Mobile terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11909895-B2
Application number	US-202117566009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2021
Priority date	Feb 26, 2021
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed is a mobile terminal varying in size, including a first frame, a second frame moving against the first frame in a first direction or a second direction reverse to the first direction, a drive unit switching the mobile terminal to an extended state or a contracted state by moving the second frame against the first frame in the first direction or the second direction, a display unit including a fixed part coupled to a front side of the first frame and a variable part extended in the first direction of the fixed part and bent to a backside by enclosing the second frame, a main board installed in the first frame, and a battery installed in the second frame to move together with the second frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
a first frame;
a second frame configured to move with respect to the first frame in a first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction;
a driver configured to switch the mobile terminal to an extended state or a contracted state by moving the second frame with respect to the first frame in the first direction or the second direction;
a flexible display comprising a fixed part coupled to a front side of the first frame and a variable part extended in the first direction from the fixed part, wherein an end portion of the variable part is curved toward a direction of a rear side of the mobile terminal and is configured to slide with respect to a rear side of the second frame;
a main board installed in the first frame;
a battery installed in the second frame such that the battery moves together with the second frame; and
a signal connection connecting the battery and the main board,
wherein the signal connection comprises:
a first portion connected to the main board,
a second portion connected to the battery, and positioned in the first direction from the first portion, and
a curved portion between the first portion and the second portion, and having an angle varying in response to movement of the second frame,
wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged overlapping in the first direction in the contracted state, and wider as the angle of the curved portion increases in the extended state.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first frame is located on top of the second frame.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises:
a drive motor coupled to the second frame;
a pinion gear coupled to the drive motor; and
a rack gear coupled to the first frame to make a rectilinear motion in the first direction or the second direction by receiving a drive force of the pinion gear.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3 , wherein the rack gear is disposed to cover a portion of the battery and wherein the second frame comprises a gear slot such that the gear slot receives the rack gear in the contracted state.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a support link located between the first frame and the second frame, wherein an angle of the support link increases based on an extension of the mobile terminal, wherein the angle of the support link decreases based on a contraction of the mobile terminal, and wherein the signal connection is coupled to the support link such that a shape of the signal connection changes in response to the angle of the support link increasing or decreasing.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first frame comprises a first front part located on a front side of the mobile terminal and coupled to the fixed part of the flexible display and a first rear part located on the rear side of the mobile terminal, wherein the second frame comprises a second front part located between the first front part and the battery and a second rear part located on a rear side of the battery, and wherein the variable part switches from a rear side of the second rear part to a front side of the second front part based on the second frame moving in the first direction.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the battery is located between the second front part and the second rear part and has a thickness corresponding to a space between the second front part and the second rear part.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the second frame further comprises a rear cover covering the variable part coupled on the rear side of the second rear part and wherein the variable part is configured to slide between the rear cover and the second rear part.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8 , wherein the rear cover comprises a transparent portion that transmits light based on activation of the flexible display, wherein the flexible display is located between the rear cover and the second rear part.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8 , wherein the first rear part comprises a first rear side and a second rear side located in the first direction on the first rear side and wherein the rear cover is extended in the second direction to cover the second rear side in the contracted state.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein the rear cover is disposed in a manner of overlapping with at least one portion of the second rear side in the extended state of the mobile terminal.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein the first frame further comprises a first guide rail located in a lateral direction of the battery and extended in the first direction, wherein the second frame further comprises a second guide rail located at an end portion of the second front part or the second rear part and coupled to the first guide rail such that the second guide rail is configured to slide in the first direction with respect to the first guide rail, and wherein the rear cover covers the first guide rail and the second guide rail.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first frame comprises a first lateral part located on a lateral side of the mobile terminal, wherein a second lateral part is located at a the lateral side of the second frame, and wherein the first lateral part comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side covered by the second lateral part and exposed in the extended state of the mobile terminal.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13 , further comprising:
a sub-board coupled within the second lateral part;
a signal connection connecting the sub-board and the main board; and
an antenna radiation part coupled to the second lateral part and supplied with output from the sub-board.

15. A mobile terminal, comprising:
a first frame;
a second frame configured to move with respect to the first frame in a first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction;
a flexible display comprising a fixed part coupled to a front side of the first frame and a variable part extended in the first direction from the fixed part, wherein an end portion of the variable part is curved toward a direction of a rear side of the mobile terminal and is configured to slide with respect to a rear side of the second frame;
a first guide rail extended in the first direction, wherein the second frame comprises a second guide rail coupled to the first guide rail such that the second guide rail is configured to slide in the first direction with respect to the first guide rail and a rear cover covering the variable part coupled on a rear side of the second frame, the first guide rail and the second guide rail,
a main board installed in the first frame;
a battery installed in the second frame such that the battery moves together with the second frame; and
a signal connection connecting the battery and the main board,
wherein the signal connection comprises:
a first connection connected to the main board,
a second portion connected to the battery, and positioned in the first direction from the first portion, and
a curved portion between the first portion and the second portion, and having an angle varying in response to movement of the second frame,
wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged overlapping in the first direction in the contracted state, and wider as the angle of the curved portion increases in the extended state.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15 , wherein the first guide rail or the second guide rail faces a lateral part of the mobile terminal.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16 , wherein t

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Yongho
• Han Jaeyoung
• Ahn Kwanghyun
• Kim Gihwan
• Sohn Youngwook

Classifications

• H04M1/0237 Primary

  Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom · CPC title

• G06F1/1624

  with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0249

  Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly · CPC title