MOBILE TERMINAL

US 20080176609A1
Filed: 01/17/2008
Published: 07/24/2008
Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a terminal case including a first case member, a second case member, and a frame member located between the first case member and the second case member, the frame member having a microphone hole formed on an outer surface thereof for guiding a sound into the terminal case in a first direction;

a microphone located within the terminal case, the microphone having a sound receiving portion disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, for receiving the sound; and

a sound guide unit located between the microphone hole and the sound receiving portion of the microphone, the sound guide unit guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction and the second direction, toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.

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Abstract

A mobile terminal including a terminal case, a microphone located within the terminal case, and a sound guide unit, is provided. The terminal case includes a first case member, a second case member, and a frame member located between the first case member and the second case member. The frame member includes a microphone hole formed on an outer surface thereof for guiding a sound into the terminal case in a first direction. The microphone includes a sound receiving portion disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, for receiving the sound. And the sound guide unit is located between the microphone hole and the sound receiving portion of the microphone, the sound guide unit guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction and the second direction, toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.

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40 Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
- a terminal case including a first case member, a second case member, and a frame member located between the first case member and the second case member, the frame member having a microphone hole formed on an outer surface thereof for guiding a sound into the terminal case in a first direction;
  
  a microphone located within the terminal case, the microphone having a sound receiving portion disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, for receiving the sound; and
  
  a sound guide unit located between the microphone hole and the sound receiving portion of the microphone, the sound guide unit guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction and the second direction, toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- - 2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
  - 3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the sound guide unit has a cross sectional area that decreases extending along the first direction.
  - 4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the sound guide unit is configured to concentrate the sound as the sound travels extending along the first direction.
  - 5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a speaker located at an end of the mobile terminal away from the microphone hole.
  - 6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first case member includes a display located at a front surface and a receiver located at a side surface.
  - 7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, further comprising a touch sensing unit located between the display and the first case member.
  - 8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, further comprising at least one input unit located on a side of the terminal case.
  - 9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising at least one input unit located on the front surface beneath the display.
  - 10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a circuitry supporting substrate located within the terminal case, andwherein the microphone is located on the circuitry supporting substrate.
  - 11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the sound receiving portion of the microphone faces the circuitry supporting substrate.
  - 12. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the circuitry supporting substrate includes a microphone mounting portion having a through hole, the through hole being oriented in the second direction to allow the sound traveling in the second direct to pass therethrough toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.
  - 13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the microphone mounting portion protrudes from a portion of the circuitry supporting substrate, and the sound guide unit includes an edge portion that is configured to cover and hermetically close a rear surface and edges of the microphone mounting portion.
  - 14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the sound guide unit includes a first channel configured to guide the sound in the first direction and a second channel configured to the guide the sound in the second direction to the through hole.
  - 15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, further comprising a supporting plate arranged substantially parallel to the circuitry supporting substrate, andwherein the sound guide unit includes a first wall portion having a lower surface attached to the supporting plate to define the first channel and a second wall portion having an upper surface attached to the circuitry supporting substrate to define the second channel.
  - 16. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the sound guide unit is made of one of a flexible rubber and a plastic material.
  - 17. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the frame member includes a supporting plate disposed horizontally at a lower portion of the microphone hole, and the sound guide unit is configured to be supported by the supporting plate.
  - 18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the supporting plate includes a holding line portion and the sound guide unit is attached to the holding line portion.

19. A mobile terminal comprising:
- a terminal case including a first case member and a second case member, one of the first case member and the second case member having a microphone hole formed on an outer surface thereof for guiding a sound into the terminal case in a first direction;
  
  a microphone located within the terminal case, the microphone having a sound receiving portion disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, for receiving the sound; and
  
  a sound guide unit located between the microphone hole and the sound receiving portion of the microphone, the sound guide unit guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction and the second direction, toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- - 20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
  - 21. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the sound guide unit has a cross sectional area that decreases extending along the first direction.
  - 22. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the sound guide unit is configured to concentrate the sound as the sound travels extending along the first direction.
  - 23. The mobile terminal of claim 19, further comprising a speaker located at an end of the mobile terminal away from the microphone hole.
  - 24. The mobile terminal of claim 19, further comprising a circuitry supporting substrate located within the terminal case, andwherein the microphone is located on the circuitry supporting substrate.
  - 25. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the sound receiving portion of the microphone faces the circuitry supporting substrate.
  - 26. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the circuitry supporting substrate includes a microphone mounting portion having a through hole, the through hole being oriented in the second direction to allow the sound traveling in the second direct to pass therethrough toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.
  - 27. The mobile terminal of claim 23, wherein the sound guide unit includes a first channel configured to guide the sound in the first direction and a second channel configured to the guide the sound in the second direction.
  - 28. The mobile terminal of claim 27, further comprising a supporting plate arranged parallel to the circuitry supporting substrate, andWherein the sound guide unit includes a first wall portion having a lower surface attached to the supporting plate to define the first channel and a second wall portion having an upper surface attached to the circuitry supporting substrate to define the second channel.

29. A sound guide for a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having a microphone located on a circuitry supporting substrate within the mobile terminal, the sound guide comprising:
- a sound guide unit located at one side of the circuitry supporting substrate, the sound guide unit including;
  
  a first guide portion for guiding sound along a first direction; and
  
  a second guide portion for guiding the sound along a second direction different from the first direction toward a sound receiving portion of the microphone.
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- - 30. The sound guide of claim 29, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
  - 31. The sound guide of claim 29, wherein the first guide portion has a cross sectional area that decreases extending along the first direction.
  - 32. The sound guide of claim 29, wherein the first guide portion is configured to concentrate the sound as the sound travels extending along the first direction.
  - 33. The sound guide of claim 29, wherein the sound guide unit is made of one of a flexible rubber and a plastic material.
  - 34. The sound guide of claim 29, wherein the sound guide unit includes a first wall portion that defines the first guide portion and a second wall portion that defines the second guide portion.
  - 35. The sound guide of claim 34, wherein the sound guide unit includes an edge extending from the second wall portion, the edge being configured to secure the second wall portion to the circuitry supporting substrate.

36. A sound guide for a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having a terminal case having a microphone hole formed on an outer surface thereof for guiding a sound into the terminal case in a first direction, and a microphone located on a circuitry supporting substrate within the terminal case, the microphone having a sound receiving portion disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, for receiving the sound, the sound guide comprising:
- a sound guide unit located at one side of the circuitry supporting substrate, the sound guide unit including;
  
  a first guide portion for guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction; and
  
  a second guide portion for guiding the sound along a second direction different from the first direction toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone.
- View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
- - 37. The sound guide of claim 36, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
  - 38. The sound guide of claim 36, wherein the first guide portion has a cross sectional area that decreases extending along the first direction.
  - 39. The sound guide of claim 36, wherein the first guide portion is configured to concentrate the sound as the sound travels extending along the first direction.
  - 40. The sound guide of claim 36, wherein the sound guide unit includes a first wall portion that defines the first guide portion and a second wall portion that defines the second guide portion.

Specification

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Current Assignee
Sentegra, LLC
Original Assignee
LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
Inventors
Kim, Ha-Yong, KIM, Eu-Gene

Granted Patent

US 7,920,904 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

455/575.1
CPC Class Codes

H04M 1/035 Improving the acoustic char...

MOBILE TERMINAL

First Claim

2 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

26 Citations

40 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

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MOBILE TERMINAL

First Claim

2 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

26 Citations

40 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links