Electronic device including window for optical module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11902639-B2
Application number	US-202217702946-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2022
Priority date	Jun 4, 2021
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

According to certain embodiments of the disclosure, an electronic device may include a housing, a window frame disposed in the housing and providing at least one opening exposing an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing, at least one window coupled to the window frame to close the at least one opening, and at least one optical module disposed inside the housing and configured to receive external light incident through the at least one window. The at least one window may include an inner surface facing the inside of the housing, a side surface facing an inner wall of the at least one opening, and a first inclined surface connecting the side surface to the inner surface. The first inclined surface may be inclined with respect to the inner surface and the side surface and may be bonded to the inner wall. Other various embodiments are possible as well.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing;
a window frame disposed in the housing and providing at least one opening exposing an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing;
at least one window coupled to the window frame to close the at least one opening; and
at least one optical module disposed inside the housing and configured to receive external light incident through the at least one window,
wherein the at least one window includes an inner surface facing the inside of the housing, a side surface facing an inner wall of the at least one opening, and a first inclined surface connecting the side surface to the inner surface, and
wherein the first inclined surface is inclined with respect to the inner surface and the side surface and is bonded to the inner wall.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the window frame includes a second inclined surface formed as a portion of the inner wall, and
wherein the second inclined surface extends obliquely with respect to another portion of the inner wall and is at least partially bonded to the first inclined surface.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the window frame includes a second inclined surface formed as a portion of the inner wall, and
wherein the second inclined surface extends obliquely with respect to another portion of the inner wall and is at least partially fused with the first inclined surface.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein a width of the at least one opening decreases in a direction from the outside of the housing to the inside in an area where the second inclined surface is formed.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein a trajectory of fusion between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface forms a closed loop along an edge of the at least one window.

6. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are fused in a line-type pattern, a wobble pattern, a zigzag pattern, and/or a sine pattern.

7. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the window frame further includes a third inclined surface extending from the second inclined surface,
wherein the third inclined surface is disposed further inward of the housing than the second inclined surface, and wherein a width of the at least one opening increases in a direction from the outside of the housing to the inside in an area where the third inclined surface is formed.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical module includes:
a lens assembly including at least one lens and disposed to face the inner surface of the at least one window; and
an image sensor disposed to face the inner surface of the at least one window with the at least one lens interposed therebetween.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the window frame includes:
a second inclined surface formed as a portion of the inner wall and at least partially fused to the first inclined surface; and
a third inclined surface extending from the second inclined surface and disposed further inward of the housing than the second inclined surface,
wherein a width of the at least one opening decreases in a direction from the outside of the housing to the inside in an area where the second inclined surface is formed, and
wherein the width of the at least one opening increases in the direction from the outside of the housing to the inside in an area where the third inclined surface is formed.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein a trajectory of fusion between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface includes a line-type pattern, a wobble pattern, a zigzag pattern, and/or a sine pattern and forms a closed loop along an edge of the at least one window.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the window frame includes:
a base plate coupled to an inner surface of the housing; and
a protrusion protruding from one surface of the base plate and formed to surround at least a portion of the at least one opening,
wherein the at least one opening is formed to pass through the base plate in an area surrounded by the protrusion.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the window frame further includes a second inclined surface forming a closed loop on an inner surface of the protrusion, and
wherein the second inclined surface is at least partially fused with the first inclined surface.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the closed loop is along an edge of the at least one window.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the window frame is configured to provide a plurality of openings.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface is configured to at least partially transmit light incident from the outside of the housing.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the window frame includes a second inclined surface formed as a portion of the inner wall,
wherein the second inclined surface extends obliquely with respect to another portion of the inner wall and is at least partially fused with the first inclined surface, and
wherein during fusion, the at least one window is secured onto the window frame by a pressing jig, weight, and/or suction cup.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Baek Moohyun
• Lee Youngchul

Classifications

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• G03B30/00

  Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title