Mobile Terminal Frame with Hidden Fasteners and Direct Display Mount

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile terminals are thick due to their hinge connection design, limiting the size of the display and compromising aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal design featuring a frame with a front and rear cover configuration, where the front cover is partially transparent for a display window and includes a keypad, and the rear cover has a camera window, with fastening mechanisms that allow for a thin and aesthetically appealing form factor without exposing fasteners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hinge connection unit is used to connect the display unit and terminal body, then the terminal can open and close for communication mode, but the overall thickness of the terminal becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening and closing functionVSAvoidoverall thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the hinge connection unit from the terminal structure. Instead of using a hinge to connect the display unit and terminal body, the display unit is directly mounted on the terminal body, eliminating the need for the hinge mechanism and thereby reducing the overall thickness of the terminal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the terminal into distinct modular components: a terminal body, a display unit, a keypad, and a battery. These segments are independently designed and assembled, allowing for optimized thickness in each component while maintaining functionality. The display unit and keypad are separately mounted on the terminal body rather than being connected through a hinge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of stationary object

If the terminal is made thin, then the aesthetic design is improved, but the display size cannot be enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal thicknessVSAvoiddisplay size
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a hinge-based three-dimensional structure to a flat, two-dimensional mounting configuration. The display unit is mounted directly on the terminal body in a planar arrangement, maximizing the use of available surface area and allowing for larger display sizes without increasing the terminal's overall thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If fasteners are used to attach the front cover to the frame, then the structural integrity is improved, but the fasteners become exposed and affect the aesthetic design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidaesthetic design
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fastening hole as an intermediary element that allows fasteners to be hidden. The fasteners are inserted through fastening holes in the frame and secured to the front cover from the rear side, making them invisible from the front and preserving the aesthetic design while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP1879363B1Mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2010.09.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP1879363B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1879363B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1879363B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile terminal includes a frame (20) having a front side and a rear side, the rear side having a first receiving space and a second receiving space located beside one another, a front cover (10) disposed to at least partially cover the front side of the frame, the front cover having a transparent portion (18), a touch screen (22) located between the front cover and the frame, the touch screen permitting transmission of a signal when the transparent portion is contacted, a camera located in one of the first and second receiving spaces, and a rear cover (30) disposed to at least partially cover each of the first and second receiving spaces.