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EP-4738646-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CHARGING WEARABLE DEVICE

EP4738646A1EP 4738646 A1EP4738646 A1EP 4738646A1EP-4738646-A1

Abstract

An electronic device according to the present disclosure may comprise: a housing; a cylinder that protrudes from the housing, and comprises a charging pad that contacts an inner diameter of a wearable device so as to supply power to the wearable device; and a barrier spaced apart from the cylinder and comprising a magnet, wherein the charging pad may comprise a flexible cover that contacts the wearable device, and a power transmission antenna included in the flexible cover. Various other embodiments are possible.

Inventors

  • KIM, KIWON

Assignees

  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240730

Claims (15)

  1. An electronic device comprising: a housing; a cylinder protruding from the housing and comprising a charging pad configured to contact an inner diameter of a wearable device so as to supply power to the wearable device; and a barrier spaced apart from the cylinder and including a magnet, wherein the charging pad comprises a flexible cover (420) configured to contact the wearable device, and a power transmitting antenna (410) included in the flexible cover.
  2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charging pad and the barrier are arranged in parallel.
  3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power transmitting antenna comprises a flexible printed circuit board.
  4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises: a stopper configured to support movement of the charging pad; or a position restoration guide structure configured to restore a position of the charging pad.
  5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charging pad is flexible by the flexible cover and the power transmitting antenna.
  6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder has a first region and a second region having different outer diameters.
  7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the barrier protrudes from the housing.
  8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a curvature of the charging pad corresponds to a curvature of the cylinder.
  9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a sum of an outer radius of the cylinder and a certain distance corresponds to a radius of the wearable device.
  10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein an outer radius of the cylinder corresponds to a radius of the wearable device.
  11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a flat surface formed on at least a part thereof, and comprises the cylinder and the barrier on the flat surface.
  12. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a processor, wherein the processor is configured to control transmission power of the power transmitting antenna.
  13. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a communication circuit, wherein the communication circuit is configured to receive information on a charging state from the wearable device.
  14. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a memory, wherein the memory stores information on transmission power according to a charging state of the wearable device.
  15. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the wearable device comprises a ring-shaped housing corresponding to a shape of the cylinder, wherein the ring-shaped housing comprises: a power receiving antenna corresponding to the charging pad, a battery configured to store power received from the power receiving antenna, and a magnetic member corresponding to the magnet.

Description

[Technical Field] The disclosure relates to an electronic device for charging a wearable device. [Background Art] Electronic devices including sensors capable of measuring biometric information and/or exercise data (fitness data) while being worn on a user's body have been developed. Such electronic devices may generally be carried in a pocket or a hand and used while moving, but may also have a form wearable on a part of a user's body or on various structures. An electronic device may be defined as a wearable device in that the electronic device is wearable on the user's body. The wearable device may include, for example, a watch wearable on the user's wrist or a ring wearable on the user's finger. The above-described information may be provided as related art for the purpose of assisting in understanding the disclosure. No assertion or decision 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] Since a wearable device is worn on a user's body, the wearable device needs to correspond to a user's body size. In order to accommodate various body sizes of users, it is common for wearable devices to be classified and distributed in various sizes even for a single model. For example, a smart ring may be manufactured in various sizes ranging from US size 6 to US size 13, which indicate diameters. Accordingly, there may be a difficulty in producing charging devices in various sizes to charge wearable devices manufactured in various sizes. An electronic device for charging a wearable device according to the disclosure may provide a cradle for universally charging wearable devices of various sizes. The electronic device for charging a wearable device according to the disclosure, may allow a power receiving antenna of the wearable device to be aligned with a charging pad by using a magnetic force. The electronic device for charging a wearable device according to the disclosure may allow the power receiving antenna of the wearable device to be matched by using a flexible charging pad. The technical problems to be achieved by the disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains. The electronic device according to the disclosure may include a housing. The electronic device according to the disclosure may include a cylinder that protrudes from the housing and includes a charging pad configured to contact an inner diameter of the wearable device to supply power to the wearable device. The electronic device according to the disclosure may include a barrier spaced apart from the cylinder and including a magnet. The charging pad according to the disclosure may include a flexible cover configured to contact the wearable device. The charging pad according to the disclosure may include a power transmitting antenna included in the flexible cover. The electronic device according to the disclosure may supply power to wearable devices by using a magnetic force and a flexible charging pad, without requiring a separate electronic device for charging corresponding to the size of each of differently sized wearable devices. By supplying power to wearable devices of various sizes using a magnetic force and a flexible charging pad, the electronic device according to the disclosure may reduce manufacturing costs of the electronic device and reduce inventory burden. Advantageous effects obtainable from the disclosure may not be limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects which are not mentioned herein may be clearly understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains. [Brief Description of Drawings] With regard to the description of the drawings, the same or like reference signs may be used to designate the same or like elements. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 4 is a view illustrating at least a portion of the electronic device of FIG. 3, taken along line A-B.FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a cylinder with at least a portion thereof removed, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which a first wearable device according to an embodiment of the disclosure is mounted on the electronic device.FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a second wearable device according to an embodiment of the disclosure is mounted on the electronic device.FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the first wearable device and the second wearable device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 9 is a view illustrating configurations