US-12619280-B2 - Wearable electronic device comprising rigid flexible printed circuit board

US12619280B2US 12619280 B2US12619280 B2US 12619280B2US-12619280-B2

Abstract

A wearable electronic device is provided. The wearable electronic device includes a housing including a metal frame, a display within the housing, a bracket within the housing, including a side surface facing an inner surface of the metal frame, a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion located between the inner surface of the metal frame and the side surface of the bracket, and an electronic circuitry on the rigid portion, wherein the rigid portion includes a first portion under the electronic circuitry, and a second portion extending from a portion of the first portion toward the display and disposed on the side surface of the bracket so that the rigid portion is supported by the bracket, and wherein the second portion includes a non-conductive portion arranged with respect to a slot between the metal frame and a portion of the display, the slot used to radiate a signal to an external electronic device.

Inventors

Hansol KIM
Heeyoung YUN

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240307
Priority Date: 20230623

Claims (20)

1 . A wearable electronic device comprising: a housing including a metal frame; a display within the housing; a bracket within the housing, including a side surface facing an inner surface of the metal frame; a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion located between the inner surface of the metal frame and the side surface of the bracket; and an electronic circuitry on the rigid portion, wherein the rigid portion includes: a first portion under the electronic circuitry, and a second portion extending from a portion of the first portion toward the display and disposed on the side surface of the bracket so that the rigid portion is supported by the bracket, and wherein the second portion includes a non-conductive portion arranged with respect to a slot between the metal frame and a portion of the display, the slot used to radiate a radio frequency signal (RF signal) to external electronic device.
2 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second portion forms a first edge of the rigid portion facing the display by extending from the portion of the first portion toward the display, and wherein the non-conductive portion extends from the first edge of the rigid portion toward the first portion.
3 . The wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes first conductive patterns formed between the first portion and the non-conductive portion of the second portion, and wherein the first conductive patterns have a shape protruding toward the first portion when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rigid portion.
4 . The wearable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first conductive patterns include a first section, a second section, and a third section connecting the first section and the second section, wherein the third section is farther from the first edge of the rigid portion than the first section and the second section, and wherein a length of the third section is longer than the first section and the second section.
5 . The wearable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the rigid portion is formed of a plurality of layers, wherein the non-conductive portion of the second portion includes a first non-conductive region of a first layer and a second non-conductive region of a second layer overlapping the first non-conductive region, wherein a first conductive region is formed in the first layer of the first portion, and wherein the first conductive patterns are formed between the first conductive region and the first non-conductive region.
6 . The wearable electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising: a printed circuit board under the bracket, wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes a connection portion disposed on the printed circuit board and an extension portion extending from the connection portion and disposed between the inner surface of the metal frame and the side surface of the bracket, wherein the rigid portion is a first rigid portion, wherein the electronic circuitry is a first electronic circuitry, wherein the extension portion includes the first rigid portion and a second rigid portion, wherein the first rigid portion is located between the connection portion and the second rigid portion, wherein the wearable electronic device includes a second electronic circuitry on the second rigid portion, and wherein the first conductive patterns extend from the connection portion through the first rigid portion to the second rigid portion and are electrically connected to the second electronic circuitry.
7 . The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes at least one second conductive pattern extending from the second rigid portion through the first rigid portion to the connection portion, wherein the at least one second conductive pattern of the first rigid portion is formed in the non-conductive portion of the second portion, and wherein the at least one second conductive pattern is electrically connected to a ground of the printed circuit board through the connection portion.
8 . The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one second conductive pattern includes a plurality of second conductive patterns.
9 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second conductive patterns are formed on a third layer of the second portion.
10 . The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising a switch on the printed circuit board, the switch configured to selectively electrically connect one of the second conductive patterns to the ground of the printed circuit board.
11 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein each of ends of the second conductive patterns located in the second rigid portion is electrically open.
12 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second conductive patterns include a first pattern and a second pattern, wherein the rigid flexible printed circuit board includes a bead on the second rigid portion, and wherein the bead electrically connects an end of the first pattern and an end of the second pattern.
13 . The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second conductive patterns of the first rigid portion extend parallel to each other.
14 . The wearable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first conductive patterns of the rigid portion extend parallel to each other.
15 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion is formed of a plurality of layers, and wherein an area of the non-conductive portion of each of the plurality of layers in the second portion is larger than an area of the non-conductive portion of each of the plurality of layers in the first portion.
16 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rigid portion, the non-conductive portion of the second portion overlaps the slot.
17 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive portion of the second portion is located at least partially within the slot.
18 . The wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the rigid portion includes a second edge opposite to the first edge formed by the second portion, and wherein the rigid portion is inclined so that the first edge is located further inside the housing than the second edge.
19 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a recess formed on the side surface and a peripheral portion of the recess, wherein the electronic circuitry on the first portion is received in the recess, wherein the second portion is disposed on the peripheral portion, and wherein the electronic circuitry includes an acoustic sensor.
20 . A wearable electronic device comprising: a housing including a metal frame; a display panel in the housing; a slot antenna at least partially formed by a gap between the metal frame and the display panel; and a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion on which an electronic circuitry is disposed and a plurality of conductive traces crossing the rigid portion, wherein an upper end portion of the rigid portion facing the gap is formed as a fill-cut region that does not contain a conductive material, wherein the plurality of conductive traces of the rigid portion are formed between a lower end portion of the rigid portion and the fill-cut region, and protrude in a direction from the upper end portion of the rigid portion toward the lower end portion such that an area of the fill-cut region is widened, and wherein the slot antenna radiates radio waves using the gap extended by the fill-cut region.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2024/002548, filed on Feb. 28, 2024, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2023-0081511, filed on Jun. 23, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and of a Korean patent application number 10-2023-0093452, filed on Jul. 18, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to a wearable electronic device including a rigid flexible printed circuit board. BACKGROUND ART A wearable electronic device, such as a smart watch, may include a metal frame that forms an exterior and electronic circuits for obtaining various information through the metal frame. The electronic circuits may include, for example, a biometric sensor that detects biometric information through an electrode installed in the metal frame, or an acoustic sensor that receives sound through a duct formed in the metal frame. The electronic circuits may be located adjacent to the metal frame to obtain external information through the metal frame. For example, the electronic circuits may be disposed on a printed circuit board adjacent to the metal frame. Meanwhile, the metal frame may be used as an antenna for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal. The printed circuit board adjacent to the metal frame may affect antenna performance. 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 to a prior art with regard to the disclosure. DISCLOSURE Technical Solution 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 a wearable electronic device including a rigid flexible printed circuit board. 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 disclosure, a wearable electronic device is provided. The wearable electronic device includes a housing including a metal frame, a display within the housing, a bracket within the housing, including a side surface facing an inner surface of the metal frame, a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion located between the inner surface of the metal frame and the side surface of the bracket, and an electronic circuitry on the rigid portion, and wherein the rigid portion includes a first portion under the electronic circuitry, and a second portion extending from a portion of the first portion toward the display and disposed on the side surface of the bracket so that the rigid portion is supported by the bracket, and wherein the second portion includes a non-conductive portion arranged with respect to a slot between the metal frame and a portion of the display, the slot used to radiate a signal to an external electronic device. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a wearable electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a metal frame, a display panel in the housing, a slot antenna at least partially formed by a gap between the metal frame and the display panel, and a rigid flexible printed circuit board including a rigid portion on which an electronic circuitry is disposed and a plurality of conductive traces crossing the rigid portion. An upper end portion of the rigid portion facing the gap is formed as a fill-cut region that does not contain a conductive material. The plurality of conductive traces of the rigid portion is formed between a lower end portion of the rigid portion and the fill-cut region. The plurality of conductive traces protrude in a direction from the upper end portion of the rigid portion toward the lower end portion such that an area of the fill-cut region is widened. The slot antenna radiates radio waves using the gap extended by the fill-cut region. Through this, performance of the slot antenna is improved. Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of