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EP-4738049-A1 - TRANSPARENT WINDOW AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING SAME

EP4738049A1EP 4738049 A1EP4738049 A1EP 4738049A1EP-4738049-A1

Abstract

According to an embodiment disclosed herein, an electronic device comprises: a housing that includes a first housing part and a second housing part configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the first housing part; a flexible display supported by the first housing part and the second housing part; a transparent window disposed on the outer surface of the flexible display; and a blocking structure disposed between the housing and the flexible display and configured to restrict foreign substances entering from the outside. A portion of the flexible display is configured to move inward from the front side of the housing together with the transparent window as the second housing part moves from the extended position to the retracted position, and the thickness of a first part of the transparent window may be less than the thickness of a second part of the transparent window.

Inventors

  • BAE, Jaehyun
  • KIM, MINSOO
  • KIM, YONGWOON
  • KIM, TAEJEONG
  • LEE, Soogyu
  • HAN, YONGGIL

Assignees

  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240530

Claims (15)

  1. An electronic device (101) comprising: a housing (210) including a first housing part (201) and a second housing part (202) configured to move with respect to the first housing part between a retracted position and an extended position; a flexible display (203, 231, 301) supported by the first housing part and the second housing part; a transparent window (302) disposed on an outer surface of the flexible display; and a blocking structure (400) disposed between the housing and the flexible display, and configured to limit an inflow of foreign substances from outside, wherein a portion of the flexible display is configured to move from a front side of the housing to an interior thereof with the transparent window as the second housing part moves from the extended position to the retracted position, wherein a thickness (h2) of a first portion of the transparent window is thinner than a thickness (h1, h3) of a second portion of the transparent window.
  2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the transparent window having the thinner thickness (h2) corresponds to the portion of the flexible display that is configured to move from the front side of the housing to the interior thereof.
  3. The electronic device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the transparent window includes: a glass (310) disposed on the outer surface of the flexible display; a film layer (330) disposed on an outer surface of the glass; and a transparent resin layer (320) disposed between the flexible display and at least a portion of the glass.
  4. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible display includes: a first display area (A1) disposed in the second housing part; and a second display area (A2) extended from the first display area, wherein at least a portion of the second display area is configured to move based on a movement of the second housing part, and wherein the glass includes: a first glass (311) disposed on the first display area; and a second glass (312) disposed on the second display area, wherein a thickness (t1) of the first glass is greater than a thickness (t2) of the second glass.
  5. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second glass is extended from the first glass.
  6. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transparent resin layer is disposed between the second glass and the second display area, and wherein a refractive index of the transparent resin layer is substantially equal to a refractive index of the glass.
  7. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the film layer includes a recess (3321, 3322, 3323) recessed in at least a portion of the film layer.
  8. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the recess includes: a first flat surface (3321); a first inclined surface (3322) in a first area where thickness changes, wherein the blocking structure is configured to contact the first inclined surface while the second housing part is in the retracted position; and a second inclined surface (3323) in a second area where thickness changes, wherein the blocking structure is configured to contact the second inclined surface while the second housing part is in the extended position.
  9. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the blocking structure includes a sealing member (428) configured to contact one of the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface.
  10. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sealing member includes: a third inclined surface (4282) configured to contact the first inclined surface while the second housing part is in the retracted position; and a fourth inclined surface (4283) configured to contact the second inclined surface while the second housing part is in the extended position.
  11. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein when a state of the second housing part is changed from the retracted position to the extended position or when the state of the second housing part is changed from the extended position to the retracted position, the sealing member is spaced apart from the first flat surface.
  12. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the transparent window further includes a coating layer (350, 360) disposed on an outer surface of the film layer.
  13. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the coating layer includes: a first coating layer (351, 361) located on the first display area; and a second coating layer (352, 362) located on the second display area and spaced apart from the first coating layer, and wherein a thickness of the first coating layer is different from a thickness of the second coating layer.
  14. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first coating layer includes a first inclined surface (3512, 3612) inclined at a portion, facing the second coating layer, of the first coating layer, and wherein the second coating layer includes a second inclined surface (3523, 3623) inclined at a portion, facing the first coating layer, of the second coating layer.
  15. The electronic device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the transparent window further includes: a reinforcing coating layer (370) disposed on an outer surface of the film layer; and a reinforcing film layer (380) disposed on an outer surface of the reinforcing coating layer and configured to be replaceable.

Description

[Technical Field] Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an electronic device, e.g., a transparent window and an electronic device including the same. [Background Art] Advancing information communication and semiconductor technologies accelerate the spread and use of various electronic devices. In particular, recent electronic devices are being developed to carry out communication while carried on. The term "electronic device" may mean a device performing a particular function according to its equipped program, such as a home appliance, an electronic scheduler, a portable multimedia player, a mobile communication terminal, a tablet PC, a video/sound device, a desktop PC or laptop computer, a navigation for automobile, etc. For example, electronic devices may output stored information as voices or images. As electronic devices are highly integrated, and high-speed, high-volume wireless communication becomes commonplace, an electronic device, such as a mobile communication terminal, is recently being equipped with various functions. For example, an electronic device comes with the integrated functionality, including an entertainment function, such as playing video games, a multimedia function, such as replaying music/videos, a communication and security function for mobile banking, and a scheduling or e-wallet function. These electronic devices have been downsized to be conveniently carried by users. As mobile communication services extend up to multimedia service sectors, the display of the electronic device may be increased to allow the user satisfactory use of multimedia services as well as voice call or text messaging services. The above-described information may be provided as related art for the purpose of helping understanding of the disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the foregoing is applicable as background art in relation to the disclosure. [Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Solution] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an electronic device may include a housing including a first housing part and a second housing part configured to move with respect to the first housing part between a retracted position and an extended position, a flexible display supported by the first housing part and the second housing part, a transparent window disposed on an outer surface of the flexible display, and a blocking structure disposed between the housing and the flexible display and configured to limit an inflow of foreign objects from outside. A portion of the flexible display is configured to move from a front side of the housing to an interior thereof with the transparent window as the second housing part moves from the extended position to the retracted position. A thickness of a first portion of the transparent window may be thinner than a thickness of a second portion of the transparent window. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an electronic device may include a housing including a first housing part and a second housing part configured to slide with respect to the first housing part, a flexible display including a first display area disposed on the second housing part and a second display area extending from the first display area, wherein at least a portion of the second display area is configured to move based on a slide movement of the second housing part, a blocking structure disposed between the housing and the flexible display and configured to limit an inflow of foreign objects from outside, and a transparent window covering an outer surface of the flexible display, the transparent window including a first cover area disposed on the first display area and a second cover area disposed on the second display area. A thickness of at least a portion of the first cover area may be different from a thickness of at least a portion of the second cover area. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an electronic device may include a housing including a first housing part and a second housing part. The second housing part is configured to be movably connected to the first housing part between a retracted position and an extended position, a flexible display connected to the first housing part and the second housing part such that a size of a portion visible from a front side of the housing is changed as the second housing part moves between the retracted position and the extended position, a blocking structure disposed between the housing and the flexible display and configured to limit an inflow of foreign objects from outside, and a transparent window covering an outer surface of the flexible display. The transparent window may include a recess recessed in an outer surface of the transparent window. [Brief Description of Drawings] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment according to an embodiment.FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a second display area of a display is rece