This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0005145, filed on Jan. 18, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
1. Field
The following description relates to a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a portable terminal alternately transformable into the form of a bar and a bracelet.
2. Discussion of the Background
A mobile phone is a type of mobile terminal that serves as a personal communication device configured to perform a voice call and a wireless communication while a user is carrying the mobile phone. Due to the increase in various user demands, the mobile phone is an integrated product having various kinds of operations, such as MP3 players, digital cameras, digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) receivers, and personal digital assistant (PDA), in addition to general communication operations. In addition, the mobile phone is implemented in various forms to satisfy the demands of users in terms of design. For example, the mobile phone may be a watch type mobile phone attachable to a wrist of a user.
However, while the conventional watch type mobile phone is attachable to a wrist of a user, providing enhanced portability, it may limit increasing the size of a display. In other words, the application of the watch type mobile phone is limited only to a small sized display, and thus the mobile phone has a low efficiency of use. Accordingly, there is a need for a mobile phone enhancing the portability and utilization while decreasing the limitations of a display size.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a portable terminal transformable in the form of a bracelet, capable of enhancing the portability and utilization.
Exemplary embodiments of present invention also provide a portable terminal transformable in the form of a bracelet.
Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses a portable terminal transformable into a bracelet, the portable terminal including: a first flexible body and a second flexible body which face each other and at least one of which is provided with a flexible display; first link bodies each connected to an end of the first flexible body; second link bodies each connected to an end of the second flexible body; hinge modules each installed between the first link body and the second link body at the ends of the first flexible body and the second flexible body to rotate the first link body and the second link body; and a battery to provide power.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses a portable terminal transformable into a bracelet, the terminal including: a first flexible body and a second flexible body which face each other and at least one of which is provided with a flexible display; a link body connected to an end of the first flexible body; a second link body connected to an end of the second flexible body; a hinge module installed between the first link body and the second link body at the end of the first flexible body and the second flexible body to rotate the first link body and the second link body; and a battery to provide power.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Exemplary embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” or “connected to” another element, it can be directly on or directly connected to the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” another element there are no intervening elements present. It will be understood that for the purposes of this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” can be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XYY, YZ, ZZ).
As shown in
The first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are configured to deform to be bent. The first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are disposed facing each other. A flexible display (FPC) 113 is provided on at least one of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112.
The flexible display 113 is a display that deforms to be bent or rolled due to its flexible property. The flexible display 113 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.
The flexible display 113 is disposed on one of opposite outer surfaces of the first flexible body 111, not facing the second flexible body 112 or on one of opposite outer surface of the second flexible body 112, not facing the first flexible body 111. If the flexible displays 113 are provided on both of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112, the portable terminal 100 achieves a dual display, thereby enhancing the utilization. The flexible displays 113 are able to independently display an image.
A touch window 114 may be installed on an upper part of the flexible display 113 to input commands through a touch scheme. A printed circuit board 115 may be accommodated in the first flexible body 111 or the second flexible body 112. The printed circuit board 115 may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are electrically connected to a flexible printed circuit board 115 passing through the hinge module 140. The battery 120 is configured to provide a power source to components, such as the flexible display 113.
The first link bodies 131 are a pair of link bodies. Each first link body 131 is connected to an end of the first flexible body 111. The first link bodies 131 may be configured to connect the first flexible body 111 to the hinge module 140. The first link bodies 131 may be formed using a rigid body, and support both ends of the first flexible body 111. The second link bodies 132 are a pair of link bodies. Each second link body 132 is connected to an end of the second flexible body 112. The second link bodies 132 are configured to connect the second flexible body 112 to the hinge module 140. The second link bodies 132 may be formed using a rigid body support the both ends of the second flexible body 112.
Each of the hinge modules 140 is installed between the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 at both ends of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 to rotate the first link body 131 and the second link body 132. In other words, at least one hinge module 140 is installed between the first link body 131 and the second link body 132, which are disposed on one side of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112, to rotate the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 such that the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 move away from each other or close to each other.
In addition, at least one hinge module 140 is installed between the first link body 131 and the second link body 132, which are disposed on another side of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112, to rotate the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 such that the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 move away from each other or close to each other. The hinge module 140 is accommodated in a casing 101 that is disposed on a side of the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 not adjacent the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112.
Accordingly, as shown in
In the bracelet state, if a force is applied inwardly to the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 from the outer surfaces of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112, the pair of the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 rotate, at the both ends of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112, and move adjacent to each other due to the operation of the hinge module 140. In other words, the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 move adjacent to each other and the portable terminal 100 deforms into the form of a bar as shown in
As described above, the portable terminal 100 is transformable into various forms such as a bar or a bracelet, thereby enhancing the utilization. In addition, the user may transform the portable terminal 100 into the form of a bracelet and wear the portable terminal 100 in a bracelet state, thereby enhancing the portability and user's convenience. In addition, the portable terminal 100 has a structure allowing the flexible display 113 to be attached to the outer surfaces of each of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112, thereby enlarging a display area and thus enhance the utilization of the portable terminal 100.
As shown in
The second support plate 117 has a middle part extending inside the second flexible body 112 and an end part fixed to each of the second link bodies 132. The second support plate 117 is formed using elastic material. The first and support plate 116 and the second support plate 117 are configured to maintain the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 in a flat state if the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are deformed into the form of a bar, and maintain the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 in a bent state if the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are deformed into the form of a bracelet.
The hinge modules 140 are configured to allow the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 to move away from each other or adjacent to each other simultaneously. In other words, the hinge module 140 rotates the first link body 131 and the second link body 132 in opposite directions and with a substantially identical or similar rotation angle, so that the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are bent or stretched symmetrically around a joining surface of the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112.
For example, each of the hinge modules 140 may have a configuration shown in
As shown in
The first rotation member 142a and the second rotation member 142b are rotatably supported inside the hinge housing 141. The first rotation member 142a and the second rotation member 142b are each provided with a disc and a rotary shaft passing through both sides of the disc. The outer rim of the first rotation member 142a faces the outer rim of the second rotation member 142b.
The first fixed bracket 143a has one end fixed to the rotary shaft of the first rotation member 142a and another end fixed to the first link body 131. The first fixed bracket 143a rotates according to the rotation of the first rotation member 142a, thereby rotating the first link body 131. The second fixed bracket 143b has one end fixed to the rotary shaft of the second rotation member 142b and another end fixed to the second link body 132. The second fixed bracket 143b rotates according to the rotation of the second rotation member 142b, thereby rotating the second link body 132.
As shown in
Meanwhile, the hinge module 140 maintains the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 in a state in which the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are fully opened into the form of a bracelet or fully closed into the form of a bar. In addition, the hinge module 140 allows the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 to be automatically opened or closed if the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are deformed beyond a specific extent. To this end, the hinge module 140 may include fixed cams 145, moving cams 146 and elastic members 147.
One of the fixed cams 145 is formed to correspond to one side of the first rotation member 142a. The other fixed cam 145 is formed to correspond to one side of the second rotation member 142b. Each of the fixed cams 145 has a first crest part 145a and a first trough part 145b. The first crest part 145a includes a pair of crest parts that are spaced apart from each other while interposing the first trough part 145b therebetween. The moving cams 146 are disposed facing the fixed cams 145. Each of the moving cams 146 has a second crest part 146a and a second trough part 146b. The second crest part 146a is engaged with the first trough part 145b. The second trough part 146b is engaged with the first crest part 145a. If the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are fully opened or fully closed, the first crest part 145a is engaged with the second trough part 146b and the first trough part 145b is engaged with the second crest part 146a.
The elastic members 147 are configured to apply an elastic force to the moving cams 146 in a direction in which the moving cams 146 are pushed toward the fixed cams 145. The elastic member 147 maintains the engagement state between the first crest part 145a and the second trough part 146b and between the first trough part 145b and the second crest part 146a. Accordingly, the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are maintained in a fixed state in which the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are fully opened or fully closed.
If the engagement state between the first crest part 145a and the second trough part 146b and between the first trough part 145b and the second crest part 146a overcome, the elastic member 147 allows the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 to be automatically opened or closed through a restoring force. The elastic member 147 may be a compression coil spring.
As shown in
Fixed cams may be formed at one side of the first gear member 242a and the second gear member 242b, respectively. The fixed cams maintain a state in which the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 are fully opened into the form of a bracelet or fully closed into the form of a bar. In addition, the fixed cams allow the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 to be automatically opened or closed if the first flexible body 111 and the second flexible body 112 deform to a specific extent. Moving cams 246 are each disposed to face each first cam. Elastic members 247 are installed to apply an elastic force to the moving cams 246 such that the moving cams 246 are pushed toward the fixed cams. The fixed cam, the moving cam 246 and the elastic member 247 have the same operations as those of the fixed cam 145, the moving cam 146 and the elastic member 147, respectively, described above.
As shown in
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It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2011-0005145 | Jan 2011 | KR | national |