Patent Description:
Electronic devices, such as mobile devices which include smartphones are storing increasing amount of a user's personal information. Accordingly, it has become increasingly important to authenticate the user to avoid unauthorized access and misuse of a person's private information.

<CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT> present various apparatuses for optical fingerprint recognition.

User authentication technologies include a fingerprint recognition technology. The electronic device including a fingerprint sensor, to which a fingerprint recognition technology is applied, may authenticate a user by comparing collected fingerprint information with fingerprint information registered through a fingerprint registering process when the user is authenticated.

However, in a wearable electronic device such as a wearable watch, the front part of the wearable electronic device is thicker compared to a smartphone device. Accordingly, it is more difficult to recognize a fingerprint using a structure where a fingerprint sensor is disposed under a display. For example, in the wearable electronic device, it is difficult to receive refracted light necessary for sensing a fingerprint. This can be due to crosstalk, such as internal diffused reflection, due to the thickness of the front part of the wearable electronic device. Further, in the wearable electronic device, it is difficult to collect light that is necessary for sensing a fingerprint because the distance between the surface of the front part and the fingerprint sensor is relatively large, and interference caused by the display.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device including a transparent member, a display, wherein at least part of the display is disposed under the transparent member, wherein the display includes an active area, in which a plurality of pixels capable of outputting light to display contents, a biometric sensor, wherein at least part of the biometric sensor is disposed in a first area outside the active area, and a reflector positioned to direct light reflected by an external object in contact with at least a partial area of the transparent member to the biometric sensor through at least a portion of the transparent member, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are positioned to irradiate the external object, thereby resulting in the light reflected by the external object.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a wearable electronic device comprising a front plate having a specific transparency, a display under the front plate, a housing, at least a portion of which surrounds an edge of the front plate, a support member on which the front plate and the display are positioned, a rear plate on which the support member is positioned and coupled to the housing, and a fingerprint sensor, wherein at least part of the fingerprint sensor is disposed on a side of the front plate and under an edge of the housing and configured to receive light related to a fingerprint of a finger in contact with a specific area of the front plate to and receive fingerprint information from the fingerprint.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, even a wearable electronic device including a relatively thick front part may provide an excellent fingerprint sensing function.

In addition, the present disclosure may provide various effects that are directly or indirectly recognized. Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the present disclosure may address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and may provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure may provide an electronic device including a fingerprint sensor that may support an improved fingerprint sensing function even in a structure of a wearable electronic device having a relatively thick front part.

With regard to description of drawings, the same or similar components may be marked by the same or similar reference numerals.

Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a front surface of a wearable electronic device according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view of a rear surface of the wearable electronic device of <FIG>. <FIG> is a deployed perspective view of the wearable electronic device of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a housing including a first surface (or a front surface) 110A, a second surface (or a rear surface) 110B, and a side surface 110C surrounding a space between the first surface 110A and the second surface 110B. Fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> may be connected to at least portions of the housing <NUM>. and the fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to detachably fasten the wearable electronic device <NUM> to a portion (e.g., a neck, a wrist, or an ankle) of the body of the user. The fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed of various material and have various shapes. A single body or a plurality of unit links that may move with respect to each other may be formed of woven fabric, leather, rubber, urethane, a metal, ceramics, or a combination of at least two thereof.

In another embodiment (not illustrated), the housing <NUM> may refer to a structure that forms some of the first surface 110A, the second surface 110B, and the side surface 110C of <FIG>. According to an embodiment, the first surface 110A may be formed by a front plate (or a transparent member, hereinafter, referred to as a front plate) (<NUM> of <FIG>) (e.g., a glass plate including at least one coating layer or a polymer plate), at least a portion of which is substantially transparent. The second surface 110B may be formed by a rear plate <NUM> that is substantially opaque.

The rear plate <NUM>, for example, may be formed of coated or colored glass, ceramics, a polymer, a metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two thereof. The side surface 110C is coupled to the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>, and may be formed by a side bezel structure <NUM> (or 'a side member') including a metal and/or a polymer. In some embodiments, the rear plate <NUM> and the side bezel structure <NUM> may be integrally formed and may include the same material (e.g., a metallic material such as aluminum).

According to an embodiment, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may include at least one of a display <NUM> disposed under the front plate <NUM>, audio modules <NUM> and <NUM>, a sensor module <NUM>, key input devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, a connector hole <NUM>, and a fingerprint sensor <NUM>. In some embodiments, at least one (e.g., the key input devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the connector hole <NUM>, or the sensor module <NUM>) may be omitted from the wearable electronic device <NUM> or another component may be additionally included in the wearable electronic device <NUM>.

The display <NUM>, for example, may be exposed through an upper end portion of the front plate <NUM>. The shape of the display <NUM> may correspond to the shape of the front plate <NUM>, and may include various shapes, such as a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape. The display <NUM> may be coupled to or be disposed to be adjacent to (or directly over, or under a touch detection circuit, a pressure sensor that may measure the strength (a pressure) of a touch, and/or a fingerprint sensor.

The audio modules <NUM> and <NUM> may include a microphone hole <NUM> and a speaker hole <NUM>. A microphone for obtaining an external sound may be disposed in the interior of the microphone hole <NUM>. In some embodiments, a plurality of microphones and a plurality of microphone holes may be disposed to detect the direction of a sound. The speaker hole <NUM> may be used for an external speaker and a communication receiver. In some embodiments, the speaker hole <NUM> and the microphone hole <NUM> may be realized by one hole or a speaker may be included while a speaker hole <NUM> is not employed (e.g., a piezoelectric speaker).

The sensor module <NUM> may generate an electrical signal or a data value corresponding to an operation state of the interior of the wearable electronic device <NUM> or an environmental state of the outside. The sensor module <NUM>, for example, may include a biometric sensor module <NUM> (e.g., a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) sensor) disposed on the second surface 110B of the housing <NUM>. The wearable electronic device <NUM> may further include a sensor module (not illustrated), for example, at least one of a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illumination sensor.

The key input devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a wheel key <NUM> disposed on the first surface 110A of the housing <NUM> and being rotatable in at least one direction, and/or side key buttons <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the side surface 110C of the housing <NUM>. The wheel key <NUM> may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the front plate <NUM>. In another embodiment, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may not include some or all of the above-mentioned key input devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the key input devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> which are not included, may be realized in different forms, such as a soft key, on the display <NUM>.

The connector hole <NUM> may accommodate a connector (e.g., a USB connector) for transmitting and receiving power and/or data to and from an external electronic device, and may include another connector hole (not illustrated) that may accommodate a connector for transmitting and receiving an audio signal to and from an external electronic device. The wearable electronic device <NUM>, for example, may further include a connector cover (not illustrated) configured to cover at least a portion of the connector hole <NUM> to interrupt introduction of external foreign substances through the connector hole <NUM>.

The fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> may be detachably fastened to at least a partial area of the housing <NUM> by using locking members <NUM> and <NUM>. The fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> may include one or more of a fixing member <NUM>, a fixing member coupling hole <NUM>, a band guide member <NUM>, and a band fixing ring <NUM>.

The fixing member <NUM> may be configured to fix the housing <NUM> and the fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> to a portion (e.g., a wrist or an ankle) of the body of the user. The fixing member coupling hole <NUM> may fix the housing <NUM> and the fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> to a portion of the body of the user in correspondence to the fixing member <NUM>. The band guide member <NUM> may be configured to restrict a motion range of the fixing member <NUM> when the fixing member <NUM> is coupled to the fixing member coupling hole <NUM> so that the fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> are fastened to be attached to a portion of the body of the user. The band fixing ring <NUM> may restrict motion ranges of the fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> in a state in which they fixing member <NUM> and the fixing member coupling hole <NUM> are coupled to each other.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM> and inside a lower portion of the housing <NUM>. The side of the front plate <NUM> may include an inactive area of the display <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the display <NUM> may include an active area and an inactive area, and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed on the inactive area of the display <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the active area of the display <NUM> can include the area of the display that is visible through the front surface 110A. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may either receive light reflected from the fingerprint of a finger in contact with the upper surface of the front plate <NUM> or may receive the light through a reflector disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may deliver the collected light information to a processor.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may identify from the received light information, whether a fingerprint on a finger matches previously stored fingerprint information and may transmit the identification result to the processor. In certain embodiments, the previously stored fingerprint information can be provided when the user initially obtains the electronic device <NUM> during a first-time configuration procedure. Accordingly, access to the electronic device <NUM> can be conditioned upon the fingerprint sensor <NUM> identifying the same fingerprint provided during first-time configuration procedure. Thus, access to private information stored in the electronic device <NUM> can be restricted to the person bearing the fingerprint provided during the first-time configuration procedure.

In order to improve the light reception capacity of the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed such that an orientation direction of a light receiving part that receives light for the fingerprint sensor is an area (e.g., a central area of the front plate <NUM> which a central portion of a fingerprint contacts) of the front plate <NUM>, which the fingerprint contacts.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the wearable electronic device <NUM>) may include a side bezel structure <NUM> (e.g., the side bezel structure <NUM>), a wheel key <NUM> (e.g., the wheel key <NUM>), a front plate <NUM> (e.g., the front plate <NUM>), a display <NUM> (e.g., the display <NUM>), a first antenna <NUM>, a second antenna <NUM>, a support member <NUM> (e.g., a bracket), a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a sealing member <NUM>, a rear plate <NUM> (e.g., the rear plate <NUM>), a fingerprint sensor <NUM> (e.g., the fingerprint sensor <NUM>), a reflector <NUM> (or reflection member), and fastening members <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., the fastening members <NUM> and <NUM>).

In certain embodiments, the display <NUM> includes pixels that radiate light. An external object making contact with the front plate <NUM>, such as a fingerprint on a finger, reflects the radiated light from the pixels of the display <NUM>. The light reflected by the external object is received by a biometric sensor, such as the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. In certain embodiments, a reflector directly light reflected by the external object through the front plate <NUM>.

At least one of the components of the wearable electronic device <NUM> may be the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the wearable electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, and a repeated description thereof will be omitted. The support member <NUM> may be disposed in the interior of the wearable electronic device <NUM> to be connected to the side bezel structure <NUM> or to be integrally formed with the side bezel structure <NUM>. The support member <NUM>, for example, may be formed of a metallic material and/or a nonmetallic material (e.g., a polymer). The display <NUM> may be coupled to one surface of the support member <NUM>, and the printed circuit board <NUM> may be coupled to an opposite surface of the support member <NUM>. A processor, a memory, and/or an interface may be mounted on the printed circuit board <NUM>. The processor, for example, may include one or more of a central processing unit, an application processor, a graphic processing unit (GPU), an application processor, a sensor processor, or a communication processor.

The memory, for example, may include a volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. The interface, for example, may include a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB), an SD card interface, and/or an audio interface. The interface, for example, may electrically or physically connect the wearable electronic device <NUM> to an external electronic device, and may include a USB connector, an SD card/MMC connector, and an audio connector. In certain embodiments, the memory can store a previously recorded fingerprint for matching by the fingerprint sensor.

The battery <NUM> is a device for supplying electric power to at least one component of the wearable electronic device <NUM>, and for example, may include a primary battery that cannot be recharged, a secondary battery that may be recharged, or a fuel cell. At least a portion of the battery <NUM>, for example, may be disposed on substantially the same plane as the printed circuit board <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be integrally disposed in the interior of the wearable electronic device <NUM>, and may be disposed to be detachable from the wearable electronic device <NUM>.

The first antenna <NUM> may be disposed between the display <NUM> and the support member <NUM>. The first antenna <NUM>, for example, may include a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and/or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The first antenna <NUM>, for example, may perform short-range communication with an external device, may wirelessly transmit and receive electric power that is necessary for charging, and may transmit a short range communication signal or a magnetism-based signal including payment data. In another embodiment, an antenna structure may be formed by one or a combination of the side bezel structure <NUM> and/or the support member <NUM>.

The second antenna <NUM> may be disposed between the circuit board <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>. The second antenna <NUM>, for example, may include a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and/or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The second antenna <NUM>, for example, may perform short-range communication with an external device, may wirelessly transmit and receive electric power that is necessary for charging, and may transmit a short range communication signal or a magnetism-based signal including payment data. In another embodiment, an antenna structure may be formed by one or a combination of the side bezel structure <NUM> and/or the rear plate <NUM>.

The sealing member <NUM> may be located between the side bezel structure <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> may be configured to interrupt moisture and foreign substances that are introduced into a space surrounded by the side bezel structure <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM> from the outside.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed between the housing <NUM> and the front plate <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM>, for example, may include a sensor part <NUM> and a sensor wiring part <NUM>. The sensor part <NUM> may be disposed on a side surface of the front plate <NUM>, and may collect light irradiated from the display <NUM> toward the front plate <NUM> and reflected by a fingerprint in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM>, directly or through the reflection member <NUM>. One side of the sensor wiring part <NUM> may be connected to the sensor part <NUM>, and an opposite side of the sensor wiring part <NUM> may be connected to a sensor IC (not illustrated). The sensor IC may be disposed at an end of the sensor wiring part <NUM> or may be disposed on the printed circuit board <NUM>. The sensor wiring part <NUM>, for example, may be formed of an FPCB. An area of the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, in which light is collected, may be disposed to face a central area of the front plate <NUM> or to face a central portion of the reflection member <NUM> such that collection of the light may be concentrated in the area.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may include a reflector <NUM> positioned to direct light to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The reflector <NUM> may be positioned to face a specific point (e.g., a point which a central portion of a fingerprint contact, for example, a central area of the front plate <NUM>) of the front plate <NUM>. The light reflected through a surface of the reflection member <NUM> may be directed toward the fingerprint sensor <NUM> after crossing a transverse central portion of the front plate <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> in the housing, directly below the side bezel structure <NUM>, so as not to be directly visible.

The wearable electronic device <NUM> according to certain embodiments may receive light irradiated by the display <NUM>, by using a side surface of the front plate <NUM>, to provide a light transmission medium that results in low or minimal loss of light due to the display <NUM>, as compared to light that is received by a lower side of the display <NUM>. For example, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may sense a fingerprint by using an RGB camera of a relatively low resolution because the camera for sensing a fingerprint is disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM>, instead of the lower side of the display <NUM>. Further, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to certain embodiments may secure proper focal distance that is necessary for the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to receive light by using reflection sensor <NUM>. For example, the distance between the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the reflector <NUM> of the wearable electronic device <NUM> may be equal, substantially equal, or within <NUM> percent of the focal distance of the fingerprint sensor <NUM>.

According to certain embodiments, the electronic device (or the wearable electronic device) according to an embodiment may include a transparent member (e.g., the front plate), a display disposed under the transparent member and including an active area in which a plurality of pixels that may output light to display contents are disposed, a biometric sensor (e.g., the fingerprint sensor) disposed in a first area outside the active area, and a reflector positioned to direct light reflected by an external object in contact with at least a partial area of the transparent member. Further, according to certain embodiments, the electronic device (or the wearable electronic device) may include a reflector disposed in a second area outside the active area and configured to change an optical path of the reflected light such that at least a portion of the reflected light reflected by an external object in contact with at least a partial area of the transparent member, among the light output from at least some of the plurality of pixels may be delivered to the biometric sensor through at least a portion of the transparent member. At least some of the plurality of pixels are positioned to irradiate the external object, thereby resulting in the light reflected by the external object.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a configuration of a wearable electronic device including a side disposed fingerprint sensor substrate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a configuration of the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and a rear plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the components described above with reference to <FIG> may be included.

The front plate <NUM> may have a specific transparency such that the display <NUM> may be observed from the outside. For example, the front plate (or the transparent member) <NUM> may be formed of a glass material or a transparent polymeric material. The front plate <NUM> may be formed such that the thickness of a central area 401a thereof is larger than the thickness of an edge 401b thereof as a whole.

According to an embodiment, in the front plate <NUM>, an upper side of the central area 401a may be formed such that it becomes thinner from a central portion thereof toward the outskirt thereof and may be rounded to have a specific curvature from the central portion to the outskirt of the upper side of the central area 401a. A lower surface of the central area 401a of the front plate <NUM> may be formed flat. The edge 401b of the front plate <NUM> may be configured to have a band shape having a specific thickness. Accordingly, the front plate <NUM> may be configured to have a hat shape as a whole. The central area 401a of the front plate <NUM> may be exposed to the outside through a central portion of the housing <NUM>. The edge 401b of the front plate <NUM> may be disposed under the housing <NUM> such that the front plate <NUM> may not deviate from the housing <NUM>. According to certain embodiments, a packing part for waterproofing or protection against dust may be disposed between the edge 401b of the front plate <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sensor disposition recess 401c may be provided at the edge 401b of the front plate <NUM> such that at least one fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed. Although a structure in which one fingerprint sensor is disposed has been shown in the illustrated drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may include a plurality of fingerprint sensors disposed at the edge of the front plate at a specific interval. In this case, a plurality of sensor disposition recesses may be provided in the front plate <NUM>.

The display <NUM> may be disposed between the front plate <NUM> and the support member <NUM>. The display <NUM> may have various shapes according to the shape of the wearable electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the display <NUM> may be a circular display or a polygonal display. The display <NUM> may output various screens according to management of the wearable electronic device <NUM>. For example, the display <NUM> may output a time display screen, a standby screen, a menu screen, a fingerprint sensing screen, a fingerprint sensing based specific function execution screen, and the like. The fingerprint sensing screen, for example, may include a screen which emits light such that pixels of at least a partial area of the display <NUM> have a specific intensity of illumination or a specific color. For example, as illustrated, the display <NUM> may emit light such that a light irradiation area 420a for sensing a fingerprint may have a specific intensity of illumination or a specific color in correspondence of control of the processor of the wearable electronic device <NUM>. The light irradiation area 420a may be the entire area of the display <NUM> or a specific central area of the display <NUM>. The light irradiated by the light irradiation area 420a may be irradiated toward the front plate <NUM>, and may be reflected by the fingerprint <NUM> in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM> and be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. According to certain embodiments, the display <NUM> may output a guide screen related to authentication of a fingerprint. The guide screen may include an image that indicates an ideal area to place the finger (e.g., the center or a specific area of the front plate) of the fingerprint sensor.

The housing <NUM> may be disposed to surround the edge of the front plate <NUM> while being positioned on the front plate <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be coupled to the rear plate <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed on one side of a lower portion of the housing <NUM>.

An upper positioning part <NUM>, on which the display <NUM> and the front plate <NUM> are positioned, may be provided at an upper portion of the support plate <NUM>, and a lower positioning part <NUM>, on which the battery <NUM> is positioned, may be provided at a lower portion of the support member <NUM>. The support member <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape, a central portion of which is closed by a plate of a specific thickness as a whole. Additionally or alternatively, the support member <NUM> may include a first wiring hole <NUM> in which a sensor wiring part <NUM> provided in the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is disposed and a second wiring hole <NUM> in which a display wiring part <NUM> connected to the display <NUM> is disposed. The first wiring hole <NUM> and the second wiring hole <NUM> may pass through the upper and lower sides of the support member <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> may be disposed between the support member <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>, and may be positioned on the lower positioning part <NUM> provided under the support member <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may supply electric power that is necessary for management of a function of the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to control of a processor (or a power management circuit) disposed in the printed circuit board <NUM>.

The printed circuit board <NUM> may be disposed between a lower side of the battery <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> may include a display connector <NUM> electrically connected to the display wiring part <NUM> connected to the display <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> may include a sensor connector <NUM> electrically connected to the sensor wiring part <NUM> connected to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed on one side of an upper positioning part <NUM> of the support member <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM>, for example, may include a sensor part <NUM> and a sensor wiring part <NUM>. The sensor part <NUM> may include an RGB camera sensor having a specific resolution that is suitable for sensing of a fingerprint. The sensor part <NUM> may be disposed to face one side of a side wall of the front plate <NUM>, and a focal direction of the sensor part <NUM> may be a specific area (e.g., an upper surface of a central area) of the front plate <NUM>. The focal direction of the sensor part <NUM> may be changed to an edge area of the front plate <NUM> according to a change of a design scheme. The sensor wiring part <NUM> connected to the sensor part <NUM> may direct light collected by the sensor part <NUM> to the processor mounted on the printed circuit board <NUM> and the like through the sensor connector <NUM>. In some embodiments, the sensor part can be under the bezel <NUM> and adjacent to the front plate <NUM>.

The printed circuit board <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the support member <NUM>, and the like may be positioned on the rear plate <NUM>, and the rear plate <NUM> may be coupled to the housing <NUM>. At least a portion of the side wall of the rear plate <NUM> may be disposed to surround an outskirt of the support member <NUM>.

As described above, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may obtain a sensor signal (or light) that is necessary for sensing a fingerprint regardless the thickness of the front plate <NUM> as the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM>, and may collect a sensor signal that is necessary for sensing a fingerprint without any interference by the display <NUM> because the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is disposed under the display <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a reflector 590a is positioned in a support member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor <NUM>, a first reflection member 590a, and a rear plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the components described above with reference to <FIG> may be included.

In the above-mentioned configuration, the display <NUM>, the housing <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the printed circuit board <NUM>, and the rear plate <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the display <NUM>, the housing <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the printed circuit board <NUM>, and the rear plate <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>.

The front plate <NUM> may include a central area 501a formed such that the thickness of a central portion thereof is larger than the thickness of an edge portion thereof and an edge 501b surrounding a periphery of the central area 501a, and a reflection member disposition recess 501d and a sensor disposition recess 501c may be provided on opposite sides of the edge 501b. The reflection member disposition recess 501d and the sensor disposition recess 501c may be disposed to be symmetrical, substantially symmetrical, or within <NUM>%-<NUM>% deviation of symmetrical to each other with respect to the central area 501a.

The support member <NUM> may include an upper positioning part <NUM> on which the front plate <NUM> and the display <NUM> are positioned, a lower positioning part <NUM> on which the battery <NUM> is positioned, a first wiring hole <NUM>, through which the sensor wiring part <NUM> disposed in the fingerprint sensor <NUM> passes, and a second wiring hole <NUM>, through which the display wiring part <NUM> passes. The upper positioning part <NUM> may include a vessel form, the bottom of which is flat as a whole. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be fixed to an area of the upper positioning part <NUM>, which corresponds to the sensor disposition recess 501c. The first reflection member 590a may be disposed in a first reflection member area 535a of the upper positioning part <NUM>, which corresponds to the reflection member disposition recess 501d. The first reflection member area 535a may have a surface form having a specific inclination such that the first reflection member 590a is fixed while being inclined at a specific inclination.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may include a sensor part <NUM> and a sensor wiring part <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed under the housing <NUM> and in an area of the side surface of the front plate <NUM>, which corresponds to the sensor disposition recess 501c. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> (or a light receiving part) may be disposed to face the first reflector 590a while crossing a transverse direction of the front plate <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the display <NUM> may include an active area in which pixels are disposed, and an inactive area disposed on an outskirt of the active area, and not visible when viewed from directly above the electronic device <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed in a first area (or a first area of a specific location of the inactive area) except for the active area of the display <NUM>.

The reflector 590a may be disposed on one side of the upper positioning part <NUM> of the support member <NUM> (e.g., one side of an area corresponding to the reflection. member disposition recess 501d). The reflector 590a, for example, may have front and rear surfaces thereof are flat and be configured to reflect light on the front surface thereof. The first reflector 590a is configured to be focused on a central portion of the front plate <NUM>. The first reflector 590a, may be position to direct light from the central portion of the front plate <NUM> (e.g., optical path <NUM> is changed to optical path <NUM>) to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed on an opposite side with respect to the central area 501a of the front plate <NUM>. In this regard, the first reflector 590a may be positioned in the first reflector area 535a having a specific inclination. According to certain embodiments, the first fingerprint member 590a may be disposed in a second area (or a second area of a specific location of an inactive area of the display <NUM>) outside of the active area of the display <NUM>. The first area, in which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is disposed, and a second area, in which the first reflector 590a is disposed, may correspond to locations at which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the first reflection member 590a may face each other.

The first reflector 590a can be inclined at an angle such that a line from the top of the central portion of the front plate <NUM> makes an angle of incidence that result in an angle of refraction, wherein a line from the point of incidence is substantially parallel to the base of the housing.

According to an embodiment, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may irradiate light to a specific area (e.g., a central area) of the front plate <NUM> through the light irradiation area 520a of the display <NUM>. Accordingly, the light reflected by a fingerprint <NUM> of a finger in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM> is reflected by the first reflector 590a and the light reflected by the first reflector 590a may be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> through a side of the front plate <NUM>. In this process, because the light related to sensing of a fingerprint travels through the front plate <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may sense a fingerprint with better resolution than a fingerprint sensor <NUM> that is disposed under the display <NUM>. For example, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may sense a fingerprint with a relatively excellent quality as compared with an environment in which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> that is disposed under the display <NUM>.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may output a guide screen related to sensing of a fingerprint through the display <NUM>. The guide screen may include an image that indicates a focal area (e.g., a central area of the front plate) of the reflector.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may include a plurality of fingerprint sensors and a plurality of sensor disposition recesses corresponding thereto, and may include a plurality of reflectors corresponding to the fingerprint sensors.

<FIG> is a view illustrating another example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a reflector 590b is disposed in a support member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor, a second reflector 590b, and a rear plate <NUM>. In the above-mentioned configurations, the front plate <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the printed circuit board <NUM>, and the fingerprint sensor may be the same as or similar to those of the wearable electronic device, which have been described above with reference to <FIG>.

The support member <NUM>, for example, may include an upper positioning part and a lower positioning part <NUM>, and an area (e.g., an area corresponding to an area in which the reflector 501d of the front plate <NUM> of <FIG> is disposed) of the upper positioning part may include a second reflector area 535b in which the second reflector 590b is disposed. The second reflector 590b may be configured to be concave from the center of the front plate <NUM> toward an outskirt thereof (or to be convex toward the rear plate <NUM> when viewed from the outskirt of the rear plate <NUM>). The second reflector 590b having a form of a concave mirror may be disposed such that a focus thereof faces the center of the front plate <NUM>. As the second reflector 590b is provided in a concave form (or a convex form with respect to the rear plate <NUM>), the second reflector 535b also may be formed to correspond to the second reflector 590b such that one surface (e.g., on which the second reflector 590b is disposed) has a specific curvature. As mentioned above, the second reflector 590b may be a concave mirror having a specific curvature such that information of a fingerprint <NUM> of a relatively large area may be contained in a finger sensor of a relatively small area.

In the above-mentioned wearable electronic device <NUM>, the second reflector 590b may concentrate light reflected by the fingerprint <NUM> in contact with the front plate <NUM> more efficiently and direct the concentrated light to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed on a side surface of the front plate <NUM>, which is opposite to the first side surface because the second reflector 590b is formed to be concave in a direction that faces a specific portion (e.g., a portion which the fingerprint <NUM> contacts or a central portion) of the front plate <NUM>. Further, the wearable electronic device, to which the above-mentioned reflector is applied, may secure improved fingerprint data by inputting fingerprint data toward the front surface of the fingerprint sensor by using the reflector.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a reflector 690a is disposed in a front plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a first reflector 690a disposed on one side of the front plate <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor <NUM> and a rear plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the components described above with reference to <FIG> may be included.

In the above-mentioned configuration, the display <NUM>, the housing <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the printed circuit board <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and the rear plate <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the display <NUM>, the housing <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the printed circuit board <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and the rear plate <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may include a sensor part <NUM> and a sensor wiring part <NUM>.

The front plate <NUM> may include a central area 601a formed such that the thickness of a central portion thereof is larger than the thickness of an edge portion thereof and an edge 601b surrounding a periphery of the central area 601a, and a first reflector disposition part 601d_1 and a sensor disposition recess 601c may be provided on opposite sides of the edge 601b. The first reflector disposition part 601d_1 and the sensor disposition recess 601c may be disposed to be symmetrical, substantially symmetrical, or within <NUM>-<NUM>% (for example, <NUM>%) deviation of symmetrical to each other with respect to the central area 601a. The sensor disposition recess 601c may be formed while one side of the edge 601b is removed.

The first reflector disposition part 601d _1 protrudes from a specific area of a side of the central area 601a outwards, and the sectional area of the first reflector disposition part 601d_1 gradually decreases from the upper side toward the lower side to form a specific inclined surface. The angle of the inclined surface of the first reflector disposition part 601d_1 may be configured such that light may be irradiated toward the fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed on an opposite side of the front plate <NUM> by changing an optical path of light or directing light reflected from the center of the front plate <NUM> (e.g., by changing optical path <NUM> to optical path <NUM>) while the attached first reflector 690a faces a central portion of the front plate <NUM>. The first reflector 690a may be fixed to the first reflector disposition part 601d_1.

The support member <NUM> may include an upper positioning part <NUM> on which the front plate <NUM> and the display <NUM> are positioned, a lower positioning part <NUM> on which the battery <NUM> is positioned, a first wiring hole <NUM>, through which the sensor wiring part <NUM> disposed in the fingerprint sensor <NUM> passes, and a second wiring hole <NUM>, through which the display wiring part <NUM> passes. The upper positioning part <NUM> may include a vessel form, the bottom of which is flat as a whole. An area of one side of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is disposed, may be relatively thin as compared with the other areas. A first reflector area 635a of one side of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the first reflector 690a is disposed, may protrude further than the edge area thereof. For example, the first reflector area 635a may be configured such that the sectional area thereof decreases from the lower side toward the upper side. A specific interval may be provided between the first reflector area 635a and the first reflector 690a or an adhesive may be disposed between the first reflector area 635a and the first reflector 690a.

The first reflector 690a may be disposed in the first reflector disposition part 601d_1 of the front plate <NUM>. The first reflector 690a, for example, may be configured such that front and rear surfaces thereof are flat and be configured to reflect light on the front surface thereof. The first reflector 690a may be configured such that a focus thereof faces a central portion of the front plate <NUM>, and may be disposed such that the light received from the central portion of the front plate <NUM> may be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed on an opposite side of the front plate <NUM> with respect to the central area 601a of the front plate <NUM>. In this regard, the first reflector 690a may be bonded and fixed to the first reflector disposition part 601d_1 having a specific inclination.

According to an embodiment, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may irradiate light to a specific area (e.g., a central area) of the front plate <NUM> through the light irradiation area 620a of the display <NUM>. Accordingly, as the light reflected by the fingerprint <NUM> in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM> is reflected by the first reflector 690a attached to one side of the front plate <NUM>, the light reflected by the first reflector 690a may be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> through a side surface of the front plate <NUM>. In this process, because the first reflector 690a is directly bonded to the surface of the front plate <NUM>, the first reflector 690a may refract the light that is necessary for sensing a fingerprint toward the fingerprint sensor <NUM> without additional refraction of the light due to an additional medium (e.g., air).

<FIG> is a view illustrating another example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a reflector 690b is disposed in a front plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a display <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor, a second reflector 690b, and a rear plate <NUM>. In the above-mentioned configuration, the display <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the printed circuit board <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor, and the support member <NUM> may be the same as or similar to those of the wearable electronic device <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>.

The front plate <NUM> may include a central area, an edge, a sensor disposition recess, and a second reflector disposition part 601d_2. The second reflector disposition part 601d_2 may have an inclined surface, a sectional area of which gradually decreases as it goes from the upper side to the lower side, and the inclined surface may have a specific curvature. Accordingly, the second reflector disposition part 601d_2 may protrude to be rounded outwards when viewed from the outside.

The second reflector 690b may be disposed in the second reflector disposition part 601d_2 of the front plate <NUM>. Because the second reflector disposition part 601d_2 has a specific curvature as described above, the second reflector 690b may be concave (when viewed from a central portion of the front plate <NUM> or convex when viewed from a direction of the rear plate <NUM>) while having a specific curvature to correspond to the shape of the second reflector disposition part 601d_2. The second reflector 690b having a form of a concave mirror may be position to be focused at the top of the center of the front plate <NUM> or be disposed such that a focus thereof faces the center of the front plate <NUM>.

In the above-mentioned wearable electronic device <NUM>, the second reflector 690b may converge light reflected by the fingerprint <NUM> in contact with the front plate <NUM> more efficiently and direct the converged light to the fingerprint sensor disposed on a side surface of the front plate <NUM>, which is opposite to the first side surface because the second reflector 690b is formed to be concave in a direction that faces a specific portion (e.g., a portion which the fingerprint <NUM> contacts or a central portion) of the front plate <NUM> and is fixed to the front plate <NUM> while directly facing the front plate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a reflector <NUM> and a fingerprint sensor <NUM> are disposed to be adjacent and proximate to each other according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Reflector <NUM> directs light to the fingerprint sensor along one edge of the housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a reflector <NUM> disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM> and an inside of the housing <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed to be adjacent to an area in which the reflector <NUM> is disposed, a display <NUM>, the housing <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, and a rear plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the components described above with reference to <FIG> may be included.

The front plate <NUM> may include a central area 701a and an edge 701b surrounding a periphery of the central area 701a, and the reflector <NUM> and a sensor disposition recess 701c in which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is disposed may be provided on one side of the edge 701b. The sensor disposition recess 701c may be formed while a portion of the edge 701b is removed.

The support member <NUM> may include an upper positioning part <NUM> on which the front plate <NUM> and the display <NUM> are positioned, a lower positioning part <NUM> on which the battery <NUM> is positioned, a first wiring hole <NUM>, through which the sensor wiring part <NUM> disposed in the fingerprint sensor <NUM> passes, and a second wiring hole, through which the display wiring part passes. The upper positioning part <NUM> may include a vessel form, the bottom of which is flat as a whole. An area (or an area corresponding to an area in which the sensor disposition recess 701c is formed) of one side of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the reflector <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are disposed, may be relatively thin as compared with the other areas or may have a form of a hole that passes the front and rear sides of the side surface. A reflector area <NUM> of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the reflector <NUM> is disposed, may have a specific inclination angle. Accordingly, the reflector <NUM> may direct the light reflected from a central portion toward the fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed under the front plate <NUM>.

The reflector <NUM> may be formed on one side of the support member <NUM> while having a specific inclination. The reflector <NUM> may be disposed in parallel to a specific area of a side of the front plate <NUM>. The reflector <NUM>, for example, may have flat front and rear surfaces or may have a concave shape. The reflector <NUM> may be configured such that a focus thereof faces a central portion of the front plate <NUM>, and may be disposed such that the light reflected from the central portion of the front plate <NUM> may be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed under the edge 701b of the front plate <NUM>. The reflector <NUM> may be fixed to the reflector area <NUM> of the upper positioning part <NUM> having a specific inclination through an adhesive.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may include a sensor part <NUM> and a sensor wiring part <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be fixed to one side of an edge of the support member <NUM>, and may be disposed to face a forward direction of the wearable electronic device <NUM> with reference to the illustrated drawings. The reflector <NUM> may be disposed on the fingerprint sensor <NUM> so that the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may collect the light directed from a central portion of the front plate <NUM> to an edge of the front plate <NUM> through the reflector <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the wearable electronic device <NUM>, the light is irradiated to a specific area (e.g., a central area) of the front plate <NUM> through a light irradiation area 720a of the display <NUM>, and the light reflected by the fingerprint <NUM> in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM> may be reflected by the reflector <NUM> disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM> and be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The wearable electronic device <NUM> having the structure may be configured such that the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is spaced apart from the reflector <NUM> by a specific interval to easily secure a focal distance of the fingerprint sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating another example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a reflector <NUM> and a fingerprint sensor <NUM> are disposed to be adjacent to each other according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a reflector <NUM> disposed on one side of the front plate <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed to be adjacent to an area in which the reflector <NUM> is disposed, a display <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, and a rear plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the components described above with reference to <FIG> may be included.

The front plate <NUM> may include a central area 801a and an edge 801b surrounding a periphery of the central area 801a, and at least one boss 801c which the reflector <NUM> is disposed may be provided on one side of the edge 801b. At least one boss 801c can include a protrusion. The boss 801c may protrude from the central area 801a toward the edge 801b by a specific width. A sectional area of the boss 801c gradually increases as it goes from the upper side to the lower side, and the boss 801c may have an inclined surface. The reflector <NUM> may be attached to the inclined surface of the boss 801c while having a specific inclination. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed under the boss 801c. According to certain embodiments, the inclined surface of the boss 801c may have a specific curvature.

The support member <NUM> may include an upper positioning part <NUM> on which the front plate <NUM> and the display <NUM> are positioned, a lower positioning part <NUM> on which the battery <NUM> is positioned, a first wiring hole, through which the sensor wiring part <NUM> disposed in the fingerprint sensor <NUM> passes, and a second wiring hole, through which the display wiring part passes. The upper positioning part <NUM> may include a vessel form, the bottom of which is flat as a whole. The reflector area <NUM> (or an area corresponding to an area in which the boss 801c is formed) corresponding to an area of one side of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the reflector <NUM> is disposed may have a specific inclination surface to correspond to the inclined surface of the boss 801c. The reflector area <NUM> of the upper positioning part <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the boss 801c by a specific interval, or a bonding layer in relation to the fixing of the boss 801c may be disposed between the reflector area <NUM> of the upper positioning part <NUM> and the boss 801c.

The reflector <NUM> may be formed in the boss 801c of the front plate <NUM> while having a specific inclination. The reflector <NUM>, for example, may have flat front and rear surfaces or may have a concave shape. The reflector <NUM> may be configured such that a focus thereof faces a central portion of the front plate <NUM>, and may be disposed such that the light directed from the central portion of the front plate <NUM> may be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> disposed under the boss 801c. The reflector <NUM> may be fixed to the reflector area <NUM> of the upper positioning part <NUM> having a specific inclination through an adhesive.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may include a sensor part <NUM> and a sensor wiring part <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be fixed to a lower portion of the boss 801c of the front plate <NUM>, and may be disposed to face a forward direction of the wearable electronic device <NUM> with reference to the illustrated drawings. The boss 801c and the reflector <NUM> may be disposed on the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and accordingly, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may collect the light directed from a central portion of the front plate <NUM> to an edge of the front plate <NUM> through the reflector <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the wearable electronic device <NUM>, the light is irradiated to a specific area (e.g., a central area) of the front plate <NUM> through a light irradiation area 820a of the display <NUM>, and the light reflected by the fingerprint in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM> may be reflected by the reflector <NUM> disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM> and be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. In the wearable electronic device <NUM> having the above-mentioned structure, a focal distance of the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be easily secured because the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is spaced apart from the reflector <NUM> by a specific interval, and the reflector <NUM> and the front plate <NUM> are bonded to each other so that refraction due to the structure (e.g., a structure having an air layer between the reflector <NUM> and the front plate <NUM>) having an additional medium may be reduced.

As described above, in the wearable electronic device, a path of optical data (or fingerprint data or a sensing signal) may be long because fingerprint data related to the fingerprint <NUM> may be guided to the fingerprint sensor by using the reflector, and a shielding effect of the support member (e.g., an effect of interrupting unnecessary data (external light other than the light reflected by the fingerprint) obtained in a shape in which the fingerprint is simply disposed on a side of the support member) may be provided by mounting the fingerprint sensor <NUM> on a lower side of the support member may be provided.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a plurality of reflectors 980a and 980b are disposed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a first reflector 990a, a second reflector 990b, a fingerprint sensor <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, and a rear plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the components described above with reference to <FIG> may be included.

The front plate <NUM> may include a central area 901a formed such that the thickness of a central portion thereof is larger than the thickness of an edge thereof and an edge 901b surrounding a periphery of the central area 901a, and a first recess 901d for providing a specific space in relation to disposition of the first reflector 990a and a second recess 901c for providing a specific space in relation to disposition of the second reflector 990d and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be provided on one side of the edge 901b. The first recess 901d and the second recess 901c may be provided by removing some areas of the edge 901b. The first recess 901d and the second recess 901c may be provided at locations that are symmetrical, substantially symmetrical, or within <NUM>-<NUM>%(for example, <NUM>%) deviation of symmetrical to each other with respect to the central area 901a of the front plate <NUM>.

The support member <NUM> may include an upper positioning part <NUM> on which the front plate <NUM> and the display <NUM> are positioned, a lower positioning part <NUM> on which the battery <NUM> is positioned, a first wiring hole <NUM>, through which the sensor wiring part <NUM> disposed in the fingerprint sensor <NUM> passes, and a second wiring hole <NUM>, through which the display wiring part passes. A first reflector area 935a that is adjacent to an area of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the first reflector 990a is disposed, may have an inclined surface having a specific width such that the first reflector 990a may be positioned while having a specific inclination. A second reflector area 935b that is adjacent to an area of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the second reflector 990b is disposed, may have an inclined surface having a specific width such that the second reflector 990b may be positioned while having a specific inclination. The inclined surface of the first reflector area 935a and the inclined surface of the second reflector area 935b may be disposed to face each other while the front plate <NUM> located at the center thereof, and the inclination directions of the inclined surfaces may be opposite to each other. The thickness of the upper positioning part <NUM> of a periphery of the second reflector area 935b may be relatively small as compared with the other areas of the upper positioning part <NUM> or a hole that passes through the front and rear surfaces of the upper positioning part <NUM> may be provided.

The first reflector 990a may be disposed in the first reflector area 935a of the support member <NUM> while having a specific inclination. The first reflector 990a may be disposed to have a specific inclination such that the light reflected from the central portion of the front plate <NUM> may be directed toward the second reflector 990b. The first reflector 990a may be fixed to the first reflector area 935a based on an adhesive layer. A surface of the first reflector 990a, which faces the front plate <NUM>, may be flat or may be concave in relation to improvement of light condensing efficiency.

The second reflector 990b may be disposed in the second reflector area 935b of the support member <NUM> while having a specific inclination. The second reflector 990b may be disposed to have a specific inclination such that the light directed by the first reflector 990a may be directed toward the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The second reflector 990b may be fixed to the second reflector area 935b based on an adhesive layer. A surface of the second reflector 990b, which faces a side of the front plate <NUM> or the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, may be flat or may be concave in relation to improvement of light condensing efficiency.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may include a sensor part <NUM> and a sensor wiring part <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be fixed to a lower portion of second reflector 990b, and may be disposed to face a forward direction of the wearable electronic device <NUM> with reference to the illustrated drawings. Accordingly, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second reflector 990b by a specific interval and to face the second reflector 990b.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the wearable electronic device <NUM>, the light may be irradiated to a specific area (e.g., a central area) of the front plate <NUM> through a light irradiation area 920a of the display <NUM>, and be reflected by the fingerprint <NUM> in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM>,the light directed to the first reflector 990a may be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> after passing through a side of the front plate <NUM> and being reflected by the second reflector 990b disposed on a side of the front plate <NUM>. The wearable electronic device <NUM> having the structure may have a relatively long focal distance because the distance at which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> collects light related to sensing of a fingerprint by the fingerprint <NUM> includes a spacing distance between the central portion of the front plate <NUM> and the first reflector 990a and a distance between the first reflector 990a and the second reflector 990b. Accordingly, the present disclosure allows a fingerprint sensor <NUM> to be used in the wearable electronic device <NUM> even though the fingerprint sensor <NUM> uses a lens (or lenses) that requires a relatively long focal distance.

<FIG> is a view illustrating another example of a configuration of a wearable electronic device in which a plurality of reflectors 1090a and 1090b are disposed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the wearable electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a front plate <NUM>, a first reflector 1090a and a second reflector 1090b attached to the front plate <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, and a rear plate <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the components described above with reference to <FIG> may be included.

The front plate <NUM> may include a central area 1001a formed such that the thickness of a central portion thereof is larger than the thickness of a peripheral area thereof, and an edge 1001b surrounding a periphery of the central area 1001b, and a first boss 1001d in which the first reflector 1090a is disposed and a second boss 1001c in which the second reflector 1090b is disposed may be included on one side of the edge 1001b. The first boss 1001d and the second boss 1001c may be formed to protrude from opposite sides of the central area toward the edge 1001b while having a specific inclination. The first boss 1001d and the second boss 1001c may be provided at locations that are symmetrical, substantially symmetrical, or within <NUM>% deviation of symmetrical to each other with respect to the central area 1001a of the front plate <NUM>.

The first boss 1001d may protrude from an outskirt of a side of the central area 1001a outwards. The first boss 1001d may have an inclination angle such that a sectional area of the first boss 1001d gradually decreases from the upper side to the lower side. The first reflector 1090a may be fixed to the inclined surface of the first boss 1001d.

The second boss 1001c may protrude from an outskirt of an opposite side of the central area 1001a, on which the first boss 1001d is formed, outwards. The second boss 1001c may have an inclination angle such that a sectional area of the second boss 1001c gradually decreases from the lower side to the upper side. The second reflector 1090b may be fixed to the inclined surface of the second boss 1001c.

The support member <NUM> may include an upper positioning part <NUM> on which the front plate <NUM> and the display <NUM> are positioned, a lower positioning part <NUM> on which the battery <NUM> is positioned, a first wiring hole <NUM>, through which the sensor wiring part <NUM> disposed in the fingerprint sensor <NUM> passes, and a second wiring hole <NUM>, through which the display wiring part passes. A first reflector area 1035a that is adjacent to an area of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the first reflector 1090a is disposed, may have an inclined surface having a specific width in correspondence to the first boss 1001d having a specific inclination and the first reflector 1090a.

A second reflector area 1035b that is adjacent to an area of the upper positioning part <NUM>, in which the second reflector 1090b is disposed, may have an inclined surface having a specific inclination in correspondence to the second boss 1001c having a specific inclination and the second reflector 1090b.

The inclined surface of the first reflector area 1035a and the inclined surface of the second reflector area 1035b may be disposed to face each other while the front plate <NUM> located at the center thereof, and the inclination directions of the inclined surfaces may be opposite to each other. The thickness of the upper positioning part <NUM> including the second reflector area 1035b may be relatively small as compared with the other areas of the upper positioning part <NUM> or a hole that passes through the front and rear surfaces of the upper positioning part <NUM> may be provided.

The first reflector 1090a may be fixed to the inclined surface of the first boss 1001d. According to certain embodiments, a specific gap may be formed or a bonding layer may be disposed between the first reflector 1090a and the first reflector area 1035a of the support member <NUM> so that the first boss 1001d and the first reflector 1090a may be fixed to the first reflector area 1035a. The first reflector 1090a may be disposed to have a specific inclination such that an optical path of the light reflected from the central portion of the front plate <NUM> may be changed and be directed toward the second reflector 1090b. A surface of the first reflector 1090a, which faces the front plate <NUM>, may be flat or may be concave in relation to improvement of light condensing efficiency.

The second reflector 1090a may be fixed to the inclined surface of the second boss 1001c. According to certain embodiments, a specific gap may be formed or a bonding layer may be disposed between the second reflector 1090b and the second reflector area 1035b of the support member <NUM> so that the second boss 1001c and the second reflector 1090b may be fixed to the second reflector area 1035b. A surface of the second reflector 1090b, which faces a side of the front plate <NUM> or the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, may be flat or may be concave in relation to improvement of light condensing efficiency.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be fixed to the second boss 1001c and a lower portion of second reflector 1090b, and may be disposed to face a forward direction of the wearable electronic device <NUM> with reference to the illustrated drawings. Accordingly, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second reflector 1090b by a specific interval and to face the bottom surface of the second boss 1001c and the second reflector 1090b.

According to an embodiment, the wearable electronic device <NUM> may irradiate light to a specific area (e.g., a central area) of the front plate <NUM> through the light irradiation area 1020a of the display <NUM>. The light reflected by the fingerprint <NUM> in contact with a surface of the front plate <NUM> may be refracted by the first reflector 1090a attached to the inclined surface of the first boss 1001d, and may be directed to the fingerprint sensor <NUM> after passing through a side of the front plate <NUM> and being reflected by the second reflector 1090b attached to the inclined surface of the second boss 1001c. The wearable electronic device <NUM> having the structure may be applied even though a focal distance of the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is long, and may restrain loss of light by reducing a gap between the reflector and the front plate.

The wearable electronic device described above with reference to <FIG> may easily realize the angles of the reflectors by using the plurality of reflectors. Additionally, the at least one reflector described above with reference to <FIG> may have a concave mirror shape to improve the light condensing effect.

According to certain embodiments, an electronic device includes a transparent member, a display disposed under the transparent member and including an active area, in which a plurality of pixels capable of outputting light to display contents, a biometric sensor disposed in a first area outside the active area, and a reflector capable of changing an optical path of reflected light reflected by an external object in contact with at least a partial area of the transparent member, among light that is output from at least some of the plurality of pixels, such that at least a portion of the reflected light is directed to the biometric sensor through at least a portion of the transparent member.

According to certain embodiments, a wearable electronic device includes a front plate having a specific transparency, a display under the front plate, a housing, at least a portion of which surrounds an edge of the front plate, a support member on which the front plate and the display are positioned, and a rear plate on which the support member is positioned and coupled to the housing, and the wearable electronic device further includes a fingerprint sensor disposed on a side of the front plate and under the edge of the housing and configured to collect light related to a fingerprint in contact with a specific area of the front plate to sense the fingerprint.

According to certain embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may have a state in which a focus of the light reflected in a specific area of the front plate is adjusted such that the light is collected.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device may further include a reflector disposed at a location that is substantially symmetrical to the fingerprint sensor with respect to the front plate and disposed such that the light reflected by the fingerprint in contact with a specific area of the front plate is directed toward the fingerprint sensor.

According to certain embodiments, the reflector may have a shape that is concave toward the front plate.

According to certain embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be disposed to face the reflector to collect light directed while crossing a side of the front plate.

According to certain embodiments, the front plate may include a boss protruding toward a direction in which the reflector is disposed while having a specific inclination angle, and the reflector may be attached to an inclined surface of the boss.

According to certain embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may set a spacing distance from the reflector and a spacing distance from the reflector to a specific area of the front plate as a focal distance.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device may further include a bonding layer provided between the reflector and the support member.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device may further include a reflector disposed to collect light reflected by the fingerprint in contact with a specific area of the front plate and direct the collected light toward the fingerprint sensor disposed under the reflector.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device may further include a first reflector disposed at a location that is symmetrical, substantially symmetrical, or within <NUM>% deviation of symmetrical to the fingerprint sensor with respect to the front plate and configured to reflect light reflected by the fingerprint in contact with a specific area of the front plate, and a second reflector disposed to collect the light reflected by the first reflector after the light passes through the front plate and to direct the collected light toward the fingerprint sensor.

According to certain embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second reflector under the second reflector.

According to certain embodiments, the front plate may include a first boss protruding toward a direction in which the first reflector is disposed while having a first inclination angle, and a second boss protruding toward a direction in which the second reflector is disposed while having a second inclination angle.

According to certain embodiments, the first inclination angle and the second inclination angle may be opposite to each other, the first reflector may be attached to an inclined surface of the first boss, and the second reflector may be attached to an inclined surface of the second boss.

According to certain embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may set any one of a spacing distance from the second reflector, a spacing distance between the first reflector and the second reflector, and a spacing distance between the second reflector and a specific area of the front plate as a focal distance.

According to certain embodiments, the wearable electronic device may further include a first bonding layer disposed between the first reflector and the support member, and a second bonding layer disposed between the second reflector and the support member.

Claim 1:
A wearable electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
a front plate (<NUM>) having a specific transparency;
a display (<NUM>; <NUM>) under the front plate;
a housing (<NUM>; <NUM>), at least a portion of which surrounds an edge of the front plate;
a support member (<NUM>) on which the front plate and the display are positioned;
a rear plate (<NUM>) on which the support member is positioned and coupled to the housing; and
a fingerprint sensor (<NUM>), wherein at least part of the fingerprint sensor is disposed on a side of the front plate and under an edge of the housing and configured to receive light related to a fingerprint of a finger (<NUM>) in contact with a specific area of the front plate and to receive fingerprint information from the fingerprint;
a first reflector (1090a) positioned at a location that is substantially symmetrical to the fingerprint sensor with respect to the front plate and configured to reflect light reflected by the fingerprint in contact with the specific area of the front plate; and
a second reflector (1090b) disposed to receive the light reflected by the first reflector after the light passes through the front plate and to direct the received light toward the fingerprint sensor;
wherein the front plate includes:
a first protrusion (1001b) protruding towards the first reflector while having a first inclination angle; and
a second protrusion (1001c) protruding towards the second reflector while having a second inclination angle;
wherein the first inclination angle and the second inclination angle are opposite to each other, the first reflector is attached to an inclined surface of the first protrusion, and the second reflector is attached to an inclined surface of the second protrusion.