Double sliding-type portable communication apparatus

0001The present invention relates to double sliding-type portable communication apparatuses, such as cellular phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), HHPs (hand held phones), and other communication apparatuses, and more particularly to a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, in which one housing slidably moves relative to the other housing through double-sliding motions.

0002In general, a "portable communication apparatus" refers to an electronic appliance allowing users to communicate with other users via wired or wireless communication devices while carrying portable terminals. For the sake of portability, designs of such portable communication apparatuses tend to be compact, slim, and light. Multimedia availability is also a consideration, where having a wider variety of functions is desirable. In particular, future portable communication apparatuses are expected to incorporate greater multi-functionality and multi-purpose utilization, as well as being more compact and lighter, while being capable of accessing various multimedia environments or Internet environments. Additionally, such portable communication apparatuses are now commonly used throughout the world, and are recognized by some people as a nearly indispensable commodity which must always be carried.

0003Conventional portable communication apparatuses may be classified into various types according to their appearance. For example, sliding type portable communication apparatuses are classified into bar-type 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 unit. The folder-type portable communication apparatus has a folder coupled to a single bar-shaped housing by a hinge unit to allow rotation of the folder towards the housing to close it, or away from the housing to unfold it.

0004Further, portable communication apparatuses may be classified into rotation-type communication apparatuses and sliding-type communication apparatuses depending on the particular way the communication apparatus is opened. 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 slideopen or closed relative to the other. These variously classified portable communication apparatuses can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

0005Meanwhile, conventional portable communication apparatuses currently transmit data at high speeds in their function of pertorming voice communication.

0006Currently, portable communication apparatuses are equipped with camera lenses which enable each of the communication apparatuses to transmit an image signal. That is, current conventional portable communication apparatuses may have an embedded or external camera lens or a photographing unit which enable a user to make an image communication with a desired partner or to take a photograph of a desired subject.

0007However, since the conventional sliding-type portable communication apparatus includes two housings, in which one housing slides in one direction relative to the other housing, the overall thickness of the sliding-type portable communication apparatus consequently increases two-fold with increasing thickness of two housings.

0008In addition, in the conventional sliding-type portable communication apparatus, one housing slides in an opposite direction relative to the other only exposing a fraction of the inner surface to the user, consequently resulting in less usable surface area where keys and a liquid crystal display may be installed.

0009This is particularly inconvenient when playing a game or manipulating keys.

0010Korean Patent Application No. 2002-71911, which has been filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office by the applicant of the present application, discloses a structure of a sliding-type portable communication apparatus in detail. However, the above sliding-type portable communication apparatus is somewhat bulky due to the result of combining the two housings together. Accordingly, desirability of the sliding-type portable communication apparatus of the prior art is limited.

0011Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art.

0012It is the object of the present invention to provide a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, in which one housing slidably moves relative to the other housing through double-sliding motions to allow the thickness of a portable communication terminal to be minimized, thereby resulting in a slim portable communication terminal.

0013This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

0014Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

0015An aspect of the present invention is to provide a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, in which one housing slidably moves relative to the other housing through double-sliding motions allowing greater usable area of the inner surface of the housing, thereby allowing greater surface area with which more keys and a larger display unit may be mounted on.

0016Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus, allowing users to conveniently manipulate a plurality of keys with both hands to manipulate the keys or play a game.

0017In order to accomplish the above, there is provided a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus including a main housing having a first key array including a plurality of keys aligned on an upper surface of the main housing; a sliding housing moving in a first sliding direction parallel to the main housing, and a second sliding direction, which is perpendicular to the first sliding direction, whose upper surface faces away from the main housing and has a display unit and a second key array including a plurality of keys aligned on an upper surface of the sliding housing such that the display unit and the second key array are exposed; and a double sliding member provided between the main housing and the sliding housing to allow the sliding housing to be displaced in the first and second sliding directions and also having a third key array including a plurality of keys aligned on an upper surface of the double sliding member.

0018According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the third key array is exposed to the user while in alignment with the second key array when the sliding housing moves from the main housing in the first sliding direction, the first key array is exposed to the user while being aligned in parallel to the second key array when the sliding housing moves from the main housing in the second direction, and the first to third key arrays are exposed to the user in substantially parallel planes when the sliding housing moves away from the main housing in the first and second sliding directions.

0019The above object and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>FIG 2 is an exploded perspective view of a sliding housing and a double sliding member for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing rear portions of a sliding housing and a double sliding member for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sliding housing-double sliding member assembly for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a sliding housing has been moved into a first sliding position;</li><li>FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sliding housing-double sliding member assembly for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a sliding housing has been moved into a first sliding position;</li><li>FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a sliding housing has been moved into a second sliding position;</li><li>FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus shown in FIG. 7;</li><li>FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a rear portion of a sliding housing-double sliding member assembly for a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the sliding housing has been moved into a second sliding position;</li><li>FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which first and second sliding movements of a sliding housing have been completed; and</li><li>FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a first key array provided in a main housing of a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.</li></ul>

0020Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

0021As shown in FIGs. 1 to 11, a double sliding-type portable communication apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a main housing 20, a sliding housing 30, and a double sliding member 40.

0022The main housing 20 has a first key array 21 including a plurality of keys 21a aligned on an upper surface of the main housing 20 and faces the sliding housing 30 (FIG. 7).

0023In this state, the sliding housing 30 slidably moves in a first sliding direction A1 and a second sliding direction A2, which is perpendicular to the first sliding direction A1.

0024In addition, a second key array 31 having a plurality of keys 31a and a liquid crystal display unit 32 are formed on an upper surface of the sliding housing 30 orienting them towards the user (FIG. 1).

0025The double sliding member 40 is provided between the main housing 20 and the sliding housing 30 to allow the sliding housing 30 to move in the first and second sliding directions A1 and A2.

0026The double sliding member 40 has provided at an upper surface thereof a third key array 41 including a plurality of keys 41a (FIG. 5).

0027When the sliding housing 30 moves in the first sliding direction A1, the third key array 41 becomes exposed when moved in the first sliding direction, or covered by the sliding housing 30 when returned to the initial closed position. The third key array 41 is aligned with the second key array 31 in the first sliding direction A1.

0028In addition, when the sliding housing 30 moves in the second sliding direction A2, the first key array 21 also becomes exposed when moved in the second sliding direction, or covered by the sliding housing 30 when returned to the initial closed position. The first key array 21 is aligned with the second key array 31 in the second sliding direction A2.

0029Meanwhile, when the sliding housing 30 is sequentially moved in the first and second sliding directions A1 and A2 from the main housing 20, all of the first to third key arrays 21, 31, and 41 are exposed to the user in substantially the same plane (FIG. 10).

0030In addition, the sliding housing 30 moves in the first sliding direction A1 parallel to the main housing 20 to allow the sliding housing 30 to become displaced from the main housing 20 and return into overlapping alignment with the main housing 20 when moved in the opposite direction.

0031In addition, the sliding housing 30 moves in the second sliding direction A2 from the main housing 20 to allow the sliding housing 30 to become laterally displaced from the main housing 20 in one direction, or return into overlapping alignment with the main housing 20 when moved in the other direction.

0032The sliding housing 30 moves slidably in the first and second sliding directions A1 and A2.

0033The number of keys 21 a of the first key array 21 is larger than the number of keys 31a of the second key array 31 or the number of keys 41a of the third key array 41.

0034The third key array 41 preferably has twelve keys 41a aligned in the form of a matrix including 3 columns x 4 rows.

0035The sliding housing 30 has provided at the upper surface thereofa first speaker unit 33 and a large-sized liquid crystal display unit 32 adjacent to the first speaker unit 33.

0036The main housing 20 has provided at a bottom surface thereof a second speaker unit 23 provided on its rear surface, such as a stereo speaker unit (FIG. 8).

0037In addition, a sliding housing guide plate 34 is coupled to a rear surface of the sliding housing 30 in order to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing 30 in the first sliding direction A1.

0038The sliding housing guide plate 34 is formed at an inner portion thereof with a pair of first rail holes 35 into which guide protrusions 42 of the double sliding member 40 are inserted.

0039That is, the first rail holes 35 are formed in a vertical direction through the sliding housing 30 and coupled with the guide protrusions 42 of the double sliding member 40 to allow the sliding housing 30 to slidably move in the first sliding direction A1.

0040In addition, a double sliding member guide plate 43 is coupled to a rear surface of the double sliding member 40 so as to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing 30 in the second sliding direction A2.

0041The double sliding member guide plate 43 is formed at an inner portion thereof with a pair of second rail holes 44 into which guide protrusions 22 of the main housing 20 are inserted.

0042That is, the second rail holes 44 are formed laterally with respect to the double sliding member 40 and are coupled with the guide protrusions 22 of the main housing 20 to allow the sliding housing 30 to slidably move in the second sliding direction A2.

0043In addition, the first and second rail holes 35 and 44 have predetermined lengths for limiting the movement of the sliding housing 30 with respect to the double sliding member 40 and the main housing 20, respectively.

0044A pair of guide holding sections 45 are provided at both sides of the double sliding member 40. The guide holding sections 45 are formed lengthwise along the double sliding member 40 to guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing 30 in the first sliding direction A1 and also supports the sliding housing 30.

0045The double sliding member 40 is formed at a predetermined portion thereof with a pair of coupling holes 46, into which the guide protrusions 22 of the main housing 20 are fixedly inserted.

0046In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11, the first key array 21 provided in the main housing 20 may include a four-way key 21b and a plurality of directional keys 21c adjacent to the four-way key 21b.

0047In addition, a third speaker unit 21d may be provided on an upper surface of the first key array 21.

0048Hereinafter, an operation of the double sliding-type portable communication apparatus 10 having the above construction according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.

0049As shown in FIG. 1, the double sliding-type portable communication apparatus 10 includes the main housing 20, the sliding housing 30, and the double sliding member 40.

0050The main housing 20 has provided at the upper surface thereof a f-irst key array 21 including a plurality of keys 21a which faces the sliding housing 30.

0051In addition, the second key array 31 having a plurality of keys 31a and the large-sized liquid crystal display unit 32 are formed on the upper surface of the sliding housing 30 orienting them towards the user.

0052In this state, the sliding housing 30 may slidably move from the main housing 20 in the first sliding direction A1 and the second sliding direction A2 which is perpendicular to the first sliding direction A1.

0053Herein, the sliding housing 30 moves in the first sliding direction A1 parallel along the main housing 20 to allow the sliding housing 30 to become displaced from the main housing 20 in one direction and return into overlapping alignment with the main housing 20 in the opposite direction.

0054In addition, the sliding housing 30 moves in the second sliding direction A2 from the main housing 20 to allow the sliding housing 30 to become laterally displaced from the main housing 20 in one direction or return into overlapping alignment with the main housing 20.

0055The double sliding member 40 is provided between the main housing 20 and the sliding housing 30 to allow the sliding housing 30 to move in the first and second sliding directions A1 and A2.

0056In addition, the third key array 41 including a plurality of keys 41a are provided on the upper surface of the double sliding member 40.

0057As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sliding housing 30 moves in the first sliding direction A1 such that the sliding housing 30 becomes displaced from the main housing 30, while exposing the third key array 41 to the user.

0058At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5, the third key array 41 of the double sliding member 40 and the second key array 31 of the sliding housing 30 are exposed to the user while in aligned vertically with each other in the first sliding direction A1.

0059As shown in FIG. 6, the sliding housing 30 is guided by the guide holding sections 45 formed at both sides of the double sliding member 40 to allow the sliding housing 30 to be stably displaced away from the double sliding member 40 in the first sliding direction A1 within the guide holding sections 45.

0060That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the guide holding sections 45 guide the sliding movement of the sliding housing 30 in the first sliding direction A1 and also supports the sliding housing 30.

0061Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sliding housing guide plate 34 defines a pair of rail holes 35 which couples to the rear surface of the sliding housing 30.

0062The first rail holes 35 are formed in a vertical direction through the sliding housing 30 and are coupled with the guide protrusions 42 of the double sliding member 40 to allow the sliding housing 30 to slidably move in the first sliding direction A1.

0063In this state, if the sliding housing 30 moves in the first sliding direction A1, the sliding housing 30 is guided by the guide protrusions 42 along the first rail holes 35.

0064As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first rail holes 35 have predetermined lengths for limiting the movement of the sliding housing 30 in the first sliding direction A1. When the sliding housing 30 moves in the first sliding direction A1, as shown in FIG. 5, the third key array 41 of the double sliding member 40 is exposed to the user.Herein, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the sliding housing 30 can be returned to its initial position by slidably displacing the sliding housing 30 in the first sliding direction A1 to allow them to substantially overlap.

0065As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, if a user wishes to use various functions of the portable terminal, such as games, the user slidably moves the sliding housing 30 in the second sliding direction A2 such that the sliding housing 30 becomes displaced from the main housing 20.

0066Herein, the sliding housing 30 moves in the second sliding direction A2, which is perpendicular to theorientation of the main housing 20.

0067Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the first key array 21 of the main housing 20 is exposed to the user. At this time, the first key array 21 of the main housing 20 is aligned parallel to the second key array 31 in the second sliding direction A2.

0068At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the sliding housing 30 may move in the second sliding direction A2 by means of the double sliding member 40 to allow the sliding housing 30 to become displaced from the main housing 20. As shown in FIG. 9, the double sliding member guide plate 43 having a pair of second rail holes 44 is coupled to the rear surface of the double sliding member 40.As shown in FIG. 8, the second rail holes 44 are formed in a tranverse direction through the double sliding member 40.

0069As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, guide protrusions 22 of the main housing 20 are inserted into the second rail holes 44 to guide the sliding housing 30 in the second sliding direction A2, within the second rail holes 44. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second rail holes 44 have predetermined lengths for limiting the movement of the sliding housing 30 in the second sliding direction A2 with respect to the main housing 20.Herein, as shown in FIG. 7, the sliding housing 30 can be returned to its initial position by slidably displacing the sliding housing 30 in the second sliding direction A2 substantially overlapping the sliding housing 30 over the main housing 20.

0070In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, when the sliding housing 30 is sequentially moved in the first and second sliding directions A1 and A2 from the main housing 20, all of the first to third key arrays 21, 31, and 41 can be exposed to the user in substantially the same plane.

0071That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the first to third key arrays 21, 31, and 41 can be exposed to the user by sequentially displacing the sliding housing 30 in the first and second sliding directions A1 and A2. As mentioned above, the number of keys 21a of the first key array 21 is greater than the number of keys 31a of the second key array 31 or the number of keys 41a of the third key array 41, employing many more keys in the portable terminal that the user mayt use for a wide variety of functions and games.This configuration allows convenient operation of the keys 21a, 31a and 41a of the first to third key arrays 21, 31 and 41 with both hands.

0072In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the sliding housing 30 has provided at the upper surface thereof a first speaker unit 33 and a large-sized liquid crystal display unit 32 aligned adjacent to the first speaker unit 33.

0073As shown in FIG. 8, the main housing 20 has provided at the bottom surface thereof a second speaker unit 23, such as a stereo speaker unit.

0074In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11, the first key array 21 provided in the main housing 20 may include a four-way key 21b and a plurality of directional keys 21c adjacent to the four-way key 21b. As shown in FIG. 11, the third speaker unit 21d is provided at an upper surface of the first key array 21.

0075As described above, the sliding housing of the portable terminal can be displaced relative to the main housing in the first and second sliding directions aligning the sliding housing parallel to the mainhousing, resulting in a slim portable terminal having a relatively large usable area. Accordingly, a plurality of keys and a large-sized liquid crystal display unit can be provided in the portable terminal, so the user can conveniently operate the keys with both hands when sending characters or playing games. As such, the present invention may be adaptable for various portable terminals.

0076While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.