Electronic device including protective member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9819381-B2
Application number	US-201615292258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

An electronic device may include: at least one protective member disposed in at least one area of the electronic device; at least one sensor configured to detect the drop of the electronic device; a protective member driving module configured to activate the protective member to change the shape of the protective member according to whether the drop of the electronic device is detected; and at least one processor configured to receive a drop sensing signal detected by the sensor and to control the protective member driving module to change the shape of the protective member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
at least one protective member disposed in at least a portion of the electronic device;
at least one sensor configured to detect a drop of the electronic device and to generate a drop sensing signal when the drop is detected;
a protective member driving module configured to activate the at least one protective member to change a shape of the protective member when the drop of the electronic device is detected; and
at least one processor configured to receive the drop sensing signal detected by the at least one sensor and to control the protective member driving module to change the shape of the protective member,
wherein the protective member is stacked on at least a portion of one of a front face and a rear face of the electronic device, and includes at least one of a transparent polymer film and an elastomer film that comprises at least one raised portion that protrudes outward when the drop sensing signal is detected.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the protective member driving module comprises:
a tactile layer configured to receive fluid;
a micro-motor that comprises a bellows configured to press the fluid toward the protective member from the tactile layer; and
a tactile layer controller configured to drive the micro-motor to press the fluid toward the protective member.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the fluid is liquid or gas.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a display disposed in a first area, and the protective member is disposed in an area other than the first area where the display is disposed.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is a low-power processor configured to operate in a sleep mode of the electronic device.

7. An electronic device comprising:
at least one protective member disposed in at least a portion of the electronic device;
at least one sensor configured to detect a drop of the electronic device and to generate a drop sensing signal when the drop is detected;
a protective member driving module configured to activate the at least one protective member to change a shape of the protective member when the drop of the electronic device is detected; and
at least one processor configured to receive the drop sensing signal detected by the at least one sensor and to control the protective member driving module to change the shape of the protective member by applying a specific voltage to the protective member,
wherein the protective member is an Electro Active Polymer (EAP) configured to change its shape to expand toward the outside of the electronic device when the specific voltage is applied thereto.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the electronic device has one or more corners and the protective member is disposed on at least one of the corners of the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the electronic device has an outer periphery and the protective member is disposed on at least a part of the outer periphery of the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising a bezel part configured to contribute to an outer periphery of the electronic device, wherein the bezel part has openings that are formed therein with a specified interval therebetween, and the openings are filled with the protective member.

11. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a housing;
a bracket disposed in the housing; and
a window glass attached to an upper surface of the bracket,
wherein the protective member is disposed in at least one attachment area of the window glass.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the protective member is disposed in at least one corner area of the electronic device.

13. An operating method in an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting a drop of the electronic device; and
when the drop of the electronic device is detected, operating a protective member driving module to activate a protective member such that a shape of the protective member is changed,
wherein the protective member is stacked on at least a portion of one of a front face and a rear face of the electronic device, and includes at least one of a transparent polymer film and an elastomer film that comprises at least one raised portion that protrudes outward when the drop of the electronic device is detected.

14. The operating method of claim 13 , further comprising:
controlling a tactile layer controller to form the at least one raised portion on the protective member by pressing a fluid received in a tactile layer toward the protective member,
wherein the protective member is configured to expand upward by fluid to form the at least one raised portion.

15. The operating method of claim 13 , wherein the detecting of the drop comprises:
determining the drop of the electronic device by comparing a motion parameter detected by a sensor and a threshold value stored in a memory.

16. The operating method of claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises an acceleration sensor and/or a gyro sensor.

17. The operating method of claim 13 , wherein the detecting of the drop is performed while the electronic device is in a sleep mode.

18. An operating method in an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting a drop of the electronic device; and
when the drop of the electronic device is detected, controlling a switching module to apply a specific voltage to activate a protective member such that a shape of the protective member is changed,
wherein the protective member is an EAP that is configured to change its shape when the specific voltage is applied thereto.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Jong-Chul
• KANG Li-Yeon
• GIL Kwangmin
• Park Jinkeun
• YOO Min-Woo
• Lee Sangsoo
• LIM Min-Jong
• Choi Jae-Hoon
• Heo Chang-Ryong
• Kim Dongsub
• Lee Sangkyu

Classifications

• H04B1/38

  Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H04M1/185

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title