Connecting assembly comprising flexible printed circuit board and electronic device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12317418-B2
Application number	US-202218091973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2022
Priority date	Nov 29, 2021
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes: a flexible printed circuit board configured to connect a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board and including a rigid area and a flexible area, and a guide at least partially coupled to the rigid area, and located inside the flexible printed circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a first housing comprising a first printed circuit board (PCB);
a second housing comprising a second PCB and configured to move in a first linear direction and a second linear direction opposite to the first linear direction with respect to the first housing;
a flexible display supported by at least one of the first housing and the second housing, wherein an area of a display screen of the flexible display is configured to be expanded or reduced by a linear movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing;
a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) comprising:
a first part connected to the first PCB;
a second part connected to the second PCB; and
a third part between at least the first part and the second part, and
wherein the third part comprises a rigid area and a flexible area; and
a guide at least partially coupled to the rigid area,

wherein the FPCB is configured to change shape between a folded form in which the FPCB is folded inward and an unfolded form in which the FPCB is unfolded outward based on a linear position of the first housing relative to the second housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the guide is connected to the rigid area so as not to be fixed to the flexible area.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the guide comprises a base located in the rigid area and configured to connect the rigid area and the guide.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the guide comprises a guide area having a substantially curved surface.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the guide area includes one of a closed curved surface, an open curved surface, or a substantially U-shaped curved surface.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the curved surface has a substantially constant curvature along the curved surface.

7. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the guide comprises:
a guide area configured to guide the flexible area; and
a connecting area configured to connect the guide area and an edge of the base.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the guide area comprises:
a contact area in contact with the flexible area; and
a non-contact area not substantially in contact with the flexible area,
wherein a surface roughness of the contact area is substantially equal to or less than a surface roughness of the non-contact area.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the guide comprises an edge that forms the guide area and the connecting area, does not face the flexible area, and more flexible than the guide area and the connecting area.

10. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the guide comprises:
a guide area configured to guide the flexible area; and
a connecting area configured to connect the guide area and an area in an edge of the base.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the FPCB comprises:
a plurality of stacked metal layers; and
at least one dielectric layer located on at least one surface of each metal layer of the metal layers.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the guide is configured to guide the flexible area toward the guide based on the FPCB being in the folded form.

13. An electronic device comprising:
a first housing comprising a first printed circuit board (PCB);
a second housing comprising a second PCB and configured to move in a first linear direction and a second linear direction opposite to the first linear direction with respect to the first housing;
a flexible display supported by the first housing and the second housing, wherein an area of a display screen of the flexible display is configured to be expanded or reduced by a linear movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing;
a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) comprising:
a first part connected to the first PCB;
a second part connected to the second PCB; and
a third part between the first part and the second part, and
wherein the third part comprises a rigid area and a flexible area; and

a guide at least partially coupled to the rigid area,
wherein the FPCB is configured to change shape between a folded form in which the FPCB is folded inward and an unfolded form in which the FPCB is unfolded outward,
wherein the guide comprises a guide area configured to guide the flexible area and a connecting area configured to connect the guide area and an edge of the base, and wherein a flexibility of the connecting area is greater than a flexibility of the guide area.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Wonho
• Kang Hyunggwang
• Kim Junhyuk
• Kim Hyunsuk
• Park Sanghyuk
• Cho Joongyeon
• Choi Nakhyun
• Kwak Myunghoon
• Kim Yangwook
• Lee Soyoung
• Lee Jookwan

Classifications

• H05K1/028

  Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits (H05K1/0283 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K2201/056

  Folded around rigid support or component · CPC title

• H05K2201/2027

  Guiding means, e.g. for guiding flexible circuits · CPC title

• H04M1/0274

  for an electrical connector module · CPC title

• H04M1/0237

  Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom · CPC title