Electronic device including display having switch

Abstract

An electronic device including a display having a switch, the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing including a first plate and a second plate, where the first plate includes an opening; a display panel at least partially exposed through the opening and including a touch sensor; a first support member coupled to a portion of the first plate and the display panel along at least a portion of a side of the opening; and a switching device configured to be actuated according to a pressing of the display panel, the pressing being caused by a downward force applied on an upper portion of the display panel. Other various embodiments are also possible.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of a patent application with an application date of February 18, 2019, application number 201980011490.6, and invention name “Electronic device including a display with a switch”. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to an electronic device including a display having a switch. Background Art

[0003] A personal computer (PC) supports a graphical user interface (GUI), which allows the user to enter commands by clicking on icons and / or menus displayed on the display. This can be contrasted with a command line interface, in which commands are entered by typing characters on a keyboard. GUIs are generally considered to be more intuitive and more convenient for users.

[0004] Typically, a portable electronic device (eg, a laptop computer) may include a touch pad integrated within the portable electronic device. The touch pad allows a user to manipulate a pointer displayed at a specific location on a display. Summary of the invention

[0005] Solution to the problem As technology develops, electronic devices can provide various contents to users, and therefore, it may be desirable to maximize the display area of ​​the electronic device. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device having other displays in addition to a main display is provided.

[0006] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the illustrated embodiments.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include: a housing including a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate includes an opening; a display panel at least partially exposed through the opening and including a touch sensor; a first supporting member coupled to a portion of the first plate and the display panel along at least a portion of one side of the opening; and a switch device configured to be actuated in response to pressing of the display panel, the pressing being caused by a downward force applied to an upper portion of the display panel.

[0008] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a first housing including a first display panel; and a second housing pivotably coupled to the first housing and including a keyboard and a touch pad. The touch pad may be disposed on a support portion, exposed through an opening of the second housing, and may include a touch sensor, a second display panel, and a switch device configured to be actuated according to a press of the touch pad caused by a downward force applied to the touch pad.

[0009] The electronic device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a touch panel in which a click button is integrated and a display function is added. The display function added to the touch panel improves the user experience.

[0010] The advantages obtained in the present disclosure are not limited to the above advantages. According to the following description, those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs can clearly understand other advantages not mentioned herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The foregoing and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electronic device embedded with a touch panel with a switch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 3A and Figure 3B is a partial perspective view of a touch panel of an electronic device according to two embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 4 yes Figure 3A A cross-sectional view of the touch panel taken along line AA'; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a touch panel and a housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a touch panel of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A top plan view of the touchpad; Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the touch panel taken along line BB'; Fig.10 is a bottom plan view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.11 is a bottom plan view of a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device including a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.13 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device including a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.14 is a cross-sectional view of a switch included in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig.16 is a plan view showing a graphical user interface (GUI) of a touch panel included in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig.15 and Fig.17 is a plan view illustrating a GUI of a touch panel included in an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the present disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents and alternative forms that fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, for ease of illustration, components may be enlarged or reduced in the accompanying drawings. For ease of illustration, the size and thickness of each constituent element shown in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily shown, so the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to this.

[0013] In addition, an orthogonal coordinate system is used herein, in which the x-axis may indicate the width direction of the electronic device, the y-axis may indicate the length direction of the electronic device, and the z-axis may indicate the thickness direction of the electronic device. However, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are not limited to the three axes on the orthogonal coordinate system, and may be broadly interpreted as including an orthogonal coordinate system. For example, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis may be orthogonal to each other, but may refer to different directions that are not orthogonal to each other. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same components.

[0014] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device may include, for example, a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a notebook computer, a workstation, a server, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), an MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player, a mobile medical device, a camera, and at least one of a wearable device (e.g., smart glasses, a head mounted device (HMD), electronic clothes, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronic accessory, an electronic tattoo, a smart mirror, or a smart watch).

[0015] Figure 1 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100 according to various embodiments. Figure 1, the electronic device 101 in the network environment 100 may communicate with the electronic device 102 via the first network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or communicate with the electronic device 104 or the server 108 via the 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, a memory 130, an input device 150, a sound output device 155, a display device 160, an audio module 170, a sensor module 176, an interface 177, a haptic module 179, a camera module 180, a power management module 188, a battery 189, a communication module 190, a user identification module (SIM) 196, or an antenna module 197. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., the display device 160 or the camera module 180) may be omitted from the electronic device 101, or one or more other components may be added to the electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as a single integrated circuit.For example, the sensor module 176 (eg, a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illumination sensor) may be implemented to be embedded in the display device 160 (eg, a display).

[0016] The processor 120 may run, for example, software (e.g., program 140) to control at least one other component (e.g., hardware component or software component) of the electronic device 101 connected to the processor 120, and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or calculation, the processor 120 may load a command or data received from another component (e.g., sensor module 176 or communication module 190) into the volatile memory 132, process the command or data stored in the volatile memory 132, and store the resultant data in the 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)) and an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is independent of or combined with the main processor 121 in operation. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor 121, or adapted to be specifically used for a specified function. The auxiliary processor 123 may be implemented as a separate processor from the main processor 121, or as part of the main processor 121. The processor 120 may include a microprocessor or any suitable type of processing circuit, such as one or more general-purpose processors (e.g., ARM-based processors), digital signal processors (DSPs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), video card controllers, etc. In addition, it will be appreciated that when a general-purpose computer accesses the code to implement the processing shown herein, the execution of the code transforms the general-purpose computer into a special-purpose computer to perform the processing shown herein. Any of the functions and steps provided in the accompanying drawings may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, and may be executed in whole or in part within the programmed instructions of a computer. Unless the elements of the claims herein are explicitly recorded using the phrase "means for...", the elements will not be interpreted under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112 (f). In addition, the technician will understand and appreciate that a "processor" or "microprocessor" may be hardware in the claimed disclosure. The following claims are intended to be subject matter consistent with 35 USC §101 under the broadest reasonable interpretation.

[0017] When the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., display device 160, sensor module 176, or communication module 190) among the components of the electronic device 101 (not the main processor 121), or when the main processor 121 is in an active state (e.g., running an application), the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., display device 160, sensor module 176, or communication module 190) among the components of the electronic device 101 together with the main processor 121. 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., camera module 180 or communication module 190) that is functionally related to the auxiliary processor 123.

[0018] The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176). The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program 140) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory 130 may include a volatile memory 132 or a nonvolatile memory 134.

[0019] The program 140 may be stored as software in the memory 130 , and may include, for example, an operating system (OS) 142 , middleware 144 , or applications 146 .

[0020] The input device 150 may receive commands or data from outside the electronic device 101 (eg, a user) to be used by other components of the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 120). The input 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (eg, a stylus).

[0021] The sound output device 155 can output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output 155 may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes such as playing multimedia or playing records, and the receiver may be used for incoming calls. Depending on the embodiment, the receiver may be implemented as a separate part from the speaker, or as part of the speaker.

[0022] The display device 160 may visually provide information to the outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., a user). The display device 160 may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector, and a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the display, the holographic device, and the projector. According to an embodiment, the display device 160 may include a touch circuit adapted to detect a touch or a sensor circuit (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the strength of a force caused by a touch.

[0023] The audio module 170 may convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 may obtain sound via the input device 150, or output sound via the sound output device 155 or an earphone of an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly connected to the electronic device 101.

[0024] The sensor module 176 may detect an operating state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device 101 or an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) outside the electronic device 101, and then generate an electrical signal or a 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 illumination sensor.

[0025] The interface 177 may support one or more specific protocols to be used to connect the electronic device 101 directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). 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.

[0026] The connection end 178 may include a connector, wherein the electronic device 101 can be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102) via the connector. According to an embodiment, the connection end 178 may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0027] The haptic module 179 may convert the electric signal into mechanical stimulation (eg, vibration or motion) or electric stimulation that can be recognized by the user via his sense of touch or kinesthetic sense. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator.

[0028] The camera module 180 may capture still images or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, an image signal processor, or a flash.

[0029] The power management module 188 may manage power supply to the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the power management module 188 may be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0030] The battery 189 may power at least one component of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0031] 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 an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102, electronic device 104, or server 108), and perform communication via the established communication channel. The communication module 190 may include one or more communication processors capable of operating independently from the processor 120 (e.g., an application processor (AP)) and supporting direct (e.g., wired) communication or 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 can communicate with an external electronic device via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct, or Infrared Data Association (IrDA)) or a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or a 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 multiple components separated from each other (e.g., multiple chips). 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 user information (e.g., an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)) stored in the user identification module 196.

[0032] The antenna module 197 may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., an external electronic device). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include an antenna including a radiation element formed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas. In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication scheme used in a communication network (such as the first network 198 or the second network 199) may be selected from the plurality of antennas by, for example, the communication module 190 (e.g., the wireless communication module 192). A signal or 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 radiation element may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module 197.

[0033] At least some of the above components may be connected to each other via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, a general purpose input output (GPIO), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)) and communicatively transfer signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween.

[0034] According to an embodiment, a command or data may be sent or received between the electronic device 101 and the external electronic device 104 via the server 108 connected to the second network 199. Each of the electronic device 102 and the electronic device 104 may be a device of the same type as the electronic device 101, or a device of a different type from the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, all or some operations to be executed in the electronic device 101 may be executed in one or more of the external electronic device 102, the external electronic device 104, or the server 108. For example, if the electronic device 101 should automatically execute a function or service or should execute a function or service in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101 may request the one or more external electronic devices to execute at least part of the function or service instead of executing the function or service, or the electronic device 101 may request the one or more external electronic devices to execute at least part of the function or service in addition to executing the function or service. The one or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute the requested at least part of the function or service, or execute another function or another service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may provide the result as at least a partial reply to the request with or without further processing the result. To this end, for example, cloud computing technology, distributed computing technology, or client-server computing technology may be used.

[0035] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electronic device embedded with a touch pad with a switch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device 101 may be any suitable computing device, such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a phone, a smart phone, or a gaming device.

[0036] refer to Figure 2, the electronic device 101 according to the embodiment may include a first electronic device 210, a second electronic device 220, and a coupling portion 230 coupling the first electronic device 210 and the second electronic device 220. The coupling portion 230 may mechanically or electrically couple the first electronic device 210 and the second electronic device 220. For example, the coupling portion 230 may include a hinge structure, and the first electronic device 210 and the second electronic device 220 are pivotally coupled by the hinge structure. The first electronic device 210 may include a display 211. The second electronic device 220 may include a keyboard 221 and a touch pad 222 disposed on the upper surface of the second electronic device 220. Due to the pivoting (or folding) of the coupling portion 230, the electronic device 101 may be manipulated into an open state in which the first electronic device 210 is at a certain angle relative to the second electronic device 220, and a closed state in which the first electronic device 210 and the second electronic device 220 face each other. Therefore, the first electronic device 210 may be referred to as a main display portion or a cover portion, and the second electronic device 220 may be referred to as a main body portion. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and thus the electronic device 101 may have a configuration in which the display portion and the main body portion (eg, the keyboard 221 and the touch pad 222) are integrated (ie, without the coupling portion 230) or a configuration in which the display portion and the main body portion may be separated.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the display 211 may display various objects, contents and / or graphical user interfaces of various applications executed by the electronic device 210. The keyboard 221 and the touchpad 222 may be used as input devices for the user. For example, the user may input characters, etc., by using the keyboard 221, and may move (or navigate) the input pointer 211a (or cursor) displayed on the display 211 by utilizing the touchpad 222 to select a specific object. To this end, the touchpad 222 according to an embodiment may include at least one sensor for detecting user inputs such as touch of a certain intensity, dragging, multi-touch, touch (e.g., strong touch), etc.

[0038] In addition to the display 211 included in the first electronic device 210, the touch pad 222 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may also display various objects, content and / or graphical user interfaces of a specific application. To this end, the touch pad 222 according to an embodiment may include a display. For example, the touch pad 222 may display a status bar 222a indicating various states of the electronic device 101. In some embodiments, a user may input on the touch pad 222 to select, move or otherwise control an object displayed on the touch pad 222.

[0039] In addition to touch input, the touchpad 222 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can also detect press or push input. That is, the user can use the touchpad 222 as a button. The button function of the touchpad 222 can select an object displayed on the display 211 to open a file or document, execute a command, start a program, browse a menu and / or perform various other functions. The button function can correspond to various shortcuts, so that the electronic device 101 can be controlled more easily. These shortcuts can be used for functions such as zooming, scrolling, moving the input pointer 211a to a specific position, inputting a specific key (input, delete, number lock key, etc.). In order to realize the button function, the touchpad 222 may include at least one switch that can be pressed, and may include a supporting structure for the switch. The switch and supporting structure included in the touchpad 222 will be described in more detail below.

[0040] Figure 3A and Figure 3B FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a touch panel of an electronic device according to two embodiments of the present disclosure. The touch panel 300 of FIG. 3 may be at least partially similar to Figure 2 The touch panel 222 is described below, and therefore its redundant description will be omitted. Figure 3A A push input for the touch panel 300 is described.

[0041] refer to Figure 3A The touch panel 300 according to the embodiment may be disposed on an upper surface 311 of a housing 310 of the electronic device 101. The housing 310 may be a main body portion of the electronic device (eg, Figure 2 220). The touch pad 300 may be disposed on a central area below the keyboard 312 on the housing 310. According to another embodiment, as Figure 3B As shown, the touch panel 300 may be disposed above the keyboard 312 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and thus the touch panel 300 may be disposed at various locations on the upper surface 311 of the housing 310 .

[0042] According to an embodiment, the touch panel 300 may be configured to detect a touch input of a user 320 or display various objects. In addition, the touch panel 300 may detect a push input of the user 320. To this end, the touch panel 300 may be configured to move relative to the housing 310 (i.e., relative to the upper surface 311 of the housing 310) when pressed by the user 320.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the touch panel 300 may be fixed to the housing 310 at one end 301. For example, the end 301 of the touch panel 300 may be fixed to the housing 310 at one end 301. Figure 3AThe touch pad 300 may be at least partially fixedly coupled to the housing 310 (shown as the x-axis in FIG. 1 ). The other end 302 opposite to the end 301 of the touch pad 300 may be free, that is, it may not be fixed to the housing 310. When the area adjacent to the other end 302 of the touch pad 300 is pressed, the touch pad 300 may move downward in the depth direction (z-axis) relative to the upper surface 311 of the housing 310. In this case, the touch pad 300 may be tilted about the x-axis. When the touch pad 300 moves, it or a structure supporting the touch pad 300 may be deformed (e.g., pivoted or bent).

[0044] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the side end of the touch pad 300 may be fixed to the housing 310 along the vertical direction (y-axis) together with the end 301 of the touch pad 300. In this case, when the touch pad 300 is pressed, it may be tilted (or bent) around an axis corresponding to the position where the touch pad 300 ends being fixed to the housing 310.

[0045] Figure 4 yes Figure 3A A cross-sectional view of the touch panel taken along line AA'. Figure 5 yes Figure 3A An exploded perspective view of the touchpad and housing. Figure 6 yes Figure 3A Bottom plan view of the touch pad. Figures 4 to 6 A mechanism of operating the switch 430 due to the movement caused by pushing the touch panel 300 is described.

[0046] refer to Figures 4 to 6 , the touch panel 300 according to the embodiment may be disposed on the upper surface 311 of the housing 310. The housing 310 may include a front plate 313 and a rear plate 314. The housing 310 may be constructed by assembling the front plate 313 and the rear plate 314. The front plate 313 may include an opening 311a corresponding to the area where the touch panel 300 is disposed. That is, the touch panel 300 may be exposed through the opening 311a.

[0047] According to an embodiment, the touch panel 300 may be coupled to the front panel 313 via a coupling member 410. The touch panel 200 may be attached to the coupling member 410. The coupling member 410 may be fixedly coupled to the front panel 313 at the end 301 of the touch panel 300. For example, one end 411 of the coupling member 410 may be fixedly coupled to the lower portion 313a of the front panel 313. The coupling may be achieved by an adhesive, screw coupling, ultrasonic welding, etc. Figure 6, the end 411 of the coupling member 410 according to the embodiment may include at least one hole 411a that facilitates coupling with the housing 310. For example, a screw may be inserted into the hole 411a. On the other hand, the other end 412 of the coupling member 410 may not be fixed to the housing 310. The other end 412 may be freely movable relative to the housing 310. The other end of the touch pad 300 (or the other end 412 of the coupling member 410) may include a switch 430 for implementing a button function. The switch 430 may include a dome switch, a tactile switch, or a multi-input switch.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the support member 420 may be used as a support to facilitate the operation of the switch 430. Figure 4 As shown, the support member 420 may include a support portion 421 corresponding to the switch 430 and a coupling portion 422 for coupling the support member 420 to the housing 310. The coupling portion 422 may be fixedly coupled to the front plate 313. When the touch pad is pressed, the switch 430 may contact the support portion 421 to actuate the switch 430.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the other end 302 of the touch panel 400 that is freely movable relative to the housing 310 may move downward in the depth direction (z-axis). In this case, the end 301 of the touch panel 300 is fixed to the housing 310 by the coupling member 410, and thus may be used as a pivot for the movement of the touch panel 400. The movement of the touch panel 300 may be accompanied by deformation such as bending of the touch panel 300 and / or the coupling member 410. Figure 6 , the coupling member 410 according to an embodiment may include at least one slit or opening 411b at a position adjacent to the end portion 411. The slit 411b facilitates the pivoting (or deformation) of the coupling member 410.

[0050] In addition to performing a switch actuation or a button actuation operation, the switch 430 according to the embodiment can provide a restoring force in a direction opposite to the pushing direction. To this end, the switch 430 may include an elastic material for providing a restoring force. For example, when the dome switch of the switch 430 that is flattened by pushing returns to its original shape, a restoring force may be generated. In another example, if the switch 430 is a tactile switch, the restoring force may be generated by a spring included in the switch 430. The restoring force may also be generated by the touch pad 300 and / or the coupling member 410, that is, the touch pad 300 and / or the coupling member 410 may have elasticity. Therefore, when the user presses the touch pad 300, at least a portion of the touch pad 300 may be moved from a first position (normal position) to a second position (pressed position), and may be returned to the first position from the second position by the restoring force of the switch 430, the touch pad 300, and the coupling member 410. This movement of the touch pad 300 may be referred to as a one-button action. With a one-touch action, a click or positioning feedback may be provided to the user confirming that a button push was input.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the coupling member 410 has a larger area than the touch panel 300, and thus may include Figure 5 The flange 413 shown in FIG. 4 may include an end 411 and another end 412. The flange 413 may be stuck in the front plate 313 to prevent the touch panel 300 from falling out of the opening 311a. Figure 5 As shown, in addition to the one end portion 411 and the other end portion 412 , the flange 413 may further include additional flanges on the other two sides of the touch panel 300 .

[0052] According to an embodiment, a sealing member 440 may be configured between the flange 413 and the front plate 313. The sealing member 440 may protect the internal components from contaminants and moisture penetrating through the gap between the touch pad 300 and the housing 310. The sealing member 440 may provide aesthetic satisfaction to the user by filling the space or gap between the touch pad 300 and the front plate 313 of the housing 310.

[0053] refer to Figure 5 , the touch panel 400 and the switch 430 according to the embodiment may be electrically coupled to at least one processor (eg, Figure 1 For example, the touch panel 400 and the switch 430 may be coupled to a main PCB or a sub PCB on which at least one processor is mounted.

[0054] The touch panel 400 according to the embodiment can be coupled to the display drive circuit and the touch detection circuit by utilizing the first PCB 303. The display drive circuit and the touch detection circuit can be driven so that the touch panel 300 can display content or objects, and can detect various inputs (such as touch, hover input, input using a stylus, etc.). In some embodiments, the display drive circuit and the touch detection circuit can be implemented as one or more chips mounted on the first PCB 303. The switch 340 according to the embodiment can be coupled to the main PCB or the sub-PCB by utilizing the second PCB 431. In some embodiments, the second PCB 431 can be coupled to the first PCB 303, and can be coupled to the main PCB or the sub-PCB through the first PCB 303.

[0055] Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a touch panel of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A plan view of the touchpad. Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the touch panel taken along line BB'. Figures 7 to 9 The touch panel 700 may be at least partially similar to Figure 2 The touch panel 222 is described below, and therefore its redundant description will be omitted. Figure 7 A push input for the touch pad 700 is described. refer to Figure 7 , the touch panel 700 according to an embodiment may be divided into a plurality of independent and spatially separated button regions 701 to 704. The button regions 701 to 704 may be regions of the touch panel 700 that may be moved by a user to implement separate and separate button functions. According to an embodiment, the touch panel 700 may include four button regions, namely, a first button region 701, a second button region 702, a third button region 703, and a fourth button region 704.

[0056] According to an embodiment, the touch pad 700 may be coupled to the front plate 910 included in the housing by using at least one coupling member. For example, the first coupling member 711 may be fixedly coupled to the touch pad 700 at a portion corresponding to the second button area 702. The second coupling member 712 may be fixedly coupled to the touch pad 700 at a portion corresponding to the fourth button area 704. The third coupling member 713 may be fixedly coupled to the touch pad 700 at a portion corresponding to the third button area 703. The fourth coupling member 714 may also be fixedly coupled to the touch pad 700 at a portion corresponding to the first button area 701. The coupling members 711 to 714 may be fixedly coupled to a portion of the front plate 910 adjacent to a side of the touch pad 700. The fixed coupling may be achieved by an adhesive, a screw connection, ultrasonic welding, etc. To this end, in some embodiments, each of the coupling members 711 to 714 may include a coupling device so as to be fixedly coupled to the housing (i.e., the front plate 910). For example, the third coupling member 713 may include at least one opening 713 a for screw coupling.

[0057] According to an embodiment, the touch panel 700 may be moved relative to the front panel 910 to implement a push input for each button in the button areas 701 to 704. In this case, the coupling members 711 to 714 may provide a restoring force for the push input and may provide an axis of bending or pivoting.

[0058] For example, when the third button area 703 is pushed, the portion of the touch pad 700 corresponding to the third button area 703 may move downward along the depth direction (z axis). In this case, the touch pad 700 may pivot around the first axis X1 that crosses the first coupling member 711 and the second coupling member 712. That is, the touch pad 700 may be bent relative to the first axis X1. The movement of the touch pad 700 may include deformations such as bending or twisting of the touch pad 700, the first coupling member 711, and / or the second coupling member 712. In addition, when the third button area 703 moves downward, the first button area 701 opposite thereto may move upward, and deformation may occur in the fourth coupling member 714 through which the first button area 701 is coupled to the housing. In another example, the push input of the fourth button area 704 may cause the touch pad 700 to move downward corresponding to the fourth button area 704. In this case, the touch panel 700 may be bent with respect to the second axis X2 that crosses the third coupling member 713 and the fourth coupling member 714 .

[0059] refer to Figure 8, the movement of each of the button regions 701 to 704 may be performed relative to an axis substantially parallel to the central axis of the touch pad 700, and may be achieved based on the point of coupling between the coupling members 711 to 714 and the end of the housing. For example, a push input of the third button region 703 may cause the touch pad 700 to pivot or deform relative to an axis X1' parallel to the first axis X1 but based on the coupling position between the coupling member 711 and the end of the housing. In another example, a press input of the second button region 702 may cause the touch pad 700 to pivot or deform relative to an axis X2' parallel to the second axis X2 but based on the coupling position between the coupling member 713 and the end of the housing. The above-mentioned movement of each of the button regions 701 to 704 may include pivoting, deformation, twisting, etc. In some embodiments, the coupling members 711 to 714 may include at least one opening 713b that facilitates deformation of the touch pad 700.

[0060] The coupling members 711 to 714 according to the embodiment may have a specific width. For example, the second coupling member 712 may have a first width d1, and the fourth coupling member 714 may have a second width d2. The widths of the coupling members 711 to 714 may depend on the horizontal length and the vertical length of the touch pad 700. The rigidity with which the touch pad 700 is fixed to the housing and / or the resistance to movement and deformation of the touch pad 700 may vary according to the widths of the coupling members 711 to 714. The amount of click feeling and / or tactile feedback provided to the user in turn may depend on the rigidity and the resistance.

[0061] refer to Fig. 9 , the support members 731, 733, and 734 according to the embodiment may be used as support for a click action of the switches 741, 743, and 744 coupled to the touch panel 700. When pressed, the switches 741, 743, and 744 may contact the support members 731, 733, and 734 to actuate the switches 741, 743, and 744. For example, the first support member 731 may be coupled to the front panel 910 at a position corresponding to the first switch 741. The third support member 733 may be coupled to the front panel 910 at a position corresponding to the third switch 743, and the fourth support member 734 may be coupled to the front panel 910 at a position corresponding to the fourth switch 744. Although not shown in Fig. 9 , but the second supporting member may be coupled to the front plate 910 at a position corresponding to the second switch.

[0062] Fig.10 is a bottom plan view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] refer to Fig.10 According to the embodiment, the touch panel 1010 (or a supporting member such as Fig. 9 The support portion 720 of the touch panel 1010 may include coupling members 1021 to 1024 disposed at edges of the touch panel 1010. For example, the first coupling member 1021 and the third coupling member 1023 may be fixedly coupled to the touch panel 1010 at edges facing each other. The second coupling member 1022 and the fourth coupling member 1024 may be fixed to the touch panel 1010 at edges facing each other so as to be substantially perpendicular to an axis on which the first coupling member 1021 and the third coupling member 1023 are disposed. The coupling members 1021 to 1024 may include switches 1031 to 1034, respectively. According to one embodiment, the touch panel 1010 and the switches 1031 to 1035 may be electrically or operably coupled to at least one processor (e.g., Figure 1 The touch panel 1010 may be coupled to a display driving circuit and a touch detection circuit through the first PCB 1011. The display driving circuit and the touch detection circuit may be driven so that the touch panel 1010 may display content and objects and may detect various inputs. In some embodiments, the display driving circuit and the touch detection circuit may be implemented as one or more chips mounted on the first PCB 1011.

[0064] According to an embodiment, at least two switches may be coupled to the main PCB or the sub-PCB through another PCB. For example, one end of the second PCB 1041 may be coupled to the main PCB or the sub-PCB. The other end opposite to one end of the second PCB 1041 may be electrically or operably coupled to the third switch 1033 and the fourth switch 1034. To this end, the second PCB 1041 may include an extended branch extending to the third switch 1033 and the fourth switch 1034. Therefore, the third switch 1033 and the fourth switch 1034 may be mounted on the second PCB 1041. In addition, one end of the third PCB 1042 may be coupled to the main PCB or the sub-PCB. The other end opposite to one end of the third PCB 1042 may be electrically or operably coupled to the first switch 1031 and the second switch 1032. The third PCB 1042 may include an extended branch extending to the first switch 1031 and the second switch 1032.

[0065] Fig.11 is a bottom plan view of a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0066] refer to Fig.11 According to the embodiment, the touch panel 1110 (or a supporting member such as Fig. 9The support portion 720 of the touch panel 1110 may include coupling members 1121 to 1124 disposed at an edge of the touch panel 1110. For example, the first coupling member 1121 and the third coupling member 1123 may be fixedly coupled to the touch panel 1110 at edges facing each other. The second coupling member 1122 and the fourth coupling member 1124 may be fixed to the touch panel 1110 at edges facing each other so as to be substantially perpendicular to an axis at which the first coupling member 1121 and the third coupling member 1123 are disposed. The coupling members 1121 to 1124 may include switches 1131 to 1134, respectively. In an embodiment, at least two coupling members may be coupled to each other. For example, the first coupling member 1121 and the fourth coupling member 1124 may be coupled using the coupling portion 1125. Therefore, the first coupling member 1121, the fourth coupling member 1124, and the coupling portion 1125 may be integrated. The first coupling member 1121, the fourth coupling member 1124, and the coupling portion 1125 may be fixedly coupled to the housing (eg, Fig. 9 Therefore, since the fourth coupling member 1124 is not directly fixedly coupled to the housing, when the touch panel 1110 is installed in the electronic device, the first PCB 1111 may be accessed from outside the electronic device by deforming the touch panel 1110.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the touch panel 1110 and the switches 1131 to 1135 may be electrically or operably coupled to at least one processor (eg, Figure 1 For example, the touch panel 1110 may be coupled to a display driving circuit and a touch detection circuit through the first PCB 1111. The display driving circuit and the touch detection circuit may be driven so that the touch panel 1110 may display content and objects and may detect various inputs. In some embodiments, the display driving circuit and the touch detection circuit may be implemented as one or more chips mounted on the first PCB 1111.

[0068] According to an embodiment, all switches 1131 to 1134 coupled to the touch panel 1110 may be coupled to the main PCB or the sub-PCB through another PCB. For example, one end of the second PCB 1141 may be coupled to the main PCB or the sub-PCB, and the other end may extend to be coupled to the switches 1131 to 1134.

[0069] Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device including a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig.12, the touch panel 1210 according to the embodiment may be provided in a housing including a front plate 1201 and a rear plate 1202. The touch panel 1210 may be provided on a support portion 1220. At least one coupling member may be provided to mount the touch panel 1210 in the housing. According to the embodiment, in addition to the coupling member by which the touch panel 1210 and / or the support portion 1220 are fixedly coupled to the front plate 1210, a structure 1240 may be further included to support the touch panel 1201 and / or the support portion 1220 at an approximately central position thereof. The structure 1240 may be fixedly coupled to the rear plate 1202. The support portion 1220 may include a guide member 1221 in a vertical direction (z-axis direction). According to the embodiment, the guide member 1221 may further include an elastic member 1241 that provides an elastic force in the vertical direction. For example, the elastic member 1241 may include a spring, an air spring, a high-density sponge, and the like.

[0070] According to an embodiment, a switch included in the touch panel 1210 may be actuated by using at least one fixed support member (e.g., support member 1231 and support member 1232). The touch panel 1210 and the switch attached to the touch panel 1210 may move toward the fixed support member due to a force applied by a user, and thus the switch may be actuated. According to an embodiment, the first support member 1231 may be fixedly coupled to the front panel 1201. In some embodiments, the second support member 1232 may be fixedly coupled to the rear panel 1202.

[0071] Fig.13 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device including a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig.13 , the touch panel 1310 according to the embodiment may be provided in a housing including a front plate 1301 and a rear plate 1302. The touch panel 1310 may be provided on a support portion 1320. At least one coupling member may be provided to mount the touch panel 1310 in the housing. According to the embodiment, in addition to the coupling member by which the touch panel 1310 and / or the support portion 1320 are fixedly coupled to the front plate 1301, support structures 1321 and 1331 may be included to support the touch panel 1310 and / or the support portion 1320 at an approximately central position thereof. The support structures 1321 and 1331 may include a groove member 1321 and a protrusion member 1331 corresponding to the groove member 1321. Since the protrusion member 1331 is accommodated in the groove member 1321, movement and / or deformation of a click action for the touch panel 1310 may be achieved based on the groove member 1321 and the protrusion member 1331. According to an embodiment, the support member 1330 for the switching operation may extend up to a position where the support structure 1321 and the support structure 1331 are provided.

[0072] Fig.1414 is a cross-sectional view of a switch included in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to an embodiment, the touch pad 1400 may be supported on the support portion 1410 and may be coupled to the housing 1401 (or the front plate) through the coupling member 1420. In some embodiments, the switch 1450 may be provided on the support member 1430 instead of being provided on the bottom surface of the touch pad 1400. When the touch pad 1400 is pressed, the switch 1450 may contact the coupling member 1420. The switch 1450 may further serve as a support member so that the touch pad 1400 and the support portion 1410 are correctly positioned.

[0073] Fig.16 15 is a plan view showing a GUI of a touch pad included in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The object 1520 displayed on the touch pad 1510 according to the embodiment may be a GUI that enables a user to identify various functions or modes of the electronic device 1500. For example, a click input for an upper portion 1522 of the object 1520 displayed on the touch pad 1510 may correspond to a network mode, a click input for a lower portion 1523 may correspond to a game mode, a click input for a left portion 1521 may correspond to a document mode, and a click input for a right portion 1524 may correspond to a 3D mode. In another embodiment, click inputs for the upper, lower, left, and right portions of the touch pad 1510 or the displayed object 1520 may correspond to up, down, left, and right key buttons of a keyboard.

[0074] Fig.15 and Fig.17 1 is a plan view showing a GUI of a touch panel included in an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The touch panel 1510 according to the embodiment may display content 1511, and may display a notification 1520 that may at least partially overlap with the content 1511. The notification 1520 may indicate functions corresponding to upper, lower, left, and right click actions for the touch panel 1510. Other content may be provided to the user by utilizing the touch panel 1510, or the user may move the main display (e.g., Figure 2 A cursor (eg, Figure 2 Meanwhile, a function displayed on the notification 1520 may be executed through a click action of the touch panel 1510.

[0075] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include: a housing including a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate includes an opening; a display panel at least partially exposed through the opening and including a touch sensor; a first supporting member coupled to a portion of the first plate and the display panel along at least a portion of one side of the opening; and a switch device configured to be actuated in response to pressing of the display panel, the pressing being caused by a downward force applied to an upper portion of the display panel.

[0076] The switch device of the electronic device according to the embodiment may include a dome switch or a tactile switch.

[0077] The switch device according to the embodiment may be provided on a bottom surface of the display panel facing the second plate, and the electronic device may further include a second supporting member fixed in position to actuate the switch device when the display panel is pressed.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the second support member may be fixedly coupled to the first plate.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may further include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be electrically coupled to the display panel and the switch device.

[0080] According to an embodiment, the at least one processor may be electrically coupled to the display panel through the first printed circuit board, and may be electrically coupled to the switching device through the second printed circuit board.

[0081] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may further include a support structure disposed in a central region of the display panel.

[0082] According to an embodiment, the support structure may be provided on the first support member.

[0083] According to an embodiment, the first printed circuit board and / or the second printed circuit board may be disposed on a first side of the display panel that is different from a second side of the display panel on which the first support member is disposed.

[0084] The electronic device according to the embodiment may include: a first housing including a first display panel; and a second housing pivotably coupled to the first housing and including a keyboard and a touch pad. The touch pad may be provided on the support portion, exposed through an opening of the second housing, and may include a touch sensor, a second display panel, and a switch device configured to be actuated according to a press of the touch pad caused by a downward force applied to the touch pad.

[0085] The electronic device according to the embodiment may include four coupling members, each of which is provided at an edge of the support portion to couple the support portion to the second housing. When a downward force is applied to the touch pad, the touch pad deforms or pivots around an axis connecting two opposite coupling members among the four coupling members.

[0086] The electronic device according to the embodiment may further include a supporting member fixed at a position so as to actuate the switch device when the touch pad is pressed.

[0087] According to an embodiment, the support member may be fixedly coupled to the second housing.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may further include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be electrically coupled to the second display panel and the switch device.

[0089] According to an embodiment, the at least one processor may be electrically coupled to the second display panel through the first printed circuit board, and may be electrically coupled to the switching device through the second printed circuit board.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may further include a supporting structure disposed in a central area of ​​the second display panel.

[0091] According to an embodiment, the support structure may be arranged on the support portion.

[0092] According to an embodiment, the first printed circuit board and / or the second printed circuit board may be disposed on a first side of the second display panel that is different from a second side of the second display panel where the support portion is disposed.

[0093] According to an embodiment, the switch device may include four switches, each switch being provided on each of the four coupling members.

[0094] According to an embodiment, each of the four coupling members may include a slit to facilitate pressing the touch pad.

[0095] Certain aspects of the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or via execution of software or computer code that may be stored in a recording medium (such as a CD ROM, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a magnetic tape, a RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk), or a computer code originally stored on a remote recording medium or a non-transitory machine-readable medium that is downloaded over a network to be stored on a local recording medium, so that the methods described herein may be presented via software stored on a recording medium using a general-purpose computer, a special processor, or programmable or dedicated hardware (such as an ASIC or FPGA). As will be understood in the art, a computer, a processor, a microprocessor controller, or programmable hardware includes a memory component, such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, etc., which may store or receive software or computer code that is accessed and executed when the computer, processor, or hardware performs the processing methods described herein.

[0096] While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic device, the electronic device include: a first shell; a keyboard, wherein the keyboard is disposed in the first housing; a touch panel, the touch panel being disposed in the first housing, wherein the touch panel comprises a touch sensor and a display; a second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing; a display panel, wherein the display panel is disposed in the second housing; at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: controlling the touch panel to display a plurality of objects, wherein the plurality of objects indicate functions corresponding to click inputs to different portions of the touch panel and include an object indicating a function for moving a pointer displayed on the display panel, detecting a click input to a portion where the object displayed on the touch panel is located, and In response to the touch panel detecting the click input to the portion where the displayed object is located, the function for moving the pointer displayed on the display panel is executed.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: A graphical user interface GUI corresponding to a specific application is displayed on the touch panel.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: An execution screen of an application corresponding to one of the plurality of objects is displayed on the display panel.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The keyboard includes a plurality of keys.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, An object in the plurality of objects corresponds to a subset of the plurality of keys.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The click input to one of the plurality of objects corresponds to at least one of a touch input, a press input, or a push input.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The click input on one of the plurality of objects corresponds to a press input or a push input in addition to a touch input.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The plurality of objects corresponds to a plurality of shortcuts.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, Each of the plurality of objects includes an icon and a notification indicating a function or mode to be executed in response to an input to the icon.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The touch sensor detects at least one of a touch of a certain intensity, a drag, a multi-touch, or a strong touch.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: The touch panel is controlled to display a status bar indicating a status of the electronic device using the plurality of objects.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The function is used to move the pointer displayed on the display panel to a specific position.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, A portion of the plurality of objects corresponds to a subset of the plurality of keys in the keyboard.

14. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The touch panel includes at least one switch configured to be pressed to detect the click input.

15. The electronic device according to claim 1, in, The electronic device includes a hinge structure pivotally coupling the first housing and the second housing, and The closed state of the electronic device and the open state of the electronic device are provided by pivoting of the hinge structure.

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