Mobile terminal

Abstract

A mobile phone is provided that includes a first body, a second body slidably connected to the first body, and an input device formed in the second body. The input device includes a roller member rotatably supported in the second body, the roller member defining a rotational axis, and at least one button pivotally mounted adjacent the roller member along the rotational axis of the roller member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an input device according to conventional art;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of an input device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a partial view of the input device of FIG. 2 in an assembled arrangement and FIG. 3B shows a schematic of a magnetic arrangement provided in the input device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the input device of FIG. 2 in an assembled arrangement;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective of a mobile terminal incorporating the input device of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the mobile terminal of FIG. 5 in an assembled arrangement.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising: a first body;a second body slidably connected to the first body; andan input device formed in the second body, the input device including: a roller member rotatably supported in the second body, the roller member defining a rotational axis; andat least one button pivotally mounted adjacent the roller member along the rotational axis of the roller member.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, the input device further including: a base;a frame pivotally connected to the base, wherein the roller member is rotatably supported by the frame, and the at least one button is pivotally connected at a side of the base.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the at least one button includes a pair of buttons, each button located on the base near opposite ends of the roller member.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the roller member includes a cylindrical body and a shaft portion, the shaft portion being supported on the frame.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 4, further comprising: a circuitry supporting substrate located under the base;a rotation sensor module that senses rotation of the roller member, a portion of the rotation sensor module being located on the circuitry supporting substrate; anda plurality of switches located on the circuitry supporting substrate, wherein one of the plurality of switches is located under the frame and another of the plurality of switches is located under the at least one button.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein the portion of the rotation sensor module located on the circuitry supporting substrate is a rotation sensor.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the rotation sensor module includes a ring magnet located on the shaft portion of the roller member, the ring magnet having a plurality of alternating North and South poles.

8. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, further comprising a click magnet located between the ring magnet and the frame, the click magnet being configured to provide slight resistance to the rotation of the roller member.

9. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, further comprising an elastic pad located between the circuitry supporting substrate and the frame.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 4, further comprising a ring magnet located on the shaft portion of the roller member, the ring magnet having a plurality of alternating North and South poles.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first body includes a keypad and the second body includes a display module.