Foldable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9720450-B2
Application number	US-201514948640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

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 capable of changing 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 in the folded state, and is not exposed to the exterior of the foldable housing in the unfolded state.

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

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible screen dividing into a first screen and a second screen based on the folding part and arranged on a surface of the foldable housing,
wherein, in the folded state, the flexible screen is foldable with the foldable housing, such that the first screen face the second screen.

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 foldable housing has a curved shape.

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

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the connection part comprises a flexible member, and
wherein the connection part is configured to connect the first housing and the second housing.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor;
a memory;
at least one processor; and
at least one program, wherein the at least one program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the at least one processor, the at least one program comprising instructions for:
in response to a detection of the folding of the electronic device, activating at least one electronic component.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one program further comprises instructions for:
in response to the detection of the unfolding of the electronic device, inactivating the at least one electronic component.

14. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one program further comprises instructions for:
in response to the detection of the folding of the electronic device, outputting information regarding the folding state by using at least one of a speaker and an indicator.

15. An electronic device for providing a folded state and an unfolded state, comprising:
a first housing comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface;
a second housing comprising a third surface and a fourth surface opposing to the third surface, the second housing is pivotally coupled to the first housing;
a flexible display disposed on the first surface of the first housing and the third surface of the second housing; and
an electronic component disposed at a coupling portion between the first housing and the second housing,
wherein the electronic component is not exposed to an exterior of the electronic device in the unfolded state when the first housing and the second housing are substantially planar such that the second surface of the first housing and the fourth surface of the second housing are substantially planar, and
wherein the electronic component is exposed to an exterior of the electronic device in the folded state when the first surface of the first housing face the third surface of the second housing such that the second surface of the first housing and the fourth surface of the second housing are separated and the coupling portion is exposed.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising a connection part coupling the first housing and the second housing,
wherein, in the folded state, the connection part is folded relatively to the first housing and the second housing such that the connection part is exposed to the exterior of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the connection part comprises a hall, and the electronic component is exposed through the hall of the connection part when the electronic device is in the folded state.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Seung-Ki
• Lee Seung-Hoon

Classifications

• 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

• 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

• 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