Cover device and electronic device including the same

• US 9,710,022 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Dong-Kyun, Park, Seon-Keun, Ryu, Jin-le, Hwang, Jin-Sang, Lee, Min-Hyouk, Lee, Ji-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Nealon, William
• Application Number:
  US14/833,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20160054759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 4555758, 36167928
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that includes a body having a first display unit. The electronic device also includes a cover device having a first cover member detachably coupled to the body, and a second cover member pivotable about the first cover member. A second display unit is fixed to and integrated with an inner surface of the second cover member. The second display unit is electrically connected to the body when the first cover member is coupled to the body.

Claims

1. A cover device comprising:

a first cover member detachably coupled to a body of an electronic device;

a second cover member pivotally connected to the first cover member and having a display unit on an inner surface thereof; and

a connection member pivotally connecting the first cover member and the second cover member, and having a connection substrate electrically connecting the electronic device and the display unit,

wherein the connection substrate comprises;

a first connector terminal located in the second cover member and electrically connected to the display unit;

a second connector terminal located in the first cover member and electrically connected to a terminal module of the body according to a coupling of the first cover member to the body; and

a flexible circuit board connecting the first connector terminal and the second connector terminal.

2. The cover device of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a holder member for holding the first cover member at an inclined position with respect to the second cover member.

3. The cover device of claim 2, wherein the holder member comprises a shape memory member having one or more holding angles.

4. The cover device of claim 3, wherein the shape memory member is formed of a shape memory alloy or a shape keeping plastic.

5. The cover device of claim 2, wherein the connection member is formed of a flexible material, and wherein the connection member comprises:

an outer member connecting the first cover member and the second cover member; and

an inner member mounted on an inner surface of the outer member, and covering the holder member or the connection substrate between the display unit and the body of the electronic device.

6. The cover device of claim 1, wherein the display unit is a flexible display.

7. The cover device of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises at least one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Display (LED), an Organic Light Emitting Diode Display (OLED), and an Active Mode Organic Light Emitting Diode Display (AMOLED).

8. A cover device comprising:

a first cover member detachably provided on a first surface of a body of an electronic device;

a second cover member pivotally connected to the first cover member, having a display unit fixed to and integrated with an inner surface thereof, and configured to removably cover a main display unit of the body of the electronic device;

a connection member connecting the first cover member and the second cover member such that the second cover member is pivotable about the first cover member, and on which a connection substrate electrically connecting the display unit to the electronic device is mounted; and

a shape memory member mounted on the connection member, for holding the first cover member at an inclined position with respect to the second cover member,

wherein the connection substrate comprises;

a first connector terminal located in the second cover member and electrically connected to the display unit;

a second connector terminal located in the first cover member and electrically connected to a terminal module of the body according to a coupling of the first cover member to the body; and

a flexible circuit board connecting the first connector terminal and the second connector terminal.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a body comprising a first display unit;

a cover device comprising a first cover member detachably coupled to the body, and a second cover member pivotable about the first cover member, wherein a second display unit is fixed to and integrated with an inner surface of the second cover member; and

a connection member connecting the first cover member and the second cover member,

wherein a connection substrate electrically connecting the second display unit and the body are mounted on the first cover member and the second cover member via the connection member,

wherein the second display unit is electrically connected to the body when the first cover member is coupled to the body, and

wherein the connection substrate comprises;

a first connector terminal located in the second cover member and electrically connected to the second display unit;

a second connector terminal located in the first cover member and electrically connected to a terminal module of the body according to a coupling of the first cover member to the body; and

a flexible circuit board connecting the first connector terminal and the second connector terminal.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the connection member comprises a holder member for holding the second cover member in an inclined position with respect to the first cover member.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the holder member comprises a shape memory member or a shape keeping plastic.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the connection member is formed of a flexible material, and wherein the connection member comprises:

an outer member connecting the first cover member and the second cover member; and

an inner member mounted on an inner surface of the outer member between the second display unit and the body.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the outer member, the holder member, and the inner member are sequentially stacked, or the outer member, the holder member, the connection substrate, and the inner member are sequentially stacked, according to a location of the connection member.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second display unit comprises a flexible display member.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first display unit or the second display unit comprises at least one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Display (LED), an Organic Light Emitting Diode Display (OLED), and an Active Mode Organic Light Emitting Diode Display (AMOLED).

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit have the same or different structures.

17. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a fixing member, provided in the first cover member and the second cover member, for fixing a position of the first cover member and the second cover member while the first cover member directly faces the second cover member or faces the second cover member after being rotated.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the fixing member comprises first and second magnet members mounted to the first and second cover members, respectively.

19. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first cover member acts as a rear cover that covers a rear case of the body.

20. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein a rear cover covering a rear case of the body is provided on a rear surface of the body, and the first cover member comprises a support member that covers the rear cover and supports a periphery of the body while surrounding the periphery of the body.

21. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit display different user environments.

22. An electronic device comprising:

a body having a first display unit on a first surface thereof;

a first cover device coupled to a second surface of the body, for covering the body; and

a second cover device being compatible with the first cover device, for covering the body of the electronic device,

wherein the second cover device comprises;

a first cover member detachably coupled to the second surface of the body;

a second cover member pivotally coupled to the first cover member, for opening and closing the second cover device over the first surface of the body, wherein a second display unit is integrally fixed to an inner surface of the second cover member; and

a connection member pivotally connecting the first cover member and the second cover member,

wherein the second cover device comprises a connection substrate electrically connecting the second display unit and the body, and the connection substrate is mounted to the first cover member and the second cover member via the connection member, and

wherein the connection substrate comprises;

a first connector terminal disposed on the second cover member and electrically connected to the second display unit;

a second connector terminal disposed on the first cover member and electrically connected to a terminal module exposed on the second surface of the body based on a coupling of the first cover member to the body; and

a flexible circuit board connecting the first connector terminal and the second connector terminal.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the body further comprises a controller for controlling a mode of the electronic device as a single display driving mode and a dual display driving mode based on whether the first cover device and the second cover device are coupled to the body.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the controller controls the electronic device to execute in the single display driving mode through driving of the first display unit if the first cover device is coupled to the body, and the controller controls the electronic device to execute in the dual display driving mode through driving of the first display unit and the second display unit if the second cover device is coupled to the body.

25. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are executed in different user environments.

26. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the connection member comprises a shape memory member or a shape keeping plastic that retains a holding angle such that the second cover member is inclined with respect the first cover member.