ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING DISPLAY WITH BENT AREA

• US 20160234362A1
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: SON, Kwon-Ho, CHOI, Bong-Suk, KIM, Gyeong-Tae, CHU, Na-Young, KIM, Kyung-Pil, MOON, Hee-Cheul, BAEK, Sang-In, LEE, Min-Sung, SEO, Jae-Il
• Granted Patent: US 9,578,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0269 mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks

Abstract

A portable electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a transparent front glass cover including a planar portion that forms a front surface of the electronic device, a planar rear glass cover that forms a rear surface of the electronic device, a metal bezel that surrounds a space formed by the front glass cover and the rear glass cover, and a flexible display device that is embedded in the space and exposed through the front glass cover. The front cover includes a left bent portion and a right bent portion on the left and right of the planar portion at the center of the front cover.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a transparent front glass cover that comprises a planar surface that forms a front surface of the electronic device;

a planar rear glass cover that forms a rear surface of the electronic device;

a metal bezel that surrounds a space formed by the front glass cover and the rear glass cover; and

a flexible display device that is embedded in the space and exposed through the front glass cover,

wherein the front glass cover comprises;

a first curved surface that extends from a first side edge of the planar surface, and

a second curved surface that extends from a second side edge of the planar surface and is formed opposite to the first curved surface,

wherein the flexible display device comprises a touch screen that extends along the first curved surface, the planar surface, and the second curved surface,

wherein the metal bezel comprises;

a first side surface that encloses an edge of the first curved surface,

a second side surface that encloses an edge of the second curved surface,

a third side surface that interconnects one end of the first side surface and one end of the second side surface, and

a fourth side surface that interconnects the other end of the first side surface and the other end of the second side surface, and

wherein the first side surface and the second side surface have a first height and the third side surface and the fourth side surface have a second height that is larger than the first height.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in a corner where the first side surface and the third side surface are interconnected and in a corner where the first side surface and the fourth side surface are interconnected, the height of the first side surface gradually increases from the first height to the second height.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in a corner where the second side surface and the third side surface are interconnected and in a corner where the second side surface and the fourth side surface are interconnected, the height of the second side surface gradually increases from the first height to the second height.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication receiver speaker that penetrates an opening formed through the front glass cover.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor and a memory within the space,

wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, upon being executed, cause the processor to display;

a first screen on a first area of the touch screen, which is positioned on the planar surface;

a second screen that is differentiated from the first screen, on a second area of the touch screen, which is positioned on the first curved surface; and

a third screen that is differentiated from the first screen, on a third area of the touch screen, which is positioned on the second curved surface.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible display device comprises a single flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) display that extends along the first curved surface, the planar surface, and the second curved surface.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first non-metal portion and a second non-metal portion that are formed on the third side surface perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the third side surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one of an opening on the third side surface between the first non-metal portion and the second non-metal portion, a subscriber identification module (SIM) tray that is removably inserted into the opening, and an infrared (IR) device that is exposed on the third side surface.

9. The electronic device of claim 8,

wherein the first non-metal portion is positioned close to the first side surface and the second non-metal surface is positioned close to the second side surface, and

wherein the IR device is positioned in a middle portion of the third side surface between the first non-metal portion and the second non-metal portion.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising:

an opening that is formed on the third side surface between the first non-metal portion or the second non-metal portion and the IR device, the SIM tray being removably inserted into the opening.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a third non-metal portion and a fourth non-metal portion that are formed on the fourth side surface perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the fourth side surface.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one of an audio device insertion hole, a connector opening, and a speaker hole on the fourth side surface between the third non-metal portion and the fourth non-metal portion.

13. The electronic device of claim 12,

wherein the third non-metal portion is positioned close to the first side surface and the fourth non-metal portion is positioned close to the second side surface, and

wherein the connector opening is positioned in a middle portion of the third side surface between the third non-metal portion and the fourth non-metal portion.

14. The electronic device of claim 13,

wherein the audio device insertion hole is positioned between the third non-metal portion and the connector opening, and

wherein the speaker hole is positioned between the fourth non-metal portion and the connector opening.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charge coil, and a magnetic emulator antenna within the space close to the rear glass cover.

16. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one opening and at least one sound control key on the first side surface or the second side surface, the sound control key being configured to be pushed through the opening.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one opening and a power key on the second surface or the first surface, which is opposite to the first side surface or the second side surface, which comprises the sound control key, the power key being configured to be pushed through the opening.

18. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first touch area on a part of the first curved surface and/or a second touch area on a part of the second curved surface,

wherein the electronic device is configured to receive a volume control input through at least one of the first touch area and the second touch area.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the volume control input comprises a gesture input on a part of the first touch area or the second touch area.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, further comprising:

a first touch area on a part of the first curved surface and/or a second touch area on a part of the second curved surface,

wherein the electronic device is configured to receive a power ON or OFF input through at least one of the first touch area and the second touch area.

21. An electronic device comprising:

a transparent front glass cover that comprises a first planar surface that forms a front surface of the electronic device;

a planar rear glass cover that comprises a second planar surface that forms a rear surface of the electronic device;

a metal bezel that surrounds a space formed by the front glass cover and the rear glass cover; and

a flexible display device that is embedded in the space and exposed through the front glass cover,

wherein the front glass cover comprises;

a first curved surface that extends from a first side edge of the first planar surface, and

a second curved surface that extends from a second side edge of the first planar surface and is formed opposite to the first curved surface,

wherein the rear glass cover comprises;

a third curved surface that extends from a first side edge of the second planar surface, and

a fourth curved surface that extends from a second side edge of the second planar surface and is formed opposite to the third curved surface,

wherein the flexible display device comprises a touch screen that extends along the first curved surface, the first planar surface, and the second curved surface,

wherein the metal bezel comprises;

a first side surface that encloses edges of the first curved surface and the third curved surface,

a second side surface that encloses edges of the second curved surface and the fourth curved surface,

a third side surface that interconnects one end of the first side surface and one end of the second side surface, and

a fourth side surface that interconnects the other end of the first side surface and the other end of the second side surface, and

wherein the first side surface and the second side surface have a first height and the third side surface and the fourth side surface have a second height that is larger than the first height.