Mobile terminal

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a mobile terminal including a terminal body comprising a circuit board formed to process radio signals, a first and a second member configured to form an external appearance of the terminal and disposed to cover a lateral surface of the circuit board, a power feed connecting portion to allow the first member and the circuit board to be power feed connected, and a ground connecting portion to allow the first member and the circuit board to be ground connected. Accordingly, an electrical element and an antenna are disposed adjacent to each other, allowing the effective use of a space within the terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a circuit board;   at least one antenna pattern disposed inside of a case that forms an exterior of the mobile terminal such that no portion of the at least one antenna pattern is exposed externally, wherein the at least one antenna pattern is operable as a radiator;   a metal cover constructed as part of the case, the metal cover divided into a first member and a second member separated from the first member such that the first member does not contact the second member, wherein the first member is electrically connected to a part of the at least one antenna pattern without a contact structure between the first member and the part of the at least one antenna pattern, and wherein the first member and the second member are separated from each other by a first slit portion formed at a first end portion of the first member and a second slit portion formed at a second end portion of the first member;   a power feed connector for facilitating an electric power feed connection between the first member and the circuit board; and   a ground connector for facilitating an electric ground connection between the first member and the circuit board,   wherein the at least one antenna pattern is separated from the first member by a gap having a predetermined distance for coupling with the first member, and   wherein the first slit portion and the second slit portion are configured to block a current flow from the first member to the second member.   
     
     
       2. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker module, an interface module or a microphone module located in an area defined by the circuit board, the first member, and the second member. 
     
     
       3. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one antenna pattern comprises:
 a first pattern extending from the power feed connector and forming a conductive loop, the first pattern separated from the first member by a gap having a predetermined distance for facilitating a coupling for power feeding.   
     
     
       4. The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one antenna pattern further comprises:
 a second pattern extending from the ground connector and forming a conductive loop, the second pattern separated from the first member by a gap having a predetermined distance for facilitating a coupling for grounding.   
     
     
       5. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the power feed connector and the ground connector are disposed adjacent to each other. 
     
     
       6. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is operable as a main radiator and further comprises a sub-radiator for enhancing a radiation pattern of the main radiator, the sub-radiator having a predetermined length and extending from a portion of the first member. 
     
     
       7. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the second member and the circuit board are electrically connected to each other at one or more points. 
     
     
       8. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the power feed connector, the first member and the ground connector form a conductive loop; and   the conductive loop has one or more paths that connect the power feed connector to the ground connector via the first member and that have a length of a half wavelength corresponding to a specific frequency.   
     
     
       9. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a circuit board;   at least one antenna pattern disposed inside of a case that forms an exterior of the mobile terminal such that no portion of the at least one antenna pattern is exposed externally, wherein the at least one antenna pattern is operable as a radiator;   a metal cover constructed as part of the case forming an exterior of the mobile terminal, the metal cover divided into a conductive member and a bezel member separated from the conductive member such that the conductive member does not contact the bezel member, wherein the conductive member is electrically connected to a part of the at least one antenna pattern without a contact structure between the conductive member and the part of the at least one antenna pattern;   a power feed connector coupled with the conductive member;   a ground connector coupled with the conductive member and an embedded ground such that the ground connector, the conductive member and the power feed connector form a conductive loop, and   either a through portion that is located at an end of the mobile terminal and passes through at least a portion of the conductive member in order to adjoin an interior and the exterior of the mobile terminal or a slit portion separating the conductive member into a plurality of members,   wherein the at least one antenna pattern is separated from the conductive member by a gap having a predetermined distance for coupling with the conductive member, and   wherein the through portion or the slot portion is configured to block a current flow from the conductive member to the bezel member.   
     
     
       10. The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the conductive loop has one or more paths connecting the power feed connector to the ground connector via the conductive member. 
     
     
       11. The mobile terminal of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more paths have a length of a half wavelength corresponding to a specific frequency. 
     
     
       12. The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , further comprising a speaker module, an interface module or a microphone module located adjacent to the conductive member. 
     
     
       13. The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one antenna pattern comprises:
 a first pattern extending from the power feed connector and further forming the conductive loop, the first pattern separated from the conductive member by a gap having a predetermined distance for facilitating a coupling for power feeding.   
     
     
       14. The mobile terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one antenna pattern further comprises:
 a second pattern extending from the ground connector and further forming the conductive loop, the second pattern separated from the conductive member by a gap having a predetermined distance for facilitating a coupling for grounding.   
     
     
       15. The mobile terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the power feed connector and the ground connector are disposed adjacent to each other. 
     
     
       16. The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the conductive member is operated as a main radiator and further comprises a sub-radiator for enhancing a radiation pattern of the main radiator, the sub-radiator having a predetermined length and extending from a portion of the conductive member. 
     
     
       17. The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the bezel member is disposed to cover a lateral surface of the mobile terminal not covered by the conductive member. 
     
     
       18. The mobile terminal of  claim 17 , wherein the bezel member has one or more slits adjoining the interior and the exterior of the mobile terminal. 
     
     
       19. The mobile terminal of  claim 17 , wherein the bezel member and the circuit board are electrically connected to each other at one or more points. 
     
     
       20. The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the first member has at least one hole adjoining an interior and the exterior of the mobile terminal. 
     
     
       21. The mobile terminal of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a speaker hole, an interface housing or a microphone housing disposed at the at least one hole.   
     
     
       22. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is formed at a bottom end of the case. 
     
     
       23. The mobile terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive member has at least one hole adjoining the interior and the exterior of the mobile terminal. 
     
     
       24. The mobile terminal of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a speaker hole, an interface housing, or a microphone housing disposed at the at least one hole.   
     
     
       25. The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the conductive member is formed at a bottom end of the case. 
     
     
       26. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a circuit board;   an antenna configured to transceive radio signals; and   a case having two long lateral surfaces and two short lateral surfaces which form an appearance of the mobile terminal, the case comprising a metal material,   wherein the case comprises:   a first conductive member being a first part of a bottom lateral surface of the two short lateral surfaces of the case;   a second conductive member being a second part of the bottom lateral surface and part of at least one of the two long lateral surfaces connected to the second part, wherein the second conductive member is separated from the first conductive member such that the first conductive member does not contact the second conductive member;   a first slit portion located at a first end of the first conductive member; and   a second slit portion located at a second end of the first conductive member, the second end being opposite to the first end of the first conductive member,   wherein the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located at the bottom lateral surface of the case,   wherein the antenna comprises:   the first conductive member forming a radiator of the antenna;   a power feed connecting portion electrically connecting the first conductive member with the circuit board; and   a ground connecting portion electrically ground-connecting the first conductive member with the circuit board, such that the power feed connecting portion, the first conductive member and the ground connecting portion form a conductive loop for transceiving the radio signals,   wherein the power feed connecting portion and the ground connecting portion of the antenna are not exposed externally,   wherein the first conductive member includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface is not exposed externally and the outer surface is exposed externally,   wherein the second conductive member includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface is not exposed externally and the outer surface is exposed externally,   wherein the outer surface of the first conductive member is substantially flush with the outer surface of the second conductive member,   wherein the first conductive member, the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located at the bottom lateral surface of the case so the antenna radiates the radio signals to an outside of the mobile terminal in the length direction of the mobile terminal,   wherein the first slit portion is located between the first end of the first conductive member and a first end of the second conductive member at the bottom lateral surface,   wherein the second slit portion is located between the second end of the first conductive member and a second end of the second conductive member at the bottom lateral surface, and   wherein each of the first slit portion and the second slit portion is not filled with the metal material of the case.    
     
     
       27. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein each of the first slit portion and the second slit portion has two long sides and two short sides,
 wherein the two short sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion are open areas having no metal material of the case, and   wherein one of the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion adjoins the first conductive member of the case and the other one of the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion adjoins the second conductive member of the case.    
     
     
       28. The mobile terminal according to claim 27, wherein the first slit portion and the second slit portion are opened to the outside of the mobile terminal in a perpendicular direction to the two short sides and the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion.  
     
     
       29. The mobile terminal according to claim 28, wherein the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located in a y-axis thickness direction of the mobile terminal, and
 wherein the two short sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located in an x-axis width direction of the mobile terminal.    
     
     
       30. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein the first conductive member has at least one hole for a speaker, an interface or a microphone.  
     
     
       31. The mobile terminal according to claim 30, wherein the hole is disposed between the first slit portion and the second slit portion and includes the interface for a power supply.  
     
     
       32. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein the second conductive member extends from each of the two long lateral surfaces to the one of the two short lateral surfaces such that the second conductive member is adjacent to the first end and the second end of the first conductive member, and
 wherein the first conductive member and the second conductive member are separated by the first slit portion and the second slit portion.    
     
     
       33. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein at least a part of the second conductive member is configured to operate as a radiator.  
     
     
       34. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein the second conductive member and the circuit board are electrically connected to each other.  
     
     
       35. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, wherein a primary radiation section of the antenna is directed to the outside of the mobile terminal in the length direction from the one of the two short lateral surfaces of the case to reduce a deterioration of a radiation characteristic caused by a hand holding the mobile terminal.  
     
     
       36. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, further comprising:
 a speaker module, an interface module or a microphone module disposed adjacent to the first conductive member.    
     
     
       37. The mobile terminal according to claim 26, further comprising:
 a display unit,   wherein the case comprises a first case and a second case,   wherein the first case is disposed at a front side of the case, and the second case is disposed at a rear side of the case, and   wherein a screen of the display unit occupies most of the front side of the first case.    
     
     
       38. A method of operating a mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a circuit board, an antenna and a case, the method comprising:
 transceiving radio signals through the antenna,   wherein the case has two long lateral surfaces and two short lateral surfaces which form an appearance of the mobile terminal, the case comprising a metal material,   wherein the case comprises:   a first conductive member being a first part of a bottom lateral surface of the two short lateral surfaces of the case;   a second conductive member being a second part of the bottom lateral surface and part of at least one of the two long lateral surfaces connected to the second part, wherein the second conductive member is separated from the first conductive member such that the first conductive member does not contact the second conductive member;   a first slit portion located at a first end of the first conductive member; and   a second slit portion located at a second end of the first conductive member, the second end being opposite to the first end of the first conductive member,   wherein the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located at the bottom lateral surface of the case,   wherein the antenna comprises:   the first conductive member forming a radiator of the antenna;   a power feed connecting portion electrically connecting the first conductive member with the circuit board; and   a ground connecting portion electrically ground-connecting the first conductive member with the circuit board, such that the power feed connecting portion, the first conductive member and the ground connecting portion form a conductive loop for transceiving the radio signals,   wherein the power feed connecting portion and the ground connecting portion of the antenna are not exposed externally,   wherein the first conductive member includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface is not exposed externally and the outer surface is exposed externally,   wherein the second conductive member includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface is not exposed externally and the outer surface is exposed externally,   wherein the outer surface of the first conductive member is substantially flush with the outer surface of the second conductive member,   wherein the first conductive member, the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located at the bottom lateral surface of the case so the antenna radiates the radio signals to an outside of the mobile terminal in the length direction of the mobile terminal,   wherein the first slit portion is located between the first end of the first conductive member and a first end of the second conductive member at the bottom lateral surface,   wherein the second slit portion is located between the second end of the first conductive member and a second end of the second conductive member at the bottom lateral surface, and   wherein each of the first slit portion and the second slit portion is not filled with the metal material of the case; and   processing the transceived radio signals.    
     
     
       39. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a circuit board;   an antenna configured to transceive radio signals; and   a case having two long lateral surfaces and two short lateral surfaces which form an appearance of the mobile terminal,   the case comprising a metal material,   wherein the case comprises:   a first conductive member being a first part of a bottom lateral surface of the two short lateral surfaces of the case;   a second conductive member being a second part of the bottom lateral surface and part of at least one of the two long lateral surfaces connected to the second part;   a first slit portion located at a first end of the first conductive member; and   a second slit portion located at a second end of the first conductive member,   the second end being opposite to the first end of the first conductive member,   wherein the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located at the bottom lateral surface of the case,   wherein the second conductive member is separated from the first conductive member by the first slit and the second slit at the bottom lateral surface,   wherein the antenna comprises:   the first conductive member forming a radiator of the antenna;   a power feed connecting portion electrically connecting the first conductive member with the circuit board; and   a ground connecting portion electrically ground-connecting the first conductive member with the circuit board,   such that the power feed connecting portion, the first conductive member and the ground connecting portion form a conductive loop for transceiving the radio signals,   wherein the first conductive member includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface is not exposed externally and the outer surface is exposed externally,   wherein the second conductive member includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface is not exposed externally and the outer surface is exposed externally,   wherein the outer surface of the first conductive member is substantially flush with the outer surface of the second conductive member,   wherein the power feed connecting portion and the ground connecting portion of the antenna are connected at the inner surface of the first conductive member,   wherein the first slit portion is located between the first end of the first conductive member and a first end of the second conductive member at the bottom lateral surface,   wherein the second slit portion is located between the second end of the first conductive member and a second end of the second conductive member at the bottom lateral surface, and   wherein each of the first slit portion and the second slit portion is not filled with the metal material of the case.    
     
     
       40. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein each of the first slit portion and the second slit portion has two long sides and two short sides,
 wherein the two short sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion are open areas having no metal material of the case, and   wherein one of the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion adjoins the first conductive member of the case and the other one of the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion adjoins the second conductive member of the case.    
     
     
       41. The mobile terminal according to claim 40, wherein the first slit portion and the second slit portion are opened to the outside of the mobile terminal in a perpendicular direction to the two short sides and the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion.  
     
     
       42. The mobile terminal according to claim 41, wherein the two long sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located in a y-axis thickness direction of the mobile terminal, and
 wherein the two short sides of the first slit portion and the second slit portion are located in an x-axis width direction of the mobile terminal.    
     
     
       43. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein the first conductive member has at least one hole for a speaker, an interface or a microphone.  
     
     
       44. The mobile terminal according to claim 43, wherein the hole is disposed between the first slit portion and the second slit portion and includes the interface for a power supply.  
     
     
       45. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein the second conductive member extends from each of the two long lateral surfaces to the one of the two short lateral surfaces such that the second conductive member is adjacent to the first end and the second end of the first conductive member, and
 wherein the first conductive member and the second conductive member are separated by the first slit portion and the second slit portion.    
     
     
       46. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein at least a part of the second conductive member is configured to operate as a radiator.  
     
     
       47. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein the second conductive member and the circuit board are electrically connected to each other.  
     
     
       48. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein a primary radiation section of the antenna is directed to the outside of the mobile terminal in the length direction from the one of the two short lateral surfaces of the case to reduce a deterioration of a radiation characteristic caused by a hand holding the mobile terminal.  
     
     
       49. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, further comprising:
 a speaker module, an interface module or a microphone module disposed adjacent to the first conductive member.    
     
     
       50. The mobile terminal according to claim 39, further comprising:
 a display unit,   wherein the case comprises a first case and a second case,   wherein the first case is disposed at a front side of the case, and the second case is disposed at a rear side of the case, and   wherein a screen of the display unit occupies most of the front side of the first case.