This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 7, 2005 and assigned Serial No. 2005-94357, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a portable communication apparatus such as a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) phone, a game phone, a chatting phone, a camera phone, an MP3 phone, a cellular phone, a Personal Communication Service (PCS) phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a Hand Held Phone (HHP). More particularly, the present invention relates to a curved sliding-type portable communication apparatus that can be easily opened/closed and a sliding device thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a “portable communication apparatus” refers to an electronic apparatus carried with a user to perform wireless communication. In terms of portability, designs of such portable communication apparatuses tend to be compact, slim, and light, and also include multimedia availability for a wide variety of functions. Future portable communication apparatuses are expected to incorporate greater multi-functionality and multi-purpose utilization. Future portable communication apparatuses will also be more compact and light and will be modified to be suitable for various multimedia environments or Internet environments. Additionally, such portable communication apparatuses are now commonly used throughout the world, and are considered an indispensable part of everyday life.
Conventional portable communication apparatuses may be classified into various types according to their appearance. For example, conventional portable communication apparatuses may be classified as bar-type portable communication apparatuses, flip-type portable communication apparatuses, and folder-type portable communication apparatuses. The bar-type portable communication apparatus has a single housing shaped like a bar. The flip-type portable communication apparatus has a flip which is pivotably mounted to a bar-shaped housing by a hinge device. The folder-type portable communication apparatus has a folder coupled to a single bar-shaped housing by a hinge device to allow the folder to be rotated in order to be folded towards or unfolded away from the housing.
Further, portable communication apparatuses may be classified into neck wearable type communication apparatuses and wrist wearable type communication apparatuses according to the position in which a user puts on the communication apparatus. The neck wearable type communication apparatus is worn by a user around the neck using a string, while the wrist wearable type communication apparatus is worn by a user around the wrist.
Additionally, portable communication apparatuses may be further classified as rotation-type communication apparatuses and sliding-type communication apparatuses based upon the way the communication apparatuses are opened or closed. In the rotation-type portable communication apparatus, two housings are coupled to each other to allow one housing to rotate open or closed relative to the other while facing each other. In the sliding-type portable communication apparatus, two housings are coupled to each other to allow one housing to slide along a longitudinal direction to open or close the sliding-type portable communication apparatus.
Conventional portable communication apparatuses tend to transmit data at a high speed in addition to performing voice communication. For example, according to the increased demand by consumers, portable communication apparatuses tend to provide a service using a wireless communication technology capable of transmitting data at a high speed.
Current portable communication apparatuses also are generally equipped with a camera lens which enables each of the communication apparatuses to transmit an image signal. Current conventional portable communication apparatuses may have an external or imbedded camera lens module which allows a user to transmit an image or to take a photograph of.
However, conventional sliding-type portable communication apparatuses suffer from a limited convenience in opening or closing, because a sliding housing linearly slides along a longitudinal direction of a main body hosing. Opening or closing the conventional sliding-type portable communication apparatus is not convenient. Also, the thumb experiences fatigue when the sliding-type portable communication apparatus is opened/closed by sliding up or down the sliding housing using the thumb while being gripped by the hand.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved sliding-type device that can be opened and closed easily.
An aspect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is to provide a sliding-type portable communication apparatus that can be easily opened/closed and a sliding device thereof.
It is another object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention to provide a sliding-type portable communication apparatus that can be opened by sliding using the thumb while being gripped by the hand and a sliding device thereof.
It is also another object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention to provide a sliding-type portable communication apparatus that is held at a specific rotation angle while being opened/closed to be conveniently used in a specific mode related to a wide screen, for example, a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) mode, and a sliding device thereof.
It is yet another object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention to provide a slim portable communication apparatus with two openings that provide fan-shaped link moving spaces in a diagonal direction of an upper frame, and a sliding device thereof.
It is still another object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention to provide a sliding device that provides a fan-shaped recess in a lower frame to prevent interruption of rotation of a flexible printed circuit, thereby improving reliability.
According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sliding-type portable communication apparatus. The sliding-type portable communication apparatus includes a main body which includes a plurality of first keys on its top surface and a slider which includes a display device on its top surface. The sliding-type portable communication apparatus may have a closing force within a predetermined distance from the longitudinal direction of the main body while facing the main body, moves in a curved fashion with an opening force beyond the predetermined distance, allows easy initial movement through the curved movement, and opens and closes the top surface of the main body. Therefore, providing easier opening and closing of the sliding-type portable communication apparatus using the thumb while gripping the sliding-type portable communication apparatus by the hand.
According to another aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication apparatus is provided. A main body and a slider are included and are opened and closed by moving on the main body. The semi-automatic sliding device includes a lower frame, an upper frame, an upper cap, and a driving mechanism. The upper frame moves on the lower frame while facing the lower frame. The upper cap is combined with the upper frame to cover the upper frame while facing the upper frame. The driving mechanism is mounted between the upper cap and the lower frame, moves the upper frame on the lower frame in a curved fashion along a predetermined trace while binding the upper frame and the lower frame in such a way to prevent the upper frame and the lower frame from being separated from each other, and provides a moving force of the upper frame.
According to further another aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a semi-automatic sliding device of a sliding-type portable communication apparatus is provided. A main body and a slider are included and are opened and closed by moving on the main body. The semi-automatic sliding device includes an upper frame and a lower frame that face each other, an upper cap which is combined with the upper frame to cover the upper frame while facing the upper frame, at least one link means which binds the upper frame and the lower frame to prevent the upper frame and the lower frame from being separated from each other is connected to at least two axis means to provide a curve as a sliding direction of the upper frame, and has one end that rotates with respect to a first hinge axis by one selected from the axis means, a center that rotates with respect to a second hinge axis by another selected from the axis means, and the other end that rotates with respect to the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis, and an elastic body whose one end is connected to the other end of the link means to provide a clockwise rotating force within a predetermined angle and a counterclockwise rotating force beyond the predetermined angle as a moving force of the upper frame.
The above and other exemplary objects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.
The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of the invention. 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. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
As illustrated in
While facing the main body 10, the slider 20 is given a closing force within a predetermined distance from the longitudinal direction of the main body 10, and is given an opening force beyond the predetermined distance to move in a curved fashion. This prevents a user from having to use an initial pushing force.
In the top surface of the main body 10, a main body horizontal region 10a and a main body vertical region 10b are gradually opened or closed by the movement of the slider 20, in which the main body horizontal region 10a is gradually enlarged and the main body vertical region 10b is enlarged and then reduced. In particular, a plurality of first keys 112 are arranged on the main body horizontal region 10a and a plurality of second keys 114 are arranged on the main body vertical region 10b.
The initial movement of the slider 20 is made by a user's forced push action in the direction indicated by the arrow (1).
The user's initial pushing force is provided by pushing the slider 20 from a side of the slider 20, such as, in the direction indicated by the arrow (1) and the side of the slider 20 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slider 20. In other words, the arrow (1) is perpendicular to the side of the slider 20.
The configuration of a sliding device that semi-automatically slides the slider 20 in a curved fashion will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in
In the driving mechanism, an upper cap 32 is vertically combined with the upper frame 31 by an engaging member (not shown) to stably receive the operations of the link means 33 and 34 and the axis means 351, 352, 353, and 354. The link means 33 and 34 and the axis means 351, 352, 353, and 354 provide a curved sliding movement of the upper frame 31 and the elastic body illustrated in
The link means 33 and 34 are connected by the axis means 351, 352, 353, and 354 between the lower frame 30 and the upper cap 32 to provide a curved sliding direction for the upper frame 31 and bind the upper frame 31 and the lower frame 30 so the upper frame 31 and the lower frame 30 are not separated from each other and face each other. The elastic body (41 and 42 of
In the upper frame 31, at least one opening, such as, a first opening 310 or a second opening 312, are formed in parallel in a diagonal direction of the upper frame 31. The first opening 310 and the second opening 312 are fan-shaped. The first opening 310 and the second opening 312 are arranged in parallel in a diagonal direction of the upper frame 31 to maximize a mounting space and to minimize the size of the upper frame 31. This results in minimizing the horizontal and vertical sizes of the upper frame 31. The first opening 310 and the second opening 312 are fan-shaped in consideration of a trace generated by the rotation of the link means 33 and 34.
The first opening 310 is reinforced with a first protrusion 311 having a predetermined thickness along its circumference. The second opening 312 is reinforced with a second protrusion 313 having a predetermined thickness along its circumference. The first protrusion 311 is not formed in an edge region of the first opening 310, and a through opening 316 is formed in the edge region to allow a portion of a link means 332 to penetrate the through opening 316. A third opening 314 is formed between the first opening 310 and the second opening 312 to allow a flexible printed circuit (not shown) to penetrate the third opening 314. An engaging boss 315 is formed in the edge region of the upper frame 31 except for the first opening 310, the second opening 312, the first protrusion 311, and the second protrusion 313. A plurality of engaging holes 317 are formed along the extending directions of the first protrusion 311 and the second protrusion 313. The engaging holes 317 are used to combine the upper frame 31 with the upper cap 32.
In the lower frame 30, a through opening 304 is formed to allow a locking means 333 of the first lever to penetrate the through opening 304 and to be locked within the through opening 304. The through opening 304 is formed in the shape of the alphabet ‘C’. The through opening 304 includes an assembly opening 304a for assembly of the locking means 333. The assembly opening 304a is formed in the middle of the through opening 304.
The upper cap 32 is vertically combined with the upper frame 31, in particular, with the first protrusion 311 and the second protrusion 313. Therefore, a plurality of engaging holes 326 are formed along the circumference of the upper cap 32. The upper cap 32 is combined with the upper frame 31 in such a way to cover the first opening 310 and the second opening 312 provided on the upper frame 31 and provides a first recess 321 and a second recess 322 that are accommodated in the first opening 310 and the second opening 312 to rotate and are fan-shaped. An opening 325 which the flexible printed circuit penetrates is formed between the first recess 321 and the second recess 322.
As mentioned above, the first protrusion 311 is not provided in a portion of the first opening 310 and, when the upper cap 32 is combined with the upper frame 31, the through opening 316 is formed by the thickness of the second protrusion 311. The other end 332 of the first lever penetrates the through opening 316 and is connected to the elastic body.
As illustrated in
The first link 33 is divided into three regions, in which one end 331 is combined with one of the axis means, such as, the axis means 351 to be connected to the lower frame 30 with respect to a first hinge axis A1, a center 332 is combined with one of the axis means, such as, the axis means 352 to be connected to the upper cap 32 in such a way to rotate with respect to a second hinge axis A2 that is parallel with the first hinge axis A1, and the other end 333 is exposed to outside the upper cap 32 to be bound by the elastic body. The first link 33 includes the locking means 333 in its center 332. The locking means 333 is bent 90° to rotate while being bound by the lower frame 30.
The second link 34 includes one end 341 that is connected to the lower frame 30 to rotate with respect to a third hinge axis A3 that is parallel with the first hinge axis A1 and the second hinge axis A2 and the other end 342 that is connected to the upper cap 32 to rotate with respect to a fourth hinge axis A4 that is parallel with the first hinge axis A1, the second hinge axis A2, and the third hinge axis A3.
As illustrated in
The first shaft member 351 is combined with a first axis hole 334 of the first link 33 and is bound by a C-ring or an E-ring (not shown) in an axis hole 301 of the lower frame 30. The second shaft member 352 is combined with a second axis hole 335 of the first link 33 and is bound by a C-ring or an E-ring (not shown) in an axis hole 323 of the upper cap 32. The third shaft member 353 is combined with a first axis hole 343 of the second link 34 and is bound by a C-ring or an E-ring (not shown) in an axis hole 303 of the lower frame 30. The fourth shaft member 354 is connected to an axis hole 324 of the upper cap 32 using a C-ring or an E-ring (not shown) in a second axis hole 344 of the second link 34. The first shaft member 351 provides the first hinge axis A1 of the first link 33, the second shaft member 352 provides the second hinge axis A2 of the first link 33, the third shaft member 353 provides the third hinge axis A3 of the second link 34, and the fourth shaft member 354 provides the fourth hinge axis A4 of the second link 34. The third shaft member 353 serves as a holding means of the upper frame 31.
The configuration of the holding means of the upper frame 31 will be described in detail.
As illustrated in
The states in which the first link 33 is combined with the upper cap 32 and the second link 34 is combined with the upper frame 31 will be described in detail with reference to
Referring to
The configuration of an elastic body 40 that provides an opening/closing force for the upper frame 31, such as, a rotating force of the other end 332 of the first link 33 will be described in detail with reference to
As illustrated in
The elastic body 40 includes a first torsion spring 41 and a second torsion spring 42 that are arranged in parallel. The first torsion spring 41 and the second torsion spring 42 include ends 412 and 422 connected to the other end 332 of the first link 33 and the other ends 410 and 420 fixed to predetermined positions of the upper frame 31 by rivet welding. If the user forcedly pushes the slider 20 in the initial state as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The damper 45 is attached to the lower frame 30. The damper 45 includes a first circumferential portion 452 surrounding a square 451 to cover the fan-shaped recess 302 and the through opening 304 provided on the lower frame 30 and a second circumferential portion 454 surrounding the remaining region 453. The second circumferential portion 454 is formed in the shape of the alphabet ‘L’
Another driving source 50 of the driving mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
The driving source 50 includes the elastic body (52 and 53) and the cam means 51 that provides a force for rotating the other end 322 clockwise or counterclockwise through a cam operation with the other end 332 of the first link 33 by the elastic body.
The cam means 51 includes a first cam face 510 and is fixed such that both ends of the cam means 51 are supported by a pair of fixing guides 520 and 522 in such a way to adhere closely to the link means, such as, the other end 332 of the first lever. In an exemplary implementation, the other end 332 includes a second cam face 332a with a shape corresponding to the shape of the first cam face 510 to adhere closely to the first cam face 510. The first cam face 510 may have a curved shape including at least one curve portions 511 and 512.
The adhering force is provided by the elastic body (52 and 53). The cam means 51 linearly moves and is provided with the adhering force in a direction opposite to the user's pushing direction for opening the slider of the portable communication apparatus. The operation of the cam means 51 is performed through sliding face contact. In an exemplary implementation, since the other end 332 of the first link 33 includes a curved face, such as, the second cam face 332a and the first cam face 510 also includes a curved face, the operation of the cam means 51 can be facilitated and the second cam face 332a can smoothly move up or down along the curve portions 511 and 512.
The elastic body for adhering the cam means 51 closely to the other end 332 includes at least one coil springs 52 and 53. In an exemplary implementation, a pair of coil springs is included to balance the cam means 51. The pair of coil springs 52 and 53 is arranged in a direction analogous to the moving direction of the cam means 51. The elastic body may be implemented with torsion springs or pan springs as well as coil springs.
Components of the sliding device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be made of metal materials. However, the components may also be made of plastic materials having rigidity for lightweight of the portable communication apparatus. The upper frame, the lower frame, or the upper cap may be made of plastic materials.
As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sliding-type portable communication apparatus can be more easily opened/closed using the thumb while being gripped by the hand. Also, a sliding device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides advantages of a slim portable communication apparatus which may be easier to use in a specific mode.
While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood 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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2005-94357 | Oct 2005 | KR | national |