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EP-3837832-B1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING SPEAKER MODULE

EP3837832B1EP 3837832 B1EP3837832 B1EP 3837832B1EP-3837832-B1

Inventors

  • CHO, JOONRAE
  • LEE, SUNYOUNG
  • KIM, KIWON
  • SIM, MYOUNGSUNG
  • KIM, JUNGHYEON
  • SONG, Hakhoon
  • OLEG, Feygenson
  • HWANG, Hochul

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20191022

Claims (9)

  1. An electronic device (100), comprising: a side bezel structure (118) at least partially circumferentially surrounding a space defined between a front surface (110A) and a rear surface (110B) of the electronic device; a first supporting member (411) disposed in the space surrounded by the side bezel structure and integrally formed with the side bezel structure, wherein the first supporting member and a portion of an inner side surface of the side bezel structure define a receiving hole (411a);an adhesive member (413a) disposed around the receiving hole; a display (101) disposed on one surface of the first supporting member to output a screen towards a frontal direction of the electronic device; and a speaker module (402), at least partially disposed in the receiving hole and including a flange (423a) extending from an outer side surface of the speaker module, wherein a portion of the speaker module is disposed between the first supporting member and the display and another portion of the speaker module is disposed between the side bezel structure and the display, and wherein the adhesive member is configured to attach the flange to the first supporting member or the side bezel structure around the receiving hole, forming a waterproof structure (413a) between the speaker module and the first supporting member.
  2. The electronic device (100) of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the electronic device defines a speaker hole (114) disposed at a side area of the display, wherein the speaker module is configured to emit a sound to an exterior of the electronic device through the speaker hole.
  3. The electronic device (100) of claim 2, further comprising a duct member (431) connecting the speaker hole with the speaker module, wherein the duct member defines a hollow through which sound emitted from the speaker module travels to the speaker hole and to the exterior of the electronic device.
  4. The electronic device (100) of claim 3, wherein the duct member is integrally formed with the speaker module.
  5. The electronic device (100) of claim 1, wherein the speaker module further defines a screw hole (923b) formed through the flange.
  6. The electronic device (100) of claim 1, wherein the speaker module further includes at least one contact pad (941a) disposed to face the rear surface (110B) of the electronic device at an area in which the flange is formed.
  7. The electronic device (100) of claim 1, further comprising a stepped portion (2319A) formed in at least a portion of a periphery of the receiving hole on an opposite surface of the first supporting member, wherein a rear surface of the speaker module is supported by the stepped portion so that at least a portion of the speaker module is disposed between the stepped portion and the display.
  8. The electronic device (100) of claim 7, wherein a portion of an inner wall of the receiving hole includes a portion of an inner side surface of the side bezel structure, and wherein the stepped portion is formed on the inner side surface of the side bezel structure.
  9. The electronic device (100) of claim 1, further comprising: a rear plate (111) coupled with the side bezel structure and facing an opposite surface of the first supporting member; and a waterproofing member (413b) coupling an edge of the rear plate to the side bezel structure.

Description

Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic devices equipped with a speaker module. Developing electronic information communication technology integrates various functionalities into a single electronic device. For example, smartphones include the functionalities of a sound player, imaging device, and scheduler, as well as communication functionality and, on top of that, may implement more various functions by having additional applications installed thereon. An electronic device may not only have equipped applications or stored files available for access, wiredly or wirelessly, a server or another electronic device to receive, in real-time, various pieces of information. As these devices are more commonly in daily carrying and general use, demand has grown for more compactness, communication performance, data processing rate, and multimedia quality. For example, an electronic device are continually improving in terms faster communication and processing speeds, a more compact designs, and better stability in transmission/reception efficiency, better sound reception and reproduction (e.g., a microphone or speaker module), and high fidelity displays and speakers which may produce high quality multimedia playback, and ever improving optical module (e.g., a camera) for capturing images. As the sound module, e.g., a microphone or speaker module, is mounted closer to the egress holes through which sound is actually input/output, or, as the ducting through which the sound travels becomes simpler, higher-quality sound may be both input and output. In contrast, a prolonged or complicated sound travel path is more likely to attenuate sound pressure. A high-range sound which is more straightforward than sounds of other ranges may experience more attenuation as the distance between the sound module and the sound input/output hole increases or the sound travel path is complicated. For example, a high-range sound may be delivered in better quality to the user as the distance to the speaker hole, which is exposed to the outside of the electronic device, reduces and the surface (e.g., a diaphragm) of the sound module, where sounds are input/output, is aligned with the position where it faces the sound input/output holes. The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure. US 2017/134545 A1 discloses a speaker module disposed on the rear of a front case in mobile terminal with curved sound passage for front/upper output, coupled via receiver hole insertion with pads, members and brackets for adhesion to display and housing. US 2018/338021 A1 discloses a speaker module in a modular device with housing, EMI shielding, and circuit board components, arranged in a chassis frame opening and vertically coupled with screws, grounded via contact lips to a display back plate. US 2015/358706 A1 discloses a speaker module for a display with a bracket and sealing cushions for closed sound paths, mounted on a frame behind a front board via protrusion insertion, screws and cover with peripheral cushions for stability. The invention is set out in the appended set of claims. According to certain embodiments, an electronic device is provided with enhanced sound quality in a structure for mounting a sound module, e.g., a speaker module. According to certain embodiments, an electronic device is provided with a stable coupling structure between other components (e.g., a side bezel structure and a rear plate) while facilitating assembly of a sound module. According to certain embodiments, an electronic device is provided with enhanced waterproof and dustproof capability by a stable coupling structure between other components (e.g., a side bezel structure and a rear plate). In accordance with certain embodiments, an electronic device includes a side bezel structure at least partially circumferentially surrounding a space defined between a front surface and a rear surface of the electronic device, a first supporting member disposed in the space, a display disposed on one surface of the first supporting member as to output a screen towards a frontal direction of the electronic device; and a speaker module, wherein at least a portion of the speaker module is disposed between the first supporting member and the display or between the side bezel structure and the display. In accordance with certain embodiments, an electronic device includes a side bezel structure at least partially circumferentially surrounding a space defined between a front surface and a rear surface of the electronic device, a first supporting member disposed in the space, a display disposed on one surface of the first supporting member to output a screen towards a frontal direction of the electronic device,