ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING DRIVING MOTOR

Abstract

An electronic device includes: a first housing; a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing and configured to move between a slide-in state and a slide-out state with respect to the first housing; a flexible display including a display area configured to change based on a moving of the second housing; a multi-bar on a rear surface of a portion of the flexible display; a driving motor in the second housing and including a pinion gear; a rack fixedly coupled to the first housing and including a rack gear that is gear-coupled to the pinion gear; a main printed circuit board (PCB) in the second housing; a rack guide in the second housing and configured to support the rack; and at least one drive belt connected to an end of the multi-bar and an end of the second housing.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a driving motor.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices are gradually becoming slimmer, more rigid, more design-oriented, and more differentiated in terms of their functional elements. Electronic devices are gradually changing from a uniform rectangular shape to various shapes. Electronic devices may have a deformable structure that is convenient to carry and may utilize a large-screen display. Electronic devices may have a structure (e.g., the rollable structure or a slidable structure) that can vary the display area of a flexible display (e.g., the rollable display) by supporting housings that slide relative to each other. Such electronic devices may require an efficient disposition structure of a driving module that allows the rest of the housing to slide automatically relative to one housing.

An electronic device may include a rollable electronic device (e.g., the slidable electronic device) in which a display area of a flexible display (e.g., the rollable display) may be expanded and/or contracted depending on the operating state. The rollable electronic device may include a first housing and a second housing that are movably coupled with respect to one another in a manner that is at least partially fitted together. For example, the first housing and the second housing may be slidably operated with respect to one another and support at least a portion of a flexible display (e.g., the rollable display, an expandable display, or a stretchable display), such that the flexible display is induced to have a first display area in a slide-in state, and to have a second display area larger than the first display area in a slide-out state.

The electronic device may include a driving motor including a pinion gear that automatically operates a second housing to slide a designated reciprocating distance on the basis of a first housing that is disposed in an inner space and is gripped by a user as a driving module, and a rack including a rack gear that is gear-coupled to the pinion gear. For example, when the driving motor is disposed in the first housing or the second housing, a rack that has a length along the sliding direction and is gear-coupled to the pinion gear may be disposed in the remaining housing.

However, since the rack must have a length corresponding at least to the sliding distance of the electronic device, the surrounding electrical components must be designed to avoid the rack installation space and/or the rack accommodation space. In particular, in the case that the battery among the electrical components is designed to avoid the rack installation space or accommodation space, its size will be reduced, which may lead to a reduction in the usage time of the electronic device because of the reduction in battery capacity. In particular, in an electronic device that uses a driving motor, the reduction in battery capacity may be fatal. In the case that the battery size is increased to improve this, it may run counter to the slimming of the electronic device. In addition, in the case that the rack is disposed to the left or right of the electronic device, the driving resistance increases because of the occurrence of eccentricity in the sliding motion, which may cause malfunction of the electronic device.

SUMMARY

Provided is an electronic device including a driving motor having a disposition structure for securing battery capacity.

Further, provided is an electronic device including a driving motor having a disposition structure of electrical components that may help in slimming the electronic device.

Further still, provided is an electronic device including a driving motor having a disposition structure that can help ensure operational reliability.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to an aspect of an embodiment, an electronic device may include: a first housing; a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing and configured to move between a slide-in state and a slide-out state with respect to the first housing; a flexible display including a display area configured to change based on a moving of the second housing; a multi-bar on a rear surface of a portion of the flexible display; a driving motor in the second housing and including a pinion gear; a rack fixedly coupled to the first housing and including a rack gear that is gear-coupled to the pinion gear; a main printed circuit board (PCB) in the second housing; a rack guide in the second housing and configured to support the rack; and at least one drive belt connected to an end of the multi-bar and an end of the second housing, where the rack guide overlaps the main PCB, and where the second housing is configured to move with respect to the first housing based on a movement of the rack with respect to the rack guide.

The at least one drive belt may include a plurality of drive belts on a left side and a right side of the rack with respect to a front plane of the flexible display, respectively.

A sliding distance of the second housing may correspond to a length of the rack.

The length of the rack may be based on a distance from a fixed portion of the rack to an upper inner surface of the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The rack may contact the upper inner surface of the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The electronic device may further include a battery in the first housing, where the length of the rack corresponds to a size of the battery.

The rack may be at least partially within the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-out state.

The electronic device may further include at least one electrical component in the second housing, where at least one of the at least one electrical component overlaps at least a portion of the rack with respect to a front plane of the flexible display based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The main PCB may overlap the rack with respect to a front plane of the flexible display based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The main PCB may include: a first PCB; a second PCB provided on the first PCB; and an interposer between the first PCB and the second PCB and configured to electrically connect the first PCB and the second PCB, where the first PCB at least partially overlaps the second PCB with respect to the front plane.

The first PCB may only partially overlap the second PCB with respect to the front plane, where the rack is adjacent to the first PCB so as to overlap the second PCB and not overlap the first PCB with respect to the front plane based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The rack may at least partially overlap the second PCB with respect to the front plane based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The at least one electrical component may include an array antenna configured to form a directional beam through a side surface of the second housing, where the electronic device further includes a heat transfer member in the second housing and configured to transfer heat generated from the array antenna to a rear cover including a metal material.

The at least one electrical component may include at least one of a microphone, at least one camera module, a receiver, a speaker, a connector port, a vibration motor, or an antenna module around a periphery of the main PCB in the second housing.

The electronic device may further include at least one rotating roller in the first housing and configured to guide the at least one drive belt.

According to an aspect of an embodiment, an electronic device may include: a first housing; a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing and configured to move between a slide-in state and a slide-out state with respect to the first housing; a flexible display including a display area configured to change based on a moving of the second housing; a rack fixedly coupled to the first housing; a rack guide in the second housing and configured to support the rack; and a battery in the first housing, where the rack does not overlap the battery with respect to a front plane of the flexible display, and where the second housing is configured to move with respect to the first housing corresponding to a movement of the rack with respect to the rack guide.

The electronic device may further include a main printed circuit board (PCB) in the second housing, where the main PCB overlaps at least a portion of the rack with respect to the front plane based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The main PCB may include: a first PCB; a second PCB provided on the first PCB; and an interposer between the first PCB and the second PCB and configured to electrically connect the first PCB and the second PCB, where the first PCB only partially overlaps the second PCB with respect to the front plane, and where, with respect to the front plane, the rack overlaps the second PCB and does not overlap the first PCB based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

The rack may not overlap the battery with respect to a side plane perpendicular to the front plane.

A sliding distance of the second housing may correspond to a length of the rack, where the length of the rack corresponds to a size of the battery, and where the rack contacts an upper inner surface of the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating front and rear views of an electronic device in a slide-in state according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating front and rear views of an electronic device in a slide-out state according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a support bracket on which a battery is mounted according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 5a-5a of FIG. 2A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 5b-5b of FIG. 3A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device illustrating the disposition structure of a driving motor and a rack in a slide-in state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a portion of an electronic device illustrating a disposition configuration of a rack accommodated in a second housing in a slide-in state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 6c-6c of FIG. 6A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of an electronic device illustrating the disposition structure of a driving motor and a rack in a slide-out state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a portion of an electronic device illustrating a disposition configuration of a rack accommodated in a second housing in a slide-out state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of a portion of an electronic device including electrical components according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a portion of an electronic device including electrical components according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 9a-9a of FIG. 8A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an electronic device as viewed along line 9b-9b of FIG. 8A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a portion of an electronic device including electrical components according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an electronic device as viewed along line 10b-10b of FIG. 10A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device including a disposition structure of a flexible substrate in a slide-in state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating an operating state of a flexible substrate according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram of an electronic device including a disposition structure of a flexible substrate in a slide-out state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 12a-12a of FIG. 11A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 12b-12b of FIG. 11C according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device illustrating the disposition structure of an antenna member and a first substrate according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The embodiments described herein are example embodiments, and thus, the disclosure is not limited thereto and may be realized in various other forms. It is to be understood that singular forms include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms including technical or scientific terms used in the disclosure may have the same meanings as generally understood by those skilled in the art.

As used herein, each of the expressions “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include one or all possible combinations of the items listed together with a corresponding expression among the expressions.

It will be understood that the terms “first”, “second”, or the like, may be used to distinguish one component from another, and should not be construed to limit the corresponding component in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

It will be understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “having,” “including,” “comprising,” and the like when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

An expression that one component is “connected”, “coupled”, “supported”, or “in contact” with another component includes a case in which the components are directly “connected”, “coupled”, “supported”, or “in contact” with each other and a case in which the components are indirectly “connected”, “coupled”, “supported”, or “in contact” with each other through a third component. It will also be understood that when one component is referred to as being “on” or “over” another component, it may be directly on the other component or intervening components may also be present.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100 according to various embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 1, the electronic device 101 in the network environment 100 may communicate with an electronic device 102 via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or at least one of an electronic device 104 or a server 108 via a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may communicate with the electronic device 104 via the server 108. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may include a processor 120, memory 130, an input module 150, a sound output module 155, a display module 160, an audio module 170, a sensor module 176, an interface 177, a connecting terminal 178, a haptic module 179, a camera module 180, a power management module 188, a battery 189, a communication module 190, a subscriber identification module (SIM) 196, or an antenna module 197. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., the connecting terminal 178) may be omitted from the electronic device 101, or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of the components (e.g., the sensor module 176, the camera module 180, or the antenna module 197) may be implemented as a single component (e.g., the display module 160).

The processor 120 may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program 140) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device 101 coupled with the processor 120, and may perform various data processing or computation. According to an embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or computation, the processor 120 may store a command or data received from another component (e.g., the sensor module 176 or the communication module 190) in volatile memory 132, process the command or the data stored in the volatile memory 132, and store resulting data in non-volatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may include a main processor 121 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)), or an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operable independently from, or in conjunction with, the main processor 121. For example, when the electronic device 101 includes the main processor 121 and the auxiliary processor 123, the auxiliary processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor 121, or to be specific to a specified function. The auxiliary processor 123 may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the main processor 121.

The auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., the display module 160, the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190) among the components of the electronic device 101, instead of the main processor 121 while the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor 121 while the main processor 121 is in an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module 180 or the communication module 190) functionally related to the auxiliary processor 123. According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., the neural processing unit) may include a hardware structure specified for artificial intelligence model processing. An artificial intelligence model may be generated by machine learning. Such learning may be performed, e.g., by the electronic device 101 where the artificial intelligence is performed or via a separate server (e.g., the server 108). Learning algorithms may include, but are not limited to, e.g., supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning. The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers. The artificial neural network may be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), deep Q-network or a combination of two or more thereof but is not limited thereto. The artificial intelligence model may, additionally or alternatively, include a software structure other than the hardware structure.

The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component (e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176) of the electronic device 101. The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program 140) and input data or output data for a command related thereto. The memory 130 may include the volatile memory 132 or the non-volatile memory 134.

The program 140 may be stored in the memory 130 as software, and may include, For example, an operating system (OS) 142, middleware 144, or an application 146.

The input module 150 may receive a command or data to be used by another component (e.g., the processor 120) of the electronic device 101, from the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The input module 150 may include, For example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The sound output module 155 may output sound signals to the outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output module 155 may include, For example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record. The receiver may be used for receiving incoming calls. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.

The display module 160 may visually provide information to the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The display module 160 may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector and control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display, hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the display module 160 may include a touch sensor adapted to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor adapted to measure the strength of force incurred by the touch.

The audio module 170 may convert a sound into an electrical signal and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 may obtain the sound via the input module 150, or output the sound via the sound output module 155 or a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupled with the electronic device 101.

The sensor module 176 may detect an operational state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device 101 or an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device 101, and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 176 may include, For example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The interface 177 may support one or more specified protocols to be used for the electronic device 101 to be coupled with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface 177 may include, For example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface.

A connecting terminal 178 may include a connector via which the electronic device 101 may be physically connected with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the connecting terminal 178 may include, For example, a HDMI connector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module 179 may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electrical stimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation or kinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 may include, For example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator.

The camera module 180 may capture a still image or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management module 188 may manage power supplied to the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the power management module 188 may be implemented as at least part of, For example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery 189 may supply power to at least one component of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 may include, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 190 may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device 101 and the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102, the electronic device 104, or the server 108) and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication module 190 may include one or more communication processors that are operable independently from the processor 120 (e.g., the application processor (AP)) and supports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or a wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module 190 may include a wireless communication module 192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module 194 (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network 198 (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multi components (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication module 192 may identify and authenticate the electronic device 101 in a communication network, such as the first network 198 or the second network 199, using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module 196.

The wireless communication module 192 may support a 5G network, after a 4G network, and next-generation communication technology, e.g., new radio (NR) access technology. The NR access technology may support enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), or ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). The wireless communication module 192 may support a high-frequency band (e.g., the mmWave band) to achieve, e.g., a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module 192 may support various technologies for securing performance on a high-frequency band, such as, e.g., beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (massive MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module 192 may support various requirements specified in the electronic device 101, an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 104), or a network system (e.g., the second network 199). According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 192 may support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for implementing eMBB, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for implementing mMTC, or U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for each of downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or a round trip of 1 ms or less) for implementing URLLC.

The antenna module 197 may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include an antenna including a radiating element composed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas). In such a case, at least one antenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in the communication network, such as the first network 198 or the second network 199, may be selected, For example, by the communication module 190 (e.g., the wireless communication module 192) from the plurality of antennas. The signal or the power may then be transmitted or received between the communication module 190 and the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiating element may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module 197.

According to various embodiments, the antenna module 197 may form a mm Wave antenna module. According to an embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, a RFIC disposed on a first surface (e.g., the bottom surface) of the printed circuit board, or adjacent to the first surface and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., the mm Wave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas) disposed on a second surface (e.g., the top or a lateral) of the printed circuit board, or adjacent to the second surface and capable of transmitting or receiving signals of the designated high-frequency band.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutually and communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device 101 and the external electronic device 104 via the server 108 coupled with the second network 199. Each of the electronic device 102 or 104 may be a device of a same type as, or a different type, from the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at the electronic device 101 may be executed at one or more of the external electronic device 102, 104, or 108. For example, if the electronic device 101 should perform a function or a service automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101, instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service, may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or the service. The electronic device 101 may provide the outcome, with or without further processing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the request. To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, For example. The electronic device 101 may provide ultra low-latency services using, e.g., distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In another embodiment, the external electronic device 104 may include an internet-of-things (IoT) device. The server 108 may be an intelligent server using machine learning and/or a neural network. According to an embodiment, the external electronic device 104 or the server 108 may be included in the second network 199. The electronic device 101 may be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) on the basis of 5G communication technology or IoT-related technology.

According to various embodiments, the sensor module 176 may include a movement distance detection sensor to detect a movement distance of a second housing (e.g., a second housing 220 in FIG. 4) from a first housing (e.g., a first housing 210 in FIG. 4) of an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device 200 of FIG. 4). In one embodiment, through movement of the second housing 220 from the first housing 210, the sensor module 176 may detect a slide-in state being a first state, a slide-out state being a second state, or an intermediate state being a third state between the slide-in state and the slide-out state. In a certain embodiment, the processor 120 may detect the movement distance in real time through the sensor module 176 while the second housing 220 is moved from the first housing 210, and control the display module 160 to display an object in correspondence to the changing display area through a flexible display (e.g., flexible display 230 in FIG. 4). In one embodiment, the electronic device 101 may include a drive motor control module 181 to control the operation of a drive motor (e.g., DC motor or stepping motor) (e.g., drive motor 260 in FIG. 4) disposed inside the electronic device. In an embodiment, the drive motor control module 181 may be replaced by the processor 120.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating front and rear views of an electronic device in a slide-in state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating front and rear views of an electronic device in a slide-out state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

The electronic device 200 of FIGS. 2A to 3B may be at least partially similar to the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1 or may further include other embodiments of the electronic device.

With reference to FIGS. 2A to 3B, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210, a second housing 220 that is slidably coupled to the first housing 210 in a specified direction (e.g., the direction {circle around (1)} or the direction {circle around (2)}) (e.g., the ±y-axis direction), and a flexible display 230 (e.g., the rollable display, the expandable display, or the stretchable display) that is disposed to be supported by at least a portion of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the second housing 220 may be slidably coupled to the first housing 210 so as to be slid out in a first direction (e.g., the direction {circle around (1)}) and/or slid in a second direction (e.g., the direction {circle around (2)}) that is opposite to the first direction (e.g., the direction {circle around (1)}). In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may be changed into a slide-in state (e.g., the retracted state) by accommodating at least a portion of the second housing 220 in at least a portion of the first space 2101 formed by the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may be changed into a slide-out state (e.g., the extended state) by moving at least a portion of the second housing 220 outwardly (e.g., the direction of {circle around (1)}) from the first space 2101. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a support member (e.g., the support member 240 of FIG. 4) (e.g., the bendable member, the articulating hinge module, the multi-bar assembly, or the multi-bar) that, in a slide-out state, forms at least partially the same plane as at least a portion of the second housing 220, and, in a slide-in state, is accommodated at least partially into the first space 2101 of the first housing 210 in a bendable manner. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible display 230 may be disposed to be supported by at least a portion of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the remaining portion of the flexible display 230 may be disposed to be supported by the support member 240 (e.g., the support member 240 of FIG. 4). In one embodiment, the support member 240 may be disposed in a manner that it is attached to the rear surface of the display 230. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible display 230 may be accommodated in a bendable manner into the first space 2101 of the first housing 210 while being supported by the support member (e.g., the support member 240 of FIG. 4) in a slide-in state so that it is not visible (e.g., not exposed) from the outside. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible display 230 may be moved so that it is visible (e.g., exposed) from the outside while being supported by the support member (e.g., the support member 240 of FIG. 4) that forms at least partially the same plane as the second housing 220 in a slide-out state.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 including a first lateral member 211 and a second housing 220 including a second lateral member 221. In one embodiment, the first lateral member 211 may be disposed on a lower side of the electronic device 200 and may include a first side surface 2111 having a first length, a second side surface 2112 extending in a vertical direction (e.g., the y-axis direction) from one end of the first side surface 2111 and having a second length, and a third side surface 2113 extending parallel to the second side surface 2112 from the other end of the first side surface 2111 and having a second length. In one embodiment, the first lateral member 211 may be at least partially formed of a conductive material (e.g., metal). In some embodiments, the first lateral member 211 may be formed by combining a conductive member and a non-conductive member (e.g., polymer). In one embodiment, the first housing 210 may include a first extension member 212 that extends from at least a portion of the first lateral member 211 to at least a portion of the first space 2101. In one embodiment, the first extension member 212 may be formed integrally with the first lateral member 211. In some embodiments, the first extension member 212 may be formed separately from the first lateral member 211 and structurally coupled to the first lateral member 211.

According to one or more embodiments, the second lateral member 221 may be disposed on an upper side of the electronic device 200 and may include a fourth side surface 2211 having a third length, a fifth side surface 2212 extending in a direction perpendicular to the second side surface 2112 from one end of the fourth side surface 2211 (e.g., the −y-axis direction) and having a fourth length, and a sixth side surface 2213 extending in a direction parallel to the fifth side surface 2212 from the other end of the fourth side surface 2211 and having a fourth length and corresponding to the third side surface 2113. In one embodiment, the second lateral member 221 may be formed at least partially of a conductive member (e.g., metal). In some embodiments, the second lateral member 221 may be formed by combining a conductive member and a non-conductive member (e.g., polymer). In one embodiment, at least a portion of the second lateral member 221 may include a second extension member 222 that extends to at least a portion of the second space 2201 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the second extension member 222 may be formed integrally with the second lateral member 221. In some embodiments, the second extension member 222 may be formed separately from the second lateral member 221 and structurally coupled to the second lateral member 221.

According to one or more embodiments, the second side surface 2112 and the fifth side surface 2212 may be slidably coupled with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the third side surface 2113 and the sixth side surface 2213 may be slidably coupled with respect to each other. In one embodiment, in the slide-in state, a portion of the fifth side surface 2212 may be disposed to overlap with the second side surface 2112 so as to be substantially invisible from the outside. In one embodiment, in the slide-in state, a remaining portion of the fifth side surface 2212 may be disposed to be visible from the outside. In some embodiments, in the slide-in state, the fifth side surface 2212 may be disposed to overlap with the second side surface 2112 so as to be substantially invisible from the outside. In one embodiment, in the slide-in state, a portion of the sixth side surface 2213 may be disposed to overlap with the third side surface 2113 so as to be substantially invisible from the outside. In one embodiment, in the slide-in state, the remaining portion of the sixth side surface 2213 may be disposed to be visible from the outside. In some embodiments, in the slide-in state, the sixth side surface 2213 may be disposed to overlap with the third side surface 2113 so as to be substantially invisible from the outside. In one embodiment, a portion of the second extension member 222 may be disposed to be visible from the outside in the slide-in state. In some embodiments, in the slide-in state, the second extension member 222 may be disposed to overlap with the first extension member 212 so as to be substantially invisible from the outside.

According to various embodiments, the first housing 210 may include a first rear cover 213 coupled to at least a portion of the first lateral member 211. In one embodiment, the first rear cover 213 may be disposed in such a way that it is coupled to at least a portion of the first extension member 212. In some embodiments, the first rear cover 213 may be formed integrally with the first lateral member 211. In one embodiment, the first rear cover 213 may be formed of a polymer, a coated or colored glass, a ceramic, a metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of these materials. In some embodiments, the first rear cover 213 may extend to at least a portion of the first lateral member 211. In some embodiments, the first rear cover 213 may be omitted and at least a portion of the first extension member 212 may be replaced with the first rear cover 213.

According to one or more embodiments, the second housing 220 may include a second rear cover 223 coupled to at least a portion of the second lateral member 221. In one embodiment, the second rear cover 223 may be disposed so as to be coupled to at least a portion of the second extension member 222. In one embodiment, the second rear cover 223 may be formed integrally with the second lateral member 221. In one embodiment, the second rear cover 223 may be formed of a polymer, a coated or colored glass, a ceramic, a metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of these materials. In some embodiments, the second rear cover 223 may extend to at least a portion of the second lateral member 221. In some embodiments, the second rear cover 223 may be omitted, and at least a portion of the second extension member 222 may be replaced with the second rear cover 223. In some embodiments, the second extension member 222 may be omitted, and the second rear cover 223 may be replaced with the second extension member 222. In one embodiment, the second housing 220 may include a window cover 224 disposed on at least a portion of the second rear cover. In one embodiment, the window cover 224 may be disposed in an area exposed to the outside of the second housing 220 in a slide-in state, and may be formed of a material that facilitates detection of an external environment through at least one camera module 216 and/or sensor module 217 disposed in an inner space 2201 of the second housing 220. For example, the window cover 224 may be formed of glass and/or polymer material in which at least an area corresponding to the camera module 216 and/or sensor module 217 is formed transparently.

According to one or more embodiments, the flexible display 230 may include a first portion 230a (e.g., the flat portion) that is always visible from the outside, and a second portion 230b (e.g., the bendable portion or a bending portion) that extends from the first portion 230a and is accommodated in a manner that is at least partially bent into the first space 2101 of the first housing 210 so as not to be visible from the outside in a slide-in state. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the first portion 230a may be disposed to be supported by the second housing 220, and at least a portion of the first portion 230a and the second portion 230b may be disposed to be at least partially supported by a support member (e.g., the support member 240 of FIG. 4). In one embodiment, the second part 230b of the flexible display 230 may be disposed to form substantially the same plane as the first portion 230a while being supported by a support member (e.g., the support member 240 of FIG. 4) when the second housing 220 is slid out along the first direction (direction {circle around (1)}) and may be visible from the outside. In one embodiment, the second portion 230b of the flexible display 230 may be accommodated in a manner of bending into the first space 2101 of the first housing 210 when the second housing 220 is slid in along the second direction (direction {circle around (2)}) and may be disposed so as not to be visible from the outside. Accordingly, the flexible display 230 may have a variable display area as the second housing 220 slides along a specified direction (e.g., ±y-axis direction) from the first housing 210.

According to one or more embodiments, the flexible display 230 may have a variable length in a sliding direction (e.g., direction {circle around (1)} or direction {circle around (2)}) according to the sliding movement of the second housing 220 relative to the first housing 210. For example, the flexible display 230 may have a first display area (e.g., the area corresponding to the first portion 230a) corresponding to a first length L1 in a slide-in state. In one embodiment, the flexible display 230 may be expanded to have a second display area (e.g., the area including the first portion 230a and the second portion 230b) corresponding to a third length L3 longer than the first length L1 and larger than the first display area, according to the movement distance of the second housing 220 moved by the second length L2 relative to the first housing 210 in a slide-out state.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include at least one of an input device (e.g., the microphone 203-1), an audio output device (e.g., the call receiver 206 and/or a speaker 207), a sensor module 204 and 217, a camera module (e.g., the first camera module 205 or the second camera module 216), a connector port 208, a key input device 219, or an indicator disposed in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include another input device (e.g., the microphone 203) disposed in the first housing 210. In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may be configured such that at least one of the above-described components is omitted, or other components are additionally included. In some embodiments, at least one of the components described above may be disposed in the first space 2101 of the first housing 210.

According to one or more embodiments, the input device may include a microphone 203-1. In some embodiments, the input device (e.g., the microphone 203-1) may include a plurality of microphones disposed to detect the direction of sound. The audio output device may include, for example, a call receiver 206 and a speaker 207. In one embodiment, the speaker 207 may be in contact with the outside through at least one speaker hole formed in the second housing 220 at a position that is always exposed to the outside (e.g., the fourth side surface 2211), regardless of the slide-in/slide-out state. In one embodiment, the connector port 208 may be in contact with the outside through a connector port hole formed in the second housing 220 in the slide-out state. In one embodiment, the connector port 208 may be covered so as not to be visible from the outside in the slide-in state. In some embodiments, the connector port 208 may be formed in the first housing 210 in a slide-in state and may be externally responsive through an opening formed to correspond with the connector port hole. In some embodiments, the call receiver 206 may include a speaker (e.g., the piezo speaker) that is operated without a separate speaker hole.

According to one or more embodiments, the sensor modules 204 and 217 may generate electrical signals or data values corresponding to an internal operating state of the electronic device 200 or an external environmental state. In one embodiment, the sensor modules 204 and 217 may include, for example, a first sensor module 204 (e.g., the proximity sensor or the ambient light sensor) disposed on the front surface of the electronic device 200 and/or a second sensor module 217 (e.g., the heart rate monitoring (HRM) sensor) disposed on the rear surface of the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the first sensor module 204 may be disposed on the front surface of the electronic device 200 under the flexible display 230. In one embodiment, the first sensor module 204 and/or the second sensor module 217 may include at least one of a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a time of flight (TOF) sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a fingerprint recognition sensor, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, or a humidity sensor.

According to one or more embodiments, the camera module may include a first camera module 205 disposed on the front surface of the electronic device 200 and a second camera module 216 disposed on the rear surface of the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may also include a flash disposed near the second camera module 216. In one embodiment, the camera modules 205 and 216 may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, and/or an image signal processor. In one embodiment, the first camera module 205 may be disposed under the flexible display 230 and configured to capture a subject through a portion of an active area (e.g., the display area) of the flexible display 230.

According to one or more embodiments, among the camera modules, the first camera module 205 and, among the sensor modules 204 and 217, the first sensor module 204 may be disposed to detect an external environment through the flexible display 230. For example, the first camera module 205 or the first sensor module 204 may be disposed in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220 so as to be in contact with the external environment through a transparent area or a perforated opening formed in the flexible display 230. In one embodiment, an area of the flexible display 230 facing the first camera module 205 may be formed as a transparent area having a designated transmittance as part of an active area that displays content. In one embodiment, the transparent area may be formed to have a transmittance in a range of about 5% to about 20%. Such a transparent area may include an area overlapping with an effective area (e.g., the field of view area) of the first camera module 205 through which light passes to be imaged by the image sensor to generate an image. For example, the transparent area of the flexible display 230 may include an area having a lower pixel disposition density and/or lower wiring density than the surrounding area. For example, the transparent area may be replaced with the opening described above. For example, some camera modules 205 may include an under display camera (UDC). In some embodiments, some sensor modules 204 may be disposed to perform their functions without being visually exposed through the flexible display 230 in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220.

According to one or more embodiments, the slide-in operation and/or the slide-out operation of the electronic device 200 may be performed automatically. For example, the slide-in operation and/or the slide-out operation of the electronic device 200 may be performed through gear engagement between a driving motor (e.g., the driving motor 260 of FIG. 4) including a pinion gear (e.g., the pinion gear 261 of FIG. 4) disposed in a second space 2201 of the second housing 220 and a rack (e.g., the rack 2253 of FIG. 4) disposed in the first space 2101 of the first housing 210, extending to at least a portion of the second space 2201, and including a rack gear coupled to the pinion gear 261. For example, when a processor (e.g., the processor 120 of FIG. 1) of the electronic device 200 detects a triggering signal for transitioning from a slide-in state to a slide-out state or from a slide-out state to a slide-in state, the processor may drive a driving motor (e.g., the driving motor 260 of FIG. 4) disposed inside the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the triggering signal may include a signal according to selection (e.g., touch) of an object displayed on the flexible display 230 or a signal according to operation (e.g., pressing) of a physical button (e.g., the key button) included in the electronic device 200.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may have a structure in which the second housing 220 slides in and/or out relative to the first housing 210 along a longitudinal direction (e.g., vertical direction) (e.g., ±y-axis direction) of the electronic device 200, but is not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device 200 may have a structure in which the second housing 220 slides in and/or out relative to the first housing 210 along a width direction (e.g., horizontal direction) (e.g., the ±x-axis direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device 200. In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may be formed such that the length of the first side surface 2111 of the first housing 210 is longer than the length of the second side surface 2112. In this case, the length of the fourth side surface 2211 of the second housing 220 may also be formed to be longer than the length of the fifth side surface 2212.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include at least one antenna A disposed through at least a portion of a second lateral member 221 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include at least one unit conductive portion 310, 311, and 312 formed through at least one segmentation portion 321, 322, 323, and 324. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a first conductive portion 310 disposed through a first segmentation portion 321 and a second segmentation portion 322 spaced apart from each other by a specified interval on a fourth side surface 2211 of the second lateral member 221. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a first segmentation portion 321 and a second conductive portion 311 disposed through a third segmentation portion 323 formed on a fifth side surface 2212. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a second segmentation portion 322 and a third conductive portion 312 disposed through a fourth segmentation portion 324 formed on a sixth side surface 2213. In one embodiment, at least one conductive portion among the first conductive portion 310, the second conductive portion 311, or the third conductive portion 312 may be electrically connected to a wireless communication circuit of the electronic device 200 (e.g., the wireless communication module 192 of FIG. 1) so as to be used as at least one antenna A operating in at least one designated frequency band (e.g., the legacy band or an NR band). For example, the at least one designated frequency band may cover a range of about 600 MHz to 9000 MHz.

FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a support bracket on which a battery is mounted according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

In describing the electronic device 200 of FIG. 4A, components that are substantially the same as those of the electronic devices 200 of FIGS. 2A to 3B are given the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 including a first space 2101, a second housing 220 that is slidably coupled to the first housing 210 and includes a second space 2201, a support member 240 (e.g., the bendable member or a multi-bar assembly) that is fixed to at least a portion of the second housing 220 and is at least partially bendably accommodated into the first space 2101 according to a slide-in motion, a flexible display 230 that is disposed to receive support from at least a portion of the support member 240 and the second housing 220, and a drive module (e.g., the drive mechanism) that drives the second housing 220 from the first housing 210 in a slide-in direction (e.g., the −y-axis direction) and/or a slide-out direction (e.g., the y-axis direction). In one embodiment, the first housing 210 may include a first lateral member 211 and a first rear cover 213 coupled to at least a portion of the first lateral member 211 (e.g., at least a portion of the first extension member 212). In one embodiment, the first space 2101 may be formed by the coupling of the first lateral member 211 and the first rear cover 213. In one embodiment, the second housing 220 may include a second lateral member 221, a second rear cover 223 coupled to at least a portion of the second lateral member 221 (e.g., at least a portion of the second extension member 222), and a window cover 224 coupled to the second rear cover 223. In one embodiment, the second space 2201 may be formed by combining the second lateral member 221, the second rear cover 223, and the window cover 224. In one embodiment, a portion of the second rear cover 223 may include a notch area 223a formed to expose the second camera module 216 disposed in the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the notch area 223a may be protected from the outside by the window cover 224 disposed thereon. In one embodiment, the first housing 210 may further include a cover member 2111a disposed to cover at least a portion of the first side surface 2111.

According to one or more embodiments, the drive module may include a driving motor 260 disposed in the second space 2201 and including a pinion gear 261, and a rack 2253 fixed to the support bracket 225 and extending from the first space 2101 to the second space 2201, and including a rack gear disposed to engage the pinion gear 261. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may further include a reduction module (e.g., the reduction gear assembly) disposed to engage with the driving motor 260 to reduce the rotational speed and increase the driving force. In one embodiment, the driving motor 260 may be disposed in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220 to be supported by a second extension member 222. In one embodiment, the driving motor 260 may be disposed to be supported by a motor bracket 260a fixed to the second extension member 222. In some embodiments, the motor bracket 260a may further include a guide structure that guides the rack 2253 in a sliding direction. Accordingly, when the electronic device 200 is assembled, the pinion gear 261 may maintain a state of gear engagement with the rack 2253, and the pinion gear 261 provided with the driving force of the driving motor 260 may move along the rack 2253, thereby causing the second housing 220 to move relative to the first housing 210.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a support bracket 225 fixed to the first space 2101 of the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the support bracket 225 may include a battery mounting portion 2251 for accommodating a battery B and a support portion 2252 formed on the lower side of the battery mounting portion 2251 and supporting a rear surface of a support member 240 that is bent during a sliding motion transitioning from a slide-out state to a slide-in state. In one embodiment, the support portion 2252 may have an outer surface formed to be curved for smooth guidance of the support member 240. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a pair of guide rails 226 that are fixed to both sides of the support bracket 225 to guide both ends of the support member 240 in a sliding direction while simultaneously guiding the second housing 220 in a sliding direction. In one embodiment, the support bracket 225 and the guide rails 226 may be fixed in the inner space 2101 of the first housing 210 through a fastening member, such as a screw.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include at least one electrical component disposed in the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the at least one electrical component may include a substrate assembly 251 (e.g., the main substrate) (e.g., stacked substrates or a main PCB) and a second camera module 216 disposed around the substrate assembly 251. In one embodiment, the at least one electrical component may include at least one of a microphone (e.g., the microphone 203-1 of FIG. 8A), a first camera module (e.g., the first camera module 205 of FIG. 8A), a receiver (e.g., the receiver 206 of FIG. 8A), a speaker (e.g., the speaker 207 of FIG. 8A), a vibration motor (e.g., the vibration motor 218 of FIG. 8A), or a connector port (e.g., the connector port of FIG. 8A) disposed around the substrate assembly 251. In some embodiments, at least one electrical component may be disposed in the first space 2101 of the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the substrate assembly 251 may be disposed generally centrally in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220, with the at least one electrical component disposed along the periphery thereof, thereby enabling efficient electrical connection between the substrate assembly 251 and the at least one electrical component.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a first substrate 252 (e.g., the first sub-substrate) and an antenna member (e.g., the antenna member 253 of FIG. 13) disposed between a first extension member 212 and a first rear cover 213 in a first housing 210. In one embodiment, the first substrate 252 and the antenna member (e.g., the antenna member 253 of FIG. 13) may be disposed between the first extension member 212 and the first rear cover 213. In one embodiment, the first substrate 252 and the antenna member 253 may be electrically connected to a substrate assembly 251 through a flexible substrate (e.g., the flexible substrate F1 of FIG. 11A) (e.g., the FPCB, flexible printed circuit board or FRC, flexible RF cable). In one embodiment, the antenna member (e.g., the antenna member 253 of FIG. 13) may include a multi-function coil (or multi-function core) antenna for performing a wireless charging function, a near field communication (NFC) function, and/or an electronic payment function. In some embodiments, the antenna member (e.g., the antenna member 253 of FIG. 13) may be electrically connected to a third substrate (e.g., the third substrate 255 of FIG. 11A) disposed around the driving motor 260, thereby being electrically connected to the substrate assembly 251.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery B disposed in the battery mounting portion 2251 of the support bracket 225 may be designed to expand in size as much as possible in the width direction (e.g., the ±x-axis direction) without any separate component disposition other than the guide structure (e.g., the guide structure of the guide rail 226 and the second housing 220) between the support bracket 225 and the second housing 220. For example, the width W of the battery B disposed in the battery mounting portion 2251 may be similar to or the same as the width of the electronic device 200 (e.g., the width of the electronic device in the x-axis direction). Such an expansion in the size of the battery B may help improve the reliability of the electronic device 200 by increasing the usage time of the device. In some embodiments, the battery B may be directly mounted on the battery mounting portion formed through a structural change of the first extension member 212 of the first housing 210 without the support bracket 225. In this case, the rack 2253 may be fixed to at least a portion of the first housing 210, and the size of the battery B may be further expanded in the width direction (e.g., the ±x-axis direction).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device 200 may include a rack 2253 that is fixed to the support bracket 225, has a length in the direction of the second housing 220 (e.g., the y-axis direction), and extends into the second space 2201. In one embodiment, when a side surface (e.g., the second side surface 2112 or the third side surface 2113) of the first housing 210 is viewed from the outside (e.g., the y-z plane), the rack 2253 and the battery B may be disposed so as not to overlap each other. In one embodiment, when the flexible display 230 is viewed from the front (e.g., x-y plane), the rack 2153 and the battery B may be disposed so as not to overlap each other. In one embodiment, a sliding distance (e.g., the sliding distance S of FIG. 7a) of the second housing 220 may be determined through the length of the rack 2253. In one embodiment, the rack 2253 may be determined to have a length corresponding to a distance from the support bracket 225 to an upper inner surface (e.g., the inner surface 221a of FIG. 5a) (e.g., the inner surface corresponding to the fourth side surface 2211 of the second housing 220) of the second space 2201 when the electronic device 200 is in a slide-in state. For example, when the distance from the support bracket 225 to the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201 becomes shorter in the slide-in state, the length of the rack 2253 may also become shorter, and the sliding distance of the second housing 220 may also become shorter in proportion thereto. In one embodiment, in the slide-in state, when the distance from the support bracket 225 to the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201 becomes longer, the length of the rack 2253 may also become longer, and the sliding distance of the second housing 220 may also become longer in proportion thereto. Accordingly, the length of the rack 2253 may be determined by the size of the battery B mounted on the battery mounting portion 2251 of the support bracket 225. This may mean that when the sliding distance of the second housing 220 is determined, the size of the battery B may be designed to be as expandable as possible to correspond to the first space 2101.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the rack 2253 may be secured to the support bracket 225 so as to be disposed generally near the center in the width direction (e.g., the x-axis direction) of the electronic device 200, thereby helping reduce the eccentricity of the moving second housing 220 and the resulting driving resistance. In some embodiments, the rack 2253 may be disposed substantially in the center in the width direction (e.g., the x-axis direction) of the electronic device 200.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 5a-5a of FIG. 2A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 5b-5b of FIG. 3a according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

In describing the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 5A and 5B, components that are substantially the same as those of the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 4A and 4B are given the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 having a first space 2101, a second housing 220 having a second space 2201, a support member 240 connected to the second housing 220 and at least partially accommodated into the first space 2101 in a slide-in state, a flexible display 230 disposed to receive support from at least a portion of the support member 240 and at least a portion of the second housing 220, and a driving motor 260 including a pinion gear 261 disposed in the second space 2201 and gear-coupled to a rack 2253 extending from the first space 2101 and into the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the driving motor 260 may automatically move the second housing 220 in a slide-out direction (direction {circle around (1)}) or a slide-in direction (direction {circle around (2)}) on the basis of the first housing 210 through the gear engagement of the pinion gear 261 and the rack 2253. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a first rear cover 213 coupled to a first extension member 212 extended from a first lateral member 211 of the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a first substrate 252 and an antenna member 253 disposed in a space between the first extension member 212 and the first rear cover 213. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a second rear cover 223 coupled to a second extension member 222 extending from a second lateral member 221 and a window cover 224 coupled to a portion of the second rear cover 223.

According to one or more embodiments, a portion of the second housing 220 may be accommodated in the first space 2101 of the first housing 210 in the slide-in state (state of FIG. 5A) of the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the flexible display 230 may be accommodated in a manner of being bent into the first space 2101 together with the support member 240, thereby being disposed so as not to be exposed to the outside. In this case, the flexible display 230 may have a first display area (e.g., the display area corresponding to the first portion 230a of FIG. 3A) exposed to the outside.

According to one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the second housing 220 may be transitioned to a slide-out state in which it moves outwardly from the first housing 210 at least partially along the first direction (direction {circle around (1)}) by driving the driving motor 260. In one embodiment, the flexible display 230 may be supported by the support bracket 225 and moved together with the support member 240 in the slide-out state (state of FIG. 5B) of the electronic device 200, such that a portion that has slid in to the first space 2101 may be exposed so as to be at least partially exposed to the outside. In this case, the flexible display 230 may be exposed to the outside with a second display area that is expanded more than the first display area (e.g., the display area including the first portion 230a and the second portion 230b of FIG. 3a).

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a battery B disposed in a battery mounting portion 2251 of a support bracket 225 disposed in a first space 2101 of a first housing 210. In one embodiment, the battery B may be disposed in the first housing 210 through the support bracket 225, and be expanded in thickness in a manner such that it is proximate to or in contact with a rear surface of a support member 240 from the battery mounting portion 2251 of the support bracket 225, so that the battery volume relatively increases in the −z-axis direction, and the support member 240 that moves in the first space 2101 is supported.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the slide-in state, as the second housing 220 moves in the second direction (direction {circle around (2)}), the end of the rack 2253 may be disposed to be in contact with or proximate to the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201. In one embodiment, in the slide-out state, as the second housing 220 moves in the first direction (direction {circle around (1)}), the end of the rack 2253 may be disposed to move away from the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201, and at least a portion of the rack 2253 may still be disposed to receive support (e.g., guide) from the second housing 220 (e.g., the second extension member 222) in the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the rack 2253 may be formed to have a length corresponding to the distance from the support bracket 225 to the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201 in the slide-in state. In one embodiment, the rack 2253 may have an interworking disposition structure that is fixed within the first space 2101 and accommodated (e.g., guided) in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220 according to a sliding motion. This interworking disposition structure may prevent the rack 2253 and the battery B from overlapping when the side surface of the first housing 210 (e.g., the second side surface 2112 or the third side surface 2113) is viewed from the outside and when the flexible display 230 is viewed from a front, thereby maximizing the size (e.g., battery capacity) of the battery B in the width direction (e.g., the ±x-axis direction) and/or length direction (e.g., ±z-axis direction) of the first housing 210, and thereby helping increase the usage time of the electronic device 200 and improve the reliability of the device.

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device illustrating the disposition structure of a driving motor and a rack in a slide-in state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a portion of an electronic device illustrating the disposition configuration of a rack accommodated in a second housing in a slide-in state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

In describing the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 6A and 6B, components that are substantially the same as those of the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 4A and 4B are given the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 having a first space 2101 and a second housing 220 that is slidably coupled to the first housing 210 and has a second space 2201. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a support bracket 225 fixed to the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a pair of guide rails 226 fixed to both ends of the support bracket 225. In one embodiment, the second housing 220 may be slidably coupled in a specified direction (e.g., the ±y-axis direction) through the guide rails 226.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a driving motor 260 including a pinion gear 261 disposed in a second space 2201 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a rack 2253 that is fixed to a support bracket 225 disposed in the first space 2101 of the first housing 210 and is disposed in the second space 2201 in a slide-in state. In one embodiment, the rack 2253 may be fixed to a side wall 2251a formed on at least a portion of the support bracket 225 through a screw. In one embodiment, the pinion gear 261 may be gear-coupled to the rack 2253, and by rotating the driving motor 260, the pinion gear 261 may move along the rack 2253, thereby allowing the second housing 220 to slide in a specified direction (e.g., the ±y-axis direction) from the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the driving motor 260 may be disposed to be supported by a motor bracket 260a that is fixed to a second extension member 222 of the second housing 220 through a fastening member, such as a screw. In one embodiment, the motor bracket 260a may guide at least a portion of the rack 2253. For example, the rack 2253 may be guided in a manner of passing between the motor bracket 260a and the second extension member 222.

According to one or more embodiments, the rack 2253 may be disposed so that its end is in contact with or proximate to the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201 when the second housing 220 is moved in the second direction (direction {circle around (2)}) in the slide-in state. In one embodiment, the rack 2253 may be moved while being guided by a rack guide 222a provided on the second extension member 222 according to the movement of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the rack guide 222a may help reduce unintended deformation or movement of the rack 2253 during a sliding motion of the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the rack guide 222a may include a recess formed lower than a surface of the second extension member 222 in a longitudinal direction (e.g., the ±y-axis direction) along the accommodating trajectory of the rack 2253. For example, at least a portion of the rack 2253 may be accommodated in the recess, thereby reducing left-right movement that may occur during the sliding motion. In some embodiments, the rack guide 222a may be disposed on or formed integrally with the second extension member 222 and may include a guide structure (e.g., the boss) that supports and guides at least left and right side surfaces of the rack 2253. In some embodiments, the rack guide 222a may be omitted. In one embodiment, the pinion gear 261 and the rack 2253 coupled therewith may be disposed near the center with respect to the width direction (e.g., the ±x-axis direction) of the electronic device 200, thereby helping reduce driving resistance because of eccentricity of the second housing 220 moved by the driving motor 260. In some embodiments, the pinion gear 261 and the rack 2253 coupled thereto may be disposed exactly at the center with respect to the width direction (e.g., the ±x-axis direction) of the electronic device 200.

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 6c-6c of FIG. 6A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 6C, the electronic device 200 may include a support member 240 for supporting a flexible display 230 and a pair of guide rails 226 for guiding both ends of the support member 240. In one embodiment, the support member 240 may include a plurality of multi-bars 241 that are rotatably coupled to each other and guide protrusions 2411 that are protruded at both ends of each of the multi-bars 241. In one embodiment, the guide rails 226 may be fixed to both sides of a support bracket 225 disposed in a first space 2101 of the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the guide rails 226 may include guide slits 2261 formed at positions corresponding to the movement trajectories of the support member 240. In one embodiment, a guide structure in which a guide protrusion 2411 of a support member 240 that is fixed in a manner of being at least partially attached to a rear surface of a flexible display 230 moves along a guide slit 2261 formed in a guide rail 226 may help reduce a phenomenon in which the flexible display 230 is detached or deformed during operation.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of an electronic device illustrating the disposition structure of a driving motor and a rack in a slide-out state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a portion of an electronic device illustrating the disposition configuration of a rack accommodated in a second housing in a slide-out state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

In describing the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 7A and 7B, components that are substantially the same as those of the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 6A and 6B are given the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rack 2253 may be disposed so that its end is away from the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201 when the second housing 220 is moved in the first direction (direction {circle around (1)}) in the slide-out state. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the rack 2253 may be disposed to be guided by the rack guide 222a of the second housing 220 in the slide-out state. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the rack 2253 may be disposed to be guided by the rack guide 222a provided in the second housing 220 even when transitioning from the slide-in state to the slide-out state, thereby ensuring operational stability.

According to one or more embodiments, the sliding distance S (sliding stroke) for the second housing 220 to transition from a slide-in state to a slide-out state may be determined by the length of the rack 2253. In one embodiment, the length of the rack 2253 may be determined by the distance from the support bracket 225 to the upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201 when the electronic device 200 is in the slide-in state. In one embodiment, the length and/or the sliding distance S of the rack 2253 may be determined by the size of the battery B mounted on the battery mounting portion 2251 of the support bracket 225. In some embodiments, the size of the battery B along the longitudinal direction (e.g., ±y-axis direction) of the electronic device 200 may be determined by the sliding distance S of the second housing 220. For example, when the sliding distance S of the second housing 220 is determined, the size of the battery B is designed to be maximally expandable to correspond to the first space 2101 in response thereto, thereby helping extend the usage time of the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the battery B and the rack 2253 may have a structure in which they are disposed side by side without overlapping each other when viewing the side surface of the first housing 210 (e.g., the second side surface 2112 or the third side surface 2113 of FIG. 3A) from the outside and when viewing the flexible display 230 from the front, so that the battery B is designed to be maximally expandable to a size substantially equal to or similar to the width of the first housing 210 along the width direction (e.g., the ±x-axis direction) of the electronic device 200, thereby helping extend the usage time of the electronic device.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of a portion of an electronic device including electrical components according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a portion of an electronic device including electrical components according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

The electronic device of FIGS. 8A and 8B may be similar to the electronic device of FIGS. 2A to 3B or may further include other embodiments of the electronic device. In one embodiment, FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating the rear surface of the second housing 220 with the second rear cover 223 and the window cover 224 removed.

With reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 and a second housing 220 slidably coupled to the first housing. In one embodiment, the second housing 220 may include a second lateral member 221 and a second extension member 222 extending from the second lateral member 221 to a second space 2201. In one embodiment, the second lateral member 221 may include a fourth side surface 2211, a fifth side surface 2212 and a sixth side surface 2213 extending vertically from opposite ends of the fourth side surface 2211, respectively. In one embodiment, the second lateral member 221 and/or the second extension member 222 may be formed of at least a partially conductive member (e.g., metal) and a non-conductive member (e.g., polymer) that is injection-molded with the conductive member. In one embodiment, the second lateral member 221 may include conductive portions 310, 311, and 312 segmented by segmentation portions 321, 322, 323, and 324. In one embodiment, the second lateral member 221 may include a first conductive portion 310 segmented through a first segmentation portion 321 and a second segmentation portion 322 disposed at a specified interval on the fourth side surface 2211, a second conductive portion 311 segmented through a third segmentation portion 323 disposed between the first segmentation portion 321 and the fifth side 3212, and a third conductive portion 312 segmented through the second segmentation portion 322 and a fourth segmentation portion 324 disposed on the sixth side surface 2213. In one embodiment, at least one of the first conductive portion 310, the second conductive portion 311, or the third conductive portion 312 is electrically connected to a wireless communication circuit of the electronic device 200 (e.g., the wireless communication module 192 of FIG. 1) so as to be used as at least one antenna operating in at least one designated frequency band (e.g., the legacy band).

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include at least one electrical component disposed in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the at least one electrical component may include a substrate assembly 251 (e.g., the main substrate) substantially disposed in a central portion of the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the at least one electrical component may include at least one of a microphone 203-1, a first camera module 205, a second camera module 216, a receiver 206, a speaker 207, a connector port 208, a vibration motor 218 (vibrator), or an array antenna AR disposed around the substrate assembly 251. In one embodiment, the substrate assembly 251 may be disposed centrally in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220, and at least one electrical component may be disposed along the periphery thereof, so that efficient electrical connection between the substrate assembly 251 and the at least one electrical component can be possible. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a second substrate 254 (e.g., the sub-substrate) disposed in the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the second substrate 254 may be disposed at a position that does not overlap with the substrate assembly 251 when the second rear surface cover (e.g., the second rear surface cover 223 of FIG. 4) is viewed in the x-y plane. In some embodiments, the second substrate 254 may be disposed to overlap with at least a portion of the substrate assembly 251.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a rack 2253 secured to the support bracket 225 of the first housing 210 and extended into the second space 2201 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the rack 2253 may be disposed so as to be in contact with or proximate to an upper inner surface 221a of the second space 2201 when the electronic device 200 is in a slide-in state. In this case, since the rack 2253 is disposed in the second space 2201 in the slide-in state, a size reduction of at least one electrical component (e.g., the substrate assembly 251) may be entailed. Accordingly, the rack 2253 may have an overlapping structure that overlaps at least one electrical component (e.g., substrate assembly 251) disposed in the second space 2201 when the second rear cover 223 is viewed in the x-y plane. The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an efficient stacking structure for reducing an increase in the thickness of the electronic device 200 because of the overlapping disposition of the rack 2253 and the at least one electrical component. In one embodiment, some of the at least one electrical component may be disposed in an avoidance area that does not overlap with the rack 2253 when the second rear cover 223 is viewed in the x-y plane. In one embodiment, the microphone 203-1, the first camera module 205, the second camera module 216, the receiver 206, the speaker 207, the connector port 208, the vibration motor 218 (vibrator) or the array antenna AR may be disposed in the second space 2201 so as not to overlap with the rack 2253. In this case, the disposition position of at least one electrical component may be changed. For example, the array antenna AR may be disposed in the central portion of the inner side 221a in the second space 2201 so as to avoid the rack 2253. In one embodiment, the speaker 207 may be disposed (e.g., vertically disposed) so as to have a length in the sliding direction (e.g., ±y-axis direction) so as to avoid the rack 2253. For example, among the plurality of electrical components, the microphone 203-1, the first camera module 205, the second camera module 216, the receiver 206, and the connector port 208 may be disposed on one side with respect to the rack 2253. In one embodiment, among the plurality of electrical components, the speaker 207 and the vibration motor 218 (vibrator) may be disposed on the other side with respect to the rack.

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 9a-9a of FIG. 8A according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 8A and 9A, the substrate assembly 251 may be disposed in a manner that a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) 2511, 2512, and 2513 are stacked through an interposer I in the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the substrate assembly 251 may include a first printed circuit board 2511, a second printed circuit board 2512, and a third printed circuit board 2513 that are sequentially stacked from the second extension member 222 in a direction (e.g., the −z-axis direction) toward the second rear cover 223. In one embodiment, each of the printed circuit boards 2511, 2512, and 2513 may be electrically connected to each other through the interposer I. In one embodiment, each of the printed circuit boards 2511, 2512, and 2513 may be disposed to at least partially overlap with the second rear cover 223 when viewed in the x-y plane.

According to one or more embodiments, at least one printed circuit board of the substrate assembly 251 may be disposed so as not to overlap with the rack 2253 when the second rear cover 223 is viewed in the x-y plane. For example, at least a portion of the first printed circuit board 2511 disposed closest to the rack 2253 may be disposed so as not to overlap with the second printed circuit board 2512 in order to provide a rack accommodation space 251a for accommodating the rack 2253. In some embodiments, even if the first printed circuit board 2511 is formed to have the same size as the second printed circuit board, it may be disposed so as to be pushed to one side with respect to the second printed circuit board 2512, thereby helping provide the rack accommodation space 251a. In one embodiment, a portion of the first printed circuit board 2511 that is pushed to one side, when viewing the second rear cover 223 in the x-y plane, does not overlap with the second printed circuit board 2512, and the portion may be used for the disposition of another electrical component. For example, by disposing the connector port 208 in the portion, it may help in the center alignment of the connector port 208 exposed to the fifth side surface 2112.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the rack 2253 may be accommodated in a rack accommodation space 251a provided in the substrate assembly 251, thereby helping slim down (e.g., reduce thickness) the electronic device 200.

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an electronic device as viewed along line 9b-9b of FIG. 8A according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 8A and 9B, the electronic device 200 may include an array antenna AR disposed in the second space 2201 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the array antenna AR may be disposed at a position adjacent to the center of the upper inner surface 221a while considering the disposition of the rack 2253 and avoiding the substrate assembly 251 and/or the speaker 207 disposed in the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the speaker 207 may be disposed such that the longitudinal direction (the long direction of the speaker) is along the sliding direction (e.g., the y-axis direction) of the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the array antenna AR may be disposed at a position close to the second rear cover 223 while avoiding the first camera module 205 disposed at the upper center. In one embodiment, the array antenna AR may include a substrate and a plurality of antenna elements disposed at a specified interval on the substrate, and the plurality of antenna elements may be configured to form a directional beam generally in a direction (e.g., the y-axis direction) toward which the fourth side surface 2211 faces by being electrically connected to a wireless communication circuit (e.g., the wireless communication module 192 of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the array antenna AR may be configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal in a range of about 3 GHz to 100 GHz as a mm Wave module.

According to one or more embodiments, the array antenna AR may be disposed at a position close to the second rear cover 223 while avoiding the first camera module 205 disposed at the upper center in the second space 2201. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a heat dissipation structure for diffusing heat generated from the array antenna AR to the periphery. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a heat transfer member 259 disposed such that one end is proximate to or in contact with the array antenna AR and the other end is proximate to or in contact with the second rear cover 223. This may be to transfer heat to the second rear cover 223 proximate thereto, considering the disposition position of the array antenna AR. In one embodiment, the heat transfer member 259 and/or the second rear cover 223 may be formed of a metal material that is advantageous for heat diffusion.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a portion of an electronic device including electrical components according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the electronic device as viewed along line 10b-10b of FIG. 10A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

In describing the electronic device 200 of FIG. 10A, components that are substantially the same as those of the electronic device 200 of FIG. 8A are given the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the electronic device 200 may include a second substrate 254 (e.g., the sub-substrate) disposed in a second space 2201. In one embodiment, the second substrate 254 may be disposed at a position that does not overlap with the substrate assembly 251 when the second rear cover 223 is viewed in the x-y plane. In one embodiment, a portion of the second substrate 254 may be disposed proximate to and electrically connected to the substrate assembly 251. In one embodiment, the size of the substrate assembly 251 may be reduced depending on the disposition of the rack 2253, and since at least one electrical component is disposed along the periphery thereof, the distance between the first conductive portion 310 used as an antenna and the substrate assembly 251 may be increased. In some embodiments, the second substrate 254 may also be composed of stacked substrates (e.g., the substrate assembly using an interposer), similar to the substrate assembly 251.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a second substrate 254 may be used as a medium for electrically connecting the first conductive portion 310 and the substrate assembly 251, thereby providing an efficient electrical connection structure. In one embodiment, the first conductive portion 310 used as a part of the fourth side surface 2211 may be electrically connected to the second substrate 254 disposed close to the fourth side surface 2211. For example, the first conductive portion 310 may be electrically directly connected through a connecting member C (e.g., the C-clip) disposed on the second substrate 254, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of an RF signal and omitting an additional cable for connecting the first conductive portion 310 and the substrate assembly 251, thereby assisting in an efficient disposition design.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include an additional array antenna AR1 disposed on the second substrate 254. In one embodiment, the additional array antenna AR1 may have substantially the same configuration as the above-described array antenna AR. In one embodiment, the additional array antenna AR1 may be disposed on the second substrate 254 to form a directional beam in a direction toward which the second rear cover 223 faces (e.g., the −z-axis direction). In this case, at least an area of the second rear cover 223 corresponding to the additional array antenna AR1 may include an area formed of a dielectric. In some embodiments, the additional array antenna AR1 may be disposed on a rear surface of the second rear cover 223.

FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device including a disposition structure of a flexible substrate in a slide-in state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram illustrating an operating state of a flexible substrate according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram of an electronic device including a disposition structure of a flexible substrate in a slide-out state according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

The electronic device 200 of FIGS. 11A and 11C may be substantially similar to the electronic device 200 of FIG. 8A or may further include other embodiments of the electronic device.

With reference to FIGS. 11a to 11c, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 including a first space 2101 and a second housing 220 slidably coupled to the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the second housing 220 may be disposed to slide out along a first direction (direction {circle around (1)}) (e.g., the y-axis direction) or slide in along a second direction (direction {circle around (2)}) (e.g., the −y-axis direction) with respect to the first housing 210.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a flexible substrate F1 for electrically connecting a substrate assembly 251 disposed in a second space 2201 of a second housing 220 and a third substrate 255 (e.g., the small PCB) disposed in a first space 2101 of a first housing 210. In one embodiment, the third substrate 255 may be fixed in the first space 2101 through a support bracket 225 and may be electrically connected to the first substrate 252 and/or the antenna member 253 disposed in the first housing 210. Accordingly, the first substrate 252 and the antenna member 253 may be electrically connected to the substrate assembly 251 through the third substrate 255 and the flexible substrate F1. In one embodiment, the third substrate 255 may be disposed around the driving motor 260 and may include a charging IC for the battery B and/or a control circuit for the driving motor.

According to one or more embodiments, the flexible substrate F1 may be disposed to have a length or shape capable of accommodating a sliding distance S of the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the flexible substrate F1 may be formed of a material or shape having elasticity that expands in a slide-out state and returns to its original position in a slide-in state. In one embodiment, the flexible substrate F1 may include a first connector portion 2561 for electrically connecting to the substrate assembly 251, a second connector portion 2562 for electrically connecting to the third substrate 255, and a connecting portion 2563 that connects the first connector portion 2561 and the second connector portion 2562 and is formed to be capable of returning to its original shape from an expanded state. In one embodiment, the connecting portion 2563 may be formed in a shape that is bent twice in different directions (e.g., 2-step bending) to have a length that can accommodate the sliding distance S of the second housing 220 even in a relatively small space. In some embodiments, the connecting portion 2563 may be formed in a shape that is bent once or bent three or more times. In one embodiment, the flexible substrate F1 may include a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) or a flexible RF cable (FRC).

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 12a-12a of FIG. 11A according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device as viewed along line 12b-12b of FIG. 11C according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 including a first space 2101, a second housing 220 movably disposed from the first housing 210 and including a second space 2201, a support member 240 that moves together with the sliding motion of the second housing 220, and a flexible display 230 that is disposed to be supported by the second housing 220 and the support member 240. In one embodiment, the first housing 210 may be disposed in the first space 210 and may include a support bracket 225 having a battery mounting portion 2251 and a curved support portion 2252. In one embodiment, the support member 240 may vary the display area of the flexible display 230 by moving along the curved support member 2252 of the support bracket 225 in the first space 210.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include at least one drive belt 270 (e.g., the life belt or a tension belt) to support the flexible display 230 and reduce lifting of the flexible display 230 by providing uniform tension during operation. In one embodiment, the drive belt 270 may help reduce driving resistance because of eccentricity of the second housing 220 moved by driving the driving motor 260. In one embodiment, the at least one drive belt 270 may be disposed in a pair, one at each of the left and right sides of a rack (e.g., the rack 2253 of FIG. 11A), thereby assisting in the smooth operation of the flexible display 230 in a balanced manner. In one embodiment, one end 2701 of the drive belt 270 may be secured to an end of the support member 240, and the other end 2702 may be secured to at least a portion of the second extension member 222 of the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the drive belt 270 may be disposed in a manner that it is wound around at least one rotary roller 271 rotatably disposed on the support bracket 2250. In one embodiment, when the second housing 220 transitions from a slide-in state to a slide-out state, one end 2701 of the drive belt 270 may move along the support member 240 in a first spatial direction (e.g., the −y-axis direction), and the other end 2702 of the drive belt 270 may move along the second housing 220 in a second spatial direction (e.g., the y-axis direction) by a corresponding amount of movement. For example, the drive belt 270 may move while being supported by at least one rotary roller 271 and the support member 2252 of the support bracket 225, but may be moved from one end 2701 fixed to the support member 240 to the second housing 220. The distance to the fixed end 2702 may not change. Accordingly, the drive belt 270 may help the flexible display 230 to always remain tight even during the sliding motion.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device illustrating the disposition structure of an antenna member and a first substrate according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 13, the electronic device 200 may include a first substrate 252 and an antenna member 253 disposed in a space between a first extension member 212 and a first rear cover 213. In one embodiment, the antenna member 253 may include a coil member disposed through a dielectric film. In one embodiment, the antenna member 253 may include a multi-function coil or multi-function core (MFC) antenna for performing a wireless charging function, a near field communication (NFC) function, and/or an electronic payment function. In one embodiment, the first substrate 252 may be disposed in such a way that a connector portion 252a extended from the first substrate 252 passes through a first through-hole 210a formed in the first extension member 212 and is then electrically connected to a flexible substrate (e.g., the flexible substrate F1 of FIG. 11A) disposed in the first space 2101. In one embodiment, the antenna member 253 may also be disposed in such a way that a connector portion 253a extended from the antenna member 253 passes through a first through-hole 210a and is then electrically connected to a flexible substrate F1 disposed in the first space 2101. In some embodiments, the first substrate 251 and the antenna member 253 may be disposed to be electrically connected to the flexible substrate F1 in the first space 2101 after each of the first substrate 251 and the antenna member 253 passes through different through-holes disposed in the first extension member 212.

According to one or more embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include a microphone 203 as an input device that extends from the first substrate 251 and is disposed through a second through-hole 210b formed in the second side surface 2112 of the first housing 210. In one embodiment, the first housing 210 may include a third through-hole 210c disposed in the second side surface 2112 and/or the third side surface 2113. The third through-hole 210c is formed in a manner that connects the first space 2101 from the outside, and thus may be used as a fastening path for fastening a guide rail (e.g., the guide rail 226 of FIGS. 4A and 4B) to a support bracket (e.g., the support bracket 225 of FIGS. 4A and 4B) through a fastening member such as a screw through the third through-hole 210c.

According to one or more embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of FIG. 4A) may comprise: a first housing (e.g., the first housing 210 of FIG. 4A); a second housing (e.g., the second housing 220 of FIG. 4A) slidably coupled to the first housing; a flexible display (e.g., the flexible display 230 of FIG. 4A) having a display area that is variable on the basis of the slide-in or slide-out of the second housing; a multi-bar (e.g., the support member 240 of FIG. 4A) disposed on the rear surface of a portion of the flexible display; a driving motor (e.g., the driving motor 260 of FIG. 4A) disposed in the second housing and including a pinion gear (e.g., the pinion gear 261 of FIG. 4A); a rack (e.g., the rack 2253 of FIG. 4A) fixedly coupled to the first housing and including a rack gear driven by being gear-coupled to the pinion gear; a main PCB (e.g., the substrate assembly 251 of FIG. 4A) disposed in the second housing; a rack guide (e.g., the rack guide 222a of FIG. 7A) disposed in the second housing and protecting the rack from external impact; and a driving belt (e.g., the drive belt 270 of FIG. 11A) connected to one end of the multi-bar and one end of the second housing, wherein the rack guide may be disposed to spatially overlap with the main PCB, and the second housing may be configured to be driven to slide-in or slide-out on the basis of the reciprocating movement of the rack into the rack guide.

According to one or more embodiments, the drive belts may be respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the driving motor.

According to one or more embodiments, the sliding distance of the second housing (e.g., the sliding distance S of FIG. 7A) may be determined through the length of the rack.

According to one or more embodiments, the length of the rack may be determined as the distance from the fixed portion of the rack to the upper inner surface of the second housing (e.g., the inner surface 221a of FIG. 5A) in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the rack may be disposed so as to be proximate to or in contact with an upper inner surface of the second housing in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the rack may include a battery disposed inside the first housing, and the length of the rack may be determined by the size of the battery.

According to one or more embodiments, the rack may be disposed so as to be at least partially disposed in the second housing in the slide-out state.

According to one or more embodiments, the second housing may include at least one electrical component disposed therein, wherein at least one of the at least one electrical component may be disposed to overlap with at least a portion of the rack when the flexible display is viewed from the front in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the main PCB may be disposed to overlap with the rack when the flexible display is viewed from the front in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the main PCB may include a first printed circuit board (PCB) (e.g., the first printed circuit board 2511 of FIG. 9A), a second printed circuit board (e.g., the second printed circuit board 2512 of FIG. 9A) stacked on the first printed circuit board, and an interposer (e.g., the interposer I of FIG. 9A) disposed therebetween to electrically connect the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board, and when the flexible display is viewed from the front, the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board may be disposed to at least partially overlap.

According to one or more embodiments, the first printed circuit board may be disposed so as not to partially overlap with the second printed circuit board when the flexible display is viewed from the front, and the rack, in the slide-in state, may be disposed near the first printed circuit board (e.g., the rack accommodation space 251a of FIG. 9A) so as not to overlap with the second printed circuit board.

According to one or more embodiments, the rack may be disposed so as to at least partially overlap with the second printed circuit board when the flexible display is viewed from the front in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the at least one electrical component may include an array antenna (e.g., the array antenna AR of FIG. 9B) configured to form a directional beam through a side surface of the second housing, and heat generated from the array antenna may be transferred to a rear cover (e.g., the second rear cover 223 of FIG. 9B) made of a metal material disposed on the second housing through a heat transfer member (e.g., the heat transfer member 259 of FIG. 9B).

According to one or more embodiments, the at least one electrical component may include at least one of a microphone (e.g., the microphone 203-1 of FIG. 8A), at least one camera module (e.g., the first camera module 205 and the second camera module 216 of FIG. 8A), a receiver (e.g., the receiver 206 of FIG. 8A), a speaker (e.g., the speaker 207 of FIG. 8A), a connector port (e.g., the connector port 208 of FIG. 8A), a vibration motor (e.g., the vibration motor 218 of FIG. 8A), or an antenna module (e.g., the array antenna AR of FIG. 8A) disposed to surround the main PCB in the second housing.

According to one or more embodiments, the drive belt may be disposed to be guided by at least one rotating roller (e.g., the rotating roller 271 of FIG. 12A) disposed in the first housing.

According to one or more embodiments, the multi-bar may be at least partially attached to the rear surface of the flexible display, may have one end fixed to the second housing, and may have the other end accommodated in the first housing in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the rack guide may guide at least a portion of the rack in the sliding direction according to the sliding motion of the second housing.

According to one or more embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of FIG. 4A) may comprise: a first housing (e.g., the first housing 210 of FIG. 4A); a second housing (e.g., the second housing 220 of FIG. 4A) slidably coupled to the first housing; a flexible display (e.g., the flexible display 230 of FIG. 4A) having a display area that is variable on the basis of the slide-in or slide-out of the second housing; a driving motor (e.g., the driving motor 260 of FIG. 4A) disposed in the second housing and including a pinion gear (e.g., the pinion gear 261 of FIG. 4A); a rack (e.g., the rack 2253 of FIG. 4A) fixedly coupled to the first housing and including a rack gear driven by being gear-coupled to the pinion gear; and an electrical components (e.g., the substrate assembly 251 of FIG. 9A) disposed in the second housing, wherein at least one of the electrical components may be disposed to at least partially overlap with the rack when the flexible display is viewed from the front in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the electrical component may include a main PCB (e.g., the substrate assembly 251 of FIG. 9A), a first printed circuit board (PCB) (e.g., the first printed circuit board 2511 of FIG. 9A), a second printed circuit board (e.g., the second printed circuit board 2512 of FIG. 9A) stacked on the first printed circuit board, and an interposer (e.g., the interposer I of FIG. 9A) disposed therebetween to electrically connect the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board, wherein the first printed circuit board is disposed so as not to partially overlap with the second printed circuit board when the flexible display is viewed from the front, and the rack may be disposed near the first printed circuit board (e.g., the rack accommodation space 251a of FIG. 9A) so as not to overlap with the second printed circuit board in the slide-in state.

According to one or more embodiments, the rack may be disposed so as to at least partially overlap with the second printed circuit board when the flexible display is viewed from the front in the slide-in state.

The electronic device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may improve the operating time of the electronic device by securing the capacity of the battery to the maximum by having a rack disposition structure that does not overlap with the battery. In addition, since the joint structure of the pinion gear and the rack is disposed centrally with respect to the electronic device, it may help improve the operating reliability by inducing a reduction in driving resistance because of eccentricity that may occur during a sliding motion. In addition, the efficient disposition structure of the electrical components overlapping with the rack may help make the electronic device slimmer.

The effects obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned herein, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

The embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed in this specification and drawings are only specific examples presented to easily explain the technical contents according to the embodiments of the present disclosure and to help understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should be interpreted as including all changes or modified forms derived on the basis of the technical spirit of the various embodiments of the present disclosure in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a first housing;a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing and configured to move between a slide-in state and a slide-out state with respect to first housing;a flexible display comprising a display area configured to change based on a moving of the second housing;a multi-bar on a rear surface of a portion of the flexible display;a driving motor in the second housing and comprising a pinion gear;a rack fixedly coupled to the first housing and comprising a rack gear that is gear-coupled to the pinion gear;a main printed circuit board (PCB) in the second housing;a rack guide in the second housing and configured to support the rack; andat least one drive belt connected to an end of the multi-bar and an end of the second housing,wherein the rack guide overlaps the main PCB, andwherein the second housing is configured to move with respect to the first housing based on a movement of the rack with respect to the rack guide.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one drive belt comprises a plurality of drive belts on a left side and a right side of the driving motor with respect to a front plane of the flexible display, respectively.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a sliding distance of the second housing corresponds to a length of the rack.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the length of the rack is based on a distance from a fixed portion of the rack to an upper inner surface of the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the rack contacts the upper inner surface of the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

6. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising a battery in the first housing, wherein the length of the rack corresponds to a size of the battery.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the rack is at least partially within the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-out state.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical component in the second housing, wherein at least one of the at least one electrical component overlaps at least a portion of the rack with respect to a front plane of the flexible display based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the main PCB overlaps the rack with respect to a front plane of the flexible display based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the main PCB comprises: a first PCB;a second PCB provided on the first PCB; andan interposer between the first PCB and the second PCB and configured to electrically connect the first PCB and the second PCB, andwherein the first PCB at least partially overlaps the second PCB with respect to the front plane.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first PCB only partially overlaps the second PCB with respect to the front plane, and wherein the rack is adjacent to the first PCB so as to overlap the second PCB and not overlap the first PCB with respect to the front plane based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the rack at least partially overlaps the second PCB with respect to the front plane based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one electrical component comprises an array antenna configured to form a directional beam through a side surface of the second housing, and wherein the electronic device further comprises a heat transfer member in the second housing and configured to transfer heat generated from the array antenna to a rear cover comprising a metal material.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one electrical component comprises at least one of a microphone, at least one camera module, a receiver, a speaker, a connector port, a vibration motor, or an antenna module around a periphery of the main PCB in the second housing.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one rotating roller in the first housing and configured to guide the at least one drive belt.

16. An electronic device comprising: a first housing;a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing and configured to move between a slide-in state and a slide-out state with respect to the first housing;a flexible display comprising a display area configured to change based on a moving of the second housing;a rack fixedly coupled to the first housing;a rack guide in the second housing and configured to support the rack; anda battery in the first housing,wherein the rack does not overlap the battery with respect to a front plane of the flexible display, andwherein the second housing is configured to move with respect to the first housing based on a movement of the rack with respect to the rack guide.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a main printed circuit board (PCB) in the second housing, wherein the main PCB overlaps at least a portion of the rack with respect to the front plane based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the main PCB comprises: a first PCB;a second PCB provided on the first PCB; andan interposer between the first PCB and the second PCB and configured to electrically connect the first PCB and the second PCB,wherein the first PCB only partially overlaps the second PCB with respect to the front plane, andwherein, with respect to the front plane, the rack overlaps the second PCB and does not overlap the first PCB based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the rack does not overlap the battery with respect to a side plane perpendicular to the front plane.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein a sliding distance of the second housing corresponds to a length of the rack, wherein the length of the rack corresponds to a size of the battery, andwherein the rack contacts an upper inner surface of the second housing based on the second housing being in the slide-in state.