US-20260127910-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING FINGERPRINT SENSOR

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing forming the external appearance, a first member within the housing, a fingerprint sensor within the housing, including a first surface supported by the first member and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a second member detachably fastened to the first member and including a third surface formed as a part of the housing and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface and facing the second surface, and an elastic member disposed between the second member and the fingerprint sensor so as to provide an elastic force to the second member, and being in direct contact with the fourth surface, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to receive ultrasonic waves reflected by an external object touched on the third surface by an external object contacting the third surface through the elastic member and the second member.

Inventors

• Jihun HEO
• Jihoon Park
• Hyunwoo Kim
• Seungho HWANG

Assignees

• SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251229

Priority Date

20230630

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An electronic device comprising: a housing forming an exterior of the electronic device; a first member within the housing; a fingerprint sensor within the housing, including a first surface supported by the first member and a second surface opposite the first surface; a second member detachably fastened to the first member and including a third surface formed as a part of the housing and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface and facing the second surface; and an elastic member disposed between the second member and the fingerprint sensor to provide an elastic force to the second member, the elastic member being in direct contact with the fourth surface, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to receive ultrasonic waves reflected by an external object contacting the third surface through the elastic member and the second member.
2. 2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes an upper surface directly contacting the fourth surface of the second member and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface and facing the fingerprint sensor; wherein the upper surface includes a central region and a peripheral region extending from the central region to a periphery of the upper surface to surround the central region, wherein the elastic member is compressed as the second member is fastened to the first member, wherein, before the first member and the second member are fastened, a first distance between the central region of the upper surface and the lower surface is greater than a second distance between the peripheral region of the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the first distance and the second distance are based on a direction perpendicular to the lower surface, and wherein the second distance gradually increases as the peripheral region approaches the central region.
3. 3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the periphery of the upper surface includes a first part, a second part, a third part connecting an end of the first part and an end of the second part, and a fourth part connecting another end of the first part and another end of the second part, wherein the first part includes a first section, a second section spaced apart from the first section, and a third section connecting the first section and the second section, wherein the second part includes a fourth section facing the first section, a fifth section spaced apart from the fourth section and facing the second section, and a sixth section facing the third section and connecting the fourth section and the fifth section, wherein the peripheral region includes: a first region extending from the first section of the first part to the fourth section of the second part, and a second region extending from the second section of the first part to the fifth section of the second part. and wherein the central region extends from the third section of the first part to the sixth section of the second part.
4. 4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the central region includes a line segment extending from the third section of the first part to the sixth section of the second part and spaced apart from the peripheral region, and wherein, before the first member and the second member are fastened, the first distance gradually increases as the peripheral region approaches the line segment.
5. 5 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein a shape of the periphery of the upper surface is: a rectangle in which the first part is longer than the third part; or a rectangle in which the third part is longer than the first part.
6. 6 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the peripheral region entirely encloses the central region.
7. 7 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the central region includes a point spaced apart from the peripheral region, wherein, before the first member and the second member are fastened, the second distance gradually increases as the peripheral region approaches the point.
8. 8 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of a first cross section and a second cross section of the upper surface includes a curved line, the first cross section cut into a plane perpendicular to the lower surface, the second cross section cut into another plane perpendicular to the surface and the lower surface.
9. 9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive member disposed between the second surface of the fingerprint sensor and the elastic member.
10. 10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive member disposed between the first member and the first surface of the fingerprint sensor.
11. 11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first cover, a second cover, and a frame disposed between the first cover and the second cover to partially form the exterior of the electronic device, wherein the second member is the frame, wherein the frame includes a portion in direct contact with the elastic member, and wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to receive ultrasonic waves through the elastic member and the portion of the frame.
12. 12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein a protrusion or a recess is formed on the third surface of the portion of the frame.
13. 13 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the frame includes a peripheral portion at least partially surrounding the portion, and wherein the portion and the peripheral portion of the frame are connected without a step.
14. 14 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising: a display assembly including: a first cover forming the third surface, a display panel disposed under the first cover, and a metal layer supporting the display panel and forming the fourth surface, wherein the second member is the display assembly.
15. 15 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor includes a side surface extending from a periphery of the first surface to a periphery of the second surface, wherein the first member includes a support surface and a protrusion, the support surface supporting the fingerprint sensor, wherein the protrusion of the first member extends from the support surface along the side surface toward the periphery of the second surface, and wherein, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the support surface, the protrusion of the first member at least partially surrounds the side surface of the fingerprint sensor.
16. 16 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a first fastening part and a second fastening part that are fastened to the second member, and wherein the fingerprint sensor is located between the first fastening part and the second fastening part.
17. 17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , further comprising: a flexible printed circuit board connected to the fingerprint sensor, wherein a periphery of the first surface of the fingerprint sensor includes: a first part adjacent to the first fastening part, a second part adjacent to the second fastening part, and a third part extending from an end of the first part of the fingerprint sensor to an end of the second part of the fingerprint sensor, and wherein the flexible printed circuit board includes a portion extending from the third part of the first surface.
18. 18 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are assembled through a mechanical fastening structure, and wherein the mechanical fastening structure is configured to compress the elastic member by assembling the first member and the second member.
19. 19 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are configured to be snap-fit fastened, or screw fastened.
20. 20 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes a rubber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 365 (c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2024/005882, filed on Apr. 30, 2024, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2023-0085382, filed on Jun. 30, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and of a Korean patent application number 10-2023-0096265, filed on Jul. 24, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. Field The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a fingerprint sensor. 2. Description of Related Art A fingerprint sensor is being widely used in biometric technology for user authentication or personal identification in various electronic devices. Such a fingerprint sensor may include, for example, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor may operate by measuring a cycle in which ultrasonic waves emitted to a user's body returns. The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is mounted within a housing of an electronic device, and may detect fingerprint information by receiving ultrasonic waves reflected by the user's finger in contact with the housing. 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 as prior art with regard to the disclosure. SUMMARY 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 an electronic device including a fingerprint sensor. 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, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing forming an exterior of the electronic device, a first member within the housing, a fingerprint sensor within the housing, including a first surface supported by the first member and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second member detachably fastened to the first member and including a third surface formed as a part of the housing and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface and facing the second surface, an elastic member disposed between the second member and the fingerprint sensor to provide an elastic force to the second member, the elastic member being in direct contacted with the fourth surface, and wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to receive ultrasonic waves reflected by an external object contacting the third surface through the elastic member and the second member. 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. BRIEF 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 diagram indicating a fastening structure of a fingerprint sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram indicating a fastening structure of a fingerprint sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 3 is a diagram indicating a fingerprint sensor and a flexible printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 4 is a diagram indicating a fastening structure of a fingerprint sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 5 is a diagram indicating a fingerprint sensor on a first member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 6 is a diagram indicating a fingerprint sensor on a first member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 7 is a diagram indicating an elastic member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 8 is a diagram indicating an elastic member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 9A is a diagram indicating an elastic member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 9B is a diagram indicating an elastic member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 9C is a diagram indicating an elastic member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 10 is a diagram indicating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 11 is a diagram indicating a fingerprint sensor within a housing according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 12 is a diagram indicating a fingerprint sensor within a housing according to an embodiment of