US-20260129776-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING FLEXIBLE DISPLAY

US20260129776A1US 20260129776 A1US20260129776 A1US 20260129776A1US-20260129776-A1

Abstract

An electronic device may include: a first housing; a second housing that is foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge module; and a flexible display supported by, directly or indirectly, the first housing and the second housing, wherein the flexible display includes: a glass layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and including a plurality of first patterns recessed from the first surface and a plurality of second patterns recessed from the second surface; a first filling member filled in the plurality of first patterns; and a second filling member filled in the plurality of second patterns and having a hardness lower than a hardness of the first filling member.

Inventors

Hyunmoon CHO
Jinhyun Park
Seungtaek Oh
Sunghwan LIM

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251229
Priority Date: 20230630

Claims (19)

1 . An electronic device comprising: a first housing; a second housing foldably connected to the first housing via a hinge module comprising a hinge; and a flexible display supported by at least the first housing and/or the second housing, wherein the flexible display includes: a glass based layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and including a plurality of first patterns recessed from the first surface and a plurality of second patterns recessed from the second surface; a first filling member, comprising filler material, substantially filling in the plurality of first patterns; and a second filling member, comprising filler material, substantially filling in the plurality of second patterns and having a hardness lower than a hardness of the first filling member.
2 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a depression depth of the plurality of first patterns is less than a depression depth of the plurality of second patterns.
3 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display includes a coating layer disposed on, directly or indirectly, the first surface of the glass based layer and coated with a hard coating and/or anti-finger coating.
4 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a depression depth of the plurality of first patterns is at least 20 μm.
5 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the glass based layer has a surface chemically strengthened by alkali ions exchanges.
6 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a pattern pitch of the plurality of first patterns, a pattern pitch of the plurality of second patterns, and a distance between the plurality of first patterns and the plurality of second patterns is at least 30 μm.
7 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display includes at least one planarization layer disposed, directly or indirectly, on the first surface and/or the second surface of the glass based layer.
8 . The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one planarization layer includes a first planarization layer disposed on the first surface and a second planarization layer disposed on the second surface, wherein the first planarization layer and the first filling member comprise a same material, and wherein the second planarization layer and the second filling member comprise a same material.
9 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display includes a first flat part facing the first housing, a second flat part facing the second housing, and a bendable part that connects the first flat part and the second flat part and faces the hinge module and is bendable.
10 . The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first patterns and the plurality of second patterns are disposed in an area corresponding to the bendable part of the flexible display.
11 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein a flexibility of the area is based on a shape, arrangement, and/or hardness of the plurality of patterns.
12 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first patterns and the plurality of second patterns are formed in at least one of a wave, stripe, or zigzag shape.
13 . An electronic device comprising: at least one housing; and a flexible display supported by the at least one housing, the flexible display including an at least partially bendable bending area; a glass layer including a plurality of first patterns recessed from a first surface and a plurality of second patterns recessed from a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first filling member, comprising filler material, filled into the plurality of first patterns; and a second filling member, comprising filler material, filled into the plurality of second patterns and having a hardness lower than that of the first filling member.
14 . The electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of first patterns and the plurality of second patterns are disposed in a region corresponding to the bending area.
15 . The electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein a depression depth of the plurality of first patterns is less than a depression depth of the plurality of second patterns.
16 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second filling members comprise elastic material.
17 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second filling members each comprise resin.
18 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second filling members comprises at least one of silicon, urethane, or acrylic.
19 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first filling member has a modulus of from 20 to 400 MPa, and the second filling member has a modulus of from 0.005 to 10 MPa.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2024/006915 designating the United States, filed on May 22, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0085232, filed on Jun. 30, 2023, and 10-2023-0099497, filed on Jul. 31, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD Various example embodiments may relate to an electronic device having a flexible display. BACKGROUND With the development of electronic, information, and communication technologies, a variety of functions are being integrated into a single portable communication device or electronic device. For example, a smartphone includes the functions of a sound player, an imaging device, or an organizer, in addition to communication functions. Furthermore, a wider range of functions can be implemented on a smartphone by installing additional applications. As smartphones or other personal/portable communication devices spread, users' demand for portability and use convenience is on the rise. For example, a touchscreen display may not only serve as an output device of visual information but also provide a virtual keyboard that replaces a mechanical input device (e.g., a button input device). As such, portable communication devices or electronic devices may be made compact while delivering further enhanced applicability (e.g., a larger screen). Furthermore, with the commercialization of flexible displays, such as foldable or rollable displays, electronic devices are expected to offer even greater portability and convenience. SUMMARY Various example embodiments may provide a flexible display having a plurality of patterns provided in a bending area, wherein the plurality of patterns may be filled with filling members having different hardnesses. An electronic device according to an example embodiment may include a first housing. The electronic device may include a second housing foldably connected, directly or indirectly, to the first housing through a hinge module. The electronic device may include a flexible display supported by, directly or indirectly, the first housing and the second housing. The flexible display may include a glass layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and including a plurality of first patterns recessed from the first surface and a plurality of second patterns recessed from the second surface. The flexible display may include a first filling member filling the plurality of first patterns. The flexible display may include a second filling member filling the plurality of second patterns and having a lower hardness than the first filling member. Various example embodiments may reduce a difference in touch feeling between the glass layer and the filling member by filling, with a first filling member having substantially the same hardness as the glass layer, the plurality of first patterns exposed to the outside in a glass layer having a plurality of patterns formed in an area corresponding to a bending area of the flexible display. Further, flexibility of the flexible display may be enhanced by filling, with a second filling member having a lower hardness than the first filling member, a plurality of second patterns opposite to the plurality of first patterns. Effects of the present invention are not limited to the foregoing, and other unmentioned effects would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description. In other words, unintended effects in practicing example embodiments may also be derived by one of ordinary skill in the art from example example embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used to denote the same or similar elements. FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an electronic device in a network environment according to various example embodiments. FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device in a flat state or unfolded state according to an example embodiment. FIG. 2B is a plan view illustrating a front surface of an electronic device in an unfolded state according to an example embodiment. FIG. 2C is a plan view illustrating a rear surface of an electronic device in an unfolded state according to an example embodiment. FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device in a folded state according to an example embodiment. FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device in an intermediate state according to an example embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electronic device according to an example embodiment. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a flexible display according to various example embodiments. FIG. 6 is a plan v