Electronic device including dustproof structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11054869-B2
Application number	US-202017069332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2020
Priority date	Oct 21, 2019
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge housing disposed between the first housing and the second housing, and a flexible display at least partially disposed on the first housing and the second housing. The first housing and the second housing perform a folding or unfolding operation based on the hinge housing, and include at least one fiber structure disposed on at least a portion of a side of the first housing, the portion of the side being adjacent to the hinge housing within a predetermined distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing;
a hinge housing disposed between the first housing and the second housing; and
a flexible display at least partially disposed on the first housing and the second housing,
wherein the first housing and the second housing:
perform a folding or unfolding operation based on the hinge housing, and
include at least one fiber structure disposed on at least a portion of a side of the first housing, the portion of the side being adjacent to the hinge housing within a predetermined distance, and

wherein the at least one fiber structure comprises a plurality of aggregates including a plurality of fibers.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fiber structure includes a first dustproof structure disposed with a predetermined length in an axial direction of the hinge housing.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first bent portion provided on a side edge of the first housing and formed with a predetermined curvature.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the first dustproof structure is disposed along a side edge of the first bent portion.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 , further comprising:
an adhesive member at least partially disposed between the first dustproof structure and the first bent portion.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the adhesive member includes a double-side tape.

7. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first dustproof structure includes a first portion that contacts the hinge housing when the electronic device is in a folded state, and a second portion that does not contact the hinge housing.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein an area of the second portion is larger than an area of the first portion.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein a density of fibers disposed on the first portion is higher than a density of fibers disposed on the second portion.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein
the plurality of aggregates comprises fiber bundles,
wherein the at least one fiber structure includes a substrate portion including a plurality of holes, and
wherein the fiber bundles are disposed in the plurality of holes.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a zigzag arrangement.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second bent portion provided on a side edge of the second housing and bent with a predetermined curvature.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one fiber structure includes a second dustproof structure disposed along a side edge of the second bent portion.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising:
an adhesive member at least partially disposed between the second dustproof structure and the second bent portion.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fiber structure includes a third dustproof structure provided on a side edge of the hinge housing.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the third dustproof structure includes:
a first portion maintaining an upright state when facing at least a portion of structures including the flexible display; and
a second portion pressed by the portion of structures including the flexible display.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the third dustproof structure is formed such that a density of the first portion of the third dustproof structure is higher than a density of the second portion of the third dustproof structure.

18. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fiber structure further includes a fourth dustproof structure provided on an opposite side edge of the hinge housing.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the fourth dustproof structure includes:
a first portion disposed side by side with the flexible display; and
a second portion disposed side by side with the flexible display and including fibers longer than fibers of the first portion of the fourth dustproof structure.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the fourth dustproof structure is formed such that a density of the first portion of the fourth dustproof structure is higher than a density of the second portion of the fourth dustproof structure.

21. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein ends of the hinge housing comprise obstruction walls which protrude such that an inside of the hinge housing is not visible from outside.

22. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each aggregate is inserted into a sac or a hole of a predetermined pattern.

23. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a first hinge structure attached to the first housing and a second hinge structure attached to the second housing,
wherein the first hinge structure and the second hinge structure are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center portion of the hinge housing.

24. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a gear structure configured to perform the folding or unfolding operation symmetrically.

25. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fiber structure comprises at least one of artificial fiber, natural fiber, optical fiber, or glass fiber.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Moon Heecheul

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title

• H05K5/0217 Primary

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title