Patent Description:
With the development of communications technologies and increasing user demands, scalable electronic devices are the future. Moreover, the future trend of electronic devices is towards thinness, with increasingly compact internal spatial layouts. Volume of a rear cavity of a sound generating module is limited by the internal space of the electronic device, and available space in the rear cavity of the sound generating module is becoming increasingly constrained, such as <CIT> discloses an Electronic device. The volume of the rear cavity determines sounding performance of the sound generating module, and a decrease in volume of the rear cavity leads to poor sound performance of the electronic device.

This application discloses an electronic device to solve the problem of poor sound performance of electronic devices.

To solve the foregoing problem, this application uses the following technical solutions:
An electronic device includes a device housing and a sound generating module, where the device housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion is movably disposed on the second housing portion to enable the electronic device to switch between an expanded state and a contracted state, the sound generating module is located on either the first housing portion or the second housing portion, and the sound generating module is provided with a first rear cavity and a first connecting hole communicating with the first rear cavity, where the electronic device comprises a cavity structure, and the cavity structure is provided with the second rear cavity and a second connecting hole communicating with the second rear cavity, where.

The technical solutions provided in this application can achieve the following beneficial effects:
In the electronic device described in this application, the sound generating module is provided with a first rear cavity, and the electronic device is further comprises a second rear cavity, to fully utilize the internal space of the electronic device. In the expanded or contracted state of the electronic device, the first rear cavity communicates with the second rear cavity, which in turn increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module and improves sound performance, resulting in a more mellow and full sound.

The accompanying drawings described herein are intended for better understanding of this application, and constitute a part of this application. Exemplary embodiments and descriptions thereof in this application are intended to interpret this application and do not constitute any improper limitation on this application. In the accompanying drawings:.

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions of this application with reference to specific embodiments of this application and corresponding drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some but not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of this application.

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

As shown in <FIG>, this application provides an electronic device including a device housing <NUM> and a sound generating module <NUM>.

As a basic component of the electronic device, the device housing <NUM> is capable of providing a mounting base for other components of the electronic device. The device housing <NUM> includes a first housing portion <NUM> and a second housing portion <NUM>. The first housing portion <NUM> is movably disposed on the second housing portion <NUM> to enable the electronic device to switch between a first state and a second state.

One of the first state and the second state is an expanded state, and the other is a contracted state. In a case that the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> are relatively far away from each other, the electronic device is in the expanded state, and in a case that they are relatively close to each other, the electronic device is in the contracted state.

The sound generating module <NUM> may be a receiver module, a speaker module, or any other sound-generating apparatus. A specific type of sound generating module <NUM> is not limited in the embodiments of this application. The sound generating module <NUM> is provided on one of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>.

The sound generating module <NUM> is provided with a first rear cavity <NUM> and a first connecting hole <NUM> that communicates with the first rear cavity <NUM>. The electronic device is able to form a second rear cavity <NUM>. Specifically, in the first state, the first rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the second rear cavity <NUM> via the first connecting hole <NUM>, and the first rear cavity <NUM> and the second rear cavity <NUM> that communicate with each other jointly form a rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>. This increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>, thereby improving the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>. In the second state, the first connecting hole <NUM> is blocked, and only the first rear cavity <NUM> functions as the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>.

In the second state, the first connecting hole <NUM> can be blocked by a dedicated blocking cover plate or by another functional component <NUM> of the electronic device. The blocking method can vary, and this embodiment of this application does not impose restrictions on this.

In the electronic device described in this application, the sound generating module <NUM> is provided with a first rear cavity <NUM>, and the electronic device is further able to form a second rear cavity <NUM>, to fully utilize the internal space of the electronic device. In the expanded or contracted state of the electronic device, the first rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the second rear cavity <NUM>, which in turn increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> and improves sound performance, resulting in a more mellow and full sound.

In this embodiment of this application, the electronic device further includes a flexible display <NUM>, and the flexible display <NUM> is provided on the device housing <NUM>. Specifically, a first end of the flexible display <NUM> is connected to the first housing portion <NUM>, and a second end of the flexible display <NUM> is connected to the second housing portion <NUM>. The first end of the flexible display <NUM> is capable of moving along with the movement of the first housing portion <NUM>, and the second end of the flexible display <NUM> is capable of moving along with the movement of the second housing portion <NUM>. In a case that the first housing portion <NUM> moves relative to the second housing portion <NUM>, the first end of the flexible display <NUM> also moves relative to the second end of the flexible display <NUM>, thereby changing a display area between the first end and the second end of the flexible display <NUM>. In a case that the electronic device has a relatively large display area, it provides a better visual experience to user, and in a case that the electronic device has a relatively small display area, it is more convenient for portability.

The first end of the flexible display <NUM> can be accommodated in the first housing portion <NUM> or can extend from the first housing portion <NUM>, and/or the second end of the flexible display <NUM> can be accommodated in the second housing portion <NUM> or can extend from the second housing portion <NUM>. There can be various manners for accommodation and extension, and this embodiment of this application does not impose restrictions on this.

Specifically, the flexible display <NUM> is provided with a first region and a second region connected to the first region.

In the expanded state, the first region and the second region are at least partially exposed to the electronic device. In this case, the electronic device has a relatively large display area, and the first rear cavity <NUM> is connected to the second rear cavity <NUM> via the first connecting hole <NUM>. The first rear cavity <NUM> and the second rear cavity <NUM> in communication jointly form the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>, fully utilizing the internal space of the electronic device. This increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> and improves the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>.

In the contracted state, the first region is exposed to the electronic device, and the second region is accommodated in the device housing <NUM>. In this case, the electronic device has a relatively small display area, and the first connecting hole <NUM> is blocked.

In this embodiment, in the expanded state, in the case that the electronic device has a relatively large display area, the large display area provides a better visual experience to user. In this case, the second rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the first rear cavity <NUM> to jointly form the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>, which in turn increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> and improves the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>, thus providing a better auditory experience to the user.

In the case that the electronic device has a relatively large display area, it can be used as a tablet, which requires higher sound performance. In this case, the second rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the first rear cavity <NUM> to jointly form the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>, which in turn increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>, improving the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>, thereby meeting requirements for the sound performance of an electronic device with a relatively large display area.

In this embodiment of this application, the electronic device includes a cavity structure <NUM>. The cavity structure <NUM> is provided with a second rear cavity <NUM> and a second connecting hole <NUM> that communicates with the second rear cavity <NUM>, and the sound generating module <NUM> is provided with the first rear cavity <NUM> and the first connecting hole <NUM> that communicates with the first rear cavity <NUM>. One of the sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM> is located on the first housing portion <NUM>, and the other is located on the second housing portion <NUM>. The sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM> can relatively slide along with relative movement between the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>.

In the first state, the first connecting hole <NUM> and the second connecting hole <NUM> are in sealed alignment, and the first rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the second rear cavity <NUM> via the sealed alignment between the first connecting hole <NUM> and the second connecting hole <NUM>. In this case, the second rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the first rear cavity <NUM> to jointly form the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>, so as to fully utilize the internal space of the electronic device. Communicating the second rear cavity <NUM> and the first rear cavity <NUM> increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> and improves the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>.

In the second state, the first connecting hole <NUM> and the second connecting hole <NUM> are misaligned. The cavity structure <NUM> blocks the first connecting hole <NUM>. For example, in the second state, a side wall of the cavity structure <NUM> is precisely moved to align with the first connecting hole <NUM> to block the first connecting hole <NUM>, and the first rear cavity <NUM> functions as the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> alone.

In this embodiment, in the first state, the second rear cavity <NUM> of the cavity structure <NUM> can communicate with the first rear cavity <NUM> via the second connecting hole <NUM>, thereby increasing the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>; and in the second state, the cavity structure <NUM> blocks the first connecting hole <NUM> to seal the first rear cavity <NUM>, so that the first rear cavity <NUM> functions as the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> alone.

In the foregoing embodiment, one of the sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM> is provided with a first positioning structure <NUM> and a second positioning structure <NUM> that are spaced apart, and the other is provided with a third positioning structure <NUM>. In a case of the first state, the first positioning structure <NUM> and the third positioning structure <NUM> cooperate with each other. After the first positioning structure <NUM> and the third positioning structure <NUM> cooperate with each other, the sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM> are relatively fastened, so that the first connecting hole <NUM> and the second connecting hole <NUM> are aligned, thereby communicating the second rear cavity <NUM> and the first rear cavity <NUM>. In a case of the second state, the second positioning structure <NUM> and the third positioning structure <NUM> cooperate with each other. After the second positioning structure <NUM> and the third positioning structure <NUM> cooperate with each other, the sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM> are relatively fastened, so that the first connecting hole <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM> are aligned. For example, the first connecting hole <NUM> faces the side wall of the cavity structure <NUM>, the cavity structure <NUM> blocks the first connecting hole of the first rear cavity <NUM> to seal the first rear cavity <NUM>, so that the first rear cavity <NUM> functions as the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> alone. In a case that the first rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the second rear cavity <NUM> or that the first connecting hole <NUM> is blocked, the positioning structures can be used to position the sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM> to prevent relative sliding.

The positioning structures can take various forms, such as concave-convex positioning structures and magnetic positioning structures.

In this embodiment of this application, concave-convex positioning structures are used as an example for description. Both the first positioning structure <NUM> and the second positioning structure <NUM> are positioning protrusions, and the third positioning structure <NUM> is a positioning groove. Alternatively, the first positioning structure <NUM> and the second positioning structure <NUM> are positioning grooves, and the third positioning structure <NUM> is a positioning protrusion. In a case that the sound generating module <NUM> slides relative to the cavity structure <NUM> to a predetermined position, the positioning protrusion enters the positioning groove, achieving the positioning of the sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM>.

The sound generating module <NUM> is fixed on one of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>, and the cavity structure <NUM> is movably disposed in the other of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. The electronic device further includes a first elastic member <NUM>. The first elastic member <NUM> is connected between the cavity structure <NUM> and the first housing portion <NUM> or between the cavity structure <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. The first elastic member <NUM> drives the cavity structure <NUM> to move towards the sound generating module <NUM>. The first elastic member <NUM> may be a leaf spring, a coil spring, a cushion, or other elastic members.

Disposing the first elastic member <NUM> ensures a better fit between the cavity structure <NUM> and the sound generating module <NUM>, so that the second rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the first rear cavity <NUM> in the first state, and the cavity structure <NUM> seals the first connecting hole <NUM> in the second state. The disposing of the first elastic member <NUM> facilitates concave-convex positioning fit between the positioning structures. Due to the relative sliding between the cavity structure <NUM> and the sound generating module <NUM> during switching between the two states, the positioning protrusion needs to slide out of one positioning groove and then slide into another positioning groove. This requires the cavity structure <NUM> to have a given degree of movement in the convex direction of the protrusion, while disposing the first elastic member <NUM> can enable the cavity structure <NUM> to have a given degree of movement in the convex direction of the protrusion. In the case that the positioning protrusion needs to slide out of the positioning groove, the cavity structure <NUM> compresses the first elastic member <NUM>, moving relatively away from the sound generating module <NUM> in the convex direction of the positioning protrusion. After the positioning protrusion slides into the positioning groove, the first elastic member <NUM> compresses the cavity structure <NUM>, driving the cavity structure <NUM> to move towards the sound generating module <NUM>, ensuring a better fit between the cavity structure <NUM> and the sound generating module <NUM>.

Further, in this embodiment, the cavity structure <NUM> is provided with a guiding protrusion <NUM>, and one of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> is provided with a guiding groove <NUM>, where the guiding protrusion <NUM> matches with the guiding groove <NUM>. Alternatively, the cavity structure <NUM> is provided with a guiding groove <NUM>, and the first housing portion <NUM> or the second housing portion <NUM> is provided with a guiding protrusion <NUM>, where the guiding protrusion <NUM> and the guiding groove <NUM> are matched. Disposing the guiding protrusion <NUM> and the guiding groove <NUM> can better guide the cavity structure <NUM> to move a given distance relative to the sound generating module <NUM> in the convex direction of the positioning protrusion in a case that the positioning protrusion slides into or out of the positioning groove. Limiting fit between the cavity structure <NUM> and the first housing portion <NUM> or between the cavity structure <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> in the moving direction of the first housing portion <NUM> can ensure that the cavity structure <NUM> moves synchronously with one of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> in a moving direction of the first housing portion <NUM>, avoiding relative movement between the cavity structure <NUM> and the first housing portion <NUM> or between the cavity structure <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> in the moving direction of the first housing portion <NUM> caused by friction between the sound generating module <NUM> and the cavity structure <NUM>. This ensures precise alignment between the first connecting hole <NUM> of the first rear cavity <NUM> and the second connecting hole <NUM> of the second rear cavity <NUM> each time the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> relatively move to the first state.

In this embodiment of this application, the electronic device includes a first rear cavity component <NUM> and a second rear cavity component <NUM>. The first rear cavity component <NUM>, the second rear cavity component <NUM>, and the sound generating module <NUM> are all disposed on one of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. The other of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> is provided with a functional component <NUM>. For example, the functional component <NUM> can be a circuit board, a battery, or another functional component.

In this embodiment, in the expanded state, the second rear cavity <NUM> is enclosed by at least the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>. The second rear cavity <NUM> can be enclosed solely by the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>, or can be enclosed by a combination of the first rear cavity component <NUM>, the second rear cavity component <NUM>, and another structure. At least one of the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> has a second connecting hole <NUM> formed. Specifically, it can be that the first rear cavity component <NUM> has the second connecting hole <NUM>, or that the second rear cavity component <NUM> has the second connecting hole <NUM>, or that the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> each have a half-hole, and the two half-holes cooperate to form the second connecting hole <NUM>. The second connecting hole <NUM> communicates with the second rear cavity <NUM>. The first rear cavity <NUM> communicates with the second rear cavity <NUM> via the sealed alignment of the first connecting hole <NUM> and the second connecting hole <NUM>. The second rear cavity <NUM> and the first rear cavity <NUM> in communication jointly form the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>, fully utilizing the internal space of the electronic device. Communicating the second rear cavity <NUM> and the first rear cavity <NUM> increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> and improves the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>.

In this embodiment, in the contracted state, the functional component <NUM> moves to a position between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>, and the functional component <NUM> blocks the first connecting hole <NUM>. The first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> provide an installation space for the functional component <NUM>, fully utilizing the space between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> to arrange the functional component <NUM> in the electronic device. In addition, the functional component <NUM> can block the first connecting hole <NUM>, further utilizing the functional component <NUM>, allowing the functional component <NUM> to serve multiple purposes, not only performing own function of the functional component <NUM> but also blocking the first connecting hole <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the space between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> is a reused space. In the first state, the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> enclose the second rear cavity <NUM>. Communicating the second rear cavity <NUM> and the first rear cavity <NUM> increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> and improves the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>. In the second state, the functional component <NUM> can be accommodated between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>, fully utilizing the space between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>. In addition, the functional component <NUM> positioned between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> can also block the first connecting hole <NUM>.

Specifically, the first rear cavity component <NUM> is movably arranged relative to the second rear cavity component <NUM>, and the functional component <NUM> is capable of moving along with one of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. In the expanded state, the first rear cavity component <NUM> moves to a position at which it aligns with the second rear cavity component <NUM> to form the second rear cavity <NUM>, and the functional component <NUM> is located outside the second rear cavity <NUM>. The second rear cavity <NUM> and the first rear cavity <NUM> in communication jointly form the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM>. Communicating the second rear cavity <NUM> and the first rear cavity <NUM> increases the volume of the rear cavity of the sound generating module <NUM> and improves the sound performance of the sound generating module <NUM>. In the contracted state, the functional component <NUM> moves to the position between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>, the functional component <NUM> blocks the first connecting hole <NUM>, and the first rear cavity component <NUM> is separated from the second rear cavity component <NUM>.

In this embodiment of this application, the electronic device further includes a separating member <NUM>. The separating member <NUM> is fixed relative to the functional component <NUM> and is provided with a tip <NUM>. In the expanded state, the joint region of the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> is positioned facing the tip <NUM>. In the contracted state, the separating member <NUM> is supported between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>. The separating member <NUM> can extend into the joint region of the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> via the tip <NUM>, and then separate the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>, so the functional component <NUM> can be accommodated in the space between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>. In this embodiment, the separating member <NUM> may alternatively be another functional component of the electronic device.

In this embodiment, the separating member <NUM> is fixed relative to the functional component <NUM>. The first rear cavity component <NUM> is provided with a first chamfered surface <NUM>, and the second rear cavity component <NUM> is provided with a second chamfered surface <NUM>. In the expanded state, the first chamfered surface <NUM> and the second chamfered surface <NUM> form a guiding space. An end portion or the tip <NUM> of the separating member <NUM> can extend into the guiding space formed by the first chamfered surface <NUM> and the second chamfered surface <NUM>. A width of the guiding space decreases in a direction away from the separating member <NUM>, where the width refers to a dimension of the guiding space in an alignment direction of the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> can form a cylindrical cavity structure <NUM>. The cylindrical cavity structure <NUM> is provided with holes at both ends, where the hole at the first end can be the second connecting hole <NUM>, and the hole at the second end is for the extension of the functional component <NUM>. The functional component <NUM> can extend into the hole at the second end to enclose the second rear cavity <NUM> together with the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>. The functional component <NUM> can further extend into the hole at the first end and block the first connecting hole <NUM>. The functional component <NUM> fits with the cylindrical cavity structure <NUM> functions in a manner similar to a piston and a piston rod.

The first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> can be separated along with relative movement between the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. In this case, other components of the electronic device can be accommodated between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>. Alternatively, the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM> can keeping abutting against each other without a structure to separate the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second rear cavity component <NUM>, thus simplifying the structure of the electronic device and facilitating the assembly.

In the foregoing embodiments, a second elastic member <NUM> can be provided to drive the first rear cavity component <NUM> to move. The second elastic member <NUM> is provided between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the first housing portion <NUM> or between the first rear cavity component <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. The second elastic member <NUM> can drive the first rear cavity component <NUM> to move towards the second rear cavity component <NUM>, so that the first rear cavity component <NUM> abuts against the second rear cavity component <NUM>. The second elastic member <NUM> may be a leaf spring, a coil spring, a cushion, or other elastic members.

Further, a third elastic member <NUM> can be provided to drive the second rear cavity component <NUM> to move. The third elastic member <NUM> is provided between the second rear cavity component <NUM> and the first housing portion <NUM> or between the second rear cavity component <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. The third elastic member <NUM> can drive the second rear cavity component <NUM> to move towards the first rear cavity component <NUM>, so that the second rear cavity component <NUM> abuts against the first rear cavity component <NUM>. The third elastic member <NUM> may be a leaf spring, a coil spring, a cushion, or other elastic members.

Claim 1:
An electronic device comprising a device housing (<NUM>) and a sound generating module (<NUM>), the device housing (<NUM>) comprises a first housing portion (<NUM>) and a second housing portion (<NUM>), the first housing portion (<NUM>) is movably disposed on the second housing portion (<NUM>) to enable the electronic device to switch between an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein the sound generating module (<NUM>) is located on one of the first housing portion (<NUM>) and the second housing portion (<NUM>), and the sound generating module (<NUM>) is provided with a first rear cavity (<NUM>) and a first connecting hole (<NUM>) communicating with the first rear cavity (<NUM>), wherein the electronic device comprises a cavity structure (<NUM>), and the cavity structure (<NUM>) is provided with the second rear cavity (<NUM>) and a second connecting hole (<NUM>) communicating with the second rear cavity (<NUM>), wherein
in the expanded state, the first connecting hole (<NUM>) is in sealed alignment with the second connecting hole (<NUM>), and the first rear cavity (<NUM>) communicates with the second rear cavity (<NUM>) via the first connecting hole (<NUM>) and the second connecting hole (<NUM>); and
in the contracted state, the first connecting hole (<NUM>) is staggered with the second connecting hole (<NUM>), and the cavity structure (<NUM>) blocks the first connecting hole (<NUM>).