KR20250015738A - Foldable electronic device including printed circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a foldable electronic device includes a hinge module, a first housing coupled to at least a first side of the hinge module and including a first support member and a first printed circuit board, a first through hole formed in the first support member, a second housing coupled to at least a second side of the hinge module and including a second support member and a second printed circuit board, a second through hole formed in the second support member, and a conductive connection member electrically connecting the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board through the first through hole and the second through hole, wherein the first support member includes a recess, and a portion of the first printed circuit board may be configured to be disposed in the recess. Other various embodiments are possible.

Description

FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a foldable electronic device including at least one printed circuit board.

The use of foldable electronic devices that can be folded and unfolded in either a horizontal or vertical direction is increasing, and various functions are being provided in foldable electronic devices.

The above foldable electronic device can be operated in a folded or unfolded state with the first housing and the second housing centered around the hinge module.

The above foldable electronic device can be operated, for example, in an in-folding manner and/or an out-folding manner, by rotating the first housing and the second housing using a hinge module.

A foldable electronic device may include a flexible display disposed at least partially across a first housing, a hinge module, and a second housing.

The above foldable electronic device can be configured such that when the first housing and the second housing are folded, the flexible display can be folded together using a hinge module, and when the first housing and the second housing are unfolded, the flexible display can be unfolded together.

The above foldable electronic device may include a first printed circuit board disposed in an internal space of the first housing and a second printed circuit board disposed in an internal space of the second housing. The first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board may be electrically connected using a plurality of conductive connecting members (e.g., flexible printed circuit boards: FPCB) passing through the first housing and the second housing.

The above foldable electronic device can reduce the areas of the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board to secure passage areas and sealing areas of a plurality of conductive connecting members.

For example, when the areas of the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are reduced, the space available for arranging electronic components may be reduced, and it may be difficult to connect the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board using a single conductive connecting member.

Various embodiments of the present invention can provide a foldable electronic device capable of partially expanding the area of a printed circuit board by forming a recess or slit in a portion of a support member (e.g., a first support member) and positioning a portion of a printed circuit board (e.g., a first printed circuit board) in the recess or slit.

The technical problems to be achieved in the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a foldable electronic device may include a hinge module, a first housing coupled to at least a first side of the hinge module and including a first support member and a first printed circuit board, a first through hole formed in the first support member, a second housing coupled to at least a second side of the hinge module and including a second support member and a second printed circuit board, a second through hole formed in the second support member, and a conductive connection member electrically connecting the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board through the first through hole and the second through hole. According to one embodiment, the first support member may include a recess. According to one embodiment, a portion of the first printed circuit board may be configured to be disposed in the recess.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, by placing a portion of a printed circuit board in a recess (e.g., a groove) or slit formed in a support member, the area of the printed circuit board can be partially expanded, and a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board can be electrically connected using a single conductive connecting member (e.g., an FPCB).

In addition, various effects may be provided that are directly or indirectly identified through this document.

In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are front and rear views of an unfolded state of a foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are front and rear views of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a drawing schematically illustrating an exploded perspective view of a foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a configuration of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention when in an unfolded state, as viewed from the rear.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a portion A-A' of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view schematically illustrating at least one slit in a portion of area B of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a drawing schematically illustrating an extended portion of a first printed circuit board for a portion of area B of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9A is a drawing schematically illustrating a portion of a configuration of a first housing of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9b is a drawing schematically showing a part of the configuration of a portion C of the first housing disclosed in FIG. 9a according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9c is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration in which the first antenna module is removed from a portion D of the first housing disclosed in FIG. 9a according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9d is an enlarged view schematically showing a part of the configuration of a portion D of the first housing disclosed in FIG. 9a according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9e is a drawing schematically illustrating an elastic member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a network environment (100), an electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with at least one of an electronic device (104) or a server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) by executing, for example, software (e.g., a program (140)), and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or calculations, the processor (120) may store a command or data received from another component (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in the volatile memory (132), process the command or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in the nonvolatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or a secondary processor (123) (e.g., a graphic processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together therewith. For example, if the electronic device (101) includes a main processor (121) and a secondary processor (123), the secondary processor (123) may be configured to use lower power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a given function. The secondary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one of the components of the electronic device (101) (e.g., the display module (160), the sensor module (176), or the communication module (190)), for example, while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing device) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. Such learning may be performed, for example, in the electronic device (101) itself on which the artificial intelligence model is executed, or may be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm may include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers. The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), deep Q-networks, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to the hardware structure, the artificial intelligence model may additionally or alternatively include a software structure.

According to one embodiment, the memory (130) may store various data used by at least one component (e.g., the processor (120) or the sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) may include a volatile memory (132) or a nonvolatile memory (134).

According to one embodiment, the program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

According to one embodiment, the input module (150) may receive commands or data to be used for a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

In one embodiment, the audio output module (155) can output an audio signal to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive an incoming call. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as a part thereof.

In one embodiment, the display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) can include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. In one embodiment, the display module (160) can include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure a strength of a force generated by the touch.

According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can obtain sound through the input module (150), or output sound through an audio output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) may detect an operating state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or an external environmental state (e.g., user state) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

According to one embodiment, the interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to allow the electronic device (101) to directly or wirelessly connect with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

In one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration or movement) or an electrical stimulus that a user can perceive through a tactile or kinesthetic sense. In one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

In one embodiment, the camera module (180) can capture still images and moving images. In one embodiment, the camera module (180) can include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

In one embodiment, the battery (189) can power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) can include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may support establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102), the electronic device (104), or the server (108)), and performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., the application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, a corresponding communication module may communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) may use subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196) to identify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199).

According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a 5G network after a 4G network and next-generation communication technology, for example, NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), terminal power minimization and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency communications (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) may support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) may support various requirements specified in an electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., a second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) may support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) each, or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may transmit or receive signals or power to or from the outside (e.g., an external electronic device). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas by, for example, the communication module (190). The signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and the external electronic device through the at least one selected antenna. According to some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. According to one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

At least some of the above components may be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, a general purpose input and output (GPIO), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)).

In one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102, or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform at least a part of the function or service. One or more external electronic devices that have received the request may execute at least a part of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a part of a response to the request. For this purpose, for example, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using, for example, distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an IoT (Internet of Things) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server using machine learning and/or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the second network (199). The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

The electronic devices according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be devices of various forms. The electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliance devices. The electronic devices according to embodiments of this document are not limited to the above-described devices.

It should be understood that the various embodiments of this document and the terminology used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this document, each of the phrases "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" can include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first", "second", or "first" or "second" may be used merely to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first) is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another (e.g., a second) component, with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

The term "module" used in various embodiments of this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit, for example. A module may be an integrally configured component or a minimum unit of the component or a portion thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include a single or multiple entities, and some of the multiple entities may be separately arranged in other components. According to various embodiments, one or more components or operations of the above-described corresponding components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, the multiple components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into one component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component of the multiple components before the integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by the module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are front and rear views of an unfolded state of a foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 3A and 3B are front and rear views of a folded state of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

According to various embodiments, the embodiments disclosed in FIG. 1 may be included in the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 2A to 3B. For example, the foldable electronic device (200) disclosed in FIGS. 2A to 3B may include the processor (120), the memory (130), the input module (150), the audio output module (155), the display module (160), the audio module (170), the sensor module (176), the interface (177), the connection terminal (178), the haptic module (179), the camera module (180), the communication module (190), the antenna module (197), and/or the subscriber identification module (196) disclosed in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 2A to 3B , a foldable electronic device (200) according to various embodiments of the present invention may include a pair of housings (e.g., a first housing (210) and a second housing (220)) that are rotatably coupled about a folding axis (A) through a hinge module (e.g., a hinge plate (320) and a hinge device of FIG. 4 ) so as to be foldable with respect to one another, a flexible display (230) (e.g., a first display, a foldable display, or a main display) disposed through the pair of housings (210, 220), and/or a sub-display (300) (e.g., a second display) disposed through the second housing (220).

According to various embodiments, at least a portion of the hinge module (e.g., the hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4) may be positioned so as not to be visible from the outside through the first housing (210) and the second housing (220), and in an unfolded state, may be positioned so as not to be visible from the outside through a hinge cover (310) (e.g., the hinge housing) that covers the foldable portion.

In this document, a surface on which a flexible display (230) is placed may be defined as a front surface (e.g., in the z-axis direction) of the foldable electronic device (200), and a surface opposite to the front surface may be defined as a back surface (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the foldable electronic device (200). A surface surrounding a space between the front surface and the back surface may be defined as a side surface of the foldable electronic device (200).

According to various embodiments, the pair of housings (210, 220) may include a first housing (210) and a second housing (220) that are foldably arranged relative to each other via a hinge module (e.g., a hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4). The pair of housings (210, 220) are not limited to the shapes and combinations illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 3B and may be implemented by other shapes or combinations and/or combinations of parts. For example, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may be arranged on opposite sides (e.g., in the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction) with respect to the folding axis (A) and may have a shape that is overall symmetrical with respect to the folding axis (A). According to various embodiments, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may also be folded asymmetrically with respect to the folding axis (A). The angle or distance between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may be different depending on whether the foldable electronic device (200) is in an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state.

According to various embodiments, when the foldable electronic device (200) is in an unfolded state, the first housing (210) may be connected to a first side (e.g., in the x-axis direction) of a hinge module (e.g., the hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4) and may include a first side member (213) arranged to face the front of the foldable electronic device (200), a second side member (212) facing in an opposite direction to the first side member (211), and/or a first side member (213) surrounding at least a portion of a first space between the first side member (211) and the second side member (212).

According to various embodiments, when the foldable electronic device (200) is in an unfolded state, the second housing (220) may be connected to a second side (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of a hinge module (e.g., the hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4) and may include a third side member (221) arranged to face the front of the foldable electronic device (200), a fourth side member (222) facing in an opposite direction to the third side member (221), and/or a second side member (223) surrounding at least a portion of a second space between the third side member (221) and the fourth side member (222).

According to various embodiments, the first side (211) may face substantially in the same direction as the third side (221) in the unfolded state and at least partially face the third side (221) in the folded state.

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a recess (201) formed to accommodate a flexible display (230) through a structural combination of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). The recess (201) may have substantially the same size as the flexible display (230).

According to various embodiments, the hinge cover (310) (e.g., hinge housing) may be disposed between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). The hinge cover (310) may be disposed to cover a portion of the hinge module (e.g., hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4). The hinge cover (310) may be covered by a portion of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) or exposed to the outside depending on the unfolded state, folded state, or intermediate state of the foldable electronic device (200).

According to various embodiments, when the foldable electronic device (200) is in an unfolded state, at least a portion of the hinge cover (310) may be covered by the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) and may not be substantially exposed to the outside. When the foldable electronic device (200) is in a folded state, at least a portion of the hinge cover (310) may be exposed to the outside between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). When the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are in an intermediate state where they are folded with a certain angle, the hinge cover (310) may be at least partially exposed to the outside of the foldable electronic device (200) between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). For example, the area where the hinge cover (310) is exposed to the outside may be less than in a completely folded state. The hinge cover (310) may include at least a partially curved surface.

According to various embodiments, when the foldable electronic device (200) is in an unfolded state (e.g., the state of FIGS. 2A and 2B), the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) form an angle of about 180°, and the first region (230a), the second region (230b), and the folding region (230c) of the flexible display (230) form the same plane and may be arranged to face substantially the same direction (e.g., the z-axis direction). In another embodiment, when the foldable electronic device (200) is in an unfolded state, the first housing (210) may be rotated in an outfolding manner with respect to the second housing (220) so as to be folded so that the second side (212) and the fourth side (222) face each other.

According to various embodiments, when the foldable electronic device (200) is in a folded state (e.g., the state of FIGS. 3a and 3b), the first side (211) of the first housing (210) and the third side (221) of the second housing (220) may be arranged to face each other. In this case, the first region (230a) and the second region (230b) of the flexible display (230) may be arranged to face each other while forming a narrow angle (e.g., in the range of 0 degrees to about 10 degrees) with each other through the folding region (230c).

According to various embodiments, the folding area (230c) can be transformed into a curved shape having at least a portion of a certain curvature. When the foldable electronic device (200) is in an intermediate state, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) can be arranged at a certain angle with respect to each other. In this case, the first area (230a) and the second area (230b) of the flexible display (230) can form an angle that is larger than in the folded state and smaller than in the unfolded state, and the curvature of the folding area (230c) can be smaller than in the folded state and larger than in the unfolded state.

According to various embodiments, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) can form an angle that can stop at a designated folding angle between a folded state and an unfolded state through a hinge module (e.g., a hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4) (e.g., a free stop function). In some embodiments, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) can be continuously operated in an unfolding direction or a folding direction while being pressed based on a designated inflection angle through a hinge module (e.g., a hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4).

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may include at least one display (e.g., a flexible display (230), a sub-display (300)), an input device (215), an audio output device (227, 228), a sensor module (217a, 217b, 226), a camera module (216a, 216b, 225), a key input device (219), an indicator (not shown), or a connector port (229) disposed in the first housing (210) and/or the second housing (220). In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may omit at least one of the above-described components or may additionally include at least one other component.

According to various embodiments, the at least one display (e.g., flexible display (230), sub-display (300)) may include a flexible display (230) (e.g., first display) that is arranged to be supported by a third side (221) of a second housing (220) through a hinge module (e.g., hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4) from a first side (211) of the first housing (210), and a sub-display (300) (e.g., second display) that is arranged to be at least partially visible from the outside through a fourth side (222) in an internal space of the second housing (220). In some embodiments, the sub-display (300) may also be arranged to be visible from the outside through the second side (212) in an internal space of the first housing (210). According to one embodiment, the flexible display (230) may be primarily used in the unfolded state of the foldable electronic device (200), and the sub-display (300) may be primarily used in the folded state of the foldable electronic device (200). According to one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) may control the flexible display (230) and/or the sub-display (300) to be usable based on the folding angles of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) in the intermediate state.

According to various embodiments, the flexible display (230) may be placed in an accommodation space formed by a pair of housings (210, 220). For example, the flexible display (230) may be placed in a recess (201) formed by a pair of housings (210, 220), and may be placed so as to occupy substantially most of the front surface of the foldable electronic device (200) when unfolded. According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible display (230) may be deformed into a flat or curved surface. The flexible display (230) may include a first region (230a) facing the first housing (210), a second region (230b) facing the second housing (220), and a folding region (230c) connecting the first region (230a) and the second region (230b) and facing a hinge module (e.g., the hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4). According to one embodiment, the region division of the flexible display (230) is merely an exemplary physical division by a pair of housings (210, 220) and a hinge module (e.g., the hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4), and substantially, through a pair of housings (210, 220) and a hinge module (e.g., the hinge plate (320) of FIG. 4), the flexible display (230) can be displayed as a seamless, full screen. The first region (230a) and the second region (230b) may have an overall symmetrical shape with respect to the folding region (230c), or may have a partially asymmetrical shape.

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a first back cover (240) disposed on a second side (212) of the first housing (210) and a second back cover (250) disposed on a fourth side (222) of the second housing (220). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first back cover (240) may be formed integrally with the first side member (213). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the second back cover (250) may be formed integrally with the second side member (223). In one embodiment, at least one of the first back cover (240) and the second back cover (250) may be formed of a substantially transparent plate (e.g., a glass plate including various coating layers, or a polymer plate) or an opaque plate.

According to various embodiments, the first rear cover (240) may be formed by an opaque plate, such as, for example, coated or colored glass, ceramic, polymer, metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of the above materials. The second rear cover (250) may be formed by a substantially transparent plate, such as, for example, glass or polymer. In this case, the second display (300) may be arranged so as to be visible from the outside through the second rear cover (250) in the internal space of the second housing (220).

According to various embodiments, the input module (215) may include a microphone. In some embodiments, the input module (215) may include a plurality of microphones arranged to detect the direction of sound. The input module (215) may include the input module (150) disclosed in FIG. 1.

According to various embodiments, the audio output module (227, 228) may include speakers. According to one embodiment, the audio output module (227, 228) may include a call receiver (227) disposed through the fourth side (222) of the second housing (220) and an external speaker (228) disposed through at least a portion of the second side member (223) of the second housing (220). In some embodiments, the input module (215), the audio output module (227, 228), and the connector (229) may be disposed in spaces of the first housing (210) and/or the second housing (220) and may be exposed to the external environment through at least one hole formed in the first housing (210) and/or the second housing (220). In some embodiments, the holes formed in the first housing (210) and/or the second housing (220) may be used in common for the input module (215) and the audio output module (227, 228). In some embodiments, the audio output module (227, 228) may include a speaker (e.g., a piezo speaker) that operates without the holes formed in the first housing (210) and/or the second housing (220). The audio output module (227, 228) may include the audio output module (155) disclosed in FIG. 1.

According to various embodiments, the camera modules (216a, 216b, 225) may include a first camera module (216a) disposed on a first side (211) of the first housing (210), a second camera module (216b) disposed on a second side (212) of the first housing (210), and/or a third camera module (225) disposed on a fourth side (222) of the second housing (220). According to one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a flash (218) disposed near the second camera module (216b). The flash (218) may include, for example, a light emitting diode or a xenon lamp. According to one embodiment, the camera modules (216a, 216b, 225) may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, and/or an image signal processor. In some embodiments, at least one of the camera modules (216a, 216b, 225) includes two or more lenses (e.g., a wide-angle and a telephoto lens) and image sensors, and may be arranged together on either side of the first housing (210) and/or the second housing (220). The camera module (216a, 216b, 225) may include the camera module (180) disclosed in FIG. 1.

According to various embodiments, the sensor modules (217a, 217b, 226) may generate electrical signals or data values corresponding to an internal operating state or an external environmental state of the foldable electronic device (200). According to one embodiment, the sensor modules (217a, 217b, 226) may include a first sensor module (217a) disposed on a first surface (211) of the first housing (210), a second sensor module (217b) disposed on a second surface (212) of the first housing (210), and/or a third sensor module (226) disposed on a fourth surface (222) of the second housing (220). In some embodiments, the sensor module (217a, 217b, 226) may include at least one of a gesture sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a light sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an iris recognition sensor, or a distance detection sensor (e.g., a time of flight (TOF) sensor or a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor). The sensor module (217a, 217b, 226) may include the sensor module (176) disclosed in FIG. 1.

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may further include at least one of a sensor module not shown, for example, a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a hall sensor, a six-axis sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a fingerprint recognition sensor. In some embodiments, the fingerprint recognition sensor may be disposed through at least one of the first side member (213) of the first housing (210) and/or the second side member (223) of the second housing (220).

According to various embodiments, the key input device (219) may be positioned to be exposed externally through the first side member (213) of the first housing (210). In some embodiments, the key input device (219) may also be positioned to be exposed externally through the second side member (223) of the second housing (220). In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may not include some or all of the key input devices (219), and the key input devices (219) that are not included may be implemented in another form, such as a soft key, on at least one display (230, 300). In other embodiments, the key input device (219) may be implemented using a pressure sensor included in at least one display (230, 300). The key input device (219) may turn the power of the foldable electronic device (200) on or off, or adjust the volume.

According to various embodiments, the connector port (229) may include a connector (e.g., a USB connector or an IF module (interface connector port module)) for transmitting and receiving power and/or data with an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device (102, 104, 108) of FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the connector port (229) may perform a function for transmitting and receiving audio signals with the external electronic device, or may further include a separate connector port (e.g., an ear jack hole) for performing a function for transmitting and receiving audio signals. The connector port (229) may include a connection terminal (178) disclosed in FIG. 1.

According to various embodiments, at least one of the camera modules (216a, 216b, 225), at least one of the sensor modules (217a, 217b, 226), and/or an indicator may be arranged to be exposed through at least one display (230, 300). For example, at least one of the camera modules (216a, 225), at least one of the sensor modules (217a, 226), and/or the indicator may be arranged in an internal space of at least one housing (210, 220), below an active area (display area) of at least one display (230, 300), and may be arranged to be in contact with an external environment through an opening or transparent area perforated up to a cover member (e.g., a window layer (not shown) of the flexible display (230) and/or a second rear cover (250)). In one embodiment, an area where at least one display (230, 300) and at least one camera module (216a, 225) face each other may be formed as a transparent area having a certain transmittance as a part of an area displaying content. In one embodiment, the transparent area may be formed to have a transmittance in a range of about 5% to about 20%. The transparent area may include an area overlapping an effective area (e.g., a field of view area) of at least one camera module (216a, 225) through which light passes to be imaged by an image sensor to generate an image. For example, the transparent area of at least one display (230, 300) may include an area having a lower pixel density than the surrounding area. For example, the transparent area may replace an opening. For example, the at least one camera module (216a, 225) may include an under display camera (UDC) or an under panel camera (UPC). In other embodiments, some of the camera modules or sensor modules (217a, 226) may be arranged to perform their functions without being visually exposed through the display. For example, an area facing a camera module (216a, 225) and/or a sensor module (217a, 226) arranged under at least one display (230, 300) (e.g., a display panel) may be an under display camera (UDC) structure, whereby a perforated opening may not be necessary.

FIG. 4 is a drawing schematically illustrating an exploded perspective view of a foldable electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a flexible display (230) (e.g., a first display), a sub-display (300) (e.g., a second display), a hinge plate (320) (e.g., a hinge module, a hinge device, a hinge assembly), a pair of support members (e.g., a first support member (261), a second support member (262)), at least one substrate (270) (e.g., a printed circuit board), a first housing (210), a second housing (220), a first rear cover (240), and/or a second rear cover (250).

According to various embodiments, the flexible display (230) may include a display panel (430) (e.g., a flexible display panel), a support plate (450) disposed at a lower portion (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the display panel (430), and a pair of metal plates (461, 462) disposed at a lower portion (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the support plate (450).

According to various embodiments, the display panel (430) may include a first panel area (430a) corresponding to a first area (e.g., the first area (230a) of FIG. 2A) of the flexible display (230), a second panel area (430b) extending from the first panel area (430a) and corresponding to a second area (e.g., the second area (230b) of FIG. 2A) of the flexible display (230), and a third panel area (430c) connecting the first panel area (430a) and the second panel area (430b) and corresponding to a folding area (e.g., the folding area (230c) of FIG. 2A) of the flexible display (230).

According to various embodiments, the support plate (450) may be disposed between the display panel (430) and a pair of support members (261, 262). The support plate (450) may be formed to have a material and shape to provide a planar support structure for the first panel area (430a) and the second panel area (430b) and a bendable structure to aid in bendability for the third panel area (430c). According to one embodiment, the support plate (450) may be formed of a conductive material (e.g., a metal) or a non-conductive material (e.g., a polymer or fiber reinforced plastics (FRP)). According to one embodiment, the pair of metal plates (461, 462) may include a first metal plate (461) arranged to correspond to at least a portion of the first panel area (430a) and the third panel area (430c) and a second metal plate (462) arranged to correspond to at least a portion of the second panel area (430b) and the third panel area (430c) between the support plate (450) and the pair of support members (261, 262). According to one embodiment, the pair of metal plates (461, 462) may be formed of a metal material (e.g., SUS), thereby helping to reinforce a ground connection structure and rigidity for the flexible display (230).

According to various embodiments, the sub-display (300) may be positioned in a space between the second housing (220) and the second rear cover (250). According to one embodiment, the sub-display (300) may be positioned in a space between the second housing (220) and the second rear cover (250) so as to be visible from the outside through substantially the entire area of the second rear cover (250).

According to various embodiments, at least a portion of the first support member (261) may be foldably coupled to the second support member (262) via a hinge plate (320) (e.g., a hinge module). In one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) may include at least one conductive connection member (263) (e.g., a flexible printed circuit board) disposed from at least a portion of the first support member (261) across the hinge plate (320) to a portion of the second support member (262). In one embodiment, the first support member (261) may be disposed in a manner that extends from the first side member (213) or is structurally coupled with the first side member (213). According to one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a first space (e.g., the first space (2101) of FIG. 2A) provided through a first support member (261) and a first rear cover (240).

According to various embodiments, the first housing (210) (e.g., the first housing structure) may be configured by combining a first side member (213), a first support member (261), and a first rear cover (240). According to one embodiment, the second support member (262) may be arranged in a manner that extends from the second side member (223) or is structurally coupled with the second side member (223). According to one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a second space (e.g., the second space (2201) of FIG. 2A) provided through the second support member (262) and the second rear cover (250).

According to various embodiments, the second housing (220) (e.g., the second housing structure) may be configured by combining the second side member (223), the second support member (262), and the second rear cover (250). In one embodiment, at least one conductive connection member (263) and/or at least a portion of the hinge plate (320) may be arranged to be supported by at least a portion of the pair of support members (261, 262). In one embodiment, the at least one conductive connection member (263) may be arranged in a direction transverse to the first support member (261) and the second support member (262) (e.g., in the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction). In one embodiment, the at least one conductive connection member (263) may be arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to a folding axis (e.g., the y-axis or the folding axis (A) of FIG. 2A) (e.g., in the x-axis direction).

According to various embodiments, at least one substrate (270) may include a first substrate (271) (e.g., a first printed circuit board) disposed in a first space (2101) and a second substrate (272) (a second printed circuit board) disposed in a second space (2201). According to one embodiment, the first substrate (271) and the second substrate (272) may include at least one electronic component disposed to implement various functions of the foldable electronic device (200). According to one embodiment, the first substrate (271) (e.g., the first printed circuit board) and the second substrate (272) (e.g., the second printed circuit board) may be electrically connected via at least one conductive connecting member (263). In one embodiment, a camera module (282) may be disposed on the first substrate (271).

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may include at least one battery (291, 292). According to one embodiment, the at least one battery (291, 292) may include a first battery (291) disposed in a first space (2101) of the first housing (210) and electrically connected to a first substrate (271), and a second battery (292) disposed in a second space (2201) of the second housing (220) and electrically connected to a second substrate (272). According to one embodiment, the first support member (261) and the second support member (262) may further include at least one swelling hole for the first battery (291) and the second battery (292).

According to various embodiments, the first housing (210) may include a first rotational support surface (214). The second housing (220) may include a second rotational support surface (224). According to one embodiment, the first rotational support surface (214) and the second rotational support surface (224) may include curved surfaces corresponding to the curved outer surface of the hinge cover (310). According to one embodiment, the first rotational support surface (214) and the second rotational support surface (224) may cover the hinge cover (310) when the foldable electronic device (200) is in an unfolded state, thereby allowing the hinge cover (310) not to be exposed to the rear surface of the foldable electronic device (200) or only partially exposed. According to one embodiment, the first rotational support surface (214) and the second rotational support surface (224) can rotate along the outer surface of the hinge cover (310) when the foldable electronic device (200) is in a folded state, thereby causing the hinge cover (310) to be at least partially exposed to the rear surface of the foldable electronic device (200).

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may include at least one antenna (276) (e.g., an antenna module) disposed in the first space (2201). According to one embodiment, the at least one antenna (276) may be disposed between the first battery (291) and the first rear cover (240) in the first space (2201). According to one embodiment, the at least one antenna (276) may include, for example, a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, an ultra wide band (UWB) antenna, and/or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. According to one embodiment, the at least one antenna (276) may perform, for example, short-range communication with an external device or wirelessly transmit and receive power required for charging. According to various embodiments, the at least one antenna (276) (e.g., antenna module) is not limited to the examples described above, and may include other various antennas (e.g., mmWave antennas) as long as they can perform wireless communication with other electronic devices (e.g., electronic devices 102 and/or 104 of FIG. 1 ). For example, the antenna structure may be formed by at least a portion of the first side member (213) or the second side member (223) and/or a portion of the first support member (261) and the second support member (262), or a combination thereof.

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) may further include at least one electronic component assembly (274, 275) and/or additional support members (273, 277) disposed in the first space (2101) and/or the second space (2201). For example, the at least one electronic component assembly (274, 275) may include an interface connector port assembly (274) or a speaker assembly (275). For example, the additional support member (273) may include a speaker assembly (273).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of a configuration of a foldable electronic device when unfolded according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion A-A' of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view schematically showing at least one slit for a portion of a B region of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an extended portion of a first printed circuit board for a portion of a B region of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, FIG. 5 may be a schematic drawing of a portion of a first housing (210) and a second housing (220) when the foldable electronic device (200) disclosed in FIG. 2b according to one embodiment of the present invention is in an unfolded state, with the first rear cover (240) and the second rear cover (250) omitted, as viewed from the rear (e.g., in the -z-axis direction).

According to various embodiments, the foldable electronic device (200) disclosed below may include embodiments of the electronic device (101) disclosed in FIG. 1 and the foldable electronic device (200) disclosed in FIGS. 2A to 4. In the description of the foldable electronic device (200) disclosed below, components that are substantially the same as those in the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 4 are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions of their functions may be omitted.

According to one embodiment, the embodiments disclosed below are described by way of example with a foldable electronic device (200), but are not limited thereto, and can be substantially equally applied to electronic devices such as a bar type, a rollable type, a sliding type, a tablet PC, and/or a notebook PC.

According to one embodiment, the embodiment related to the foldable electronic device (200) disclosed in FIG. 5 describes a structure in which the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) unfold and fold in a horizontal direction (e.g., in the x-axis direction and in the -x-axis direction), but is not limited thereto, and can be substantially equally applied to a foldable electronic device having a structure in which the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) unfold and fold in a vertical direction (e.g., in the y-axis direction and in the -y-axis direction).

Referring to FIG. 5, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a first housing (210), a hinge module (320), and a second housing (220).

According to one embodiment, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) can operate in an unfolded state or a folded state, as disclosed in FIGS. 2A to 3B, with respect to the hinge module (320) (e.g., the hinge plate of FIG. 4). The hinge module (320) can rotatably couple the first housing (210) and the second housing (220).

According to one embodiment, the first housing (210) may be at least partially coupled with a first side (e.g., in the x-axis direction) of the hinge module (320). The second housing (220) may be at least partially coupled with a second side (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of the hinge module (320). The first housing (210) may be configured to be unfoldable and foldable with the second housing (220) using the hinge module (320). The second housing (220) may be configured to be unfoldable and foldable with the first housing (210) using the hinge module (320).

In one embodiment, the first housing (210) may include a first support member (261) and a first printed circuit board (271). At least a portion of the first support member (261) may be foldably and unfoldably coupled to the second support member (262) via a hinge module (320). The first support member (261) may be arranged to extend from the first side member (213) or be structurally coupled with the first side member (213).

In one embodiment, the first support member (261) may include a first through hole (510). The first through hole (510) may be formed at a designated location in the first support member (261) to allow a portion of the conductive connecting member (263) to pass through.

According to one embodiment, the first printed circuit board (271) may be disposed on the rear surface (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first support member (261). The first printed circuit board (271) may be supported by the first support member (261). The first printed circuit board (271) may be disposed in a first space (e.g., the first space (2101) of FIG. 2A) provided through the first support member (261) and the first rear cover (240).

In one embodiment, the second housing (220) may include a second support member (262) and a second printed circuit board (272). At least a portion of the second support member (262) may be foldably and unfoldably coupled to the first support member (261) via a hinge module (320). The second support member (262) may be arranged to extend from the second side member (223) or be structurally coupled with the second side member (223).

In one embodiment, the second support member (262) may include a second through hole (520). The second through hole (520) may be formed at a designated location in the second support member (262) to allow a portion of the conductive connecting member (263) to pass through.

According to one embodiment, the second printed circuit board (272) can be disposed on the rear surface (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the second support member (262). The second printed circuit board (272) can be supported by the second support member (262). The second printed circuit board (272) can be disposed in a second space (e.g., the second space (2201) of FIG. 2A) provided through the second support member (262) and the second rear cover (250).

According to various embodiments, the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272) may include at least one electronic component (e.g., the electronic component (560) of FIG. 6) arranged to implement various functions of the foldable electronic device (200). For example, the at least one electronic component (e.g., the electronic component (560) of FIG. 6) may include at least one of the processor (120), the memory (130), the communication module (190), the sensor module (176), and the antenna module (197) disclosed in FIG. 1.

In one embodiment, the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272) can be electrically connected via a conductive connection member (263) (e.g., an FPCB). For example, the conductive connection member (263) can electrically connect the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272) via the first through hole (510) and the second through hole (520). For example, the conductive connection member (263) can electrically connect the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272) across the first through hole (510), at least a portion of the hinge module (320), and the second through hole (520). For example, the conductive connecting member (263) can electrically connect the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272) through connectors (550) respectively arranged on the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272).

According to one embodiment, the conductive connecting member (263) can be arranged in a direction transverse to the first support member (261) and the second support member (262) (e.g., in the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction). For example, the conductive connecting member (263) can be arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the folding axis (e.g., the y-axis or the folding axis (A) of FIG. 2A) (e.g., in the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction).

According to one embodiment, a first sealing member (530) may be disposed in a first through hole (510) through which a conductive connecting member (263) passes. The first sealing member (530) may seal a portion of the conductive connecting member (263) passing through the first through hole (510). For example, the first sealing member (530) may seal the first through hole (510) and a portion of the conductive connecting member (263) disposed in the first through hole (510). The first sealing member (530) may perform waterproofing and dustproofing functions. For example, the first sealing member (530) may block moisture and dust from entering from the outside to the inside of the first housing (210) (e.g., the first support member (261)) of the foldable electronic device (200).

According to one embodiment, a second sealing member (not shown) may be disposed in the second through hole (520) through which the conductive connecting member (263) passes. The second sealing member may seal a portion of the conductive connecting member (263) passing through the second through hole (520). For example, the second sealing member may seal the second through hole (520) and a portion of the conductive connecting member (263) disposed in the second through hole (520). The second sealing member may perform waterproofing and dustproofing functions. For example, the second sealing member may block moisture and dust from entering from the outside to the inside of the second housing (220) (e.g., the second support member (262)) of the foldable electronic device (200).

Referring to FIG. 6, the first printed circuit board (271) may include a connector (550). The connector (550) may be disposed on a first surface (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271). For example, the connector (550) may be disposed on the first surface of the first printed circuit board (271) using a header (555) (e.g., a socket, a connector header). For example, the first printed circuit board (271) and the connector (550) may be electrically connected using the header (555). The connector (550) may be electrically connected to a portion of the conductive connecting member (263).

According to one embodiment, the first printed circuit board (271) (or the second printed circuit board (272)) may include at least one electronic component (560). For example, the at least one electronic component (560) may be disposed on a second side (e.g., in the z-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271) (or the second printed circuit board (272)).

According to one embodiment, a shielding member (570) may be arranged on a second surface of the first printed circuit board (271) (or the second printed circuit board (272)). The shielding member (570) may be arranged between the first printed circuit board (271) (or the second printed circuit board (272)) and the first support member (261) (or the second support member (262)). The shielding member (570) may shield electrical noise generated from at least one electronic component (560). For example, the shielding member (570) may be formed of a conductive material. For example, the shielding member (570) may include a shield can.

According to one embodiment, the first support member (261) may include a first portion (261a) and a second portion (261b). The first portion (261a) and the second portion (261b) may be integrally connected. For example, the first portion (261a) may be arranged vertically (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) with respect to the first printed circuit board (271). For example, the second portion (261b) may be arranged horizontally (e.g., in the x-axis direction) with respect to the first printed circuit board (271). For example, the angle formed by the first portion (261a) and the second portion (261b) may be about 90°. For example, the angle between the first portion (261a) and the second portion (261b) may be substantially 90°.

According to one embodiment, the first support member (261) can include a recess (505) (e.g., a groove). The recess (505) can be formed in the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261). For example, the recess (505) can include a gap or groove formed by cutting a portion of the first portion (261a). For example, a width of the recess (505) in a transverse direction (e.g., in the x-axis direction or the -x-axis direction) can include about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. At least one recess (505) can be formed in the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261). The recess (505) can be replaced with a slit (e.g., the first slit (710) or the second slit (720) of FIG. 7). For example, a first slit (e.g., the first slit (710) of FIG. 7) and/or a second slit (e.g., the second slit (710) of FIG. 7) may be formed in a first portion (261a) of the first support member (261). A portion (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be disposed at a position corresponding to the recess (505). A portion (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be disposed in the recess (505). For example, since a portion (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be disposed within the recess (505), an area of the first printed circuit board (271) may be expanded. For example, the first printed circuit board (271) may include an extension region (271a) extending in a direction corresponding to the recess (505) (e.g., in the -x-axis direction). For example, the extension region (271a) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be disposed within the recess (505). For example, the recess (505) may be formed wider than the height of the extension region (271a) of the first printed circuit board (271). For example, the recess (505) may accommodate the extension region (271a) of the first printed circuit board (271). For example, the extension region (271a) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be disposed adjacent to the recess (505). For example, since the expansion area (271a) of the first printed circuit board (271) can be positioned at a position corresponding to the recess (505) formed in the first part (261a) of the first support member (261), the expansion area (271a) of the first printed circuit board (271) can be expanded to about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

According to one embodiment, the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may partially include a step. The first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may partially include a step shape. The first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may partially have different thicknesses. For example, a first width (W1) of an upper portion (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first portion (261a) may be different from a second width (W2) of a lower portion (e.g., in the z-axis direction). For example, the first width (W1) of an upper portion (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first portion (261a) may include about 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. For example, the second width (W2) of the lower portion (e.g., in the z-axis direction) of the first portion (261a) may include about 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm. For example, the height (h) of the upper portion (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first portion (261a) may include about 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. For example, the upper portion (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first portion (261a) may include the upper portion of the recess (505) to the upper portion (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first portion (261a).

According to one embodiment, the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may be positioned adjacent to the first through hole (510). The first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may be positioned adjacent to the first sealing member (530). For example, the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may be positioned closer to the first through hole (261) or the first sealing member (530) than the second portion (261b).

Referring to FIG. 7, the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may include at least one slit. For example, the first portion (261a) may include a first slit (710) and/or a second slit (720). The first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720) may be formed in the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261). The first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720) may be formed in a recess (505) formed in the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261). The first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720) may be formed instead of the recess (505) (e.g., a groove) disclosed in FIG. 6. The first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720) may replace the recess (505) (e.g., a groove) disclosed in FIG. 6. A portion (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) (e.g., an extended area (271a)) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be positioned at a position corresponding to the first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720). A portion (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) (e.g., an extended area (271a)) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be positioned at the first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720). A portion (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) (e.g., an extended area (271a)) of the first printed circuit board (271) can be placed within the first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720), so that the area of the first printed circuit board (271) can be expanded.

According to one embodiment, the extended region (271a) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be positioned at a position corresponding to the first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720) of the first portion (261a). For example, the first slit (710) may be formed in the y-axis direction of the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261). For example, the second slit (720) may be formed in the -y-axis direction of the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261). For example, the y-axis direction width (W11) of the first slit (710) may include about 7.5 mm to 7.8 mm. For example, the width (W12) of the second slit (720) in the -y-axis direction may include about 7.5 mm to 7.8 mm. For example, the widths of the first slit (710) and the second slit (720) may be substantially the same or different. The first slit (710) and the second slit (720) may be spaced apart from each other. For example, a part of the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may be disposed between the first slit (710) and the second slit (720). For example, the width (W3) of the part of the first portion (261a) disposed between the first slit (710) and the second slit (720) may include about 1.3 mm to 1.5 mm.

Referring to FIG. 8, a portion (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271) may include at least a portion of an extended portion. For example, the first printed circuit board (271) may include a first extended portion (810) and/or a second extended portion (820). For example, the first extended portion (810) and/or the second extended portion (820) may be formed in the -x-axis direction of the first printed circuit board (271). The first extended portion (810) and/or the second extended portion (820) may be formed at a position corresponding to the first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720) disclosed in FIG. 7. The first extended portion (810) and/or the second extended portion (820) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be positioned in the first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720). For example, the first extended portion (810) and/or the second extended portion (820) of the first printed circuit board (271) may be positioned within the first slit (710) and/or the second slit (720) formed in the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261).

FIG. 9A is a drawing schematically illustrating a part of a configuration of a first housing of the foldable electronic device disclosed in FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9B is a drawing schematically illustrating a part of a configuration of a portion C of the first housing disclosed in FIG. 9A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9C is a drawing schematically illustrating a part of a configuration of a portion D of the first housing disclosed in FIG. 9A according to an embodiment of the present invention with a first antenna module removed. FIG. 9D is an enlarged view schematically illustrating a part of a configuration of a portion D of the first housing disclosed in FIG. 9A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9E is a drawing schematically illustrating an elastic member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B , the first housing (210) of the foldable electronic device (200) may include a first antenna module (911), a second antenna module (912), and/or a third antenna module (913) disposed on the rear surface (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271) and/or the first support member (261). For example, the first antenna module (911) may include an ultra wide band (UWB) antenna. For example, the second antenna module (912) may include at least one of a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna, and a wireless charging antenna. For example, the third antenna module (913) may include a mmWave antenna.

According to one embodiment, the first antenna module (911) (e.g., UWB antenna) may be disposed on one side (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of the camera module (180). For example, the camera module (180) may be disposed in the x-axis direction on the upper side (e.g., in the y-axis direction) of the first housing (210). The second antenna module (912) (e.g., NFC antenna) may be disposed on the lower side (e.g., in the -y-axis direction) of the camera module (180) and the first antenna module (911). The third antenna module (913) (e.g., mmWave antenna) may be disposed on one side (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) of the second antenna module (912) and the lower side (e.g., in the -y-axis direction) of the first antenna module (911). For example, the first antenna module (911), the second antenna module (912), and the third antenna module (913) may be positioned between the first support member (261) and the first rear cover (e.g., the first rear cover (240) of FIG. 4).

Referring to FIGS. 9c and 9d , the first printed circuit board (271) may include a first connector (910) (e.g., a UWB antenna connector), a second connector (920) (e.g., an NFC antenna connector), a third connector (930) (e.g., a mmWave antenna connector), and/or a fourth connector (940) (e.g., a digitizer connector).

In one embodiment, the first connector (910) (e.g., a UWB antenna connector) may be electrically connected to the first antenna module (911) (e.g., a UWB antenna). The second connector (920) (e.g., an NFC antenna connector) may be electrically connected to the second antenna module (912) (e.g., an NFC antenna). The third connector (930) (e.g., a mmWave antenna connector) may be electrically connected to the third antenna module (913) (e.g., a mmWave antenna). The fourth connector (940) (e.g., a digitizer connector) may be electrically connected to a digitizer (not shown) of a display module (e.g., the display module (160) of FIG. 1).

According to one embodiment, a first connector (910) (e.g., a UWB antenna connector) may be electrically connected to a processor (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1 ) and/or a wireless communication module (e.g., the wireless communication module (192) of FIG. 1 ) disposed on a first printed circuit board (271) via a signal path (905). The signal path (905) may include at least one microstrip line. The signal path (905) may include at least one radio frequency (RF) wiring. The signal path (905) may be disposed on a first side (e.g., in the -z-axis direction) of the first printed circuit board (271).

According to one embodiment, the first connector (910) may be electrically connected to a first antenna module (911) (e.g., a UWB antenna) via a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) (915). The flexible printed circuit board (915) (e.g., the FPCB) may include an FPCB lead-out portion that electrically connects the first connector (910) and the first antenna module (911) (e.g., a UWB antenna). For example, the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) (915) may include a structure extending in a direction parallel to a folding axis (A) of the foldable electronic device (200) (e.g., the folding axis (A) of FIG. 2A) (e.g., the y-axis direction or the -y-axis direction). For example, the first antenna module (911) (e.g., a UWB antenna) and/or the flexible circuit board (915) may be positioned to overlap the first connector (910) and/or the signal path (905) on top (e.g., in the -z-axis direction).

According to one embodiment, a first elastic member (901) (e.g., a first rubber) and a second elastic member (902) (e.g., a second rubber) may be arranged around the first connector (910). The first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) may be formed of an elastic body (e.g., a rubber material). For example, the first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) may be mounted on the first printed circuit board (271) using a surface mounted device (SMD).

According to one embodiment, the first elastic member (901) may be disposed in a first direction (e.g., in the y-axis direction) of the first connector (910). The first elastic member (901) may be disposed so as not to overlap with the signal path (910). For example, the first elastic member (901) may be disposed at a first position in one direction (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) so as not to overlap with the signal path (910). For example, the first elastic member (901) may be disposed offset in one direction (e.g., in the -x-axis direction) so as not to overlap with the signal path (910). For example, at least a portion of the first elastic member (901) may be disposed between the first connector (910) and the fourth connector (940). According to one embodiment, the second elastic member (902) may be disposed at a second position in the second direction (e.g., in the -y-axis direction) of the first connector (910). The signal path (910) may not be disposed in the second direction (e.g., in the -y-axis direction) of the first connector (910). For example, the first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) may be disposed not to be aligned when viewed with respect to the y-axis direction. For example, the second elastic member (902) may be disposed between the first connector (910) and the second connector (920).

According to one embodiment, the first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) are arranged in the first direction (e.g., upper, in the y-axis direction) and the second direction (e.g., lower, in the -y-axis direction) of the first connector (910), so that even if an impact (e.g., dropping) occurs to the foldable electronic device (200), the first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) can prevent the first connector (910) from moving up and down. For example, when an impact (e.g., dropping) occurs to the foldable electronic device (200), the first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) can absorb the impact caused by the up and down movement of the first connector (910) and prevent the first connector (910) from being detached from the first printed circuit board (271).

According to various embodiments, the first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) have been described as being arranged in the first direction (e.g., upper, in the y-axis direction) and the second direction (e.g., lower, in the -y-axis direction) of the first connector (910), but are not limited thereto, and may be arranged at other locations around the first connector (910) as long as the up-and-down movement of the first connector (910) can be prevented. For example, additional elastic members may be arranged in the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction of the first connector (910) and the left-right movement of the first connector (910) may be prevented. For example, the first elastic member (901) and the second elastic member (902) may be formed integrally and arranged on the upper side, lower side, left side, and right side of the first connector (910). According to various embodiments, as long as it can prevent the up-and-down movement of the first connector (910), the elastic member may be placed on at least one of the upper side, lower side, left side, and right side of the first connector (910).

Referring to FIG. 9E, according to one embodiment, the first elastic member (901) or the second elastic member (902) may be configured in a hexahedral shape. For example, the height (h) of the first side (951) (e.g., the front side) of the first elastic member (901) or the second elastic member (902) may be formed to be about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. For example, the width (W) of the first side (951) (e.g., the front side) of the first elastic member (901) or the second elastic member (902) may be formed to be about 2.3 mm to 2.5 mm. For example, the height and width of each side of the first elastic member (901) or the second elastic member (902) may be formed to be substantially the same as the height (h) and the width (W) of the first side (951) (e.g., the front side). According to various embodiments, the first elastic member (901) or the second elastic member (902) may be configured in various other shapes, not limited to the above-described hexahedral shape, as long as it can prevent the flow of the first connector (910).

A foldable electronic device (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a hinge module (320); a first housing (210) coupled with at least a first side of the hinge module (320) and including a first support member (261) and a first printed circuit board (271); a first through hole (510) formed in the first support member (261); a second housing (220) coupled with at least a second side of the hinge module (320) and including a second support member (262) and a second printed circuit board (272); a second through hole (520) formed in the second support member (262); And it may include a conductive connecting member (263) electrically connecting the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272) through the first through hole (510) and the second through hole (520). According to one embodiment, the first support member (261) may include a recess (505), and a portion of the first printed circuit board (271) may be configured to be placed in the recess (505).

According to one embodiment, the first support member (261) may include a first portion (261a) and a second portion (261b), and the first portion (261a) may be configured to be arranged vertically with respect to the first printed circuit board (271), and the second portion (261b) may be configured to be arranged horizontally with respect to the first printed circuit board (271).

According to one embodiment, the recess (505) may be formed in the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261).

According to one embodiment, the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) may be positioned closer to the first through hole (510) than the second portion (261b).

According to one embodiment, a first sealing member (530) may be placed in the first through hole (510) through which the conductive connecting member (263) passes.

According to one embodiment, a second sealing member may be placed in the second through hole (520) through which the conductive connecting member (263) passes.

According to one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a shielding member (570) disposed between the first printed circuit board (271) and the first support member (261).

According to one embodiment, the first printed circuit board (271) includes a connector (550), and the connector (550) can be electrically connected to the first printed circuit board (271) using a header (555).

According to one embodiment, the first part (261a) and the second part (261b) are formed integrally, and the angle between the first part (261a) and the second part (261b) can be substantially 90°.

According to one embodiment, the first printed circuit board (271) may include an extended area (271a) extending in a direction corresponding to the recess (505).

According to one embodiment, the recess (505) may include at least one slit (710, 720).

According to one embodiment, the at least one slit (710, 720) may be formed in the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261).

In one embodiment, the recess (505) may be replaced with at least one slit (710, 720).

According to one embodiment, the first printed circuit board (271) may include at least one extended portion (810, 820) formed at a position corresponding to the at least one slit (710, 720).

According to one embodiment, the at least one extended portion (810, 820) can be positioned within the at least one slit (710, 720).

According to one embodiment, the first printed circuit board (271) may include at least one of a first connector (910), a second connector (920), a third connector (930), and a fourth connector (940).

According to one embodiment, the first connector (910) may be electrically connected to a processor (120) and/or a wireless communication module (192) disposed on the first printed circuit board (271) via a signal path (905).

According to one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) further includes a first antenna module (911) disposed on the first printed circuit board (271), and the first connector (910) can be electrically connected to the first antenna module (911) through a flexible circuit board (915).

According to one embodiment, the foldable electronic device (200) may include a first elastic member (901) arranged in a first direction of the first connector (910) and a second elastic member (902) arranged in a second direction of the first connector (910).

In one embodiment, the first elastic member (901) may be positioned so as not to overlap the signal path (905).

Although the present invention has been described above according to various embodiments of the present invention, it is obvious that changes and modifications made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains within a scope that does not depart from the technical spirit of the present invention also belong to the present invention.

200: Foldable electronic device 210: First housing
261: First support member 261a: First section
261b: Part 2 262: Part 2 support absence
263: conductive connecting member 271: first printed circuit board
272: Second printed circuit board 320: Hinge module
510: First through hole 520: Second through hole
530: 1st sealing member 550: Connector
560: Electronic components 870: Shielding members
710: 1st slit 720: 2nd slit
810: First expansion part 820: Second expansion part

Claims (20)

In a foldable electronic device (200),
Hinge module (320);
A first housing (210) coupled at least in part to a first side of the hinge module (320) and including a first support member (261) and a first printed circuit board (271);
A first through hole (510) formed in the first support member (261);
A second housing (220) coupled at least in part to the second side of the hinge module (320) and including a second support member (262) and a second printed circuit board (272);
A second through hole (520) formed in the second support member (262); and a conductive connection member (263) electrically connecting the first printed circuit board (271) and the second printed circuit board (272) through the first through hole (510) and the second through hole (520).
A foldable electronic device, wherein the first support member (261) includes a recess (505), and a portion of the first printed circuit board (271) is configured to be placed in the recess (505). In paragraph 1,
The above first support member (261) includes a first part (261a) and a second part (261b),
A foldable electronic device in which the first portion (261a) is arranged vertically with respect to the first printed circuit board (271), and the second portion (261b) is arranged horizontally with respect to the first printed circuit board (271). In paragraph 1 or 2,
The above recess (505) is a foldable electronic device formed in the first part (261a) of the first support member (261). In the second or third paragraph,
A foldable electronic device, wherein the first portion (261a) of the first support member (261) is configured to be positioned closer to the first through hole (510) than the second portion (261b). In any one of paragraphs 1 to 4,
A foldable electronic device in which a first sealing member (530) is arranged in the first through hole (510) through which the above-mentioned conductive connecting member (263) passes. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A foldable electronic device in which a second sealing member is arranged in the second through hole (520) through which the above-mentioned conductive connecting member (263) passes. In any one of claims 1 to 6,
A foldable electronic device including a shielding member (570) disposed between the first printed circuit board (271) and the first support member (261). In any one of claims 1 to 7,
The above first printed circuit board (271) includes a connector (550),
A foldable electronic device in which the connector (550) is electrically connected to the first printed circuit board (271) using a header (555). In any one of paragraphs 2 to 4,
The above first part (261a) and the above second part (261b) are formed integrally,
A foldable electronic device wherein the angle between the first portion (261a) and the second portion (261b) is substantially 90°. In any one of claims 1 to 9,
A foldable electronic device, wherein the first printed circuit board (271) includes an extension area (271a) extending in a direction corresponding to the recess (505). In paragraph 1,
A foldable electronic device wherein the above recess (505) includes at least one slit (710, 720). In Article 11,
A foldable electronic device, wherein at least one slit (710, 720) is formed in the first part (261a) of the first support member (261). In paragraph 1,
A foldable electronic device wherein the above recess (505) is replaced with at least one slit (710, 720). In claims 11 to 13,
A foldable electronic device, wherein the first printed circuit board (271) includes at least one extended portion (810, 820) formed at a position corresponding to the at least one slit (710, 720). In Article 14,
A foldable electronic device, wherein at least one of the above-described extension portions (810, 820) is positioned within the at least one slit (710, 720). In any one of claims 1 to 15,
A foldable electronic device, wherein the first printed circuit board (271) includes at least one of a first connector (910), a second connector (920), a third connector (930), and a fourth connector (940). In Article 16,
A foldable electronic device in which the first connector (910) is electrically connected to a processor (120) and/or a wireless communication module (192) disposed on the first printed circuit board (271) via a signal path (905). In clause 16 or 17,
Further comprising a first antenna module (911) arranged on the first printed circuit board (271),
A foldable electronic device in which the first connector (910) is electrically connected to the first antenna module (911) through a flexible circuit board (915). In any one of claims 16 to 19,
A first elastic member (901) arranged in the first direction of the first connector (910); and
A foldable electronic device including a second elastic member (902) arranged in a second direction of the first connector (910). In Article 19,
A foldable electronic device in which the first elastic member (901) is positioned so as not to overlap the signal path (905).

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