Patent ID: 12233436

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these do not limit the disclosure to a specific embodiment, and should be understood as including various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of embodiments. Regarding the description of drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar components.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include at least one of, for example, a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video telephone, an electronic book (e-book) reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a workstation, a server, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG-1 or MPEG-2) Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player, a mobile medical device, a cameras, or a wearable device (for example, smart glasses, a head-mounted-device (HMD), electronic apparel, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, electronic appcessory, electronic tattoos, a smart mirror, or a smart watch).

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

According to another embodiment, the electronic device may include at least one of medical devices (for example, various portable medical measurement devices (for example, a blood glucose monitoring device, a heartbeat measuring device, a blood pressure measuring device, a body temperature measuring device, and the like), a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography (CT), scanners, and ultrasonic devices), a navigation device, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, an event data recorder (EDR), a flight data recorder (FDR), a vehicle infotainment device, electronic equipment for vessels (for example, navigation systems and gyrocompasses), avionics, a security device, a head unit for a vehicle, an industrial or home robot, an automatic teller's machine (ATM) of a financial institution, points of sales (POS) of a store, or Internet of things (for example, light bulbs, various sensors, electricity or gas meters, sprinkler devices, fire alarms, thermostats, street lamps, toasters, exercise equipment, hot water tanks, heaters, boilers, or the like).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may include at least one of furniture, part of buildings/structures, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, or various measuring instruments (for example, water meters, electricity meters, gas meters, or wave meters). In various embodiments, the electronic device may be one or a combination of two or more devices of the above-mentioned devices. According to a certain embodiment, the electronic device may be a flexible electronic device. Also, the electronic devices according to various embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned devices, and may include new electronic devices according to technology development.

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating a front view of a mobile electronic device according to an embodiment.FIG.2is a perspective view illustrating a rear view of the electronic device ofFIG.1.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the electronic device100according to an embodiment may include a housing110which includes a first surface (or a front surface)110A, a second surface (or a rear surface)110B, and a side surface110C surrounding a space between the first surface110A and the second surface110B. In another embodiment (not shown), the housing may refer to a structure that forms a portion of the first surface110A, the second surface110B, and the side surface110C ofFIG.1. According to an embodiment, the first surface110A may be formed by a front surface plate102having at least part substantially transparent (for example, a glass plate including various coating layers, or a polymer plate). The second surface110B may be formed by a rear surface plate111, which is substantially opaque. The rear surface plate111may be formed by, for example, coated or colored glass, ceramic, a polymer, metal (for example, aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of the above-mentioned materials. The side surface110C may be coupled with the front surface plate102and the rear surface plate111, and may be formed by a side surface bezel (or a “side surface member”)118which includes metal and/or a polymer. In certain embodiments, the rear surface plate111and the side surface bezel118may be integrally formed with each other, and may include the same material (for example, a metallic material such as aluminum).

In certain embodiments, the front surface plate102may include two first areas110D bent from the first surface110A toward the rear surface plate111and seamlessly extended, and disposed on both ends of long edges of the front surface plate102. In the illustrated embodiment (seeFIG.2), the rear surface plate111may include two second areas110E bent from the second surface110B toward the front surface plate102and seamlessly extended, and disposed on both ends of long edges. In certain embodiments, the front surface plate102(or the rear surface plate111) may include only one of the first areas110D (or the second areas110E). In certain embodiments, part of the first areas110D or the second areas110E may not be included. In certain embodiments, when viewed from a side surface of the electronic device100, the side surface bezel118may have a first thickness (or width) on a side surface that does not include the first area110D or the second area110E described above, and may have a second thickness thinner than the first thickness on a side surface that includes the first area110D or the second area110E.

According to certain embodiments, the electronic device100may include at least one of a display101, audio modules103,107,114, sensor modules104,116,119, camera modules105,112,113, a input key117, a light emitting element106, a input pen120, and connector holes108,109. In a certain embodiment, the electronic device100may omit at least one of the components (for example, the input key117or the light emitting element106) or may additionally include other components.

The display101may be exposed through a substantial portion of the front surface plate102, for example. According to certain embodiments, at least part of the display101may be exposed through the front surface plate102forming the first surface110A and the first area110D of the side surface110C. In certain embodiments, a corner of the display101may be formed substantially the same as a shape of an outside border of the front surface plate102adjacent thereto. In certain embodiments, a gap between an outside border of the display101and an outside border of the front surface plate102may be formed substantially the same to extend an exposed area of the display101.

In certain embodiments, a recess or an opening may be formed on part of a screen display area of the display101, and the electronic device may include at least one of the audio module114, the sensor module104, the camera module105, and the light emitting element106aligned with the recess or the opening. In certain embodiments, the electronic device may include at least one of the audio module114, the sensor module104, the camera module105, the fingerprint sensor116, and the light emitting element106disposed on a rear surface of the screen display area of the display101. In certain embodiments, the display101may be coupled with or may be disposed adjacent to a touch sensing circuit, a pressure sensor for measuring an intensity (pressure) of a touch, and/or a digitizer for detecting a stylus pen of a magnetic field method. In certain embodiments, at least part of the sensor modules104,119, and/or at least part of the input key117may be disposed on the first area110D and/or the second area110E.

The audio modules103,107,114may include a microphone hole103and speaker holes107,114. The microphone hole103may have a microphone disposed therein to acquire an external sound, and in certain embodiments, the microphone hole may have a plurality of microphones disposed therein to detect a direction of a sound. The speaker holes107,114may include an external speaker hole107and a receiver hole114for calling. In certain embodiments, the speaker holes107,114and the microphone hole103may be implemented as one hole or a speaker may be included without the speaker holes107,114(for example, a piezo speaker).

The sensor modules104,116,119may generate an electric signal or a data value corresponding to an internal operation state or an external environment state of the electronic device100. The sensor modules104,116,119may include, for example, a first sensor module104(for example, a proximity sensor) and/or a second sensor module (for example, a fingerprint sensor) disposed on the first surface110A of the housing110, and/or a third sensor module119(for example, an HRM sensor) and/or a fourth sensor module116(for example, a fingerprint sensor) disposed on the second surface110B of the housing110. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed not only on the first surface110A of the housing110(for example, the display101), but also on the second surface110B. The electronic device100may further include a sensor module, 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 illuminance sensor104.

The camera modules105,112,113may include a first camera105disposed on the first surface110A of the electronic device100, a second camera112disposed on the second surface110B, and/or a flash113. The cameras105,112may include one or a plurality of lenses, an image sensor, and/or an image signal processor. The flash113may include, for example, a light emitting diode or a xenon lamp. In certain embodiments, two or more lenses (an infrared camera, a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens), or image sensors may be disposed on one surface of the electronic device100.

The input key117may be disposed on the side surface110C of the housing110. In certain embodiments, the electronic device100may not include a portion or an entirety of the input keys117mentioned above, and the input key117that is not included may be implemented on the display101in other forms, such as a soft key. In certain embodiments, the input key may include the sensor module116disposed on the second surface110B of the housing110.

The light emitting element106may be disposed on the first surface110A of the housing110, for example. For example, the light emitting element106may provide state information of the electronic device100in the form of light. In certain embodiments, the light emitting element106may provide a light source interlocking with an operation of the camera module105. The light emitting element106may include, for example, a light emitting diode (LED), an infrared LED (IR LED), and a xenon lamp.

The connector holes108,109may include a first connector hole108to accommodate a connector (for example, a USB connector) for exchanging power and/or data with an external electronic device, and/or a second connector hole (for example, an earphone jack)109to accommodate a connector for exchanging an audio signal with an external electronic device.

The input pen120(for example, a stylus pen) may be guided and inserted into or removed from the housing110through a hole121formed on a side surface of the housing110, and may include a button for mounting or dismounting the input pen120with ease. A separate resonance circuit may be embedded in the input pen120to interlock with an electromagnetic induction panel390(for example, a digitizer) included in the electronic device100. The input pen120may include an electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) method, active electrical stylus (AES) and electric coupled resonance (ECR) methods.

FIG.3is an exploded perspective view illustrating an inner configuration of the electronic device ofFIG.1.

Referring toFIG.3, the electronic device300may include a side surface bezel310, a first support member311(for example, a bracket), a front surface plate320, a display330, an electromagnetic induction panel390, a printed circuit board340, a battery350, a second support member360(for example a rear case), an antenna370, a input pen120, and a rear surface plate380. In certain embodiments, the electronic device300may omit at least one (for example, the first support member311or the second support member360) of the components, or may additionally include other components. At least one of the components of the electronic device300may be the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the electronic device100ofFIG.1or2, and a redundant explanation thereof is omitted.

The electromagnetic induction panel390(for example, a digitizer) may be a panel for detecting an input by the input pen120. For example, the electromagnetic induction panel390may include a printed circuit board (PCB) (for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)), and a shielding sheet. The shielding sheet may prevent components (for example, the display module, the printed circuit board, and the electromagnetic induction module) included in the electronic device100from interfering with one another due to an electromagnetic field generated therefrom. The shielding sheet may block an electromagnetic field generated from the components, thereby enabling an input from the input pen120to be exactly transmitted to a coil included in the electromagnetic induction panel390. According to various embodiments, the electromagnetic induction panel390may include an opening formed on at least part thereof corresponding to a biometric sensor mounted in the electronic device100. For example, the electromagnetic induction panel390may be deleted from the electronic device300.

The first support member311may be disposed inside the electronic device300to be connected with the side surface bezel310, or may be integrally formed with the side surface bezel310. For example, the first support member311may be formed with a metallic material and/or a nonmetallic material (for example, polymer). The first support member311may have one surface coupled with the display330and the other surface coupled with the printed circuit board340. A processor, a memory, and/or an interface may be mounted on the printed circuit board340. The processor may include, for example, one or more of a central processing device, an application processor, a graphic processing device, an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, and a communication processor.

The memory may include, for example, a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory.

The interface may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, and/or an audio interface. The interface may electrically or physically connect the electronic device300with an external electronic device, and may include a USB connector, an SD card/multimedia card (MMC) connector, or an audio connector.

The battery350may be a device that supplies power to at least one component of the electronic device300, and may include, for example, a primary battery which is not rechargeable or a secondary battery which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell. At least part of the battery350may be disposed substantially on the same plane as the printed circuit board340, for example. The battery350may be integrally disposed inside the electronic device300, or may be removably disposed in the electronic device300.

The antenna370may be disposed between the rear surface plate380and the battery350. The antenna370may include, for example, a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and/or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The antenna370may perform short-range communication with an external device, or may wirelessly transmit and receive power necessary for charging. In certain embodiments, an antenna structure may be formed by part of the side surface bezel310and/or the first support member311, or a combination thereof.

FIG.4is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of an actuator according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.4, at least one actuator40according to certain embodiments may be disposed in a housing. According to certain embodiments, the actuator40may be a vibration motor, for example, a haptic feedback vibration motor. According to certain embodiments, the actuator40may include a stator53and a vibrator54. According to certain embodiments, the stator53may be a portion that does not vibrate, and the vibrator54may be a portion that vibrates when a current is applied to a coil43.

According to certain embodiments, the stator53may include a bracket41, a yoke42, and a coil43. According to certain embodiments, the yoke42and the coil43may be fixed onto the bracket41. According to certain embodiments, the bracket41may be a support structure for supporting components received thereon on a bottom, and may be formed with a thin metal plate.

According to certain embodiments, the bracket41may further include a case46. According to an embodiment, the case46may be coupled to the bracket41to serve as a housing. For example, the case46and the bracket41may be formed with a metallic material.

According to certain embodiments, the yoke42may be a support for supporting the coil43, and may be inserted into a center protrusion410formed on the bracket41and fixed thereto. For example, the yoke42may have an insertion protrusion420formed thereon to be inserted into the center protrusion410. For example, the yoke42may have an outer diameter ranging from 1.5 to 3.0 mm, and may be configured as an integrated or separate structure, and may be disposed to have a gap of at least 0.05 mm from a permanent magnet44. The yoke42may be a member that forms a magnetic field closed circuit to maximize energy efficiency.

According to certain embodiments, the coil43may be supported on the yoke42and may be fixed onto the bracket41. According to certain embodiments, the coil43may be disposed to surround the yoke42. A current may be applied to the coil43and a vibration force may be generated according to generation of a magnetic force between the coil43through which the current is applied and the permanent magnet44.

According to certain embodiments, the vibrator54may include the permanent magnet44, a weight45, and a plate50. According to certain embodiments, the permanent magnet44may be disposed to surround the outer circumference of the coil43. According to certain embodiments, the permanent magnet44may have a ring shape, and may include an upper surface and a lower surface of the ring shape. For example, the permanent magnet44may have a flux ranging from 6 to 15 μWb.

According to certain embodiments, the weight45may be disposed to surround the circumference of the permanent magnet44. According to certain embodiments, the weight45may include an inner diameter surface.

According to certain embodiments, the actuator40may include the plate50disposed between the permanent magnet44and an elastic member47. According to certain embodiments, the plate50may support the permanent magnet44and the weight45, which are included in the vibrator54. For example, the plate50may be deleted from the actuator40.

According to certain embodiments, the actuator40may include the elastic member47between the stator53and the vibrator54. According to certain embodiments, the elastic member47may be disposed between the bracket41and the vibrator54to support the vibrator54. For example, the elastic member47may have a spring constant of 190-210 gf/mm, and may have a shape which gradually becomes narrower from a first end to a second end. According to certain embodiments, the elastic member47and the weight45may convert a magnetic force into kinetic energy.

According to certain embodiments, the actuator40may additionally have upper and lower dampers48,49disposed therein to reduce a quantity of impact caused by an excessive vibration by the weight45and the permanent magnet44. According to certain embodiments, the upper damper48may be disposed in the upper case46, and the lower damper49may be disposed on the bracket41. For example, the upper damper48and the lower damper49may include a sponge or a rubber.

According to certain embodiments, the actuator40may include an electric connection member51to apply a current to the coil43. For example, the electric connection member51may include a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

FIG.5is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an actuator according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.5, according to certain embodiment, the actuator40may include a magnet fluid52disposed between the vibrator54and the stator53to provide damping stability when the vibrator54vibrates. According to certain embodiments, the permanent magnet44has an upper surface formed in a ring shape, and accordingly, the magnet fluid52may be coated over the upper surface of the permanent magnet44in a ring shape but may not be limited to the ring shape. According to certain embodiments, the magnet fluid52may have a viscosity to be coated over the upper surface of the permanent magnet44and not to be released therefrom. For example, the magnet fluid52may have a viscosity of 1000 cp or more.

According to certain embodiments, the magnet fluid52may control a quantity of vibration of the vibrator54according to how much the magnet fluid is coated. According to certain embodiments, the magnet fluid52may include magnetic fine particles, a surfactant, and a base oil. The base oil may be synthetic hydrocarbon oil. According to certain embodiments, a magnetic powder of the magnet fluid52may exist in the range of 1.76% to 1.8% out of a fluid (base oil).

According to an embodiment, in the actuator40, a weight ratio of the magnet fluid52to the vibrator54may be between 0.24% and 0.71%. Vibration characteristics according to weight ratios of the magnet fluid52are shown in table 1 presented below:

TABLE 1HapticVibrationHapticUse RangeBandwidthcharacteristicswaveform(3Gop)c/mMF mass(3 dB)(fo, 2.5 Vrms)(10Vop)(10Vop)3360<5 Hzcase touchWaveform250 Hz~400 Hz3742.5 mgon fobroken4424.8 mg~100 Hz2.7 GrmsStable150 Hz~450 Hz5046.7 mg2.5 Grmswaveform5219.1 mg2.2 Grms54111.5 mg2.0 Grms66523 mg>100 Hz1.7 GrmsWaveform250 Hz~400 Hzdistorted

Referring to table 1, if a weight45is 1.68 g, a weight of a magnet fluid52provides a stable waveform in a range of about 4 mg to 12 mg. The weight of the magnet fluid52may be between 0.24 and 0.71%, of the weight of the vibrator54.

The actuator including the magnet fluid52coated by a weight in the above-described range may provide a stable frequency according to a usable wide frequency domain and a driving voltage. For example, a maximum amount of magnet fluid52coated may not exceed 12 mg.

According to certain embodiments, a coupling structure may be formed between the bracket41and the yoke42. According to certain embodiments, the coupling structure may be formed by coupling the center protrusion410and the insertion protrusion420. According to certain embodiments, the center protrusion410may be formed on a lower end of the bracket41to allow the yoke42to be coupled thereto. For example, the center protrusion410may be formed in a hollow shape, and the insertion protrusion420of the yoke may be inserted into the hollow-shaped opening.

FIG.6is a graph showing vibration characteristics with frequency according to an increase of a damping factor according to various embodiments of the disclosure.FIG.7is a graph enlarging some frequency sections ofFIG.6according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring toFIGS.6and7, according to certain embodiments, under the same driving condition (Vop=2.5 Vrms), as the damping factor (c/m or c) increases, a peak vibration force is reduced and a half width increases.

According to certain embodiments, when the damping factor (c/m) is smaller than 374, a distribution curve of vibration force is distorted by a touch of the upper case due to an increase of an amplitude of a vibrator (for example, the vibrator54shown inFIG.5) (mass). On the other hand, the peak vibration is noticeably reduced when the damping factor (c/m) is larger than541.

FIG.8is a graph showing vibration characteristics with frequency at different driving voltages when the damping factor (c/m) is 336 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG.9is a graph showing vibration characteristics with frequency at different operating voltages when the damping factor (c/m) is 442 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG.10is a graph showing vibration characteristics with frequency when the damping factor (c/m) is smaller than 374 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG.11is a graph showing haptic characteristics with an increase of frequency according to an increase of the damping factor (c/m) according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.11, when damping is great (c/m>500), a very weak haptic vibration force is obtained similarly to characteristics shown inFIGS.6and7. On the other hand, when damping is small (c/m<400), a very strong haptic vibration force may be obtained.

According to certain embodiments, the haptic vibration force of the actuator40is defined as a maximum vibration force when a voltage in a sine wave of 1.5 period is initially applied. Herein, the period and the form of the applied voltage are merely for explanation of the disclosure. A driving period and a waveform of an applied voltage are changeable according to a purpose of using.

FIG.12is a graph showing haptic vibration characteristics with frequency regarding a specimen having a damping factor of 306 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.12, in the case of a specimen having a damping factor of 306, 7 or more types of haptic vibration forces are obtained at 140-205 Hz (seeFIG.11). However, at these frequencies, a vibration waveform is not sinusoidal and a waveform is seriously broken.

When the waveform is seriously broken, a vibration force that a user actually feels may not be strong even if a peak vibration force is very strong, and a noise may be generated and a haptic vibration that a user actually feels is not so good that the actuator cannot be used as a haptic feedback actuator.

Referring toFIG.12, in the case of 200 Hz, the vibration waveform is broken even with 5 Vop. From the above-described result, it may be seen that, when the damping factor (c/m) is small, a stable vibration waveform may not be obtained in a specific frequency domain.

According to certain embodiments, as a result of reviewing haptic and vibration characteristics according to a damping factor (c/m), if a damping value is very small (>350), a loss may be small and efficiency may be great, but a drastic change in vibration according to a driving voltage and a resonance frequency may be caused in a resonance frequency domain having good efficiency. Accordingly, the vibration is difficult to control and there are many restrictions on implementing constant haptic quality.

On the other hand, if the damping factor is great (>550), an abrupt change in a distribution of vibration according to a frequency may not appear, and haptic and vibration f/b may be provided in a broad frequency band, but energy efficiency may be so low that a user has difficulty in feeling vibration in a normal driving condition used in the electronic device.

FIG.13is a view schematically expressing performance of the actuator40according to a damping factor.

Referring toFIG.13, in a region 1 (Region I), energy efficiency is good, but a change in vibration is so great according to a driving condition (driving voltage, driving frequency) that it is difficult to control. In addition, a response speed (rising time/falling time) is so slow that there are many restrictions on implementing haptic performance.

On the other hand, in a region 3 (Region III), a driving frequency bandwidth is wide and a response speed is fast, but damping is great, a driving current is high, and current consumption increases, so that it is not appropriate to use in an electronic device.

According to certain embodiments, considering current consumption, controllability, a response speed, a structure of an actuator (for example, the actuator40shown inFIG.5) having a damping factor (c/m) ranging from 350 to 550 regions may be deemed to be an optimal structure.

In addition, the embodiments disclosed in the disclosure and the drawings are suggested for easy explanation of the technical features according to embodiments of the disclosure and better understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of disclosure. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should be interpreted as including all changes or modified forms derived based on the technical idea of the disclosure, in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.