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EP-4211536-B1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING FLEXIBLE DISPLAY

EP4211536B1EP 4211536 B1EP4211536 B1EP 4211536B1EP-4211536-B1

Inventors

  • YOON, Yeonggyu
  • KANG, YOUNGMIN
  • SHIN, MOONCHUL
  • LEE, SEUNGJOON
  • CHO, JOONGYEON
  • Yoon, Byounguk

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20210315

Claims (13)

  1. An electronic device comprising: a housing (210); a plate (220) capable of being slid out from the housing (210); a flexible display (230) comprising a first area (①) disposed on a first surface (2201) of the plate (220), and a second area (②) extending from the first area (①) and at least partially drawn out from an inner space of the housing (210) when the plate (220) is slid out; a curved member (461) positioned in the inner space of the housing (210) to correspond to the second area (②) of the flexible display (230); a first linear gear (610) disposed on a second surface (2202) of the plate (220) opposite to the first surface (2201), and comprising a plurality of gear teeth arranged in a first direction in which the plate is slid out; a second linear gear (620) comprising a plurality of gear teeth arranged in the first direction; a multi-bar structure (450) extending between the second area (②) of the flexible display (220) and the curved member (461) and being in contact with the curved member (461), the multi-bar structure (450) being coupled to overlap the second area (②) and connected to the plate (220) and the second linear gear (620); and a circular gear (510) capable of being rotated about a rotation shaft (C2) perpendicular to the first direction, and disposed between the first linear gear (610) and the second linear gear (620) to be spaced apart from the curved member (461) in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the circular gear (510) being engaged with the first linear gear (610) and the second linear gear (620), wherein, in a state in which the plate (220) is slid out, when viewed from above the first area (①) of the flexible display (230), a portion of the multi-bar structure (450) overlaps the second linear gear (620), and the first linear gear (610) does not overlap the multi-bar structure (450).
  2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the curved member comprises a pulley capable of being rotated about the rotation shaft (C1) parallel to the rotation shaft (C2) of the circular gear (510).
  3. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising: an elastic structure configured to elastically support the pulley in the second direction.
  4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing (210) comprises a first side housing part (211) and a second side housing part (212), which are positioned opposite to each other in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the circular gear (510) is rotatably coupled to a support member (410) disposed or included in the first side housing part (211) or the second side housing part (212).
  5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the support member (410) comprises: a guide rail (1210), into which a slide (S1) disposed on a side of the plate; a slide (S2) disposed on a side of the second linear gear (620); and a slide (S5) disposed on a side of the multi-bar structure (450) are inserted.
  6. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the curved member (461) comprises a pulley capable of being rotated about the rotation shaft (C1) parallel to the rotation shaft (C2) of the circular gear (510), and wherein the rotation shaft (C1) of the pulley is rotatably connected to the support member (410).
  7. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the circular gear (510) is connected to a shaft (411) extending from the support member (410).
  8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a metal support sheet (440) disposed on a rear surface of the flexible display (230), and wherein the multi-bar structure (450) is coupled to the metal support sheet (440) and configured to support the second area (②) of the flexible display (230).
  9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the metal support sheet (440) comprises a lattice structure comprising a plurality of openings (441) formed to correspond to the second area (②) of the flexible display (230).
  10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the metal support sheet (440) is coupled to the second linear gear (620).
  11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in a state in which the plate (220) is not slid out, when viewed from above the first area (①) of the flexible display (230), the first linear gear (610) overlaps a portion of the multi-bar structure (450), and the multi-bar structure (450) does not overlap the second linear gear (620).
  12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing (210) comprises: a first side housing part (211), and a second side housing (212) part, which are positioned opposite to each other in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the electronic device further comprises: a third linear gear (630) positioned on the other surface of the plate (220) to be symmetrical to the first linear gear (610) with respect to a center line between the first side housing part (211) and the second side housing part (212); a fourth liner gear (640) connected to the multi-bar structure (450) to be symmetrical to the second linear gear (620) with respect to the center line; and another circular gear (520) engaged with the third linear gear (630) and the fourth linear gear (640) to be symmetrical the circular gear (510) with respect to the center line.
  13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein, in the state in which the plate (220) is slid out, when view from above the first area (①) of the flexible display (220), the portion of the multi-bar structure (450) overlaps the fourth linear gear (640), and the third linear gear (630) does not overlap the multi-bar structure (450).

Description

Technical Field The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a flexible display. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an electronic device including a flexible display, in which a screen can be expanded in a sliding manner and screen lift can be prevented while a smooth and gentle sliding operation can be ensured in the electronic device. Background Art With the development of digital technologies, electronic devices are being provided in various forms, such as a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), and a personal digital assistant (PDA). Electronic devices are being designed to provide a larger screen while having a portable size that does not cause inconvenience to a user's hand. Prior art is disclosed in CN111508374 A and US10747269 B1. 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. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem An electronic device may be implemented to expand a screen, for example, in a sliding manner. A portion of a flexible display is drawn out from the inner space of the electronic device in a sliding manner, and thus the screen can be expanded. Such an electronic device is required to have a sliding structure to support a smooth sliding operation and to prevent screen lift caused by elasticity of the flexible display. Solution to Problem Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide an electronic device including a flexible display, in which a screen can be expanded in a sliding manner and screen lift can be prevented while a smooth and gentle sliding operation can be ensured in the electronic device. The technical problems to be addressed by this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other technical problems, which are not described above, may be clearly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the related art to which this disclosure belongs. Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, an electronic device as set out in appended independent claim 1 is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a plate capable of being slid out from the housing, a flexible display including a first area disposed on one surface of the plate, and a second area extending from the first area and at least partially drawn out from an inner space of the housing when the plate is slid out, a curved member positioned in an inner space of the housing to correspond to the second area, a first linear gear positioned on another surface of the plate, and including a plurality of gear teeth arranged in a first direction in which the plate is slid out, a second linear gear including a plurality of gear teeth arranged in the first direction, and a circular gear capable of being rotated about a rotation shaft perpendicular to the first direction, and disposed between the first linear gear and the second linear gear to be spaced apart from the curved member in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the circular gear being engaged with the first linear gear and the second linear gear. Advantageous Effects of Invention An electronic device including a flexible display according to various embodiments is capable of preventing screen lifting while enabling a smooth and gentle sliding operation. Therefore, reliability of an electronic device can be improved in which a screen is capable of being expanded in a sliding manner. In addition, space utilization can be improved due to a simplified sliding structure. In addition, effects obtained or predicted by various embodiments will be directly or implicitly disclosed in the Mode for invention of the embodiments. For example, various effects predicted according to various embodiments will be disclosed in the following Mode for invention. Before undertaking the Mode for Invention below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document, the terms "include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation, the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or, the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like, and the term "controller" means any device,