Electronic device including display equipped with force sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10531580-B2
Application number	US-201715668925-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2017
Priority date	Aug 5, 2016
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

An electronic device includes a housing that includes a first surface facing a first direction, a second surface facing a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and a transparent member forming at least part of the first surface, a display that is interposed between the first surface and the second surface of the housing and is exposed through the transparent member, and a force sensor that is interposed between the display and the second surface of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the housing includes a transparent member forming at least part of the first surface;
a display interposed between the first surface and the second surface of the housing and exposed through the transparent member; and
a force sensor interposed between the display and the second surface of the housing,
wherein the force sensor includes:
a first electrode layer disposed on a rear surface of the display, the first electrode layer substantially in parallel with the display;
a second electrode layer consisting of a copper sheet laminated with a graphite sheet and is electrically connected with a ground of the display, the copper sheet being electrically ground and spaced apart from the first electrode layer in the second direction, the second electrode layer substantially in parallel with the first electrode layer; and

an opaque adhesive member interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the opaque adhesive member includes an opaque material and an adhesive material, and
wherein the first electrode layer contacts a first surface of the opaque adhesive member in the first direction, and the second electrode layer contacts a second surface of the opaque adhesive member in the second direction.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the opaque adhesive member includes:
a first adhesive layer in contact with the first electrode layer;
a second adhesive layer spaced apart from the first adhesive layer in the second direction and in contact with the second electrode layer; and
an opaque layer interposed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a polymer interposed between the display and the first electrode layer to prevent oxidation of the opaque adhesive member.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board interposed between the second electrode layer and the second surface of the housing,
wherein the second electrode layer includes a material that shields at least a part of electromagnetic interference (EMI) between the display and the printed circuit board.

6. An electronic device comprising:
a display including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite the first direction;
a transparent member disposed over the first surface of the display;
a force sensor disposed on the second surface of the display; and
a printed circuit board disposed below the force sensor in the second direction,
wherein the force sensor includes:
a first electrode layer directly disposed on the second surface of the display;
an opaque adhesive member disposed on a surface of the first electrode layer facing the second direction; and
a second electrode layer consisting of a copper sheet laminated with a graphite sheet and is electrically connected with a ground of the display, the copper sheet being electrically ground and disposed on a surface of the opaque adhesive member facing the second direction,

wherein the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, and the display are electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the first electrode layer comprises a plurality of electrodes extending in a third direction parallel with the second surface of the display.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the second electrode layer comprises a plurality of electrodes extending in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the second electrode layer is a bracket supporting the printed circuit board.

10. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a polarizer configured to convert light emitted from the display into polarized light; and
a touch sensor configured to recognize a location of a touch input on or near the transparent member.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein
the touch sensor is interposed between the transparent member and the display, and
wherein the polarizer is interposed between the transparent member and the touch sensor.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the polarizer is disposed on the first surface of the display; and
wherein the touch sensor is embedded within the polarizer.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the touch sensor is interposed between the first surface and the second surface of the display; and
wherein the polarizer is disposed on the first surface of the display.

14. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the polarizer is disposed on the first surface of the display; and
wherein the touch sensor is disposed over the polarizer in the first direction.

15. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the touch sensor is disposed on a surface of the transparent member facing the second direction, and
wherein the polarizer is disposed on the first surface of the display.

16. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a touch sensor configured to sense a location of a touch input from an object on or near the transparent member;
an integrated circuit connected to at least one of the display, the touch sensor, and the force sensor and configured to control driving timing of at least one of the display, the touch sensor, and the force sensor; and
a processor configured to control the integrated circuit, wherein the processor is mounted on the printed circuit board.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the respective driving timing of the display, the touch sensor, and the force sensor are different from each other.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jung Won
• Kim Eui Jin
• Kang Han Vit
• Kang Ho Kyung
• Kim Byeong Cheol
• Byeon Hyung Sup
• Jeong Jeong Sik
• Cho Eun Sung
• Kim Kwang Tai
• Hong Hyun Ju

Classifications

• G01L1/14

  by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators · CPC title

• H03K17/96

  Touch switches (specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08) · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title