Foldable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016147263-A1
Application number	US-201514948640-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device may include a foldable housing, and at least one electronic component arranged within the housing. The at least one electronic component may be exposed to an area external to the housing through a folding part of the housing in a folded state of the housing. The electronic device may be transitionable between a folded state and an unfolded state. Activation of the at least one electronic component may be effected by the folding or unfolding of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing including a folding part, the foldable housing being transitionable between a folded state and an unfolded state; and at least one electronic component arranged within the foldable housing, wherein the at least one electronic component is exposed to an exterior of the foldable housing through the folding part of the foldable housing when the foldable housing is in the folded state.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible circuit board arranged within the housing,
wherein the flexible circuit board is foldable together with the housing.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic component comprises at least one connector.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , further comprising a circuit board arranged within the foldable housing, wherein the at least one connector comprises a copper film pad that is mounted on a surface of the circuit board.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic component comprises at least one of a camera module and a sensor module.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic component is fixed on the housing.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible screen arranged on a surface of the housing,
wherein the flexible screen is foldable together with the housing.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the flexible screen is configured to receive a touch input.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a curved shape.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing and a second housing that are separated from each other, and
the folding part of the housing is arranged in a connection part between the first housing and the second housing.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , further comprising a flexible member connecting the first housing and the second housing.

12 . An operation method of a foldable electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting folding of the electronic device; and in response to the detection of the folding of the electronic device, activating at least one electronic component arranged in a folding part of the electronic device.

13 . The operation method of the foldable electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising:
detecting unfolding of the electronic device; and in response to the detection of the unfolding of the electronic device, inactivating the at least one electronic component arranged in the folding part of the electronic device.

14 . The operation method of the foldable electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising providing an image or voice related to the at least one electronic component arranged in the folding part of the electronic device.

15 . An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing including a folding part, the foldable housing being transitionable between a folded state and an unfolded state; at least one electronic component arranged within the housing, and exposed to an exterior of the foldable housing through the folding part of the foldable housing when in the foldable housing is in the folded state; a sensor module configured to sense folding of the foldable housing; and a control module configured to activate the at least one electronic component arranged in the folding part of the foldable housing in response to the folding of the foldable housing.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the control module inactivates the at least one electronic component arranged in the folding part of the housing, in response to unfolding of the housing.

17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the control module provides through an output module at least one of an image and a voice related to the at least one electronic component arranged in the folding part of the housing, in response to the folding of the housing.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Seung-Ki
• Lee Seung-Hoon

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• H05K5/0018 Primary

  having an electronic display · CPC title

• G09F9/301

  flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED · CPC title