PORTABLE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL HAVING DISPLAY UNIT USING PANEL-TYPE WAVEGUIDE
Abstract
Disclosed is a portable communication terminal having a display unit using a panel-type waveguide. The portable communication terminal includes a body having an optical unit; a panel-type waveguide having a display unit mounted on the body while facing the body, displaying a source image emitted by the optical unit; and an information input/output device positioned in parallel with the panel-type waveguide while being adjacent to the display unit.
Description
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PRIORITY
[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a) to an application entitled "Portable Communication Terminal Having Display Unit Using Panel-type Waveguide", which was filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 11, 2006 and assigned Serial No. 2006-76122, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002]1. Field of the Invention
[0003]The present invention relates to portable communication terminals including DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) phones, game phones, chatting phones, camera phones, MP3 phones, cellular phones, PCSs (Personal Communication System) phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and HHPs (Hand-Held Phones), and more particularly to portable communication terminals having a transparent panel and an optical unit visually displaying various types of information.
[0004]2. Description of the Related Art
[0005]In general, the term "portable communication terminal" refers to an electronic apparatus that a user can carry to perform wireless communication with a desired partner. Examples of the wireless communication include voice communication, message transmission, file transmission, video communication, and photograph transmission. Portable communication terminals can also act as personal assistants, i.e. they can manage telephone numbers, personal schedules, etc.
[0006]To facilitate portability, designs of such portable communication terminals tend not only to be compact, slim, and light, but also move toward providing multimedia capabilities, having a wider variety of functions. For example, portable communication terminals are evolving to provide entertainment content, such as games and video. In addition to basic voice communication, future portable communication terminals are expected to incorporate greater multi-functionality and be capable of multi-purpose utilization (e.g. video communication, games, Internet, and camera).
[0007]Conventional portable communication terminals are classified into bar-type terminals and folder-type terminals according to their appearance, together with portability or convenience of use taken into consideration. The bar-type terminals have a single bar-shaped housing, on which a data input/output device, an antenna device, and a transmission/reception device are mounted. The folder-type terminals have a single bar-shaped housing and a folder rotatably connected to the housing by a hinge device so that that the folder can fold onto or unfold from the housing. For example, folder-type portable communication terminals have keys arranged on the body and a display unit positioned on the folder, which is rotatably coupled to the body by a hinge unit. This type of terminal has the advantages of compactness and portability. U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,406 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) discloses a folder-type portable communication terminal having a hinge unit and a camera lens housing mounted on the hinge unit.
[0008]However, folder-type portable communication terminals have a problem in that repeated operations for folding/unfolding the folder eventually break the flexible circuit, which electrically connects the folder, particularly its display unit, to the body, particularly its main PCB (Printed Circuit Board). This problem is caused by the fact that the flexible circuit extends via the hinge device. Particularly, the flexible circuit is subjected to the rotational force resulting from operations for folding/unfolding the folder.
[0009]In addition, portable communication terminals may be classified into swing-type terminals and sliding-type terminals according to the manner of opening/closing them. The swing-type portable communication terminals have two housings coupled to each other in such a manner that one housing swings to be opened or closed relative to the other while they face each other. The sliding-type portable communication terminals have two housings coupled to each other in such a manner that one housing slides along the longitudinal direction to be opened or closed relative to the other housing.
[0010]For example, sliding-type portable communication terminals have a number of keys arranged on the body and a display unit positioned on the slider, which is coupled to the body by a sliding module facing the body. Such a type of portable communication terminal is advantageous in that it provides a wide display unit and that they can be opened/closed conveniently. U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,871 discloses the detailed construction of a sliding-type portable communication terminal having a number of keys arranged on the main housing and a display unit positioned on the sliding-housing. U.S. Pat. No. 7,158,371 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) discloses a swing-type portable communication terminal in detail.
[0011]However, conventional sliding-type portable communication terminals have a problem in that repeated operations for sliding the sliding-housing induce fatigue (e.g. stress) on the bending portion of the flexible circuit, which electrically connects the main and sliding-housings to each other, and eventually break the circuit. Furthermore, the use of a flexible circuit for electrically connecting the display device of the sliding-housing to the main PCB of the main housing increases complexity and makes it harder to assemble the terminals.
[0012]In addition, conventional swing-type portable communication terminals have a problem in that repeated use of the swing housing induces fatigue (e.g. stress) on the flexible circuit that electrically connects the main and swing housings to each other, and eventually breaks the circuit. Furthermore, the fact that the flexible circuit generally extends via a swing hinge module, which connects the main and swing housings to each other while being able to swing, makes it harder to assemble the terminals.
[0013]Conventional communication terminals have another problem in that LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays), which are commonly used as their display devices, are thick and have standardized horizontal and vertical sizes. This limits the exterior design of the terminals from the designer's point of view.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014]Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a portable communication terminal having a display unit electrically connected to a body without a flexible circuit so that any problem resulting from breakage of the flexible circuit is avoided.
[0015]Another aspect of the present invention to provides for a portable communication terminal having a panel-type waveguide, using an optical unit for a data output function, slimming the body, ensuring flexibility in exterior design, and providing an aesthetic appearance.
[0016]Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention provides for a portable communication terminal having a panel-type waveguide, which can be used as the data output device of any type of portable communication terminal.
[0017]In order to accomplish these aspects of the present invention, there is provided a portable communication terminal having a display unit using a panel-type waveguide, the portable communication terminal includes a body having an optical unit; a panel-type waveguide having a display unit mounted on the body while facing the body, displaying a source image emitted by the optical unit; and an information input/output device positioned in parallel with the panel-type waveguide while being adjacent to the display unit.
[0018]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable communication terminal having a display unit using a panel-type waveguide, the portable communication terminal includes a body; a panel-type waveguide having a display unit adapted to slide on the body while continuously facing the body, exposing/covering a user interface unit on an upper surface of the body and displaying a source image coming from the body; and an optical unit mounted on the panel-type waveguide, moving while being received in the body and emitting a source image to the panel-type waveguide.
[0019]In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable communication terminal having a display unit using a panel-type waveguide, the portable communication terminal includes a body; a panel-type waveguide having a display unit adapted to swing on the body while continuously facing the body, exposing/covering a user-interface unit on an upper surface of the body and display a source image coming from the body; and an optical unit integrally mounted on the panel-type waveguide, moving while being received in the body and emitting a source image to the panel-type waveguide.
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