Watch type terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9737119-B2
Application number	US-201615006895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2016
Priority date	Jul 3, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A watch type terminal includes a main body, and a strap connected to the main body. In the watch type terminal, the strap includes one or more modules each having a specific function, and one or more partition straps having the one or more modules respectively received thereat. In the strap, the module and the partition strap are electrically connected to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A watch type terminal, comprising:
a main body; and
a strap coupled to the main body, the strap comprising at least one partition strap shaped to receive a module used for a specific function,
wherein the module is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the at least one partition strap when the module, which is detachable from the at least one partition strap, is coupled to the corresponding one of the at least one partition strap, and
wherein the strap is separated at at least one portion and further comprises, at the separated at least one portion, a first connecting strap provided further outward and a second connecting strap provided at inside of the first connecting strap, the second connecting strap having at least one portion disposed to overlap the first connecting strap;
a connecting member having through-holes formed along a first direction of the first and second connecting straps such that at least portions of the first and second connecting straps are inserted into the connecting member;
a guide groove formed along the first direction in the first connecting strap;
a button portion moving on the guide groove; and
an elastic member provided at a lower portion of the button portion to provide an elastic force to the button portion and remove the first connecting strap from a movable state;
rollers formed on opposite sides of the button to contact the first and second connecting straps.

2. The watch type terminal of claim 1 , comprising:
a detachable pin formed extending through a side of the at least one partition strap; and
an elastic member contacting the pin and configured to attach or detach the module to or from the at least one partition strap by controlling an elastic force applied to the pin.

3. The watch type terminal of claim 2 , wherein:
the pin comprises a first hook formed at an end portion of the pin; and
a second hook is formed at a bottom surface of the module, the second hook latched to the first hook when the module is coupled to the at least one partition strap.

4. The watch type terminal of claim 3 , wherein the strap further comprises:
a first strap coupled to the main body, the first strap provided with a first flexible circuit board electrically connected to a main circuit board provided to the main body; and
a second strap coupled to the first strap, the second strap provided with a second flexible circuit board electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board,
wherein the at least one partition strap is provided with a third flexible circuit board electrically connected to the second strap to be electrically connected to the second flexible circuit board, and the at least one partition strap and the second strap are coupled to each other by a pair of internal frames respectively formed at both sides thereof.

5. The watch type terminal of claim 4 , wherein the third flexible circuit board comprises:
a supporting portion provided at an inside of the pair of internal frames, the supporting portion having a plurality of through-holes formed therein; and
a connecting portion extending from the supporting portion, the connecting portion coupled to the second flexible circuit board.

6. The watch type terminal of claim 5 , wherein the internal frame comprises:
a fixing frame fixed to each partition strap; and
a connecting frame coupled to the fixing frame, the connecting frame connecting two or more adjacent partition straps to each other or connecting one of the at least one partition strap and the second strap to each other.

7. The watch type terminal of claim 6 , wherein:
the fixing frame and the connecting frame are connected by a hinge such that the fixing frame and the connecting frame are individually rotatable; and
the hinge is inserted into one of the plurality of through-holes formed in the supporting portion to fix the internal frame to the third flexible circuit board.

8. The watch type terminal of claim 5 , wherein the at least one partition strap comprises:
a wall portion to which the internal frame and the third flexible circuit board are provided; and
a bottom portion formed vertically from the wall portion, the bottom portion having a through-hole formed therein to support the module.

9. The watch type terminal of claim 8 , wherein the third flexible circuit board includes:
a first contact terminal extending from a lower portion of the supporting portion to be received at the bottom portion; and
a second contact terminal disposed at a lower end of the module to contact the first contact terminal such that the module and the at least one partition strap are electrically connected to each other.

10. The watch type terminal of claim 9 , wherein the first contact terminal and the second contact terminal are waterproof-coated.

11. The watch type terminal of claim 4 , wherein the module comprises:
an internal circuit board electrically connected to the third flexible circuit board; and
a battery for operating the module.

12. The watch type terminal of claim 11 , further comprising a charging terminal for charging the battery, the charging terminal provided at a lower surface of the module.

13. The watch type terminal of claim 12 , wherein:
the charging terminal is formed to be exposed to one surface of the module; and
an O-ring surrounding the charging terminal is provided around the charging terminal.

14. The watch type terminal of claim 1 , wherein
a size of the overlapping portion of the first and second connecting straps is adjustable such that a length of the strap is changeable.

15. The watch type terminal of claim 14 , wherein the second connecting strap is fixed by a fixing guide formed inside the connecting member.

16. The watch type terminal of claim 14 , wherein the button portion comprises:
an upper portion contacting an upper surface of the first connecting strap;
a lower portion contacting a lower surface of the first connecting strap; and
a middle portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion to each other, the middle portion moving along the guide groove.

17. The watch type terminal of claim 4 , wherein the third flexible circuit board is formed to be electrically connected to the at least one partition strap.

18. The watch type terminal of claim 1 , wherein the module comprises at least one of a flash module, a camera module, a heart-rate sensor module, a speaker module, a battery module, a display module, a projector module, a BLUETOOTH headset module, or a smart vehicle key module.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Yongho
• Ahn Kwanghyun
• Yang Junho

Classifications

• H04M1/724095

  Worn on the wrist, hand or arm · CPC title

• H04M1/72412

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• A44B11/20

  engaging holes or the like in strap · CPC title

• H04M1/0254

  comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules · CPC title

• A44C5/0007

  Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles · CPC title