IP Library Granted Patent US 11,425,833
Granted Patent B2
US 11,425,833 · App. 16/932,040 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Electronic device including foldable conductive plate

Inventors: Wooktae Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Gyuha Jo (Suwon-si, KR); Ingi Kim (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H05K5/0247H05K5/0017H05K5/0226
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,425,833
App. No.
16/932,040
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a hinge, a first housing connected to the hinge, a second housing connected to the hinge so as to fold the first housing, and a display disposed to receive support of at least a portion of the second housing from at least a portion of the first housing through the hinge. The display includes a display panel, at least one polymer member disposed at a rear surface of the display panel, and a conductive plate disposed at a rear surface of the at least one polymer member. The conductive plate includes a first flat portion facing the first housing, a second flat portion facing the second housing, and a flexible portion configured to connect the first flat portion and the second flat portion and disposed to be bendable. The flexible portion includes support pieces spaced apart from each other through slits, and a conductive elastic member configured to connect electrically and physically the first flat portion, the support pieces, and the second flat portion.

Claims (41)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a hinge;

a first housing connected to the hinge;

a second housing connected to the hinge so as to fold the first housing; and

a display disposed to receive support of at least a portion of the second housing from at least a portion of the first housing through the hinge,

wherein the display comprises:

a display panel,

at least one polymer member disposed at a rear surface of the display panel, and

a conductive plate disposed at a rear surface of the at least one polymer member,

wherein the conductive plate comprises:

a first flat portion facing the first housing,

a second flat portion facing the second housing, and

a flexible portion configured to connect the first flat portion and the second flat portion and disposed to be bendable,

wherein the flexible portion comprises:

a plurality of support pieces spaced apart from each other through a plurality of slits, and

a conductive elastic member configured to connect electrically and physically the first flat portion, the plurality of support pieces, and the second flat portion, and

wherein the conductive elastic member prevents introduction of foreign material into the conductive plate.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive elastic member provides flexibility of the flexible portion.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support pieces include a length in a first direction parallel to a folding axis and are disposed to be spaced apart at regular intervals through the plurality of slits in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein a width formed in each of the plurality of support pieces in the second direction provides flexibility of the flexible portion.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of support pieces are formed to gradually increase or decrease in width as they laterally progress based on the folding axis in the second direction.

6. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein a disposition density of the plurality of support pieces provides flexibility of the flexible portion.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of support pieces are formed to have a distance that gradually increases or decreases as they laterally progress based on the folding axis in the second direction.

8. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein different widths formed in each of the plurality of support pieces in the first direction provide flexibility of the flexible portion.

9. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein at least one connection portion in which one or more of the plurality of support pieces are connected in the second direction provides flexibility of the flexible portion.

10. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a rigid reinforcement area formed through a partial area of an upper end and a partial area of a lower end.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the flexible portion is formed based on a first width of the plurality of support pieces in the rigid reinforcement area being greater than a second width of the plurality of support pieces in another area.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the conductive plate comprises a front surface facing the at least one polymer member and a rear surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the front surface, and

wherein the conductive elastic member is disposed to block the flexible portion at the rear surface of the conductive plate.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the conductive elastic member comprises at least one of a conductive elastic tape member or a conductive elastic film member configured to connect the first flat portion, the second flat portion, or the plurality of support pieces at the rear surface of the conductive plate.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the conductive elastic member is disposed between at least a portion of the first flat portion and the first housing, and between at least a portion of the second flat portion and the second housing at the rear surface of the conductive plate.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising:

a step compensation member disposed in an area in which the conductive elastic member is not disposed between the first flat portion and the first housing and between the second flat portion and the second housing.

16. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the conductive elastic member comprises at least one of conductive rubber, conductive silicone, or conductive urethane.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive elastic member comprises a conductive elastic resin filled in the plurality of slits.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the conductive elastic resin is filled and then cured in a liquid form in the plurality of slits.

19. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive elastic member is formed to have an elongation rate of 1% or more.

20. The electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the conductive plate comprises at least one of Cu, Al, Mg, stainless steel (SUS), or CLAD, and

wherein the CLAD comprises a stacked member in which the SUS and the Al are alternately disposed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2020
From: KIM, WOOKTAE; JO, GYUHA; KIM, INGI
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053242/0178 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2019-0091295 · Jul 26, 2019 · national
KR 10-2020-0088711 · Jul 17, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210029841A1 · Jan 28, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,399,538 US 12,498,761 US 12,575,044