Patent Description:
An electronic device may include at least one or more acoustic components, for example, a microphone or a speaker, in a main body housing, and at least one or more holes for the acoustic component may be formed.

Typically, the speaker mounted in the electronic device includes speaker holes mainly disposed at a top and/or a bottom due to limitation of the mounting space of the main body housing.

Document (<CIT>) discloses a conventional slide type portable device and document (<CIT>) discloses a conventional electronic device with a slidable display. Document (<CIT>) discloses an electronic device with a conventional two-way speaker.

However, an electronic device may reduce speaker performance, by covering at least one or more speaker holes if the electronic device is held with both hands, in a display landscape mode.

Meanwhile, an electronic device having a slidable or rollable type display may be disadvantageous in mounting a speaker and forming a speaker hole due to a mounting structure of a driving unit for inserting or extracting the display disposed in the main body housing to expand the display.

Various embodiments of the present invention are to prevent speaker performance deterioration due to holding with both hands, in an electronic device having a flexible display, for example, a slidable or rollable display, in a landscape mode of the electronic device, if the display is opened, by adding a speaker hole in a side/bottom direction of a main body housing.

Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a speaker volume boost effect while a display is opened, by adding a two-way speaker and a speaker hole to a main body housing.

Various embodiments of the present invention may improve speaker performance in a low band if a speaker sound path has high straightness with a radiation direction of a speaker diaphragm, and may improve speaker performance in a high band if the speaker sound path has low straightness with the speaker diaphragm, by adding a two-way speaker and a speaker hole to a main body housing.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, speaker performance deterioration due to holding a main body housing with both hands may be avoided, in a display landscape mode of an electronic device having a rollable display.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, speaker performance of an electronic device may be improved with increase of speaker holes.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a speaker volume boost effect may be provided.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, speaker performance may be improved in a low band if a speaker sound path has high straightness with a radiation direction of a speaker diaphragm, and speaker performance may be improved in a high band if the speaker sound path has low straightness with the speaker diaphragm.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed with reference to the attached drawings. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the present disclosure to specific embodiments, but to cover various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In relation to descriptions of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used for similar components.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, an electronic device may include at least one of a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a workstation, a server, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), an MPEG <NUM> (MP3) player, a medical equipment, a camera, or a wearable device (e.g., smart glasses, a head-mounted-device (HMD), an electronic garment, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronic appcessory, an electronic tattoo, a smart mirror, or a smart watch).

In some embodiments, the electronic device may be a smart home appliance. The smart home appliance may include at least one of, for example, a television, a digital video disk (DVD) player, an audio, a refrigerator, an air-conditioner, a cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washing machine, an air cleaner, a set-top box, a home automation control panel, a security control panel, a TV box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™ or Google TV™), a game console (e.g., Xbox™, PlayStation™), an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, or an electronic frame.

In other embodiment, the electronic device may include at least one of various medical devices (e.g., various portable medical measuring devices (a blood sugar measuring device, a heartbeat measuring device, a blood pressure measuring device, or a body temperature measuring device, etc.), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), a scanning machine, or an ultrasonic wave device, etc.), a navigation device, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, an event data recorder (EDR), a flight data recorder (FDR), a vehicle infotainment device, marine electronic equipment (e.g., a marine navigation device, a gyro compass, etc.), avionics, a security device, an automotive head unit, an industrial or home robot, an automated teller machine (ATM) of a financial institution, a point of sales (POS) of a store, or an Internet of things (IoT) device (e.g., a light bulb, various sensors, an electricity or gas meter, a sprinkler device, a fire alarm, a thermostat, a street light, a toaster, sports equipment, a hot water tank, a heater, a boiler, etc.).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may include at least one of a portion of furniture or building/construction, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, or various measuring devices (e.g., water supply, electricity, gas, or electric wave measuring device). In various embodiments, the electronic device may be a combination of one or more of the various devices described above. According to an embodiment, the electronic device may be a flexible electronic device. In addition, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing devices, and may include a new electronic device according to technological development.

In describing an electronic device <NUM> with reference to <FIG>, an orthogonal coordinate system may be used. In the orthogonal coordinate system, an X axis may indicate a horizontal direction of the electronic device <NUM>, a Y axis may indicate a vertical direction of the electronic device <NUM>, and a Z axis may indicate a thickness direction of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a main body housing <NUM>, a support frame <NUM>, and a flexible display <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may be changed in a display area of the flexible display <NUM> as the support frame <NUM> moves from the main body housing <NUM>. For example, the movement of the support frame <NUM> may include sliding movement, in parallel with the main body housing <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the flexible display <NUM> may include a first display area <NUM> which is always exposed if the support frame <NUM> is closed in the main body housing <NUM>, and the flexible display <NUM> may include a second display area <NUM> which is extended and exposed in addition to the first display area <NUM> if the support frame <NUM> is opened in the main body housing <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the second display area <NUM> is optional, and may be exposed or hidden depending on the movement of the support frame <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the support frame <NUM> is a structure for supporting the flexible display <NUM>, and may be moved from the main body housing <NUM> to be opened, and may be moved toward the main body housing <NUM> to be closed. For example, the open state and the closed state of the support frame <NUM> may be implemented automatically or semi-automatically.

According to an embodiment, at least a part of the support frame <NUM> is disposed to overlap with at least a part of the main body housing <NUM>, and may perform sliding movement while maintaining a horizontal state from the main body housing <NUM>. The support frame <NUM> in the closed state may slide in a direction ④ away from the main body housing <NUM>, and the support frame <NUM> in the open state may slide in a direction ⑤ toward the main body housing <NUM>. For example, the closed state of the support frame <NUM> may be referred to as a sliding-in state, and the open state of the support frame <NUM> may be referred to as a sliding-out state. The support frame <NUM> may include a flat portion in at least a part to evenly support the flexible display <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the main body housing <NUM> may include a first plate <NUM>, a second plate <NUM>, and a plurality of first side members 11a through 11c. According to an embodiment, the first plate <NUM> may be disposed to face a first direction ①, and the second plate <NUM> may be disposed to face a second direction ② opposite to the first direction ①. According to an embodiment, the plurality of the first side members 11a through 11c may be disposed to face a third direction ③ which is perpendicular to the first and second directions ① and ②.

According to an embodiment, the main body housing <NUM> may form first side speaker holes h1 in the side member 11a at the top, and may form second side speaker holes h2 in the side member 11b at the bottom. For example, only one of the first and second side speaker holes h1 and h2 may be formed in the side member 11a and 11b of the main body housing <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the support frame <NUM> is the support structure for supporting the flexible display <NUM>, and may stably support the flexible display <NUM>, if it is opened in the closed state or closed in the open state. For example, the support frame may be referred to as a bracket, a housing or a case.

According to an embodiment, the flexible display <NUM> is a slidable or rollable display, and may be connected to the support frame <NUM> with one end, and may be connected to the main body housing <NUM> with the other end. Although not depicted, the main body housing <NUM> may include a rolling driving unit, to roll a part of the rolled flexible display <NUM> or to release the rolling state. For example, the rolling driving unit may include a driving motor which is not shown, and a motor control unit. One end of the flexible display <NUM> may be connected to the driving motor, to be rolled by the driving of the driving motor, or to be unfolded in the rolled state.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may be the same electronic device <NUM> as the electronic device <NUM> shown in <FIG>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include at least one or more two-way speakers <NUM> disposed in a main body housing <NUM>, for emitting sound in a third direction (the third direction ③ shown in <FIG>) and a second direction (e.g., the second direction ② shown in <FIG>). According to an embodiment, the two-way speaker <NUM> is a speaker for emitting the sound produced from a speaker vibrating unit in two directions, and may be disposed alone, or symmetrically in the main body housing <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the two-way speaker <NUM> may be symmetrically disposed in the main body housing <NUM>, and may be formed adjacent to an upper side member (e.g., the side member 11a shown in <FIG>) and/or a lower side member (e.g., the side member 11b shown in <FIG>). According to an embodiment, the embodiment in which the speaker vibrating unit is disposed to face the second direction ② has been illustrated, but the two-way speaker <NUM> is not limited to this arrangement structure and the speaker vibrating unit may be disposed to face the third direction ③. Hereafter, the two-way speaker <NUM> shall be referred to as a speaker.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may form at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> in addition to first and second side speaker holes (e.g., the first and second side speaker holes h1 and h2 shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to direct the sound emitted from the speaker <NUM> out of the main body housing. According to an embodiment, the second speaker hole <NUM> may be formed symmetrically on a second plate <NUM>, and may be formed adjacent to an upper side member (e.g., the side member 11a shown in <FIG>) and/or a lower side member (e.g., the side member 11b shown in <FIG>).

According to an embodiment, the main body housing <NUM> may open or close the at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> formed in a first area a1 of the second plate <NUM> according to a movement of a support frame <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the second speaker hole <NUM> may be opened and closed by a first portion <NUM> of the support frame <NUM>. According to an embodiment, with the support frame <NUM> closed in the main body housing <NUM>, the second speaker hole <NUM> may overlap the first portion <NUM> and the second speaker hole <NUM> may be closed by the first part <NUM>, and with the support frame <NUM> opened in the main body housing <NUM>, the second speaker hole <NUM> may be opened.

According to an embodiment, a first area <NUM> may be recessed in the first direction ① from the second plate <NUM>, and the recessed first area <NUM> may be opened or closed depending on the movement of the first portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, according to an embodiment, a plurality of at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM>; <NUM>, and <NUM> (e.g., the second speaker hole <NUM> shown in <FIG>) may be formed in a recessed first area <NUM> (e.g., the first area <NUM> shown in <FIG> or a first area <NUM> of a side member shown in <FIG>). According to an embodiment, the plurality of the second speaker holes may be disposed in the center of the first area <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>) or on both sides (e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>).

Referring back to <FIG>, the support frame <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a housing-shaped receiving portion <NUM> which protrudes in the second direction ②. According to an embodiment, the receiving portion <NUM> has a plurality of electronic components therein, and may move toward the main body housing <NUM> to face it, or away from the main body housing <NUM> depending on whether the support frame <NUM> moves. According to an embodiment, the first portion <NUM> is formed in the receiving portion <NUM>, and may protrude from the receiving portion <NUM> toward the main body housing <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the sound through the plurality of the speaker holes <NUM> may be emitted in the second direction ②, and the direction of the sound may be perpendicular to the sliding movement direction of the support frame <NUM>, for example, the closing direction (e.g., an arrow ⑤ shown in <FIG>) or the opening direction (e.g., an arrow ④ shown in <FIG>).

According to an embodiment, if the support frame <NUM> is opened from the main body frame <NUM> and the left side is gripped by one hand, the sound of the left speaker is relatively low and accordingly a grip sensor (not shown) disposed on the side member of the main body housing <NUM> may adjust left and right sound balance by increasing the left speaker output, and a specific speaker boosting effect may be provided according to the vertical orientation.

Referring to <FIG>, a structure of a speaker disposed in an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described.

Referring to <FIG>, a speaker <NUM> (e.g., the speaker <NUM> shown in <FIG>) according to an embodiment may include a first surface 115a facing a first direction ①, a second surface 115b facing a second direction ② opposite to the direction ①, and a side surface 115c facing a third direction ③ perpendicular to the first and second directions ① and ②. According to an embodiment, the speaker <NUM> may include first openings <NUM> formed on the side surface 115c to emit the sound in the third direction ③, and second openings <NUM> formed on the second surface 115b to emitting the sound in the direction ②.

According to an embodiment, the first direction ① may be a direction in which the front of the main body housing (e.g., the main body housing <NUM> shown in <FIG>) faces, the second direction ② may be a direction in which the back of the main body housing faces, and the third direction ③ may be a direction in which the main body housing side member faces. According to an embodiment, the speaker <NUM> may produce the sound of the speaker <NUM> in the third direction ③, that is, toward the main body housing side surface 115c, and may produce the sound in the second direction ②, that is, toward the back of the main body housing. According to an embodiment, the first opening <NUM> may be a pair of holes extending linearly and may be formed in a duct structure, and the second opening <NUM> may have a structure including three holes.

According to an embodiment, if the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> shown in <FIG>) slides out, the sound produced at a speaker core unit <NUM> (e.g., a diaphragm) may be emitted toward the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM>. According to an embodiment, among the sound produced at the speaker core unit <NUM>, the sound emitted toward the second opening <NUM> may be effective in a low-band sound situation, because its sound path is relatively straight. According to an embodiment, the sound emitted through the first opening <NUM> of the speaker <NUM> may travel to outside of the side member of the main body housing through first and second speaker holes (e.g., the first and second side speaker holes h1 and h2 shown in <FIG>), and the sound emitted through the second opening <NUM> may travel to outside of the bottom surface of the main body housing through third speaker holes (e.g., the speaker holes <NUM> shown in <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may be the same electronic device <NUM> as the electronic device <NUM> shown in <FIG>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include at least one or more two-way speakers <NUM> disposed in a main body housing <NUM>, for emitting sound in a third direction (the third direction ③ shown in <FIG>) and a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction. According to an embodiment, the two-way speaker <NUM> is a speaker which may emit the sound produced from a speaker vibrating unit in two directions, and may be disposed alone, or symmetrically in the main body housing <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the two-way speaker <NUM> may be disposed symmetrically in the main body housing <NUM>, and may be disposed adjacent to an upper side member (e.g., the side member 11a shown in <FIG>) and/or a lower side member (e.g., the side member 11b shown in <FIG>). According to an embodiment, the embodiment in which the speaker vibrating unit is disposed to face the second direction ② has been illustrated but the two-way speaker <NUM> is not limited to this arrangement structure, and the speaker vibrating unit may be disposed to face the third direction ③. Hereafter, the two-way speaker <NUM> shall be referred to as a speaker.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> in addition to first and second speaker holes (e.g., the first and second side speaker holes h1 and h2 shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to direct sound produced from the speaker <NUM> to outside of the main body housing. According to an embodiment, the second speaker hole <NUM> may be formed alone or symmetrically in a side member <NUM>, and may be formed adjacent to an upper side member (e.g., the side member 11a shown in <FIG>) and/or a lower side member (e.g., the side member 11b shown in <FIG>).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> in the side member <NUM> which is opened and closed, among a plurality of side members 11a through 11c and <NUM> in the main body housing <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the side member <NUM> in which the at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> are formed may be opened and closed by a first portion <NUM> of a support frame <NUM>, and may be opened and closed according to whether the support frame <NUM> moves.

According to an embodiment, the side member <NUM> in which the at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> are formed may extend from a second plate <NUM> in the vertical direction, and may be interposed between first and second plates <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, the side member <NUM> may be disposed in a vertical wall shape on the second plate <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the main body housing <NUM> may include a receiving space s surrounded by the first and second plates <NUM> and <NUM> and the side member <NUM> including the speaker hole <NUM>. The receiving space s is open in one direction and closed in the other directions, and may accommodate a receiving portion <NUM> of the support frame <NUM>.

The support frame <NUM> according to an embodiment may include the receiving portion <NUM> protruding in the second direction ②. According to an embodiment, a plurality of electronic components may be disposed in the receiving portion <NUM>, which may closely face or move away from the main body housing <NUM> depending on whether the support frame <NUM> moves. According to an embodiment, the first portion <NUM> may be formed in the receiving portion <NUM>, and may face the side member <NUM> on which at least one speaker is formed. According to an embodiment, the first portion <NUM> may be disposed in the receiving portion <NUM> in a vertical blocking wall structure. For example, if the support frame <NUM> is closed in the main body housing <NUM>, the at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> may be disposed at least very close to or in contact with the first portion <NUM>, to be closed by the first portion <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, if the support frame <NUM> is closed in the main body housing <NUM>, the side member <NUM> having at least one or more speaker holes formed thereon may contact the first portion <NUM> face-to-face. According to an embodiment, sound through the at least one or more speaker holes <NUM> may travel in the third direction ③ (e.g., the third direction ③ shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), and may travel in the fourth direction ④ in which the support frame <NUM> is opened.

Referring to <FIG>, a speaker <NUM> (e.g., the speaker <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) according to an embodiment may include a first surface 116a facing a first direction ①, a second surface 116b facing a second direction ② which is opposite to the first direction ①, and a plurality of side surfaces 116c and 116d facing a third direction ③ perpendicular to the first and second directions ① and ②. According to an embodiment, the speaker <NUM> may include first openings <NUM> formed on the first side surface 116c, among the plurality of the side surfaces 116c and 116d, for emitting sound in the third direction ③, and second openings <NUM> formed on the second side surface 116d adjacent to the first side surface 116c to emit sound in a fourth direction ④ which is different from the third direction ③. For example, the third direction ③ and the fourth direction ④ may be perpendicular to each other.

According to an embodiment, the first direction ① may be a direction in which a main body housing front faces, the second direction ② may be a direction in which the back of the main body housing faces, and the third and fourth directions ③ and ④ may be directions in which the side members of the main body housing face respectively. According to an embodiment, the speaker <NUM> may produce the sound of the speaker <NUM> in the third and fourth directions ③ and ④, that is, toward the first and second side surfaces 116c and 116d of the main body housing respectively. According to an embodiment, the first and second openings <NUM> and <NUM> are a pair of holes extending linearly, and may be formed in a duct structure.

According to an embodiment, if the electronic device slides out, sound produced from a speaker core unit (e.g., a diaphragm) may be emitted toward the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the sound emitted through the first opening <NUM> of the speaker may travel to outside of the side member of the main body housing through first and second speaker holes (e.g., the first and second speaker holes h1 and h2 shown in <FIG>), and the sound emitted through the second opening <NUM> may travel to outside of other side member of the main body housing through the second speaker holes <NUM>.

Referring to 16A and <FIG>, according to an embodiment, a plurality of at least one or more speaker holes <NUM>; <NUM>, and <NUM> may be formed in a recessed first region <NUM> (e.g., the first area <NUM> shown in <FIG> or the first area <NUM> of the side member shown in <FIG>). According to an embodiment, the plurality of the speaker holes may be disposed in the center of the first area <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>) or on both sides (e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may be the same electronic device as the electronic device <NUM> shown in <FIG>. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include a main body housing <NUM>, and a support frame <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the support frame <NUM> may slide in the main body housing <NUM> to be inserted or extracted.

According to an embodiment, the main body housing <NUM> may include a first surface 51a facing a first direction ①, a second surface 51b facing a second direction ② opposite to the first direction ①, and a plurality of first side surfaces 51c facing a vertical direction from the first and second directions ① and ②. According to an embodiment, the support frame <NUM> may include a third surface 52a facing the first direction ①, a fourth surface 52b facing the second direction ② opposite to the first direction ①, and a plurality of second side surfaces 52c facing the vertical direction from the first and second directions ① and ②.

According to an embodiment, the main body housing <NUM> may include at least one or more first speaker holes <NUM> including a speaker therein, and transmitting a sound produced from the speaker to outside of the main body housing <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the support frame <NUM> may include at least one or more second speaker holes <NUM> to transmit the sound produced from the speaker to the outside of the main body housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, according to an embodiment, the first speaker hole <NUM> may be formed in the first side surface 51c of the main body housing <NUM>, and the second speaker hole <NUM> may be formed in the second side 52c of the support frame <NUM>. According to an embodiment, if the support frame <NUM> is closed in the main body housing <NUM>, the second speaker hole <NUM> may face the first speaker hole <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the support frame <NUM> may further include duct structures <NUM> and <NUM> extending from the speakers <NUM> and <NUM> disposed in the main body housing <NUM> to the second speaker hole <NUM>. According to an embodiment, if the support frame <NUM> is fully opened from the main body housing <NUM>, a resonance chamber volume of each speaker <NUM> and <NUM> increases, that is, the duct structures <NUM> and <NUM> are added, and accordingly the sound produced from each speaker <NUM> and <NUM> may be emitted to the outside of the main body housing <NUM> through the first speaker hole <NUM> and to the outside of the support frame <NUM> through the duct structures <NUM> and <NUM> and the second speaker hole <NUM>. If the support frame <NUM> is fully open in the main body housing <NUM>, the resonance chamber volume of each speaker <NUM> and <NUM> increases, and the sound path, which is not straight but curved, may be effective in high-band sound reinforcement. Reference numerals <NUM> and <NUM> each may refer to a speaker vibrating unit.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body housing (<NUM>) comprising a first plate (<NUM>) disposed to face a first direction, a second plate (<NUM>) disposed to face a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and a plurality of side members (11a, 11b, <NUM>) disposed between the first plate (<NUM>) and the second plate (<NUM>), the plurality of side members including a first side member (11a), a second side member(11b), and a third side member (<NUM>);
a support frame (<NUM>) disposed to overlap at least a partial area of the first plate (<NUM>), and sliding in a direction away from the main body housing (<NUM>) or sliding in a direction toward the main body housing (<NUM>);
a flexible display (<NUM>) disposed on at least a part of the main body housing (<NUM>), connected to the support frame (<NUM>), and extending a display area according to movement of the support frame (<NUM>), and
at least one or more speakers (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed in the main body housing (<NUM>), and emitting sound toward the second plate (<NUM>) and the side members (11a, 11b, <NUM>),
wherein at least one or more first speaker holes (h1) for emitting the sound of the speaker are formed in the first side member (11a),
wherein at least one or more second speaker holes (h2) for emitting the sound of the speaker are formed in the second side member (11b) and
wherein at least one or more third speaker holes (<NUM>) for emitting the sound of the speaker are formed in a first area (<NUM>) of the second plate (<NUM>),
wherein the at least one or more third speaker holes (<NUM>) are configured to be opened and closed by a first portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the support frame (<NUM>) according to the movement of the support frame (<NUM>).