KR-20260066578-A - INPUT DEVICE CONNECTED TO ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING INPUT DEVICE

Abstract

An input device is provided for providing key input to an external electronic device. The input device comprises a housing, a keyboard disposed on the housing, a first plate pivotally coupled to the housing, a second plate pivotally coupled to the first plate, and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) electrically connected to the keyboard and having at least a portion disposed within the first plate, wherein the first plate may include a first connector disposed on a first side of the first plate and electrically connected to the FPCB. The second plate may include a second connector disposed on a first side of the second plate, and a third connector disposed on a second side of the second plate opposite to the first side of the second plate and formed to be connected to an external electronic device. In a second state of the input device, the first connector of the first plate may be connected to the second connector of the second plate when the first side of the first plate contacts the first side of the second plate. A signal generated by the keyboard can be transmitted to an external electronic device through the FPCB, the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector while the first connector of the first plate is connected to the second connector of the second plate.

Inventors

• 김동균
• 고민아

Assignees

• 삼성전자주식회사

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241202

Priority Date

20241104

Claims (20)

1. In an input device that provides key input to an external electronic device, Housing; A keyboard disposed on the above housing; A first plate pivotably coupled to the above housing; A second plate pivotably coupled to the first plate; and It includes a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) electrically connected to the keyboard and having at least a portion disposed within the first plate, and In a first state of the input device, the first side of the first plate and the first side of the second plate are arranged to cover the keyboard, and The first plate comprises a first connector disposed on the first side of the first plate and electrically connected to the FPCB, and The second plate comprises a second connector disposed on the first side of the second plate, and a third connector disposed on the second side of the second plate opposite to the first side of the second plate and formed to be connected to an external electronic device. In the second state of the input device, the first plate is tilted relative to the keyboard, and In the second state of the input device, the first connector of the first plate is connected to the second connector of the second plate when the first side of the first plate contacts the first side of the second plate, and An input device in which a signal generated by the above keyboard is transmitted to the external electronic device through the FPCB, the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector while the first connector of the first plate is connected to the second connector of the second plate.
2. In Article 1, The third connector is formed to be connected to the fourth connector of the external electronic device, and An input device in which a signal generated by the above keyboard is transmitted to the fourth connector of the external electronic device through the FPCB, the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector while the external electronic device is attached to the second side of the second plate and the first connector of the first plate is connected to the second connector of the second plate.
3. In Article 2, The first plate is disposed on the second side of the first plate opposite to the first side of the first plate and includes the first connector and a fifth connector electrically connected to the FPCB. The above-mentioned fifth connector is formed to be connected to an external connector that supplies power, and An input device, wherein while the fifth connector is connected to the external connector, at least a portion of the power supplied from the external connector is transmitted to the fourth connector of the external electronic device through the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector when the first connector of the first plate is connected to the second connector of the second plate.
4. In Article 1, The first plate includes at least one first magnet, and The second plate includes at least one second magnet, and The at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet are arranged such that when the first side of the first plate contacts the first side of the second plate, a first attractive force is generated between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet. The above-mentioned at least one second magnet is an input device arranged such that a second attractive force is generated between the at least one second magnet and the at least one third magnet when the external electronic device, which includes at least one third magnet, is attached to the second side of the second plate.
5. In Paragraph 4, The first plate is coupled to the housing by means of a hinge disposed on the housing, and An input device in which a first distance between the hinge and one end of the housing is shorter than a second distance between the hinge and the other end of the housing.
6. In Article 5, The second force is greater than the first force and the torque due to the hinge, and An input device in which the torque is generated by the hinge in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the first plate when the first plate rotates relative to the housing.
7. In Article 1, The first plate comprises at least one fourth magnet disposed to partially surround the area where the first connector is disposed when looking at the first side of the first plate, and The input device, wherein the second plate comprises at least one fifth magnet that is positioned to partially surround the area where the third connector is positioned when looking at the second side of the second plate.
8. In Article 7, The above at least one fourth magnet includes a plurality of magnets, An input device in which at least two of the plurality of magnets included in the at least one fourth magnet are spaced apart from each other so that at least one of the wirings constituting the FPCB can pass through at least two of the plurality of magnets included in the at least one fourth magnet.
9. In Article 7, An input device wherein the at least one fifth magnet is positioned such that when the first side of the first plate contacts the first side of the second plate, a third attractive force is generated between the at least one fourth magnet and the at least one fifth magnet, and when the external electronic device including at least one sixth magnet is attached to the second side of the second plate, a fourth attractive force is generated between the at least one fifth magnet and the at least one sixth magnet.
10. In Paragraph 4, An input device comprising a shielding member that blocks at least a portion of a magnetic flux bundle emitted from at least one first magnet toward a second side of the first plate opposite to the first side of the first plate.
11. In Article 1, The second plate comprises a first portion rotatable about one end of the first plate as an axis, and a second portion extending from one end of the first portion and rotatable about the one end of the first plate as an axis, and The second part is an input device that is positioned to cover at least a portion of the first plate in a first state of the input device.
12. In Article 11, The input device, wherein the first part and the second part are formed to correspond to at least a part of a bumper case coupled to the external electronic device when the external electronic device is attached to the second side of the second plate in the second state of the input device.
13. In Paragraph 4, The above housing comprises at least one seventh magnet disposed within the housing, and The above at least one seventh magnet is an input device in which, in a third state of the input device, the external electronic device is attached to one side of the housing opposite to the keyboard.
14. In Article 13, The above at least one seventh magnet is an input device such that, in the third state of the input device, a fifth attractive force is generated between the at least one third magnet of the external electronic device and the at least one seventh magnet.
15. In Article 14, At least one sensor that detects at least one of the strength or change of a magnetic field; and It further includes a communication module that performs wireless or wired communication with the above external electronic device, The above input device is: Identifying the third state of the input device based on at least one of the strength or change of the magnetic field detected by the at least one sensor, and An input device that transmits information indicating the third state to the external electronic device based on the communication module above.
16. In electronic devices, Memory for storing instructions; At least one processor including processing circuitry; First housing; A display disposed in the first housing above; Second housing; A keyboard disposed in the second housing above; A plate pivotably coupled to the first housing and pivotably coupled to the second housing; and It includes a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) electrically connected to the keyboard and having at least a portion disposed within the plate, In a first state of the electronic device, the first side of the plate and the first side of the housing are arranged to cover the keyboard, and The above plate includes a first connector disposed on the first side of the plate and electrically connected to the FPCB, and The first housing includes a second connector disposed on the first side of the first housing, and In the second state of the electronic device, the plate is tilted relative to the keyboard, and In the second state of the electronic device, the first connector of the plate is connected to the second connector of the first housing when the first side of the plate contacts the first side of the first housing, and An electronic device in which a signal generated by the above keyboard is transmitted to at least one processor through the FPCB, the first connector, and the second connector while the first connector of the plate is connected to the second connector of the second housing.
17. In Article 16, It further includes a third connector connected to the first connector and the FPCB, disposed on the second side of the plate opposite to the first side of the plate. The third connector is formed to be connected to an external connector that supplies power from the outside, and While the third connector is connected to the external connector, the electronic device receives external power supplied from the external connector through the third connector.
18. In Article 17, While the third connector is connected to the external connector, a portion of the external power supplied from the external connector to the third connector is transferred to the battery of the electronic device through the first connector and the second connector, which are electrically connected to the third connector, and An electronic device in which, while the third connector is connected to the external connector, another portion of the external power supplied from the external connector to the third connector is transmitted to the keyboard through the FPCB electrically connected to the third connector.
19. In Article 16, The above plate includes at least one first magnet, and The first housing includes at least one second magnet, and An electronic device in which the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet are arranged such that a first attractive force is generated between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet when the first side of the plate contacts the first side of the first housing.
20. In Article 16, The above plate is coupled to the housing by means of a hinge disposed on the second housing, and An electronic device in which a first distance between one end of the hinge and the second housing is shorter than a second distance between the other end of the hinge and the second housing.

Description

Input device connected to an electronic device and electronic device comprising an input device The present disclosure relates to an input device connected to an electronic device and an electronic device including the input device. There are electronic devices capable of performing various functions based on user input. With the advancement of technology, electronic devices can be provided to be portable. For example, electronic devices may include smartphones, tablet PCs, or laptop PCs. Additionally, devices may be provided to expand the functions offered by the electronic devices. Recent electronic devices (e.g., tablet devices) may be equipped with touch screen displays that perform simultaneous input and output, taking into consideration user convenience. For instance, an electronic device equipped with a touch screen can receive user touch input through the screen and simultaneously display the execution screen of an application or a user interface (UI) through the screen. As the inclusion of touch screen displays in electronic devices becomes commonplace, portable electronic devices can perform functions similar to laptop PCs, going beyond the traditional terminal functions of providing communication capabilities. Accordingly, peripheral devices that can be used with electronic devices are also evolving. For instance, there is an increasing trend of connecting a separate keyboard to an electronic device with a touch screen to provide functions similar to those of a laptop that includes an input device (e.g., a keyboard). On the other hand, when using an electronic device (e.g., a tablet) by connecting a separate keyboard, the input device (e.g., keyboard) must be carried separately in addition to the tablet. Furthermore, while the display of a laptop can be supported at various angles by the keyboard, a separate stand must be carried for tablet computers if they are intended to be used in an inclined position. The information described above may be provided as related art for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the foregoing may be applied as prior art in relation to the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an input device according to one embodiment, an electronic device attached to the input device, and a bumper case coupled to the electronic device. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which the state of an input device is changed while an electronic device is attached to an input device according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an input device according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the process of an input device according to one embodiment changing from a first state to a second state. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a second state input device according to one embodiment, and an electronic device attached to the input device. FIG. 6a is a plan view illustrating an input device according to one embodiment, at least one first magnet included in the input device, and at least one second magnet. FIG. 6b is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device including an input device according to one embodiment and at least one third magnet. FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating an example of an input device in a second state according to one embodiment, and an electronic device being attached to or detached from the input device. FIG. 8 is a side view and a perspective view illustrating a third state input device according to one embodiment, and an electronic device attached to the input device. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a third state input device according to one embodiment, at least one seventh magnet included in the input device, an electronic device, and at least one third magnet included in the electronic device. FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating an example of an input device in a third state according to one embodiment, and an electronic device being attached to or detached from the input device. FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which an input device in a third state according to one embodiment, and an electronic device attached to the input device executes an application corresponding to the third state. FIG. 12 is a rear view illustrating a first plate and a second plate of an input device according to one embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a first plate and a second plate of an input device according to one embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a first connector, a third connector, and a fourth connector placed in an electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of the arrangement of at least one fourth magnet placed on a first plate of an input device according to one embodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth connector disposed on the second side of a first plate of an input device according to