CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2018/015832, filed on Dec. 13, 2018, which claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2018-0083076, filed on Jul. 17, 2018, the contents of which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a pair of mobile terminals combinable with or separable from each other and a control method therefor.

BACKGROUND ART

Terminals including a display may be classified as mobile/portable terminals or stationary terminals according to mobility thereof. Mobile terminals may also be classified as handheld terminals or vehicle mounted terminals according to whether or not a user can directly carry the terminal.

As functions of such terminals are diversified, the terminals are implemented in the form of multimedia players equipped with composite functions such as photography or video capture, music or video file playback, and broadcast reception.

As the terminal is implemented in the form of the multimedia devices, users feel the need to use the terminal by adjusting the size of a screen as necessary. However, existing terminals provide only a display of a fixed size, so it is difficult to meet this need.

To support and increase the functions of the terminals, improvement of a structural part and/or software part of the terminals may be considered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Technical Problems

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a control circuit system for a pair of mobile terminals capable of efficiently and stably transmitting data while providing a larger screen when the mobile terminals that are combinable with or separable from each other are connected.

Another object of the present disclosure is to support multitasking through a plurality of display units based on one system by displaying different images by respective display units of a pair of mobile terminals.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a pair of mobile terminals that is easy to carry and has a structure that stably connects the mobile terminals and protects the mobile terminals from external impact.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the technical objects to be achieved through the present disclosure are not limited to what has been particularly described hereinabove and other technical objects not described herein will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description.

Technical Solutions

To achieve these objects and in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a control circuit system for a pair of mobile terminals including a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal is provided. The first mobile terminal includes a first display unit, a first fastening unit, a proximity sensor configured to sense connection with the second mobile terminal, and a first control circuit including a first near field communication module and a first signal aggregator, configured to transmit and receive a signal to and from the second mobile terminal. The second mobile terminal includes a second display unit, a second fastening unit connected to the first fastening unit, and a second control circuit including a second near field communication module and a second signal aggregator, configured to transmit and receive a signal to and from the first mobile terminal. A signal transmitted by the first near field communication module is received by the second near field communication module and is then displayed on the second display unit.

The proximity sensor may sense whether the connection is made using magnetic force. The second mobile terminal may serve as a protective case of the first mobile terminal. The first and second near field communication modules may wirelessly transmit and receive a signal in a bandwidth of 60 GHz. The first and second near field communication modules may transmit and receive an image signal. The first and second signal aggregators may transmit and receive a communication control signal, and a touch information signal and a brightness control signal of the second display unit. The second fastening unit may receive power from the first fastening unit, and the first and second signal aggregators may transmit and receive a signal through the first and second fastening units. The first and second display units may display different images. The first and second fastening units may be configured as pogo pins.

To achieve these objects and in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a second mobile terminal coupled to a first mobile terminal including a first display unit includes a fastening unit connected to the first mobile terminal, a circuit substrate unit including a near field communication module and a signal aggregator, a first cover including the fastening unit and the circuit substrate unit, a second cover including a second display unit, and a supporter configured to connect the first cover and the second cover. The near field communication module transmits and receives a signal to and from the first mobile terminal.

The fastening unit may receive power from the first mobile terminal and transmit and receive a signal. The near field communication module may wirelessly transmit and receive a signal to and from the first mobile terminal in a bandwidth of 60 GHz. The signal aggregator may transmit and receive a signal to and from the first mobile terminal through the fastening unit. The first cover may be configured to cover an outer appearance of the first mobile terminal except for the first display unit. The supporter may be formed of a flexible material to fold or unfold the first cover and the second cover. The second display unit may receive a signal from the first mobile terminal and display the signal, and the first display unit and the second display unit may display different images.

To achieve these objects and in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a control circuit system for a pair of mobile terminals including a first mobile terminal having a first control circuit and a second mobile terminal having a second control circuit is provided. The first control circuit includes a first power supply unit, a first display unit, a first input unit, a first fastening unit, and first to third near field communication modules configured to transmit and receive data between the pair of mobile terminals. The second control circuit includes a second power supply unit, a second display unit, a second input unit, a second fastening unit configured to sense whether the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal are combined or separated, and fourth to sixth near field communication modules configured to transmit and receive data between the pair of mobile terminals, an image converter, and a system controller.

The first mobile terminal may serve as a main terminal, and the second mobile terminal may serve as a sub terminal and may be configured to receive an image from the main terminal and include only minimum elements for displaying the image. The second mobile terminal may be configured in a case form of the first mobile terminal. The first and second input units are touch sensors deposited on the first and second display units. The first and second fastening units may transmit and receive power or power and data when the pair of mobile terminals is connected. When power is transmitted and received through the first and second fastening units, the first and fourth near field communication modules may transmit and receive a digital image signal. The second and fifth near field communication modules may transmit and receive a communication control signal needed to transmit and receive the digital image signal. The image converter may convert the digital image signal received through the fourth near field communication module into a signal that is suitable for the second display unit to receive. The second and third near field communication modules may be replaced with signal aggregators, and the fifth and sixth near-field communication modules may also be replaced with signal aggregators. An input signal received through the first and second input units may be transmitted and received through the third and sixth near field communication modules.

Advantageous Effects

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a pair of mobile terminals and a control method therefor enable the mobile terminals to efficiently and stably transmit and receive data when the mobile terminals are coupled to each other.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pair of mobile terminals may support extended user experience and multitasking.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pair of mobile terminals may be easy to carry before the mobile terminals are coupled to each other and may protect the mobile terminals from external impact after the mobile terminals are coupled to each other.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that that the effects to be achieved through the present disclosure are not limited to what has been particularly described hereinabove and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description.

