Slidable electronic device including flexible display and antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12368232-B2
Application number	US-202318346557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2023
Priority date	Apr 8, 2022
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

According to an example embodiment, a slidable electronic device may include a first housing, a second housing configured to be slidable with respect to the first housing, a flexible display module comprising a flexible display including a first area configured to be seen in a state in which the second housing is slid-in with respect to the first housing, and a second area configured to be at least partially drawn out to the outside to be seen in a state in which the second housing is slid-out with respect to the first housing, and a wireless communication circuit, wherein the second housing includes a first conductive pattern electrically connected to the wireless communication circuit and a second conductive pattern physically separated from the first conductive pattern and configured to operate as an antenna ground.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A slidable electronic device comprising:
a first housing and a second housing configured to be slidable with respect to the first housing;
a flexible display module including a flexible display comprising a first area configured to be seen in a state in which the second housing is slid-in with respect to the first housing, and a second area configured to be at least partially drawn out to the outside to be seen in a state in which the second housing is slid-out with respect to the first housing; and
a wireless communication circuit,
wherein the second housing comprises a first conductive pattern electrically connected to the wireless communication circuit and a second conductive pattern physically separated from the first conductive pattern and configured to operate as an antenna ground.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second conductive pattern has a length with respect to a wavelength corresponding to a selected or designated frequency band in which a signal configured to be transmitted and/or received by the wireless communication circuit through the first conductive pattern is included.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second housing comprises a conductive part configured to provide the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern, and
wherein the conductive part comprises a slit between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the second conductive pattern further comprises another slit extending from the slit.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the second conductive pattern further comprises a notch.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second housing further comprises a non-conductive part providing an outer surface of the electronic device, and
wherein the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern are coupled to the non-conductive part and are not exposed to the outside of the electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the non-conductive part comprises a ceramic.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the non-conductive part comprises a polymer.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second housing further comprises a non-conductive part coupled to the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern, and
wherein the first conductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the non-conductive part are exposed to the outside and provide an outer surface of the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the non-conductive part comprises:
a first non-conductive part providing the outer surface of the electronic device;
a second non-conductive part on which the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern are arranged; and
a third non-conductive part at least partially disposed between the first non-conductive part and a combination the first conductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, and the second non-conductive part.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first non-conductive part comprises a ceramic.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first printed circuit board on which the wireless communication circuit is disposed and which is positioned on the first housing; and
a second printed circuit board positioned on the second housing and electrically connected to the first conductive pattern,
wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are electrically connected to each other.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes a bending part disposed and maintained in a bent shape in the second area to allow the second area to change a direction and move based on the second housing sliding with respect to the first housing, and
wherein at least a portion of the first conductive pattern is disposed corresponding to the bending part.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a degree of overlap between the second area and the second conductive pattern varies depending on a sliding position of the second housing with respect to the first housing.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a frame received in the second housing and configured to support the second area,
wherein the first area is disposed on the first housing, and
wherein at least a portion of the second area is configured to be drawn out to the outside from a space between the frame and the second housing during slide-out of the second housing with respect to the first housing.

16. A slidable electronic device comprising:
a flexible display module including a flexible display;
a first housing on which a first area of the flexible display disposed;
a frame configured to be slidable with respect to the first housing and support a second area of the flexible display module;
a second housing configured to receive the frame and coupled to the frame; and
a wireless communication circuit,
wherein the second housing comprises a first conductive pattern electrically connected to the wireless communication circuit and a second conductive pattern physically separated from the first conductive pattern and configured to operate as an antenna ground.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the second conductive pattern has a length with respect to a wavelength corresponding to a selected or designated frequency band in which a signal configured to be transmitted and/or received by the wireless communication circuit through the first conductive pattern is included.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the second housing comprises a conductive part configured to provide the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern, and
wherein the conductive part comprises a slit between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the second conductive pattern further comprises another slit extending from the slit.

20. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the second conductive pattern further comprises a notch.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• An Seongyong
• Kim Gyusub
• Seol Kyungmoon
• Jang Kyihyun
• Cho Bumjin

Classifications

• H04M1/0277

  for a printed circuit board assembly · CPC title

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0237 Primary

  Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · 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