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EP-4741988-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING BENDABLE DISPLAY

EP4741988A1EP 4741988 A1EP4741988 A1EP 4741988A1EP-4741988-A1

Abstract

The electronic device may include a glass cover, wherein the glass cover includes: first, second, and third flat portions accommodated in first, second, and third housing portions, respectively, and maintained to be substantially flat; a first non-flat portion positioned between the first flat portion and the second flat portion and having at least a portion accommodated in a first hinge housing portion; a second non-flat portion extending from the second flat portion in a direction opposite to the first non-flat portion and having at least a portion accommodated in one end of a second hinge housing portion; a third non-flat portion extending from the third flat portion in a direction toward the second non-flat portion and having at least a portion accommodated in the other end of the second hinge housing portion; and a fourth flat portion positioned between the second non-flat portion and the third non-flat portion and accommodated in the second hinge housing portion so as to remain substantially flat in a process in which the second housing portion and the third housing portion are bent.

Inventors

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

Assignees

  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240725

Claims (15)

  1. An electronic device (101; 201; 501) comprising: a bendable housing (202; 502) comprising: a first housing portion (210; 510); a second housing portion (220; 520); a third housing portion (230; 530); a first hinge housing portion (215; 515) rotatably connecting the first housing portion (210; 510) to the second housing portion (220; 520) and having a first width; and a second hinge housing portion (225; 525) rotatably connecting the second housing portion (220; 520) to a third housing portion (230; 530) and having a second width greater than the first width; and a display module (160; 460) comprising: a flexible display panel (460-1) accommodated in the first housing portion (210; 510), the first hinge housing portion (215; 515), the second housing portion (220; 520), the second hinge housing portion (225; 525), and the third housing portion (230; 530); and a glass cover (460-2) disposed on the flexible display panel (460-1), wherein the glass cover (260; 460-2a; 460-2b; 560) comprises: a first planar portion (261; 561) accommodated in the first housing portion (210; 510) and maintained substantially planar; a second planar portion (262; 562) accommodated in the second housing portion (220; 520) and maintained substantially planar; a third planar portion (263; 563) accommodated in the third housing portion (230; 530) and maintained substantially planar; a first non-planar portion (265; 565) positioned between the first planar portion (261; 561) and the second planar portion (262; 562) and at least partially accommodated in the first hinge housing portion (215; 515) so as to be at least partially bendable according to a relative bending operation of the first housing portion (210; 510) and the second housing portion (220; 520); and a second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1) extending from the second planar portion (262; 562) in a direction opposite to the first non-planar portion (265; 565) and at least partially accommodated in one end of the second hinge housing portion (225; 525) so as to be at least partially bendable according to a relative bending operation of the second housing portion (220; 520) and the third housing portion (230; 530); a third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) extending in a direction from the third planar portion (263; 563) to the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1) and at least partially accommodated in another end of the second hinge housing portion (225; 525) so as to be at least partially bendable according to a relative bending operation of the second housing portion (220; 520) and the third housing portion (230; 530); and a fourth planar portion (266-3; 566-3) positioned between the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1) and the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) and accommodated in the second hinge housing portion (225; 525) so as to be maintained substantially planar during relative bending of the second housing portion (220; 520) and the third housing portion (230; 530) such that at least portions thereof overlap each other.
  2. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of claim 1, wherein the fourth planar portion (266-3; 566-3) has less flexibility than flexibility of each of the first non-planar portion (265; 565), the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1), and the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2).
  3. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of claim 1 or 2, wherein a bendable angle range of the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) is greater than a bendable angle range of the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1).
  4. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bendable angle range of the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) is less than a bendable angle range of the first non-planar portion (265; 565).
  5. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a width (RW2-2; PW2-2) of the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) is less than a width (RW1; PW1) of the first non-planar portion (265; 565) and greater than a width (RW2-1; PW2-1) of the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1).
  6. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a width (W2-3) of the fourth planar portion (266-3; 566-3) is greater than the width (RW2-1; PW2-1) of the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1) and the width (RW2-2; PW2-2) of the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2).
  7. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the width (W2-3) of the fourth planar portion (266-3; 566-3) is less than the width (RW1; PW1) of the first non-planar portion (265; 565).
  8. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the first non-planar portion (265; 565), the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1), and the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) comprises a recess (R1; R2-1; R2-2) formed in a thickness direction, a thickness (T1) of the first non-planar portion (265; 565) is less than a thickness (T2) of the second planar portion (262; 562), a thickness (T2-1) of the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1) is less than the thickness (T2) of the second planar portion (262; 562) and a thickness (T2-3) of the fourth planar portion (266-3; 566-3), a thickness (T2-2) of the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) is less than a thickness (T3) of the third planar portion (263; 563) and the thickness (T2-3) of the fourth planar portion (266-3; 566-3), and the thickness (T2-2) of the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) is greater than the thickness (T1) of the first non-planar portion (265; 565) and less than the thickness (T2-1) of the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1).
  9. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the glass cover (260; 460-2a; 460-2b; 560) comprises a first surface (460-21) facing the flexible display panel (460-1) and a second surface (460-22) opposite to the first surface (460-21), and the recess (R1; R2-1; R2-2) is formed in one of the first surface (460-21) and the second surface (460-22).
  10. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first non-planar portion (265; 565) comprises a first pattern region (P1) in which a first pattern is formed in a longitudinal direction, the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1) comprises a second pattern region (P2-1) in which a second pattern is formed in a longitudinal direction, and the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2) comprises a third pattern region (P2-2) in which a third pattern is formed in a longitudinal direction.
  11. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a width (PW2-2) of the third pattern region (P2-2) is greater than a width (PW2-1) of the second pattern region (P2-1).
  12. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a width (PW1) of the first pattern region (P1) is greater than the width (PW2-1) of the second pattern region (P2-1) and the width (PW2-2) of the third pattern region (P2-2).
  13. The electronic device (101; 201; 501) of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the display module (160; 460) further comprises: a polymer member (460-4) disposed on the glass cover (260; 460-2a; 460-2b; 560); and a filling layer (460-3a; 460-3b) disposed between the glass cover (260; 460-2a; 460-2b; 560) and the polymer member to fill at least a portion of the first non-planar portion (265; 565), the second non-planar portion (266-1; 566-1), and the third non-planar portion (266-2; 566-2).
  14. The electronic device (501) of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the bendable housing (502) further comprises: a fourth housing portion (540); and a third hinge housing portion (535) rotatably connecting the third housing portion (530) to the fourth housing portion (540) and having a third width less than the second width, and the glass cover (560) comprises: a fifth planar portion (564) accommodated in the fourth housing portion (540) and maintained substantially planar; and a fourth non-planar portion (567) extending in a direction from the fifth planar portion (564) to the third planar portion (563) and at least partially accommodated in the third hinge housing portion (535) so as to be at least partially bendable according to a relative bending operation of the third housing portion (530) and the fourth housing portion (540).
  15. The electronic device (501) of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the fourth non-planar portion (567) comprises a recess formed in a thickness direction or a pattern region in which a pattern is formed in a longitudinal direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a bendable display. BACKGROUND ART In order to improve portability and convenience, electronic devices are being developed in various forms rather than a uniform rectangular shape. With advances in technology, there is growing demand for electronic devices that are easy to carry and that provide a large screen during use by including a bendable display. However, the foregoing should not be construed as having been acknowledged by the applicant as a prior art to the description set forth in the disclosure, but should be construed only as a related art to the invention described herein. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS An electronic device 101, 201, or 501 according to an embodiment includes a bendable housing 202 or 502 including a first housing portion 210 or 510, a second housing portion 220 or 520, a third housing portion 230 or 530, a first hinge housing portion 215 or 515 rotatably connecting the first housing portion 210 or 510 to the second housing portion 220 or 520 and having a first width, and a second hinge housing portion 225 or 525 rotatably connecting the second housing portion 220 or 520 to a third housing portion 230 or 530 and having a second width that is greater than the first width and a display module 160 or 460 including a flexible display panel 460-1 accommodated in the first housing portion 210 or 510, the first hinge housing portion 215 or 515, the second housing portion 220 or 520, the second hinge housing portion 225 or 525, and the third housing portion 230 or 530, and a glass cover 460-2 disposed on the flexible display panel 460-1. The glass cover 260, 460-2a, 460-2b, or 560 may include a first planar portion 261 or 561 accommodated in the first housing portion 210 or 510 and maintained substantially planar, a second planar portion 262 or 562 accommodated in the second housing portion 220 or 520 and maintained substantially planar, a third planar portion 263 or 563 accommodated in the third housing portion 230 or 530 and maintained substantially planar, a first non-planar portion 265 or 565 positioned between the first planar portion 261 or 561 and the second planar portion 262 or 562 and at least partially accommodated in the first hinge housing portion 215 or 515 so as to be at least partially bendable according to a relative bending operation of the first housing portion 210 or 510 and the second housing portion 220 or 520, and a second non-planar portion 266-1 or 566-1 extending from the second planar portion 262 or 562 in a direction opposite to the first non-planar portion 265 or 565 and at least partially accommodated in one end of the second hinge housing portion 225 or 525 so as to be at least partially bendable according to a relative bending operation of the second housing portion 220 or 520 and the third housing portion 230 or 530, a third non-planar portion 266-2 or 566-2 extending in a direction from the third planar portion 263 or 563 to the second non-planar portion 266-1 or 566-1 and at least partially accommodated in another end of the second hinge housing portion 225 or 525 so as to be at least partially bendable according to a relative bending operation of the second housing portion 220 or 520 and the third housing portion 230 or 530, and a fourth planar portion 266-3 or 566-3 positioned between the second non-planar portion 266-1 or 566-1 and the third non-planar portion 266-2 or 566-2 and accommodated in the second hinge housing portion 225 or 525 so as to be maintained substantially planar during relative bending of the second housing portion 220 or 520 and the third housing portion 230 or 530 such that at least portions thereof overlap each other. An electronic device 101, 201, or 501 according to an embodiment includes a bendable housing 202 or 502 including a first housing portion 210 or 510, a second housing portion 220 or 520, a third housing portion 230 or 530, a first hinge housing portion 215 or 515 rotatably connecting the first housing portion 210 or 510 to the second housing portion 220 or 520 and having a first width and a second hinge housing portion 225 or 525 rotatably connecting the second housing portion 220 or 520 to the third housing portion 230 or 530 and having a second width that is greater than the first width and a display module 160 or 460 including a flexible display panel 460-1 accommodated in the first housing portion 210 or 510, the first hinge housing portion 215 or 515, the second housing portion 220 or 520, the second hinge housing portion 225 or 525, and the third housing portion 230 or 530, and a display module 160 or 460 including a glass cover 260, 460-2a, 460-2b, or 560 disposed on the flexible display panel 460-1. The glass cover 260, 460-2a, 460-2b, or 560 may include a first planar portion 261 or 561 accommodated in the first housing portion 210 or 510 and maintained substantially planar, a second planar portion 262 or 562 accommo