Electronic device including waterproof structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12309305-B2
Application number	US-202217572165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2022
Priority date	Jan 11, 2021
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a front plate, a back plate that faces the front plate, a side member that surrounds an inner space between the front plate and the back plate and includes a frame that forms a side surface of the electronic device and a plate that extends from the frame toward the inner space, and a blocking member located in the inner space and disposed on the plate to cover a partial area of the plate connected with the outside of the electronic device. The blocking member includes a membrane and a cover member that is disposed between the membrane and the plate and that has a through-hole formed in at least a portion thereof. The through-hole fluidly communicates with the outside of the electronic device through the partial area of the plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a front plate;
a back plate configured to face the front plate;
a side member configured to surround an inner space between the front plate and the back plate, the side member including a frame configured to form a side surface of the electronic device and a plate extending from the frame toward the inner space; and
a blocking member located in the inner space and disposed on the plate to cover a partial area of the plate connected with an outside of the electronic device,
wherein the blocking member comprises:
a membrane including a first surface and a second surface configured to face away from the first surface,
a cover member disposed between the second surface of the membrane and the plate, the cover member having a through-hole formed in at least a portion thereof, and
a first adhesive member disposed between the second surface of the membrane and the cover member, the first adhesive member having a first opening formed therein to fluidly communicate with the through-hole, and

wherein the through-hole fluidly communicates with the outside of the electronic device through the partial area of the plate.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the side member has a vent hole formed in at least a portion thereof to fluidly communicate with the through-hole, and
wherein the vent hole penetrates at least a portion of the frame and at least a portion of the plate.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 ,
wherein the cover member comprises a third surface configured to face the second surface of the membrane and a fourth surface configured to face away from the third surface and attached to the plate, and
wherein a partial area of the vent hole that penetrates through the plate is visually hidden by the cover member when the third surface of the cover member is viewed from above.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the vent hole comprises:
a first opening area formed in a portion of the frame;
a second opening area formed in a portion of the plate; and
a duct extending to connect the first opening area and the second opening area.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the blocking member is attached to the plate to overlap the second opening area and comprises a waterproof material in at least a portion thereof.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 ,
wherein the blocking member further comprises:
a second adhesive member disposed between the cover member and the plate, the second adhesive member having a second opening formed therein, and

wherein the through-hole of the cover member is configured to fluidly communicate with the vent hole through the second opening.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein when the cover member is viewed from above, the through-hole overlaps a partial area of the second opening, and the second opening area overlaps another area of the second opening.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the second surface of the membrane faces at least a portion of the cover member through the first opening.

9. The electronic device of claim 2 ,
wherein the plate comprises a bonding area to which the blocking member is attached, and
wherein at least a portion of the plate is recessed to form the bonding area.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 ,
wherein the plate comprises a recess connected with at least a portion of the vent hole and formed in the bonding area, and
wherein at least a portion of the bonding area is recessed to form the recess.

11. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the vent hole has a shape in which at least a portion extends to be inclined toward the back plate with an approach to the inner space.

12. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a layer structure disposed between the blocking member and the plate,
wherein the layer structure is configured to form a flow passage along which fluid moves between the vent hole and the through-hole.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the layer structure comprises:
a third adhesive member having a third opening formed therein;
a first sheet attached to one surface of the third adhesive member, the first sheet having a first hole formed therein to be aligned with a partial area of the third opening;
a second sheet attached to an opposite surface of the third adhesive member, the second sheet having a second hole formed therein to be aligned with another area of the third opening; and
a fourth adhesive member disposed between the first sheet and the plate, the fourth adhesive member having a fourth opening formed therein to fluidly communicate with the first hole and the vent hole.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein when the first sheet is viewed from above, the first hole overlaps a partial area of the fourth opening, and at least a portion of the vent hole overlaps another area of the fourth opening.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the cover member is attached to the membrane so as to be spaced apart from the second surface of the membrane, and
wherein the cover member is configured such that at least a portion thereof is brought into contact with the membrane by pressure of liquid introduced from outside the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein a pressure directly applied or transmitted to the membrane by a liquid introduced from outside the electronic device and moving through the through-hole of the cover member is thereby reduced.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the membrane is formed of a waterproof and air-permeable material, and
wherein the cover member is formed of a waterproof and non-breathable material.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Hyungwoo
• Lee Sungho
• Kim Namjun
• Kim Jaekook

Classifications

• H05K5/0213

  Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof · CPC title

• H04M1/18

  Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/0202 Primary

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title