The present invention relates to an electronic device with a lens supporting element, and more particularly to an electronic device with a lens supporting element that is installed through an interface structure and/or a fastening member.
With the maturity of modern fingerprint sensing technologies, lens supporting elements and fingerprint sensing units are widely used in electronic devices or products. Various fingerprint sensing technologies such as capacitive, optical and ultrasonic sensing technologies are being continuously developed. So far, the capacitive fingerprint recognition technology and the optical fingerprint recognition technology are more feasible for commercialization.
Take the under-display fingerprint identification technology for example. The structural design of a lens supporting element and the method of assembling the lens supporting element with a display screen, an intermediate frame and a base structure are usually the key factors influencing the overall product yield and the fabricating cost.
For example, a fingerprint sensing unit is usually disposed within the lens supporting element or located at a lower part of the lens supporting element. In accordance with the conventional assembling method, the lens supporting element is in direct contact with the bottom of the intermediate frame. However, the assembling method is complicated, the operation of the fingerprint sensing unit is adversely affected, or the cost is not effective. For example, since the lens supporting element is in direct contact with the bottom of the intermediate frame, the associated components are readily damaged because of collision. Consequently, the quality of the fingerprint sensing unit within the lens supporting element is impaired. Moreover, since the lens supporting element is directly contacted with the intermediate frame and assembled with the intermediate frame, the thermal effect of the display screen may adversely influence the operation of the fingerprint sensing unit. In some other words, the conventional technologies need to be further improved.
For overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional technologies, the present invention provides a novel electronic device and a method of installing a lens supporting element of the electronic device in order to effectively reduce the overall thickness of the electronic device with the lens supporting element.
An object of the present invention provides an electronic device with a lens supporting element. The lens supporting element is arranged between the intermediate frame and a base structure through an interface structure. Consequently, a fingerprint sensing unit disposed within the lens supporting element or located at a lower part of the lens supporting element can sense a fingerprint signal from a display screen.
A first embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display screen, an intermediate frame, a lens supporting element, an interface structure and a base structure. The intermediate frame includes a frame hollow region. The intermediate frame is located beside a side of the display screen. A fingerprint sensing unit is installed on the lens supporting element. The fingerprint sensing unit is located near the frame hollow region and located beside the side of the display screen through the lens supporting element. The lens supporting element is disposed on the base structure. The interface structure is arranged between the lens supporting element and one of the display screen and the intermediate frame, and/or the interface structure is arranged between the lens supporting element and the base structure.
Preferably, the lens supporting element includes a lens barrel and a supporting structure. The lens barrel is arranged between an upper part of the supporting structure and the frame hollow region. The interface structure is arranged between the supporting structure and one of the display screen and the intermediate frame and/or arranged between the supporting structure and the base structure.
Preferably, the lens supporting element includes an integral structure of a lens barrel and a supporting structure. The lens supporting element is adhered on the intermediate frame or the base structure, indirectly contacted with the intermediate frame or the base structure or clamped between the intermediate frame and the base structure through the upper part or a lower part of the supporting structure and the interface structure.
Preferably, the interface structure is one of a glue structure, an elastic structure, an injection molding structure and a fastening member.
Preferably, the injection molding structure is a hot melt post, and the lens supporting element is installed on the base structure through the hot melt post.
Preferably, the fastening member includes an iron element and a screw. The iron element is combined with the lens supporting element. The screw is penetrated through one of the iron element and the supporting structure. Consequently, the supporting structure is fixed on the base structure.
Preferably, the interface structure includes a first interface part and a second interface part. The first interface part is located near the lens barrel and arranged between the supporting structure and one of the display screen and the intermediate frame. The second interface part is arranged between the supporting structure and the base structure.
Preferably, the first interface part is one of a light-shielding structure and a glue structure, and the second interface part is one of a glue structure, an elastic structure, an injection molding structure and a fastening member.
Preferably, the injection molding structure is a hot melt post, and the supporting structure is installed on the base structure through the hot melt post.
Preferably, the fastening member includes an iron element and a screw. The iron element is combined with the supporting structure. The screw is penetrated through one of the iron element and the supporting structure. Consequently, the supporting structure is fixed on the base structure.
Preferably, the supporting structure is adhered on the intermediate frame or the base structure, indirectly contacted with the intermediate frame or the base structure or clamped between the intermediate frame and the base structure through the upper part or a lower part of the supporting structure and the interface structure.
Preferably, the lens barrel and the supporting structure are combined together in a threaded engaging manner, a locking manner or an embedding manner. The supporting structure is adhered on or indirectly contacted with the base structure through the interface structure.
Preferably, the interface structure includes a first interface part and a second interface part. The first interface part is located near the lens barrel and arranged between the supporting structure and one of the display screen and the intermediate frame. The second interface part is arranged between the supporting structure and the base structure.
Preferably, the first interface part is one of a light-shielding structure and a glue structure, and the second interface part is one of a glue structure, an elastic structure, an injection molding structure and a fastening member.
Preferably, the injection molding structure is a hot melt post, and the supporting structure is installed on the base structure through the hot melt post.
Preferably, the fastening member includes an iron element and a screw. The iron element is combined with the supporting structure. The screw is penetrated through one of the iron element and the supporting structure. Consequently, the supporting structure is fixed on the base structure.
Preferably, the interface structure includes a first interface part and a second interface part. The lens barrel is positioned in the frame hollow region through the first interface part. The second interface part is arranged between the supporting structure and the base structure.
Preferably, the first interface part is one of a light-shielding structure and a glue structure, and the second interface part is one of a glue structure, an elastic structure, an injection molding structure and a fastening member.
Preferably, the injection molding structure is a hot melt post, and the supporting structure is installed on the base structure through the hot melt post.
Preferably, the fastening member includes an iron element and a screw. The iron element is combined with the supporting structure. The screw is penetrated through one of the iron element and the supporting structure. Consequently, the supporting structure is fixed on the base structure.
Preferably, one of the intermediate frame and the base structure includes a concave region, and a portion of the lens supporting element is received within the concave region.
Preferably, the base structure is one of a circuit board, a chassis and a battery
Preferably, the interface structure includes a first interface part and a second interface part. The first interface part is located near the lens barrel and arranged between the lens supporting element and one of the display screen and the intermediate frame. The second interface part is arranged between the lens supporting element and the base structure
Preferably, the first interface part is one of a light-shielding structure and a glue structure, and the second interface part is one of a glue structure, an elastic structure, an injection molding structure and a fastening member.
Preferably, the injection molding structure is a hot melt post, and the lens supporting element is installed on the base structure through the hot melt post.
Preferably, the fastening member includes an iron element and a screw. The iron element is combined with the lens supporting element. The screw is penetrated through one of the iron element and the lens supporting element. Consequently, the lens supporting element is fixed on the base structure.
A second embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display screen, an intermediate frame, a lens supporting element, a fastening member and a base structure. The intermediate frame includes a frame hollow region. The intermediate frame is located beside a side of the display screen. A fingerprint sensing unit is installed on the lens supporting element. The fingerprint sensing unit is located near the frame hollow region and located beside the side of the display screen through the lens supporting element. The base structure is located under the lens supporting element. The lens supporting element is indirectly installed on one of the intermediate frame and the base structure through the fastening member.
Preferably, the fastening member is arranged between one of the intermediate frame and the base structure and the lens supporting element, or the lens supporting element is received within the fastening member and combined with one of the intermediate frame and the base structure.
Preferably, the fastening member includes an iron element and a screw. The iron element is combined with the lens supporting element. The screw is penetrated through one of the iron element and the lens supporting element. Consequently, the lens supporting element is fixed on one of the intermediate frame and the base structure.
Preferably, the lens supporting element includes a lens barrel and a supporting structure. The lens barrel is arranged between an upper part of the supporting structure and the frame hollow region. The supporting structure is installed on one of the intermediate frame and the base structure through the fastening member.
Preferably, the lens supporting element includes a two-piece structure of the lens barrel and the supporting structure, or the lens supporting element includes an integral structure of the lens barrel and the supporting structure.
Preferably, the electronic device further includes an interface part. The interface part is arranged between the lens supporting element and one of the display screen and the intermediate frame, and/or the interface part is arranged between the lens supporting element and the base structure.
Preferably, the interface part is one of a glue structure, an elastic structure and an injection molding structure.
A third embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display screen, an intermediate frame, a lens supporting element, a fastening member, an interface part and a base structure. The intermediate frame includes a frame hollow region. The intermediate frame is located beside a side of the display screen. The fingerprint sensing unit is installed on the lens supporting element. The fingerprint sensing unit is located near the frame hollow region and located beside the side of the display screen through the lens supporting element. The base structure is located under the lens supporting element. The lens supporting element is indirectly installed on the intermediate frame through the fastening member. The interface part is arranged between the lens supporting element and the base structure.
Preferably, the fastening member includes an iron element and a screw. The iron element is combined with the lens supporting element. The screw is penetrated through one of the iron element and the lens supporting element. Consequently, the lens supporting element is fixed on the intermediate frame.
Preferably, the fastening member is arranged between the intermediate frame and the lens supporting element, or the lens supporting element is received within the fastening member and then combined with the intermediate frame.
Preferably, the lens supporting element includes a lens barrel and a supporting structure. The lens barrel is arranged between an upper part of the supporting structure and the frame hollow region. The supporting structure is indirectly installed on the intermediate frame through the fastening member.
Preferably, the interface part is one of a glue structure, an elastic structure and an injection molding structure.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
For overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional technologies, the present invention provides a novel assembling design of an electronic device. According to the assembling design, a lens supporting element is indirectly assembled and installed in a region between an intermediate frame and a base structure through an interface structure. Especially, when the accuracy of assembling the lens supporting element and the influence of the thermal effect of the display screen on a fingerprint sensing unit within or under the lens supporting element are taken into the consideration, eight embodiments will be described as follows.
In the embodiments of
The associated components will be described in more details. As shown in
In accordance with the present invention, the lower part of the supporting structure is specially designed. The example of the supporting structure may be varied according to the practical requirements.
As shown in
As shown in
The associated components will be described in more details. As shown in
In comparison with the above embodiments, the lens barrel 4511 and the supporting structure 4512 of this embodiment have corresponding threaded structures 45111 and 45121, respectively. The threaded structures 45111 and 45121 are engaged with each other. Consequently, the lens barrel 4511 is fixed in the upper part 4512a of the lens supporting element 451 and located near the frame hollow region 421. In other words, the lens barrel 4511 and the supporting structure 4512 are combined as the lens supporting element 451 through the engagement between the threaded structures 45111 and 45121.
In the above embodiments, some examples about the combination between the lens barrel and the supporting structure of the lens supporting element have been described. For example, the lens barrel and the supporting structure may be integrally formed as the lens supporting element. Alternatively, the unthreaded lens barrel and the supporting structure are directly combined with each other in a locking manner or a sheathing manner. Alternatively, the threaded lens barrel and the threaded supporting structure are directly combined with each other. It is noted that the way of combining the lens barrel and the supporting structure may be varied according to the practical requirements.
Please refer to
In other words, the process of installing the lens supporting element 551 in the electronic device 500 may be described as follows. After the lens supporting element 551 is clamped between the intermediate frame 520 and the base structure 530, the first interface part 541 and the second interface part 542 (e.g., adhesives or foam structures) are arranged between the intermediate frame 520 and the lens supporting element 551 and/or between the lens supporting element 551 and the base structure 530. Consequently, the lens supporting element 551 is not directly contacted with the intermediate frame 520 and/or the base structure 530. In addition, the lens supporting element 551 is elastically contacted between the intermediate frame 520 and the base structure 530. Since the influence of the collision is reduced, the fingerprint sensing unit 552 within the lens supporting element 551 will not be damaged.
In comparison with the above embodiment, the base structure 630 further comprises a concave region 631. For example, the concave region 631 is an installation region of components, or an opening or a recess corresponding to the outer periphery of the intermediate frame. Moreover, a portion of the lens supporting element 651 and the fingerprint sensing unit 652 are combined with and accommodated within the concave region 631.
For example, a portion of the lens supporting element 651 (i.e., the lower part 651b of the lens supporting element 651) and the fingerprint sensing unit 652 are firstly combined with or fixed in the concave region 631 of the base structure 630. Especially, the portion of the lens supporting element 651 and the fingerprint sensing unit 652 are firstly combined with or fixed in the concave region 631 through the second interface part 642 in an adhering manner. Then, the lens supporting element 651 (i.e., the upper part 651b of the lens supporting element 651) is indirectly contacted with or elastically sustained against the intermediate frame 620 through the first interface part 641. Moreover, the lens supporting element 651 is located near the frame hollow region 621 or located under the frame hollow region 621. Consequently, the lens supporting element 651 is elastically clamped between the intermediate frame 620 and the base structure 630 through the interface parts 641 and 642, and not directly contacted with the intermediate frame 620 and the base structure 630. In such way, the overall thickness of the electronic device 600 with the lens supporting element 651 is effectively reduced.
In the above embodiments, the lens supporting element is combined with or positioned in the region between the intermediate frame and the base structure through the interface structure. It is noted that the examples of the interface structure are not restricted. For example, the interface structure may be a fastening member or an additional threaded structure. Consequently, the lens supporting element is combined with one of the intermediate frame and the base structure through the interface structure, and the lens supporting element is installed, embedded or positioned on one of the intermediate frame and the base structure. For example, the lens supporting element is tightened into the intermediate frame or the base structure through screws. Alternatively, the lens supporting element is combined with the intermediate frame or the base structure through an injection molding structure. For example, the injection molding structure is a hot melt post.
In the embodiments of
The associated components will be described in more details. As shown in
The electronic device 700 further comprises a base structure (not shown). The base structure is similar to the structures of the above embodiment, and not redundantly described herein.
The associated components will be described in more details. As shown in the drawings, the display screen 810 is located at the bottommost position of the electronic device 800. From bottom to top, the intermediate frame 820, the iron element 8411, the foam structure 842, the lens supporting element 851, the fingerprint sensing unit 852 and the screws 8412 are sequentially arranged. The intermediate frame 820 is combined with the display screen 810 and located beside a side 8101 of the display screen 810. The foam structure 842 is arranged between the iron element 8411 and the lens supporting element 851. An assembling method will be described as follows. Firstly, the screws 8412 are sequentially penetrated through the corresponding screw holes 851a of the lens supporting element 851 and the corresponding screw holes 8411a of the iron element 8411. Consequently, the lens supporting element 851 and the fingerprint sensing unit 852 are combined with the intermediate frame 820, and the lens supporting element 851 and the fingerprint sensing unit 852 are fixed in the concave region 822. That is, the lens supporting element 851 and the intermediate frame 820 are separated from each other through the iron element 8411 and the foam structure 842, and indirectly disposed within the intermediate frame 820.
The electronic device 800 further comprises a base structure (not shown). The base structure is similar to the structures of the above embodiment, and not redundantly described herein.
The associated components will be described in more details. As shown in the drawings, the display screen 910 is located at the bottommost position of the electronic device 900. From bottom to top, the intermediate frame 920, the adhesive 941, the iron element 9421, the lens supporting element 951, the fingerprint sensing unit 952 and the screws 9422 are sequentially arranged. The intermediate frame 920 is combined with the display screen 910 and located beside a side 9101 of the display screen 910. The nut structures 943 are disposed on the intermediate frame 920 and located near the frame hollow region 921. An assembling method will be described as follows. Firstly, the adhesive 941 is placed within the iron element 9421. Then, the lens supporting element 951 and the fingerprint sensing unit 952 are placed within the iron element 9421. Then, the screws 9422 are sequentially penetrated through the corresponding screw holes 9421a of the iron element 9421 and the corresponding nut structures 943 on the intermediate frame 920. Consequently, the lens supporting element 951 and the fingerprint sensing unit 952 are positioned within and elastically sustained against the iron element 9421, and indirectly assembled with the intermediate frame 920. Since the lens supporting element 951 and the intermediate frame 920 are separated from each other through the iron element 9421 the adhesive 941, the lens supporting element 951 and the intermediate frame 920 are not directly contacted with the intermediate frame 920.
The electronic device 900 further comprises a base structure (not shown). The base structure is similar to the structures of the above embodiment, and not redundantly described herein.
It is noted that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Moreover, the structures and specifications of the components may be varied according to the practical requirements.
For example, in another embodiment, one of the intermediate frame and the base structure is equipped with a concave structure for positioning or receiving the entire or a portion of the lens supporting element and/or the fingerprint sensing unit. Alternatively, the base structure is a circuit board, a chassis or a battery for supporting or positioning the lens supporting element and the intermediate frame in the region under the frame hollow region. Alternatively, the interface structure includes an interface part, a fastening member and a position-limiting element. The interface part is a light-shielding structure, a glue structure, an elastic structure or an injection molding structure. The fastening member includes an iron element and screws. The position-limiting element is a nut structure or a coupling structure. The thickness of the iron element may be adjusted according to the practical requirements.
In an embodiment, the interface structure is arranged between the intermediate frame and the lens supporting element. Alternatively, the interface structure is arranged between the lens supporting element and the base structure. In an embodiment, the lens supporting element includes an integral structure of a lens barrel and a supporting structure. Alternatively, the lens supporting element includes a two-piece structure of a lens barrel and a supporting structure. The lens barrel and the supporting structure can be combined together in a threaded engaging manner, a locking manner or an embedding manner. Alternatively, the lens barrel and the supporting structure are separate components, wherein the lens barrel is disposed within the frame hollow region and the supporting structure is disposed on the base structure. In other words, the embodiments may be varied according to the practical requirements.
From the above descriptions, the present invention provides an electronic device with a lens supporting element. Through an interface structure, the lens supporting element is directly or indirectly installed on a base structure, or indirectly installed on an intermediate frame, or clamped between the intermediate frame and the base structure. In some embodiments, the lens supporting element and a fingerprint sensing unit are assembled as a fingerprint sensing assembly. Consequently, the convenience of installing the fingerprint sensing assembling in the electronic device and the sensing quality of the fingerprint sensing unit are effectively enhanced.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications and similar structures.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2019/111892 | 10/18/2019 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 62848069 | May 2019 | US |
Child | 17258259 | US | |
Parent | 62799275 | Jan 2019 | US |
Child | 62848069 | US | |
Parent | 62771251 | Nov 2018 | US |
Child | 62799275 | US |