Patent Publication Number: US-2021173432-A1

Title: Electronic device and display module

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to display modules, and more particularly to a display module for an electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, full-screen display screens of electronic devices use piezoelectric materials or linear vibration motors to cause the screen to produce sound. However, due to poor practicability, high price of piezoelectric materials, and the need for additional IC amplifiers, the cost of the electronic device product is high, and the use of linear vibration motors occupies much internal space of the electronic device, which is not conducive to miniaturization of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of embodiments, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a display module according to an embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a display module according to another embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a coil according to an embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a coil according to another embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the display module shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the display module shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the display module shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the display module shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a display module according to another embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a display module according to another embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a display module according to another embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an electronic device  100 . In one embodiment, the electronic device  100  is a mobile phone. In other embodiments, the electronic device  100  may be a wearable device, a tablet computer, or the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the electronic device  100  includes a display module  10 . The display module  10  includes a display screen  11 , a middle frame  12 , a magnet  13 , and a coil  14 . The display screen  11  is arranged on the middle frame  12  and cooperatively defines a receiving space  15  with the middle frame  12 . The magnet  13  and the coil  14  are received in the receiving space  15 . 
     In one embodiment, the middle frame  12  includes a first housing  121  and a second housing  122 . The first housing  121  is arranged between the second housing  122  and the display screen  11  to couple the display screen  11  and the second housing  122  together. Specifically, the first housing  121  has an annular shape. The second housing  122  includes a bottom wall  1221 , a side wall  1222  surrounding a periphery of the bottom wall  1221 , and a connecting portion  1223 . The connecting portion  1223  extends outward from one end of the side wall  1222  away from the bottom wall  1221 . The first housing  121  is arranged on the connecting portion  1223 . The second housing  122  may be an integrally formed structure. In another embodiment, the second housing  122  only includes the bottom wall  1221  and the side wall  1222 , so that the first housing  121  is arranged at an end of the side wall  1222  away from the bottom wall  1221 . 
     In other embodiments, the middle frame  12  may only include the second housing  122 , so that the display screen  11  is directly arranged on the second housing  122 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one of the magnet  13  and the coil  14  is arranged on the display screen  11 , and the other one of the magnet  13  and the coil  14  is arranged on the middle frame  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in one embodiment, the coil  14  is an annular structure formed by winding a wire in one direction, thereby defining an accommodation space  141 . A portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141 . A cross-sectional shape of the coil  14  may be a regular ring, an elliptical ring, a rectangular ring, or other irregular ringed shape. The magnet  13  may have a regular structure such as a rectangular parallelepiped structure, a cube structure, a cylindrical structure, or other irregular structure. 
     A fixing portion  142  is provided on the coil  14 . The fixing portion  142  is used for installing the coil  14  onto the display screen  11  or the middle frame  12 . In other embodiments, the fixing portion  142  may be omitted, so that the coil  14  is directly arranged on the display screen  11  or the middle frame  12 . 
     Specifically, the coil  14  includes an upper edge  143  and a lower edge  144  facing away from the upper edge  143 . The upper edge  143  faces the display screen  11 . The fixing portion  142  extends from the lower edge  144  away from a central axis of the coil  14 , and the coil  14  is arranged on the middle frame  12  through the fixing portion  142  (shown in  FIG. 9 ). 
     In other embodiments, the fixing portion  142  may extend from the upper edge  143  away from the central axis of the coil  14 , so that the coil  14  is arranged on the display screen  11  through the fixing portion  142  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
     In another embodiment, the fixing portion  142  includes a plurality of fixing sub-portions  1421 . The plurality of fixing sub-portions  1421  is arranged on the upper edge  143  or the lower edge  144  at intervals. Each of the fixing sub-portions  1421  extends from the upper edge  143  or the lower edge  144  away from the central axis of the coil  14 . A number of the fixing sub-portions  1421  is not limited, and may be two, three, four, or more. Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the fixing portion  142  includes two fixing sub-portions  1421 . Each fixing sub-portion  1421  extends from the lower edge  144  away from the central axis of the coil  14 . The two fixing sub-portions  1421  are respectively located on opposite sides of the coil  14 . 
     The display module  10  will be specifically described below through specific embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a first embodiment, the display module  10  includes a display screen  11 , a middle frame  12 , a magnet  13 , and a coil  14 . The display screen  11  is arranged on the middle frame  12  and cooperatively defines a receiving space  15  with the middle frame  12 . The magnet  13  and the coil  14  are received in the receiving space  15 . 
     In the first embodiment, the middle frame  12  includes a first housing  121  and a second housing  122 . The first housing  121  has an annular shape. The first housing  121  is arranged between the display screen  11  and the second housing  122  to couple the display screen  11  and the second housing  122  together. The second housing  122  includes a bottom wall  1221 , a side wall  1222  surrounding a periphery of the bottom wall  1221 , and a connecting portion  1223 . The connecting portion  1223  extends outward from one end of the side wall  1222  away from the bottom wall  1221 . The first housing  121  is arranged on the connecting portion  1223 . The second housing  122  is an integrally formed structure. 
     A connecting member  16  is provided between the first housing  121  and the display screen  11 . The connecting member  16  couples the display screen  11  and the first housing  121  together. In the first embodiment, the connecting member  16  is a double-sided foam tape, so that the connecting member  16  not only serves to couple the first housing  121  and the display screen  11  together, but also provides a buffer for the display screen  11 . 
     The middle frame  12  further includes a mounting member  17 . In the first embodiment, the mounting member  17  is a screw. The second housing  122  is fixed to the first housing  121  through the mounting member  17 . Specifically, the connecting portion  1223  of the second housing  122  is provided with a first mounting hole  1224 , and the first housing  121  is provided with a second mounting hole  1211  corresponding to the first mounting hole  1224 . The mounting member  17  is arranged in the first mounting hole  1224  and the second mounting hole  1211  to fix the second housing  122  onto the first housing  121 . Referring to  FIG. 13 , in other embodiments, the first housing  121  and the second housing  122  may be coupled together by a surface mount process, so that the mounting member  17 , the first mounting hole  1224 , and the second mounting hole  1211  are omitted. 
     In the first embodiment, the coil  14  is arranged on the display screen  11 . The coil  14  is an annular structure formed by winding a wire in one direction, so that the coil  14  defines an accommodation space  141 . In the first embodiment, a current signal passing through the coil  14  is an alternating current (AC) signal, so that a polarity of two ends of the coil  14  will alternate between a north (N) pole and a south (S) pole. That is, under the action of the AC signal, the N pole of the coil  14  changes from facing the display screen  11  to facing the middle frame  12 , and the S pole of the coil  14  changes from facing the middle frame  12  to facing the display screen  11 , or the N pole of the coil  14  changes from facing the middle frame  12  to facing the display screen  11 , and the S pole of the coil  14  changes from facing the display screen  11  to the middle frame  12 . 
     In the first embodiment, a cross-sectional shape of the coil  14  is a circular ring. The coil  14  includes an upper edge  143  and a lower edge  144  facing away from the upper edge  143 . The upper edge  143  faces the display screen  11 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the upper edge  143  includes a fixed portion  142  extending away from the central axis of the coil  14 . The coil  14  is arranged on the display screen  11  through the fixing portion  142 . 
     The magnet  13  is arranged on the bottom wall  1221  of the second housing  122 , and a portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141 . In the first embodiment, the N pole of the magnet  13  faces the display screen  11 , and the S pole of the magnet  13  faces the bottom wall  1221 , so that the AC signal of the coil  14  causes the polarity of the two ends of the coil  14  to alternate between the N pole and the S pole. In this way, based on the principle of magnetic attraction and repulsion, the coil  14  and the magnet  13  will attract or repel each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to vibrate toward or away from the second housing  122  to generate sound. 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG. 6 , under the action of an AC signal, the N pole of the coil  14  faces the display screen  11 , and the S pole of the coil  14  faces the bottom wall  1221 . At this time, since a portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141 , the S pole of the coil  14  is adjacent to the N pole of the magnet  13 , and the coil  14  and the magnet  13  are attracted to each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to vibrate toward the second housing  122 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , under the action of the AC signal, the N pole of the coil  14  is changed from facing the display screen  11  to facing the bottom wall  1221 , and the S pole is changed from facing the bottom wall  1221  to facing the display screen  11 , so that the N pole of the coil  14  is adjacent to the N pole of the magnet  13 . Therefore, the coil  14  and the magnet  13  repel each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to vibrate in a direction away from the second housing  122 . Under the action of the AC signal of the coil  14 , the repeated mutual attraction and repulsion between the magnet  13  and the coil  14  drive the display screen  11  to vibrate toward or away from the second housing  122  to produce sound. 
     In the first embodiment, a portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141 , which can reduce an occupied space of the magnet  13 , and at the same time ensure interaction between the magnet  13  and the coil  14  to drive the display screen  11  to vibrate. 
     In other embodiments, the S pole of the magnet  13  faces the display screen  11  and the N pole faces away from the display screen  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the structure of the coil  14  and the position where the magnet  13  and the coil  14  are arranged in the second embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in the second embodiment, the fixing portion  142  is arranged on the lower edge  144 . Specifically, the fixing portion  142  extends outward from the lower edge  144  of the coil  14  away from the central axis of the coil  14 . The coil  14  is arranged on the bottom wall  1221  of the second housing  122  through the fixing portion  142 . The magnet  13  is arranged on the display screen  11 , and a portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141 . In the second embodiment, the S pole of the magnet  13  faces the display screen  11  and the N pole of the magnet  13  faces the bottom wall  1221 . As the AC current of the coil  14  causes the polarity of the two ends of the coil  14  to alternate between the N pole and the S pole, the coil  14  and the magnet  13  alternately attract and repel each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to vibrate toward or away from the second housing  122  to generate sound. 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG. 8 , under the action of an AC signal, the N pole of the coil  14  faces the display screen  11 , and the S pole of the coil  14  faces the bottom wall  1221 . At this time, because a portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141 , the N pole of the coil  14  is adjacent to the N pole of the magnet  13 . Thus, the coil  14  and the magnet  13  mutually repel each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to vibrate away from the second housing  122 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , under the action of the AC signal, the N pole of the coil  14  changes from facing the display screen  11  to facing the bottom wall  1221 , and the S pole of the coil  14  changes from facing the bottom wall  1221  to facing the display screen  11 . At this time, since a portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141 , the S pole of the coil  14  is adjacent to the N pole of the magnet  13 . Thus, the coil  14  and the magnet  13  are attracted to each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to vibrate toward the second housing  122 . As the AC current of the coil  14  causes the polarity of the two ends of the coil  14  to alternate between the N pole and the S pole, the coil  14  and the magnet  13  alternately attract and repel each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to vibrate toward or away from the second housing  122  to generate sound. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment lies in the structure of the coil  14  of the third embodiment. 
     In the third embodiment, a cross-sectional shape of the coil  14  is a rectangular ring. The fixing portion  142  includes two fixing sub-portions  1421  spaced apart. The fixing sub-portions  1421  extend from the lower edge  144  in the direction opposite to the central axis of the coil  14 . The two fixing sub-portions  1421  are respectively located on both sides of the coil  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the difference between the fourth embodiment and the second embodiment is that the display module  10  in the fourth embodiment further includes a circuit board  18 . 
     The circuit board  18  is arranged between the first housing  121  and the second housing  122 . In the fourth embodiment, the second mounting hole  1211  is omitted from the first housing  121 . The circuit board  18  is arranged on the first housing  121  through a surface mount process. The second housing  122  is arranged on the circuit board  18  through the mounting member  17 . Specifically, the circuit board  18  is provided with a third mounting hole  181 . The third mounting hole  181  is aligned with the first mounting hole  1224 . In this way, the mounting member  17  is arranged in the first mounting hole  1224  and the third mounting hole  181  to fix the second housing  122  onto the circuit board  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the difference between the fifth embodiment and the fourth embodiment lies in the connection manner of the circuit board  18  and the first housing  121  in the fourth embodiment. 
     In the fifth embodiment, the circuit board  18  and the second housing  122  are arranged on the first housing  121  through the mounting member  17 . In detail, the first housing  121  is provided with the second mounting hole  1211 , and the second mounting hole  1211  is aligned with the first mounting hole  1224  and the third mounting hole  181 . In this way, the mounting member  17  is arranged in the first mounting hole  1224 , the second mounting hole  1211 , and the third mounting hole  181  to arrange the circuit board  18  and the second housing  122  onto the first housing  121 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the difference between the sixth embodiment and the fourth embodiment lies in the connection manner of the circuit board  18  and the second housing  122  in the sixth embodiment 6. 
     In the sixth embodiment, the second housing  122  is arranged onto the circuit board  18  through a surface mount process, so that the first mounting hole  1224  of the second housing  122  and the third mounting hole  181  of the circuit board  18  are omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , in one embodiment, the electronic device  100  further includes a battery  20 . The battery  20  defines a groove  201  for receiving a portion of the second housing  122 . In this way, an occupied space of the display module  10  is reduced to improve space utilization of the electronic device  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , in other embodiments, the battery  20  is provided with a through hole  202 . The through hole  202  penetrates the battery  20 , and the second housing  122  is received in the through hole  202 . 
     In another embodiment, the second housing  122  can be further embedded in a gap between two electronic components in the electronic device  100 . 
     In summary, one of the magnet  13  and the coil  14  is arranged on the display screen  11 , and the other one of the magnet  13  and the coil  14  is arranged on the middle frame  12 . A portion of the magnet  13  is accommodated in the accommodation space  141  of the coil  14 . The AC current of the coil  14  causes the polarity of the coil  14  to alternately change to cause the coil  14  and the magnet  13  to alternately attract and repel each other, thereby driving the display screen  11  to alternately move toward and away from the second housing  122 , so that the display screen  11  vibrates and produces sound. In addition, the magnet  13  partially accommodated in the accommodation space  141  can reduce an occupied space of the magnet  13 , and at the same time ensure interaction between the magnet  13  and the coil  14  to drive the display screen  11  to vibrate. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.