DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted for clarity where they are well-known in the art.

[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 , a portable terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of speakers S 1 and S 2 (shown in FIG. 7 ) and a pair of speaker covers 32 and 34 , which are disposed along a hinge axis A (shown in FIG. 2 ) and opposite to each other. The portable terminal illustrated in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a folder-type terminal.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which a folder 20 is opened. The folder-type terminal includes a phone body 10 , the folder 20 , and a hinge unit. The phone body 10 includes a plurality of keys 12 and a microphone 14 , which are disposed on an upper surface of the phone body 10 . The folder 20 includes a main speaker 22 and a main Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 24 , which are disposed on a lower surface 20 b of the folder 20 . The hinge unit includes a pair of side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b and a center hinge arm 26 , which enable the folder 20 to be rotated away from or towards the phone body 10 . The side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b are opposed to each other at one side of the phone body 10 , and the center hinge arm 26 is disposed between the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b.

[0034] FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a pair of speakers employed in the portable terminal. Preferably, the portable terminal according to the present invention further includes a pair of side speakers S 1 and S 2 which are provided at the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b, respectively. The side speakers S 1 and S 2 are oriented in opposite directions along the hinge axis A, thus the side speakers S 1 and S 2 produce sounds in opposite directions along the hinge axis A.

[0035] Furthermore, the speaker covers 32 and 34 protect the side speakers S 1 and S 2 , respectively, from the outside environment. The speaker covers 32 and 34 are arranged along the hinge axis A and face the speakers S 1 and S 2 , respectively. Moreover, each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 has preferably a convex shape to surround the speakers S 1 and S 2 , respectively.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2 again, the center hinge arm 26 is formed integrally with the folder 20 and has a camera lens 28 (shown in FIG. 1 ) and a center key 27 . The center key 27 is used to switch the portable terminal into a camera operation mode. As shown in FIG. 1 , the camera lens 28 is disposed adjacent to a sub LCD 25 on an upper surface 20 a of the folder 20 , and the center key 27 (shown in FIG. 2 ) is adjacent to the main LCD 24 on the lower surface 20 b of the folder 20 .

[0037] In addition, the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b have grooves 16 a and 16 b formed on upper surfaces of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b, respectively. Therefore, when the folder 20 has been closed to the phone body 10 , corners 20 c and 20 d of a shoulder of the folder 20 can be seated in the grooves 16 a and 16 b.

[0038] When the portable terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is in a state as illustrated in FIG. 1, a user can communicate an image with a partner while facing the partner by the camera lens 28 and the sub LCD 25 . When the portable terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is in a state as shown in FIG. 2, a user can either take a photograph of a desired subject by the camera lens 28 and the main LCD 24 or view a picture or movie by means of the main LCD 24 and the side speakers S 1 and S 2 The user can hear stereo sound through the side speakers S 1 and S 2 .

[0039] Hereinafter, a construction for the speakers S 1 and S 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 .

[0040] The speakers S 1 and S 2 are installed inside of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b of the phone body 10 and are exposed through speaker cover holes 151 formed through side surfaces of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b. Although not shown, the speakers S 1 and S 2 are supported by ribs, etc., which are formed inside of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b.

[0041] In order to protect the speakers S 1 and S 2 , each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 is assembled with the speaker cover holes 151 . Each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 has a first opening 321 through which sound output of the speaker S 1 or S 2 is transferred. In the present embodiment, a cap 40 having pores 41 formed through the cap 40 is assembled with the first opening 321 , so as to improve the appearance of the terminal. According to another embodiment of the present invention, each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 may have a solid surface through which pores 41 are formed instead of the first opening 321 . In order to assemble the cap 40 with the first opening 321 , at least one second opening 322 is formed around the first opening 321 and at least one cap protuberance 43 corresponding to the second opening 322 is formed along a circumference of the cap 40 . Further, the cap 40 is made from metal and separably assembled with the speaker cover 32 or 34 according to another embodiment of the present invention, the cap 40 may be preferably made from synthetic resin and fixed to the speaker cover 32 or 34 preferably by ultrasonic fusion, etc.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 13 , each of the speakers S 1 and S 2 has a magnet 1 located at the center thereof and a vibrating diaphragm 2 surrounding the magnet 1 , thus the magnet 1 can vibrate the vibrating diaphragm 2 to produce sound. Herein, the first opening 321 formed at the center of the speaker cover 32 or 34 is aligned with the center of the speaker S 1 or S 2 to enable the sound output from the magnet 1 located at the central portion of the speaker S 1 or S 2 to propagate outward through the first opening 321 . Further, at least the one second opening 322 formed around the first opening 321 is aligned with the circumference of the speaker S 1 or S 2 to enable the sound output from the vibrating diaphragm 2 located at the circumferential portion of the speaker to propagate outward through the second opening 322 . The second opening 322 not only enables the cap 40 to be assembled with the speaker cover 32 or the speaker cover 34 , but also serves as an auxiliary means for propagating the sound from the speaker S 1 or S 2 outward. The speaker S 1 or S 2 of the stereo portable phone according to the present invention includes a speaker cover 32 or 34 through which the first opening 321 and the second opening 322 are formed, that is, a structure which enables the sound produced from the speaker S 1 or S 2 to propagate according to its property, so as to provide users with an original tone of the sound of the speaker S 1 or S 2 .

[0043] Each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 is assembled with the speaker cover hole 151 of the side hinge arm 15 a or 15 b by an assembling rib 323 , a first assembling bracket 325 , a first screw hole 328 , etc., which are formed inside of each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 . At least one assembling rib 323 is formed on a peripheral portion of an inner surface of each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 so that the assembling rib 323 can be in contact with a boundary surface defining the speaker cover hole 151 when each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 is assembled with the speaker cover hole 151 . Each assembling rib 323 has at least one stopper hole 324 , and at least one stopper 153 is formed at the boundary surface defining the speaker cover hole 151 to be engaged with the assembling rib 323 . When the assembling rib 323 contacts with the boundary surface of the speaker cover hole 151 , the stopper 153 is engaged with the assembling rib 323 to hold the speaker cover 32 or the speaker cover 34 .

[0044] An assembling protuberance 327 is formed on the inner surface of each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 and has the first screw hole 328 extending through the assembling protuberance 327 in a direction parallel to the hinge axis A. An assembling bracket (not shown) corresponding to the first screw hole 328 of the assembling protuberance 327 is formed on an inner surface of each of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b so that a first screw 109 a can be screwed through the assembling bracket into the first screw hole 328 to assemble the assembling bracket and the first screw hole 328 with each other.

[0045] The first assembling bracket 325 extends in a direction parallel to the hinge axis A from the inner surface of each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 and has a first assembling hole 326 formed inside of each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 through the first assembling bracket 325 . A second assembling bracket 155 is formed inside of each of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b, so that the second assembling bracket 155 contacts with the first assembling bracket 325 when the speaker cover 32 is assembled with the side hinge arm 15 a or when the speaker cover 34 is assembled with the side hinge arm 15 b. Further, a second screw hole 157 is formed through a shell of each of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis A. The first assembling hole 326 formed through the first assembling bracket 325 , a second assembling hole 156 formed through the second assembling bracket 155 , and the second screw hole 157 are aligned with each other, and a second screw 109 b is screwed sequentially through the second screw hole 157 , the first assembling hole 326 , and the second assembling hole 156 in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis A, so as to fix the speaker cover 32 to the side hinge arm 15 a or the speaker cover 34 to the side hinge arm 15 b.

[0046] Each of the speaker covers 32 and 34 is first fitted in the speaker cover hole 151 and held by engagement between the stopper 153 and the stopper hole 324 of the assembling rib 323 , and is then fixedly assembled with the speaker cover hole 151 of each of the side hinge arms 15 a and 15 b by the first screw 109 a screwed into the assembling protuberance 327 from the inside of the side hinge arm 15 a or 15 b and the second screw 109 b screwed through the first assembling bracket 325 and the second assembling bracket 155 from the upside of the side hinge arm 15 a or 15 b.

[0047] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the portable terminal, which illustrates a construction for assembling the stereo speakers S 1 and S 2 shown in FIG. 8 with the phone body. When a pair of speakers S 1 and S 2 are installed in the phone body as described above, the sound produced by the speakers S 1 and S 2 may interfere or resonate with each other in a space between the speakers S 1 and S 2 to distort specific tones of the sound outputted from the speakers S 1 and S 2 . Moreover, resonance of the sound, which may happen in the space between the speakers S 1 and S 2 , may vibrate a housing 10 b of the portable terminal, etc., thereby generating noise. In order to prevent such interference or resonance of the sound, a barrier such as a partition 111 , which can prevent the sound outputted from each speaker from propagating toward the other speaker, is provided between the speakers S 1 and S 2 . Further, it is preferred that an empty space 113 between the speakers S 1 and S 2 is preferably filled with an insulating material such as rubber for preventing resonance of sound, so as to form a resonance blocker 115 .

[0048] The barrier for preventing the sound output from each speaker from propagating toward the other speaker may include either only one partition 111 , which is disposed between the speakers S 1 and S 2 to intercept propagation of the sound, or multiple partitions 111 , each of which contacts with a rear end of each of the speakers S 1 and S 2 to provide an isolated speaker room 112 for each of the speakers S 1 and S 2 . Further, an additional barrier such as a sponge 114 capable of absorbing sound may be provided between the partition 111 and each of the speakers S 1 and S 2 , so as to help prevent the sound output from each speaker from propagating toward the other speaker.

[0049] The resonance blocker 115 can prevent the empty space 113 from being formed between the speakers S 1 and S 2 , thereby preventing the sound output from the speakers S 1 and S 2 from resonating towards each other. Therefore, either the empty space 113 between the speakers S 1 and S 2 may filled with such material as rubber after housing 10 b is made, or housing 10 b is molded in a state in which such material as synthetic resin is filled in the space between the speakers. Generation of resonance can be prevented by preventing the empty space 113 from being formed between the speakers S 1 and S 2 , that is, by providing such material as rubber in the empty space 113 after housing 10 b is made or by forming a resonance blocker 115 integrally with housing 10 b using the same synthetic resin as that of housing 10 b. When the resonance blocker 115 is formed integrally with housing 10 b, the speakers S 1 and S 2 are disposed at both sides of the resonance blocker 115 . Further, when the resonance blocker 115 is formed integrally with housing 10 b, no separate isolated speaker room 112 is necessary.

[0050] As described above, a portable terminal according to the present invention includes a pair of side speakers, which are opposite to each other and disposed beside a pair of side hinge arms arranged along a hinge axis A. Therefore, the portable terminal can provide stereo sound to a user of the terminal. Further, barriers such as partitions are formed between the speakers and/or such material as rubber is filled in an empty space between the speakers, so as to prevent the sound output from the speakers from interfering or resonating each other. In addition, a speaker cover for each speaker has openings which enable the output of the speaker to propagate, so as to provide users with the natural sound of the speaker with its original tone.

[0051] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.