This application pertains to the field of communication device technologies, and specifically relates to an electronic device.
With continuous development of technologies, to improve use experience when a user watches videos and plays games, a screen size of an electronic device is designed to be increasingly large. However, an increase in the screen size also means an increase in a size of the whole device, which results in poor portability of the electronic device. In this regard, the industry considers requirements of the foregoing two aspects by using a foldable screen technology.
In a related technology, an electronic device has a foldable screen and a cover display. In an unfolded state, the foldable screen of the electronic device can be used, and in a folded state, the cover display of the electronic device can be used. In the electronic device that uses an under-display fingerprint unlocking solution, under-display fingerprint modules need to be disposed on lower sides of both the foldable screen and the cover display. Consequently, this structure layout apparently complicates a structure of the electronic device.
An objective of embodiments of this application is to provide an electronic device.
Embodiments of this application provide an electronic device. The device includes: a first housing; a second housing, rotatably connected to the first housing, to enable the electronic device to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state; a first display, where two ends of the first display are respectively connected to the first housing and the second housing, and can be folded or unfolded with relative rotation of the first housing and the second housing; a second display, disposed on a side, opposite to the first display, of the second housing, where both the first display and the second display are provided with light-transmitting areas; a fingerprint module, disposed in the first housing; and a dimming module, disposed in the second housing and located between the light-transmitting area of the first display and the light-transmitting area of the second display, where when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the dimming module is in a light blocking state, and the fingerprint module performs fingerprint identification through the light-transmitting area of the first display; or when the electronic device is in the folded state, the dimming module is in a light-through state, and the fingerprint module performs fingerprint identification through the light-transmitting areas of the first display and the second display.
The following clearly describes technical solutions in embodiments of this application with reference to accompanying drawings in embodiments of this application. Apparently, the described embodiments are some but not all of embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill based on embodiments of this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application.
The terms “first”, “second”, and the like in this specification and the claims of this application are used to distinguish between similar objects instead of describing a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in such a way are interchangeable in proper circumstances, so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in an order other than the order illustrated or described herein. Objects classified by “first”, “second”, and the like are usually of a same type, and a quantity of objects is not limited. For example, there may be one or more first objects. In addition, in this specification and the claims, “and/or” indicates at least one of connected objects, and a character “/” generally indicates an “or” relationship between associated objects.
The technical solutions disclosed in embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
To resolve a technical problem in the related technology that under-display fingerprint modules need to be disposed on lower sides of both a foldable screen and a cover display of an electronic device, and consequently a structure is excessively complex, embodiments of this application provide an electronic device.
Refer to
The first housing 100 and the second housing 200 are basic components of the electronic device, and can provide a mounting basis for components such as the first display 300, the second display 400, the fingerprint module 500, and the dimming module 600 in the electronic device.
The second housing 200 is rotatably connected to the first housing 100, that is, relative rotation can be generated between the first housing 100 and the second housing 200, so that the electronic device can switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. The electronic device may include a rotating hinge 1000, and the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 implement rotation fit through the rotating hinge 1000.
Two ends of the first display 300 are respectively connected to the first housing 100 and the second housing 200, and can be folded or unfolded with relative rotation of the first housing 100 and the second housing 200. The second display 400 is disposed on a side, opposite to the first display 300, of the second housing 200.
Specifically, the first display 300 is a flexible foldable screen of the electronic device, and relative to the first display 300, the second display 400 is a cover display of the electronic device. When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, a display area of the first display 300 is large, so that a requirement of a user for a large display is met; or when the electronic device is in the folded state, an overall size of the electronic device is small, so that a user can implement a display function of the electronic device through the second display 400, and it is convenient for the user to carry and hold the electronic device.
In embodiments of this application, a specific included angle between the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 when the electronic device is in the unfolded state or the folded state is not limited. Optionally, when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the included angle between the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 is 180°, as shown in
The first display 300 may include a first sub-screen 310 and a second sub-screen 320, the first sub-screen 310 is correspondingly connected to the first housing 100, and the second sub-screen 320 is correspondingly connected to the second housing 200. In this layout, the first housing 100 is a carrier of the first sub-screen 310, and the second housing 200 is a carrier of the second sub-screen 320. When the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 are unfolded or folded, the first sub-screen 310 and the second sub-screen 320 may be driven to be unfolded or folded. The first sub-screen 310 and the second sub-screen 320 may be independently displayed.
The first display 300 may further include a third sub-screen, and the first sub-screen 310 is connected to the second sub-screen 320 through the third sub-screen, so that the first sub-screen 310, the second sub-screen 320, and the third sub-screen jointly form the complete display area of the first display 300. The third sub-screen corresponds to an area between the first housing 100 and the second housing 200, and specifically may correspond to the rotating hinge 1000, so that the third sub-screen is deformed in a process of folding the electronic device. The third sub-screen may be independently displayed.
In addition, both the first display 300 and the second display 400 are provided with light-transmitting areas; the fingerprint module 500 is disposed in the first housing 100; and the dimming module 600 is disposed in the second housing 200 and is located between the light-transmitting area of the first display 300 and the light-transmitting area of the second display 400, where when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the dimming module 600 is in a light blocking state, and the fingerprint module 500 performs fingerprint identification through the light-transmitting area of the first display 300; or when the electronic device is in the folded state, the dimming module 600 is in a light-through state, and the fingerprint module 500 performs fingerprint identification through the light-transmitting areas of the first display 300 and the second display 400.
Specifically, in embodiments of this application, the electronic device uses an optical fingerprint identification technology. The optical fingerprint identification technology means that when a finger presses a fingerprint identification area of the display, a built-in module of the display emits light to illuminate the fingerprint identification area, the light illuminating a fingerprint is reflected and passes through the display, and is projected to a fingerprint sensor inside the electronic device, and the fingerprint sensor compares the reflected light with pre-entered fingerprint image information, to perform identification determining.
The dimming module 600 is configured to adjust a light-through amount, and may be connected to a circuit board 800 of the electronic device. The light-transmitting areas of the first display 300 and the second display 400 are used to transmit light, so that the light illuminating the fingerprint can be smoothly transmitted to the corresponding display after being reflected, to be projected to the fingerprint module 500 (namely, the fingerprint sensor) inside the electronic device. Both the first sub-screen 310 and the second sub-screen 320 of the first display 300 have light-transmitting areas, so that the dimming module 600 is located between the light-transmitting area of the second sub-screen 320 of the first display 300 and the light-transmitting area of the second display 400. To ensure that fingerprint light can be smoothly propagated, the second housing 200 may be provided with a first light-through hole 210 corresponding to the light-transmitting area and the dimming module 600.
As shown in
As shown in
In comparison with a related technology, the electronic device in embodiments of this application can implement a dual-screen fingerprint identification function of the foldable electronic device by setting only one fingerprint module 500, thereby effectively simplifying a structure of the electronic device undoubtedly. Specifically, the electronic device in embodiments of this application can reduce a quantity of fingerprint modules 500, so that stacking space inside the electronic device can be saved, a circuit layout can be reduced, and costs can be further reduced, thereby implementing a light and thin design of the electronic device.
In embodiments of this application, there are a plurality of types of dimming modules 600. For example, the dimming module 600 is an electro-deformation assembly. When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the electro-deformation assembly is in a colored state, thereby implementing light blocking; or when the electronic device is in the folded state, the electro-deformation assembly is in a transparent state, thereby implementing light-through.
In another implementation solution of the dimming module 600, as shown in
In this structure layout, the first driving assembly 620 is configured to drive the blade 630, to enable the blade 630 to move between the first position and the second position. When the plurality of blades 630 are in the first position, the plurality of blades 630 block the optical path, that is, light is prevented from being propagated, so that the dimming module 600 is in the light blocking state; or when the plurality of blades 630 are in the second position, the plurality of blades 630 all give way to the optical path, so that light can be smoothly propagated, and the dimming module 600 is in the light-through state.
In such a solution that the plurality of blades 630 are spliced, an area surrounded by the plurality of blades 630 may form an avoidance hole through which the fingerprint light can pass, and the avoidance hole may change a size by switching the blades 630 between the first position and the second position, thereby changing a light-through amount of the fingerprint light. Because in the solution that the plurality of blades 630 are spliced, it is determined that the blades 630 all approximately move along a radial direction, the avoidance hole is always on the optical path of the fingerprint light. In this way, even if the avoidance hole is small by driving the blades 630 to be spliced, it can still be ensured that the fingerprint light passes through the avoidance hole, thereby ensuring that the fingerprint identification function can be smoothly implemented. Certainly, when less fingerprint light passes through, sensitivity of the fingerprint identification function decreases.
It can be learned that, in the solution that the plurality of blades 630 are spliced in embodiments of this application, the light-through amount of the fingerprint light may be adjusted by adjusting the size of the avoidance hole, and propagation of the fingerprint light on the optical path of the fingerprint light can be ensured. Finally, sensitivity of the fingerprint identification function of the electronic device is adjusted, to meet requirements of different users.
In addition, the plurality of blades 630 in embodiments of this application are arranged along the circumferential direction of the optical path of the fingerprint light, so that an excessively large size of the electronic device in a single direction can be avoided, thereby optimizing an internal structure layout of the device.
Further, as shown in
In this setting, the second light-through hole 611 may be used for light to pass through, so that it can be ensured that the optical path can be smoothly formed inside the dimming module 600 when the dimming module 600 is in the light-through state. The substrate 610 is a carrier, of the blade 630, that is movably disposed, and the substrate 610 is used as an independent structure, so that it is more convenient to process a fitting structure with the blade 630.
As shown in
In another implementation solution, the blade 630 in embodiments of this application may directly fit with the second housing 200 through guided movement, and the substrate 610 does not need to be disposed on the electronic device.
Further, as shown in
It should be understood that the blades 630 may be spliced at a vertex of the splicing corner 631, so that the blades 630 are completely spliced around by one circle, thereby ensuring that the optical path of the light is completely blocked. Specifically, each of the blades 630 may abut against splicing corners 631 of two adjacent blades 630 through the first side wall and the second side wall, to be specific, along the circumferential direction of the optical path of the fingerprint light, the plurality of blades 630 are sequentially arranged, and each of the blades 630 abuts against the adjacent blades 630 through the first side wall and the second side wall respectively.
In a process in which the blade 630 is driven to move from the second position to the first position, the blade 630 pushes the adjacent blade 630 to move through the first side wall, so that all the blades 630 along the circumferential direction of the optical path of the fingerprint light move toward the first position, thereby implementing switching of the dimming module 600 from the light-through state to the light blocking state. In a process in which the blade 630 is driven to move from the first position to the second position, the blade 630 pushes the adjacent blade 630 to move through the second side wall, so that all the blades 630 along the circumferential direction of the optical path of the fingerprint light move toward the second position, thereby implementing switching of the dimming module 600 from the light blocking state to the light-through state.
Apparently, the first driving assembly 620 in embodiments of this application drives one blade 630, and then the blade 630 can drive all blades 630 to move. In comparison with those in a solution that each blade 630 is configured with one driving apparatus, costs and stacking space inside the electronic device are effectively saved.
In embodiments of this application, a quantity of blades 630 is not limited. As shown in
Further, as shown in
Certainly, a specific type of the first driving assembly 620 is not limited in embodiments of this application. For example, the first driving assembly 620 may be a linear motor 653, a hydraulic telescopic part, or the like.
The electro-deformation assembly may include an electrical heating component 621 and a shape memory alloy part 622, the electrical heating component 621 is configured to heat the shape memory alloy part 622, and the shape memory alloy part 622 is connected to the blade 630. In this layout, the electrical heating component 621 is an excitation component of the shape memory alloy part 622, and an excitation signal is sent to the electrical heating component 621, so that the electrical heating component 621 can transmit energy to the shape memory alloy part 622, and the shape memory alloy part 622 implements a telescopic action, to drive the blade 630 to move. The shape memory alloy part 622 may be a shape memory alloy wire.
In addition, the electro-deformation assembly may further be made of an electroactive polymer (EAP), a piezoelectric material, or the like.
In another implementation solution of the dimming module 600, as shown in
In this implementation solution, the second driving assembly 650 is a driving apparatus corresponding to the baffle 640. In a process in which the baffle 640 is driven to move from the fourth position to the third position, the baffle 640 gradually blocks the optical path of the fingerprint light, thereby implementing switching of the dimming module 600 from the light-through state to the light blocking state. In a process in which the baffle 640 is driven to move from the third position to the fourth position, the baffle 640 gradually gives way to the optical path of the fingerprint light, thereby implementing switching of the dimming module 600 from the light blocking state to the light-through state. In this way, a structure of the driving solution through the driving baffle 640 is simple, and the internal structure layout of the electronic device can be simplified.
In a specific implementation solution of the second driving assembly 650, as shown in
It should be understood that, because the baffle 640 is a magnetic mechanical part, when the electromagnet apparatus 651 is powered on, the electromagnet apparatus 651 implements a driving function for the baffle 640 by using a magnetic field force. The elastic member 652 may store energy when being compressed. In this case, a resilient force may be applied to the baffle 640. The elastic member 652 may store energy when being stretched. In this case, a pulling force may be applied to the baffle 640. In both the two states, a driving function may be applied to the baffle 640.
The electromagnet apparatus 651 can change a size of the driving function through powering-on strength. Therefore, it is more convenient to control adjustment accuracy, and a structure of the electromagnetic driving solution is simple.
In embodiments of this application, a specific driving relationship between each of the electromagnet apparatus 651 and the elastic member 652 and the baffle 640 is not limited. As shown in
As shown in
In another implementation solution, when the electromagnet apparatus 651 is powered on, the electromagnet apparatus 651 may apply a repulsion force to the baffle 640 to drive the baffle 640 to move to the fourth position, and the elastic member 652 is in a compressed state and stores energy; or when the electromagnet apparatus is powered off, the elastic member 652 rebounds to extend and releases energy to apply a thrust force to the baffle 640 to drive the baffle 640 to move to the third position.
In another specific implementation solution of the second driving assembly 650, as shown in
It should be understood that the transmission gear 654 may rotate with the output end of the motor 653, and the rack portion 641 may move with the transmission gear 654, to drive the baffle 640 to move. Specifically, the baffle 640 may move between the third position and the fourth position by adjusting and controlling an output rotation direction of the motor 653 to be different. In the foregoing constructed gear-rack driving solution, the rack portion 641 moves in a straight line, so that relative rotation does not occur, thereby reducing a probability of interference with another component in a transmission process, and facilitating arrangement of another component in an internal environment of the device.
In an optional solution, as shown in
It should be understood that the light-transmitting support plate 700 may transmit the fingerprint light, so that it can be ensured that the fingerprint identification function can be smoothly implemented. An area in which the dimming module 600 is located belongs to an area with relative weak strength inside the second housing 200. In this case, the light-transmitting support plate 700 may improve the strength of the area, to optimize structure stability of the electronic device. When the dimming module 600 is an implementation solution such as splicing the blades 630 or moving the baffle 640, when the dimming module 600 is in the light-through state, a support function of the blade 630 or the baffle 640 is weakened, and the light-transmitting support plate 700 may always implement a good support function for the first display 300. Even if the first display 300 is a flexible foldable screen, better structure stability can be ensured.
The electronic device disclosed in embodiments of this application may be a smartphone, a tablet computer, an e-book reader, a wearable device (for example, a smart watch), a video game console, or the like. A type of the electronic device is not specifically limited in embodiments of this application.
Embodiments of this application are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this application is not limited to the foregoing specific implementations, and the foregoing specific implementations are merely examples, but are not limitative. Under the enlightenment of this application, a person of ordinary skill in the art may further make many forms without departing from the purpose of this application and the protection scope of the claims, and all the forms fall within the protection of this application.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202210945780.1 | Aug 2022 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2023/111219 filed on Aug. 4, 2023, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210945780.1 filed on Aug. 8, 2022, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2023/111219 | Aug 2023 | WO |
| Child | 19031806 | US |