Patent Description:
With the variety of user requirements, increasingly more electronic devices enter people's lives, such as a mobile phone and a tablet computer. The electronic device usually has functions such as photographing, making a call, and fingerprint recognition, and therefore can meet use requirements of a user. The foregoing functions of the electronic device are generally completed by corresponding functional modules such as a camera module, a receiver, and a fingerprint recognition module.

The camera module is used as an example. A camera module of a current electronic device is built in. In other words, the camera module may be located inside the electronic device, and the camera module can enter or exit a housing of the electronic device through an opening of the housing. In this arrangement manner of the camera module, occupation of a display area by the camera module can be avoided. This is conducive to increasing a screen-to-body of the electronic device. However, the camera module in the foregoing solution can only implement forward or backward photographing of the electronic device. Therefore, a use scenario of the camera module is limited, and photographing freedom is relatively low, and consequently, a function of the camera module is limited. To improve the function of the camera module, the camera module may be separated from the housing, so that a photographing function of the electronic device is not limited by a direction and an angle, thereby improving the function of the camera module.

However, when a separated functional component such as the camera module is separated from the housing, the opening on the housing is exposed, so that dust or water vapor in an external environment easily enters the housing, thereby causing damage to an electronic component in the electronic device, and further reducing security and reliability of the electronic device.

<CIT> discloses a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a housing, a camera, a driving mechanism disposed in the inner cavity of the housing. The frame of the housing is provided with a through hole. The driving mechanism includes a driving body and elastic telescopic members. A positioning member is provided in the inner cavity. The elastic telescopic members are compressed between the camera and the positioning member. The elastic telescopic members are used for applying an elastic force to the camera so that the camera runs through the through hole. The driving body applies a traction force to the camera so that the camera runs through the through hole and retracts into the inner cavity.

<CIT> discloses a mobile terminal and a camera assembly, where the mobile terminal includes a housing and the camera assembly; a through hole is provided on a frame of the housing; the camera assembly includes a camera, a support which mounts the camera, a motor and push-pull rod; the motor is fixed on the housing and is electrically connected to a circuit board of the mobile terminal; the motor is provided with a threaded rod; a first end of the push-pull rod is provided with a threaded tube which fits with the threaded rod; the threaded tube is sleeved on the threaded rod; a second end of the push-pull rod is connected to the support; when the motor drives, the threaded rod rotates and drives the push-pull rod to move forward and draw back, and the push-pull rod drives the support to move, so that the camera extends from and retracts into the housing by means of the through hole.

The present invention discloses an electronic device, to resolve a problem of low security and reliability of an electronic device with separated functional components.

To resolve the foregoing technical problem, the present invention is implemented as follows:
According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronic device, including: a housing, where the housing has an inner cavity, and the inner cavity has an opening; a functional module, where the functional module may protrude outside the inner cavity through the opening and is separated from the housing or retracted into the inner cavity; a blocking member, where the blocking member is movably disposed in the inner cavity, and the blocking member corresponds to the opening; and a driving assembly, where the driving assembly is disposed in the inner cavity, the driving assembly is connected to the blocking member, the driving assembly drives the blocking member to switch between a first state and a second state, the blocking member is away from the opening in the first state, and the blocking member blocks the opening in the second state. In a case that at least a part of the functional module is located in the inner cavity, the blocking member is in the first state, and in a case that the functional module is separated from the housing, the blocking member is in the second state.

The technical solutions used in the present invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:
In the embodiments of the present invention, the blocking member is movably disposed in the inner cavity, and the blocking member corresponds to the opening. The driving assembly drives the blocking member to switch between the first state and the second state, the blocking member is far away from the opening in the first state, and the blocking member blocks the opening in the second state. In a case that at least a part of the functional module is located in the inner cavity, the blocking member is in the first state, and in a case that the functional module is separated from the housing, the blocking member is in the second state. In this solution, when the functional module is separated from the housing, the driving assembly drives the blocking member to switch to the second state. In this case, the blocking member may block the opening, so that dust and water vapor in an external environment do not easily enter the housing, thereby improving waterproof performance and dustproof performance of the electronic device, causing no damage to an electronic component of the electronic device, and improving security and reliability of the electronic device.

To describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention or the background more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the background. Apparently, a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

To make the objects, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions of the present invention with reference to specific embodiments of the present invention and corresponding accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are only some rather than all embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The technical solutions disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, an embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronic device, and the electronic device includes a housing <NUM>, a functional module <NUM>, a blocking member <NUM>, and a driving assembly <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> provides a mounting basis for another component of the electronic device, the housing <NUM> has an inner cavity <NUM>, and the inner cavity <NUM> has an opening <NUM>. Optionally, housings <NUM> in different structures include different components. For example, the housing <NUM> may include a front housing, a rear cover, and a middle frame disposed between the front housing and the rear cover, the front housing, the rear cover, and the middle frame jointly form the inner cavity <NUM>, and the opening <NUM> may be disposed on the front housing, may be disposed on the rear cover, or may be disposed on the middle frame. For another example, the housing <NUM> may include a front cover and a rear cover, the front cover and the rear cover jointly form the inner cavity <NUM>, and the opening <NUM> may be disposed on the front cover, may be disposed on the rear cover, or may be disposed in an assembly gap between the front cover and the rear cover.

The functional module <NUM> may protrude outside the inner cavity <NUM> through the opening <NUM> and be separated from the housing <NUM> or retracted into the inner cavity <NUM>. Specifically, the functional module <NUM> may include at least one of a camera module, a fingerprint recognition module, a receiver, a strobe light, a sensor, an unmanned aerial vehicle, or a card holder, and certainly may further include another component that needs to enter and exit the housing <NUM>. When the functional module <NUM> needs to switch an operating state, the functional module <NUM> may protrude outside the housing <NUM> through the opening <NUM>, and be separated from the housing <NUM>. After completing working, the functional module <NUM> may be retracted into the housing <NUM> through the opening <NUM> on the housing <NUM>. Such a functional module <NUM> does not occupy a display area of the electronic device. Therefore, a screen-to-body of the electronic device is relatively large. In addition, the functional module <NUM> may be separated from the housing <NUM>, so that the functional module <NUM> can independently work as a functional monomer during use, and is not limited by a direction and an angle, thereby improving use flexibility of the functional module <NUM>.

The blocking member <NUM> is movably disposed in the inner cavity <NUM>, and the blocking member <NUM> corresponds to the opening <NUM>. The driving assembly <NUM> is disposed in the inner cavity <NUM>, and the driving assembly <NUM> is connected to the blocking member <NUM>. The blocking member <NUM> has a first state and a second state, and the driving assembly <NUM> drives the blocking member <NUM> to switch between the first state and the second state. In a case that at least a part of the functional module <NUM> is located in the inner cavity <NUM>, the blocking member <NUM> is in the first state, and in this case, the blocking member <NUM> is in the inner cavity <NUM>, and the blocking member <NUM> is far away from the opening <NUM>, to avoid the functional module <NUM>, and the functional module <NUM> blocks the opening <NUM>. In a case that the functional module <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM>, the blocking member <NUM> is in the second state, and in this case, the functional module <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM>, and the blocking member <NUM> blocks the opening <NUM>.

Optionally, the driving assembly <NUM> may be a structure such as a linear motor or an air cylinder, and certainly, another power structure may be used. This is not limited in this specification.

In this embodiment of the present invention, when the functional module <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM>, the driving assembly <NUM> drives the blocking member <NUM> to switch to the second state. In this case, the blocking member <NUM> may block the opening <NUM>, so that dust and water vapor in an external environment do not easily enter the housing <NUM>, thereby improving waterproof performance and dustproof performance of the electronic device, causing no damage to an electronic component of the electronic device, and improving security and reliability of the electronic device.

In addition, after the functional module <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM>, the opening <NUM> on the housing <NUM> is blocked by the blocking member <NUM>, and a user does not easily see the opening <NUM>. In this way, the user has relatively weak feeling of visual impact, and therefore appearance quality of the electronic device is better, thereby improving user experience.

In the foregoing embodiment, in a case that the blocking member <NUM> is in the second state, to avoid interference caused by the blocking member <NUM> to an edge of the opening <NUM>, in a projection in a direction in which the functional module <NUM> protrudes, a projection outline of the blocking member <NUM> is located within a projection outline of the opening <NUM>. In this case, there is a gap between a side wall of the opening <NUM> and a side wall of the blocking member <NUM>, and dust and water vapor in an environment may enter the inner cavity <NUM> through the gap, and consequently security and reliability of the electronic device are reduced. To resolve this problem, in another optional embodiment, in a case that the blocking member <NUM> is in the second state, at least a part of the blocking member <NUM> is in the opening <NUM>, and an edge of the blocking member <NUM> and an edge of the opening <NUM> cooperate, through limiting, in a direction in which the functional module <NUM> protrudes. In this case, the blocking member <NUM> may be a stepped structure, and a step surface of the blocking member <NUM> can fit the edge of the opening <NUM>. The step surface is the edge of the blocking member <NUM>, and the step surface can block the gap, so that dust and water vapor do not easily enter the inner cavity <NUM>, thereby further improving security and reliability of the electronic device. In addition, the edge of the blocking member <NUM> and an inner surface of the opening <NUM> cooperate, through limiting, in the direction in which the functional module <NUM> protrudes, and the edge of the blocking member <NUM> interferes with the opening <NUM> in terms of positions, to prevent the blocking member <NUM> from protruding excessively from the opening <NUM>.

In a case that the blocking member <NUM> is in the second state, a part of the blocking member <NUM> may be higher than an outer surface of the housing <NUM>. Consequently, an overall appearance size of the electronic device increases, and poor user experience is caused. Certainly, the outer surface of the housing <NUM> may also be higher than the blocking member <NUM>, so that a groove is left at a connection between the opening <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM>, and dust is easily collected in the groove, and consequently, the blocking member <NUM> is stuck when moving. In an optional embodiment, in a case that the blocking member <NUM> is in the second state, an outer surface that is of the blocking member <NUM> and that is exposed to the housing <NUM> is coplanar with the outer surface of the housing <NUM>. In this solution, a connection between the blocking member <NUM> and the opening <NUM> is relatively smooth, so that an appearance size of the electronic device is relatively small, thereby improving user experience. In addition, there is no groove at the connection position between the blocking member <NUM> and the opening <NUM>, and therefore dust is not easily collected, so that the blocking member <NUM> is not prone to being stuck, thereby improving reliability of the electronic device.

In the foregoing embodiment, the user may manually drive the functional module <NUM> to enter or exit the inner cavity <NUM>. However, there is a problem of relatively low precision in the manual operation manner, and further, when the user is relatively far away from the electronic device, the user needs to approach the electronic device to implement a driving operation, and therefore, the operation is not easy to implement. Therefore, the electronic device may further include a drive mechanism, where the drive mechanism is disposed in the inner cavity <NUM>, the drive mechanism is connected to the functional module <NUM>, the drive mechanism drives the functional module <NUM> to protrude outside the inner cavity <NUM> through the opening <NUM>, and enables the functional module <NUM> to be separated from the housing <NUM>, or the drive mechanism drives the functional module <NUM> to be retracted into the inner cavity <NUM> through the opening <NUM>. In this solution, the drive mechanism can accurately drive the functional module <NUM> to enter or exit the inner cavity <NUM>. In addition, the user may trigger an action of the drive mechanism through remote control, to drive the functional module <NUM> to protrude outside the inner cavity <NUM> or be retracted into the inner cavity <NUM> through the opening <NUM>. In this way, an operation on the functional module <NUM> is easier to implement. Optionally, the drive mechanism may be a structure such as a drive motor, a linear motor, or an air cylinder, and the drive mechanism may alternatively be another structure for outputting power. This is not limited in this specification.

In the foregoing embodiment, the blocking member <NUM> and the functional module <NUM> are driven by using a corresponding power mechanism. In this case, mounting positions of two power mechanisms need to be reserved on the housing <NUM>, and consequently, relatively large space of the inner cavity <NUM> is occupied. In addition, two power mechanisms are disposed in the electronic device, and consequently, costs of the electronic device are relatively high. In another optional embodiment, in a case that the blocking member <NUM> is in the first state, the blocking member <NUM> is located on a side of the functional module <NUM> that is away from the opening <NUM>, the blocking member <NUM> is connected to the functional module <NUM>, the driving assembly <NUM> drives the blocking member <NUM> to move, and the functional module <NUM> protrudes outside the inner cavity <NUM> or is retracted into the inner cavity <NUM> through the opening <NUM> together with the blocking member <NUM>. In this solution, the blocking member <NUM> and the functional module <NUM> share one power mechanism, and only one power mechanism mounting position needs to be reserved in the inner cavity <NUM>. In addition, manufacturing costs of the electronic device are relatively low, and structural design of the electronic device is more single. Certainly, in this case, the blocking member <NUM> and the functional module <NUM> can share a power mechanism to move, and there is no need to configure a power mechanism for each of the blocking member <NUM> and the functional module <NUM>. Therefore, energy consumption of the electronic device can be reduced, and a battery life of the electronic device can be prolonged.

Optionally, the functional module <NUM> is in contact with a surface of the blocking member <NUM>. The functional module <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM> may be connected through magnetic suction, clamping, or the like.

In addition, the functional module <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM> may move simultaneously. In a process in which the blocking member <NUM> changes a state through movement, the functional module <NUM> can be driven to change a position. This can undoubtedly improve driving efficiency.

In the foregoing embodiment, when the functional module <NUM> needs to be retracted into the inner cavity <NUM>, the blocking member <NUM> is first in contact with the functional module <NUM>, and then the user needs to send an instruction, so that the blocking member <NUM> switches to the first state. This operation manner is relatively cumbersome and has a relatively low degree of intelligence. In an optional embodiment, the electronic device disclosed in this embodiment of the present invention may further include a detection member and a control member. The detection member is configured to detect position information of the functional module <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM>. The control member may control the driving assembly <NUM> based on the position information. The driving assembly <NUM> drives the blocking member <NUM> to switch between the first state and the second state. In this solution, the detection member detects the position information of the functional module <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM>. When the position information matches preset position information, the control member controls the driving assembly <NUM> to drive the blocking member <NUM>, so that driving operations of the blocking member <NUM> and the functional module <NUM> are simpler and more intelligent.

Optionally, the detection member may be a distance sensor. When the blocking member <NUM> is in contact with the functional module <NUM>, the driving assembly drives the blocking member <NUM> to switch to the first state. Contact between the blocking member <NUM> and the functional module <NUM> is the preset position information of the electronic device. The detection member and the control member may be disposed on the blocking member <NUM>, or may be disposed on the functional module <NUM>, or one of the detection member and the control member is disposed on the blocking member <NUM>, and the other is disposed on the functional module <NUM>.

A specific structure of the detection member is provided in this specification. Certainly, another structure may be used. This is not limited in this specification. Specifically, the detection member may include a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. The first electrical contact may be disposed on the blocking member <NUM>. The second electrical contact may be disposed on the functional module <NUM>. In a case that the functional module <NUM> is connected to the blocking member <NUM>, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are electrically conductive. In a specific operation process, when the functional module <NUM> is in the inner cavity <NUM> and is in contact with the blocking member <NUM>, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are electrically conductive. In this case, the driving assembly <NUM> drives the blocking member <NUM> to move away from the opening <NUM> or keep the blocking member <NUM> in the inner cavity <NUM>. When the functional module <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM>, the blocking member <NUM> is separated from the functional module <NUM>, and the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are powered off. In this case, the driving assembly <NUM> drives the blocking member <NUM> to block the opening <NUM>. In this solution, through detection of a voltage between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, information about a position between the functional module <NUM> and the blocking member <NUM> can be detected. This manner is simple and reliable, and is easy to operate.

In another optional embodiment, the functional module <NUM> may have a first surface exposed to the housing <NUM>. In a case that the blocking member <NUM> is in the first state, the functional module <NUM> is in the inner cavity <NUM>, and the first surface is coplanar with a surface of the housing <NUM>. In this case, the functional module <NUM> does not protrude from the housing <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> seen by the user is an integral part. In this way, appearance performance and grabbing performance of the electronic device are improved, and user experience is improved.

A specific structure of the driving assembly <NUM> is provided in this specification. Certainly, another structure form may be used. This is not limited in this specification. Specifically, the driving assembly <NUM> may include a drive source <NUM>, a screw rod <NUM>, a guide rod <NUM>, a screw sleeve <NUM>, and a support <NUM>. The support <NUM> may provide a mounting basis for another part of the driving assembly <NUM>. The drive source <NUM> is connected to one end of the screw rod <NUM>, the screw rod <NUM> is rotatably connected to the support <NUM>, the support <NUM> is connected to the guide rod <NUM>, an extension direction of the screw rod <NUM> is the same as an extension direction of the guide rod <NUM>, the screw rod <NUM> cooperates with the screw sleeve <NUM> through screwing, the screw sleeve <NUM> is movably sleeved on the guide rod <NUM>, and the screw sleeve <NUM> is connected to the blocking member <NUM>. The drive source <NUM> may drive the screw sleeve <NUM> to move by using the screw <NUM>, to drive the blocking member <NUM> to move. The guide rod <NUM> guides the screw sleeve <NUM>. Compared with a linear motor and an air cylinder, driving force provided by the driving assembly <NUM> is more stable, so that the blocking member <NUM> is less prone to slanting in a moving process.

Optionally, the drive source <NUM> may be a drive motor, the support <NUM> may include a body part <NUM> and a supporting member <NUM>, the supporting member <NUM> is disposed at one end of the body part <NUM>, the drive source <NUM>, the screw rod <NUM>, and the guide rod <NUM> are mounted on the body part <NUM>, a mounting hole is disposed on the supporting member <NUM>, one end of the screw rod <NUM> is located in the mounting hole, and the screw rod <NUM> may rotate relative to the mounting hole.

In an optional embodiment, a first guiding part may be disposed on the housing <NUM>, a second guiding part may be disposed on the blocking member <NUM>, and the first guiding part cooperates with the second guiding part through sliding. In this solution, the driving assembly <NUM> drives the blocking member <NUM> to move in an extension direction of the first guiding part, and the first guiding part may assist in limiting a movement track of the blocking member <NUM> by using the second guiding part, so that the blocking member <NUM> moves in the extension direction of the first guiding part. This solution can limit and guide a moving direction of the blocking member <NUM>, to more reliably prevent the blocking member <NUM> from slanting in a moving process. Optionally, the first guiding part may be a guiding groove, and the second guiding part may be a guiding protrusion.

In another embodiment, a third guiding part may be disposed on the functional module <NUM>, and the third guiding part cooperates with the first guiding part through sliding. In this solution, a movement direction of the functional module <NUM> can be limited and guided, to more reliably prevent the functional module <NUM> from slanting in a moving process. Optionally, the first guiding part may be a guiding groove, and the third guiding part may be a guiding protrusion.

To further improve waterproof performance and dustproof performance of the electronic device, in an optional embodiment, the electronic device disclosed in this embodiment of the present invention may further include a sealing member, such as a sealing ring and a sealing strip. In a case that the blocking member <NUM> is in the second state, the blocking member <NUM> and the opening <NUM> are sealed by using the sealing member. In this case, waterproof performance and dustproof performance of the electronic device are further improved.

In an optional embodiment, the housing <NUM> may include a bezel, and the opening <NUM> may be opened on the bezel. The bezel is located on a side surface of the housing <NUM>, and the opening <NUM> is disposed on the bezel, so that the user cannot easily see the bezel, and the user has relatively weak feeling of visual impact, and therefore appearance quality of the electronic device is better.

The electronic device disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be a device such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, an e-book reader, a wearable device (for example, a smart watch), or a video game. A specific type of the electronic device is not limited in the embodiments of the present invention.

The foregoing embodiments of the present invention focus on describing differences between the embodiments, and different optimization features of the embodiments may be combined to form better embodiments provided that they are not contradictory. Considering brevity, details are not described herein again.

Claim 1:
An electronic device, comprising:
a housing (<NUM>), wherein the housing (<NUM>) has an inner cavity (<NUM>), and the inner cavity (<NUM>) has an opening (<NUM>);
characterized in that, the electronic device further comprising:
a functional module (<NUM>), wherein the functional module (<NUM>) is able to protrude outside the inner cavity (<NUM>) through the opening (<NUM>) and is separated from the housing (<NUM>) to enable the functional module (<NUM>) independently work as a functional monomer or the functional module (<NUM>) is able to be retracted into the inner cavity (<NUM>) through the opening (<NUM>);
a blocking member (<NUM>), wherein the blocking member (<NUM>) is movably disposed in the inner cavity (<NUM>), and the blocking member (<NUM>) corresponds to the opening (<NUM>); and
a driving assembly (<NUM>), wherein the driving assembly (<NUM>) is disposed in the inner cavity (<NUM>), the driving assembly (<NUM>) is connected to the blocking member (<NUM>), the driving assembly (<NUM>) drives the blocking member (<NUM>) to switch between a first state and a second state, the blocking member (<NUM>) is away from the opening (<NUM>) in the first state, and the blocking member (<NUM>) blocks the opening (<NUM>) in the second state; wherein
in a case that at least a part of the functional module (<NUM>) is located in the inner cavity (<NUM>), the blocking member (<NUM>) is in the first state, and in a case that the functional module (<NUM>) is separated from the housing (<NUM>), the blocking member (<NUM>) is in the second state.