand function of the mobile terminal 20. The stand 220 may be detachably attached to the charging unit 210. The stand 220 may be mounted in the charging unit 210 or separated from the charging unit 210 through the insertion groove 211. The stand 220 may have a shape corresponding to the insertion groove 211. Accordingly, the stand 220 is mounted in the charging unit 210 or is separated from the charging unit 210 in a circumferential area of the charging unit 210. The stand 220 is formed in a loop structure for coupling to the charging unit 210. The stand 220 is formed in a structure having a stand groove 223 for inserting the charging unit 210 to be fastened to a circumferential area of the charging unit 210 and for supporting the mobile terminal 20 separately from the charging unit 210. The stand groove 223 is extended in a downward direction, for example a Z-axis direction from an upper surface in the stand 220.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The charging unit 310 performs a charging function and a stand function of a mobile terminal 30. The charging unit 310 has a predetermined thickness. An area of an upper surface of the charging unit 310 may be greater or smaller than that of a lower surface.
The charging unit 310 includes a charging circuit (not shown) and a charge terminal 313 for charging the mobile terminal 30. The charging circuit is provided within the charging unit 310. The charging circuit is connected to an external power source (not shown) through one end portion. The charging terminal 313 is connected to the other end portion of the charging circuit, and at least a portion thereof is exposed (or protruded) to the outside. The charging terminal 313 is electrically connected to the mobile terminal 30. The charging terminal 313 is inserted into the mobile terminal 30 to be electrically connected to the mobile terminal 30.
The charging unit 310 includes a support 315 and a posture support 317 for supporting the mobile terminal 30. The support 315 supports the mobile terminal 30 by contacting with at least a portion of the mobile terminal 30. The support 315 supports the mobile terminal 30 in a vertical direction, for example a Z-axis direction from the ground. The support 315 is formed in a plane parallel to the ground. The support 315 exposes the charging terminal 313 to the outside. The posture support 317 supports the mobile terminal 30 to have a predetermined posture by contacting with at least a portion of the mobile terminal 30. The posture support 317 is extended from the support 315 to support the mobile terminal 30 together with the support 315. The posture support 317 supports the mobile terminal 30 in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, for example X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions from the ground. The posture support 317 is formed in a plane inclined by a predetermined angle from the ground.
Referring to
The stand 320 performs a movement prevention function of the charging unit 310 and a stand function of the mobile terminal 30. The stand 320 may be detachably attached to the charging unit 310. The stand 320 may be mounted in the charging unit 310 or separated from the charging unit 310 in a circumferential area of the charging unit 310. The stand 320 may be mounted in the charging unit 310 or separated from the charging unit 310 in a vertical direction, i.e. in a Z-axis direction from the ground. For example, the stand 320 may be mounted or separated in a downward direction from an upper surface of the charging unit 310, and the stand 320 may be mounted or separated in an upward direction from a lower surface of the charging unit 310.
The stand 320 is formed in a frame structure for coupling to the charging unit 310. In order to insert the charging unit 310, the stand 320 is formed in a structure having a coupling hole 321 in a central portion. The coupling hole 321 is formed in a shape corresponding to a side surface connecting an upper surface and a lower surface of the charging unit 310. As shown in
The stand 320 is formed in a structure having a stand groove 323 for supporting the mobile terminal 30 separately from the charging unit 310. The stand groove 323 may be extended in a vertical direction, for example a Z-axis direction to correspond to the ground in the stand 320 or may be extended in an opposite direction thereof.
Referring to
According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a charging device for a mobile terminal performs a stand function as well as a charging function, thereby providing more improved use efficiency. The charging device charges and supports the mobile terminal through the charging unit. The charging device supports the mobile terminal through the stand separately from the charging unit. The charging device provides more improved mobility through the stand, thereby providing user convenience.
As described above, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a charging device for a mobile terminal performs a stand function as well as a charging function, thereby providing more improved use efficiency. The charging device supports a mobile terminal while charging the mobile terminal through a charging unit. The charging device supports the mobile terminal separately from the charging unit through a stand. The charging device provides more improved mobility through the stand and improves convenience of a user of the mobile terminal.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2010-0106041 | Oct 2010 | KR | national |