Electronic device including waterproof structure

Abstract

An electronic device according to an embodiment may comprise: a front plate; a rear plate; a front case including a first surface facing the front plate, a second surface facing the rear plate, and a first side surface facing a lateral direction, the front case being arranged between the front plate and the rear plate; a rear case including a third surface facing the front plate, a fourth surface facing the rear plate, and a second side surface facing the lateral direction, the rear case being arranged between the front case and the rear plate and coupled to the front case; and a waterproof structure including a first waterproof member arranged on the front case and a second waterproof member arranged on the rear case, wherein a portion of the first waterproof member and a portion of the second waterproof member are connected to each other, and the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member overlap at a boundary portion at which the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are connected to each other. Various other embodiments identified through the specification may also be possible.

Description

Electronic devices including waterproof structures

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a waterproof structure of an electronic device.

[0002] The housing of an electronic device may have a waterproof structure positioned between the front case and the rear case to prevent or reduce moisture ingress into the interior. The waterproof structure may be positioned in a closed curve shape along the edge area of ​​the housing.

[0003] When the front case and the rear case are combined, the waterproof structure interposed between them can be arranged in a compressed state to form a structure that prevents or reduces moisture penetration into the interior of the housing.

[0004] The waterproof structure is formed of elastic material and is structured to prevent or reduce the infiltration of moisture into the side of the housing.

[0005] However, the waterproof structure placed in the housing for waterproofing the electronic device places a closed-curve shaped waterproof member between the front case and the rear case, so that moisture that enters through the gap on the side of the housing can penetrate through the inner side of the housing.

[0006] Therefore, for example, moisture ingress through side keys, power keys, or holes formed on the side of the housing may not be completely prevented.

[0007] In some cases, the closed-loop, integral waterproofing element may be uneconomical due to the large amount of waste produced during manufacture.

[0008] In some embodiments, the integral waterproofing member in the form of a closed curve may have a large area to be placed in the housing, making it difficult to re-repair.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a waterproof structure is disposed at an entry point of moisture penetration, thereby providing an electronic device that is completely waterproof.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device having a structure in which a waterproof member is placed in a front case and a rear case, thereby reducing the amount of waterproof fabric wasted when manufacturing the waterproof member.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device that is easy to repair is provided by dividing a waterproof member into a front case and a rear case.

[0012] The technical problems to be achieved in this document are not limited to the technical problems described herein, and other technical problems not mentioned herein can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains from the descriptions herein.

[0013] As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, one aspect of the present disclosure may include a front plate; a rear plate; a front case including a first side facing the front plate, a second side facing the rear plate, and a first side facing laterally, and disposed between the front plate and the rear plate; a rear case including a third side facing the front plate, a fourth side facing the rear plate, and a second side facing laterally, and disposed between the front case and the rear plate, and coupled to the front case; and a first waterproof member disposed on the front case and a second waterproof member disposed on the rear case, wherein a part of the first waterproof member and a part of the second waterproof member are connected, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are connected may include a waterproof structure in which they overlap.

[0014] Another aspect of the present disclosure may include a front case including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a first side covering at least a portion between the first and second sides; a rear case including a third side facing the second side, a fourth side opposite the third side, and a second side covering at least a portion between the third and fourth sides, and coupled to the front case; and a first waterproof member disposed on the first side, and a second waterproof member disposed on the third side, wherein a portion of the first waterproof member and a portion of the second waterproof member are connected, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are connected may include an overlapping waterproof structure.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, aspects of the waterproof structure described herein can prevent or reduce moisture infiltration through holes in the side key, power key, or electronic device. In some embodiments, the waterproofing member is arranged in a segmented manner, thereby reducing waste during the manufacture of the waterproofing member and reducing the complexity associated with repairing the waterproofing member, thereby improving economic efficiency.

[0016] In some embodiments, according to the present disclosure, a waterproof structure is placed at the entry point of moisture penetration, thereby realizing complete waterproofing.

[0017] The effects that can be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects described herein, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the description herein.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the front of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear side of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the internal structure of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a front case, a rear case, and a waterproof structure constituting an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a waterproof structure disposed in each of the front case and the rear case constituting an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing a waterproof structure of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a plan view and a side view showing a front case according to one embodiment.

[0025] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of area A of Figure 7.

[0026] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing area A of Figure 7.

[0027] Fig. 10 is a front view showing a protruding portion of one end of a first waterproof member according to one embodiment.

[0028] Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a rear case in which a second waterproof member is arranged according to one embodiment.

[0029] Figure 12 is an enlarged view of area B of Figure 11.

[0030] Figure 13 is a perspective view showing area B of Figure 11.

[0031] Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment.

[0032] Fig. 15 is a front view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment.

[0033] Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 17 is a plan view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view sequentially showing a process of combining a rear case with a first waterproof member attached to a front case according to one embodiment.

[0036] Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of a straight section according to one embodiment.

[0037] Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of an overlapping section according to one embodiment.

[0038] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of a curved section according to one embodiment.

[0039] Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the first waterproof member according to one embodiment.

[0040] Fig. 23a is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of an overlapping section according to one embodiment, Fig. 23b shows an overlapping amount when the attachment surface of the front case is 3 degrees, and Fig. 23c is an exemplary view showing an overlapping amount when the attachment surface of the front case is 5 degrees.

[0041] Fig. 24a is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of an overlapping section according to one embodiment, and Fig. 24b is a drawing showing a protruding portion for overlapping a first waterproof member.

[0042] Fig. 25a is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the overlapping amount of the first and second waterproofing members according to one embodiment is insufficient, and Fig. 25b is a perspective view showing the path through which moisture penetrates with arrows.

[0043] Fig. 26a is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the amount of overlap between the first and second waterproofing members is appropriate according to one embodiment, and Fig. 26b is a perspective view showing the path through which moisture penetrates with arrows.

[0044] Fig. 27a is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the overlapping amount of the first and second waterproofing members is excessive according to one embodiment, and Fig. 27b is a perspective view showing the path through which moisture penetrates with arrows.

[0045] In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components.

[0046] Herein, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, for the purpose of clearly explaining the present disclosure in the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and similar parts are designated with similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0047] The terms used in this disclosure are described as currently common terms, taking into account the functions mentioned herein. However, these terms may mean various other terms depending on the intentions of those skilled in the art, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Therefore, the terms used in this disclosure should not be interpreted solely based on their names, but rather based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of this disclosure.

[0048] In some embodiments, terms such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one component from another.

[0049] Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this includes not only "directly connected" but also "physically in contact." In some embodiments, when a part is said to "include" a component, this does not exclude other components, but rather includes other components, unless otherwise stated.

[0050] The term "substantially" as used herein means approximately or actually. The term "substantially the same" means approximately or actually the same. The term "substantially identical" means approximately or actually the same. The term "substantially perpendicular" means approximately or actually perpendicular. The term "substantially parallel" means approximately or actually parallel.

[0051] The phrases “in one embodiment” and the like appearing in various places throughout this disclosure do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

[0052] An embodiment of the present disclosure may be represented by functional block configurations and various processing steps. Some or all of these functional blocks may be implemented by various hardware and / or software configurations that perform specific functions. For example, the functional blocks of the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more microprocessors or by circuit configurations for a given function. In some aspects, for example, the functional blocks of the present disclosure may be implemented in various programming or scripting languages. The functional blocks may be implemented by algorithms that execute on one or more processors. In some aspects, the present disclosure may employ conventional techniques for electronic configuration, signal processing, and / or data processing. Terms such as "mechanism," "element," "means," and "configuration" may be used broadly, for example, and are not limited to mechanical and physical configurations.

[0053] In some embodiments, the connecting lines or connecting elements between components depicted in the drawings are merely exemplary representations of functional connections and / or physical or circuit connections. In an actual device, connections between components may be represented by various alternative or additional functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections.

[0054] The present disclosure will be described in detail herein with reference to the attached drawings.

[0055] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the front side of an electronic device according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear side of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electronic device (100) according to one embodiment may include a housing (110) that includes a first side (or front side) (110A), a second side (or back side) (110B), and a side surface (110C) that surrounds a space between the first side (110A) and the second side (110B). According to one embodiment (not shown), the housing may refer to a structure that forms a portion of the first side (110A), the second side (110B), and the side surface (110C) of FIG. 1. According to one embodiment, the first side (110A) may be formed by a front plate (102) that is at least partially substantially transparent (e.g., a glass plate or a polymer plate including various coating layers). The second side (110B) may be formed by a substantially opaque back plate (111). The rear plate (111) may be formed of, for example, coated or colored glass, ceramic, polymer, metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of the foregoing materials. The side (110C) may be formed of a side bezel structure (or “side member”) (118) that is coupled to the front plate (102) and the rear plate (111) and comprises a metal and / or polymer. In some embodiments, the rear plate (111) and the side bezel structure (118) may be formed integrally and comprise the same material (e.g., a metal material such as aluminum).

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the front plate (102) may include two first regions (110D) extending seamlessly from the first surface (110A) toward the rear plate (111) at both ends of a long edge of the front plate (102). In the illustrated embodiment (see FIG. 2), the rear plate (111) may include two second regions (110E) extending seamlessly from the second surface (110B) toward the front plate (102) at both ends of a long edge. In some embodiments, the front plate (102) (or the rear plate (111)) may include only one of the first regions (110D) (or the second regions (110E)). In one embodiment, some of the first regions (110D) or the second regions (110E) may not be included. In the embodiments, when viewed from the side of the electronic device (100), the side bezel structure (118) may have a first thickness (or width) on the side that does not include the first regions (110D) or the second regions (110E), and may have a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness on the side that includes the first regions (110D) or the second regions (110E).

[0058] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (100) may include at least one of a display (101), an audio module (103, 107, 114), a sensor module (104, 116, 119), a camera module (105, 112, 113), a key input device (117), a light emitting element (106), a pen input device (120), and a connector hole (108, 109). In some embodiments, the electronic device (100) may omit at least one of the components (e.g., the key input device (117) or the light emitting element (106)) or may additionally include other components.

[0059] In one embodiment, the display (101) may be exposed through, for example, a substantial portion of the front plate (102). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the display (101) may be exposed through the front plate (102) forming the first surface (110A) and the first areas (110D) of the side surfaces (110C). In some embodiments, the edges of the display (101) may be formed to be substantially identical to the adjacent outer shape of the front plate (102). In one embodiment (not shown), in order to expand the area to which the display (101) is exposed, the gap between the outer edge of the display (101) and the outer edge of the front plate (102) may be formed to be substantially identical.

[0060] According to one embodiment (not shown), a recess or opening may be formed in a part of a screen display area of ​​the display (101), and at least one of an audio module (114), a sensor module (104), a camera module (105), and a light-emitting element (106) may be included that are aligned with the recess or opening. According to one embodiment (not shown), at least one of an audio module (114), a sensor module (104), a camera module (105), a fingerprint sensor (116), and a light-emitting element (106) may be included on a back surface of the screen display area of ​​the display (101). According to one embodiment (not shown), the display (101) may be coupled to or disposed adjacent to a touch detection circuit, a pressure sensor capable of measuring the intensity (pressure) of a touch input, and / or a digitizer capable of detecting a magnetic field-type stylus pen. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the sensor modules (104, 119) and / or at least a portion of the key input device (117) may be disposed in the first areas (110D) and / or the second areas (110E).

[0061] In one embodiment, the audio module (103, 107, 114) may include a microphone hole (103) and a speaker hole (107, 114). A microphone configured to capture external sound may be placed inside the microphone hole (103), and in some embodiments, multiple microphones may be placed to detect the direction of sound. The speaker hole (107, 114) may include an external speaker hole (107) and a receiver hole (114) for audio applications (e.g., audio calls). In some embodiments, the speaker hole (107, 114) and the microphone hole (103) may be implemented as a single hole, or a speaker may be included without the speaker hole (107, 114) (e.g., a piezo speaker).

[0062] According to one embodiment, the sensor modules (104, 116, 119) may generate electrical signals or data values ​​corresponding to an internal operating state of the electronic device (100) or an external environmental state. The sensor modules (104, 116, 119) may include, for example, a first sensor module (104) (e.g., a proximity sensor) and / or a second sensor module (not shown) (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) disposed on a first surface (110A) of the housing (110), and / or a third sensor module (119) (e.g., a heart rate monitor (HRM) sensor) and / or a fourth sensor module (116) (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) disposed on a second surface (110B) of the housing (110). The fingerprint sensor may be disposed on the first surface (110A) of the housing (110) (e.g., the display (101)) or the second surface (110B). The electronic device (100) may further include at least one of a sensor module not shown, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor (104).

[0063] According to one embodiment, the camera modules (105, 112, 113) may include a first camera device (105) disposed on a first side (110A) of the electronic device (100), a second camera device (112) disposed on a second side (110B), and / or a flash (113). Each of the first camera device (105) and the second camera device (112) may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, and / or an image signal processor. The flash (113) may include, for example, a light emitting diode or a xenon lamp. In some embodiments, two or more lenses (infrared camera, wide-angle and telephoto lenses) and image sensors may be disposed on one side of the electronic device (100).

[0064] According to one embodiment, the key input device (117) may be disposed on a side surface (110C) of the housing (110). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (100) may omit some or all of the above-mentioned key input devices (117), and the omitted key input devices (117) may be implemented in another form, such as a soft key on the display (101), for example. In some embodiments, the key input device (117) may be implemented as a sensor module (116) disposed on a second surface (110B) of the housing (110).

[0065] According to one embodiment, the light emitting element (106) may be disposed, for example, on the first surface (110A) of the housing (110). The light emitting element (106) may provide, for example, status information of the electronic device (100) in the form of light. According to one embodiment, the light emitting element (106) may provide, for example, a light source that is linked to the operation of the camera module (105). The light emitting element (106) may include, for example, an LED, an IR LED, or a xenon lamp.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the connector holes (108, 109) may include a first connector hole (108) that can accommodate a connector (e.g., a USB connector) for transmitting and receiving power and / or data with an external electronic device, and / or a second connector hole (109) that can accommodate a connector (e.g., an earphone jack) for transmitting and receiving audio signals with an external electronic device.

[0067] According to one embodiment, a pen input device (120) (e.g., a stylus pen) can be inserted or removed into the interior of the housing (110) through a hole (121) formed on a side of the housing (110), and may include a button to facilitate insertion and removal. A separate resonance circuit may be built into the pen input device (120) to be linked with an electromagnetic induction panel (390) (e.g., a digitizer) included in the electronic device (100). The pen input device (120) may support input according to an electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) method, an active electrical stylus (AES), and an electric coupled resonance (ECR) method.

[0068] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal configuration of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device (300) may include a side bezel structure (310), a first support member (311) (e.g., a bracket), a front plate (320), a display (330), an electromagnetic induction panel (390), a printed circuit board (340), a battery (350), a second support member (360) (e.g., a rear case), an antenna (370), a pen input device (120), and a rear plate (380). In some embodiments, the electronic device (300) may omit at least one of the components (e.g., the first support member (311) or the second support member (360)) or may additionally include other components. At least one of the components of the electronic device (300) may be identical to or similar to at least one of the components of the electronic device (100) of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, and redundant descriptions are omitted for brevity.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the electromagnetic induction panel (390) (e.g., a digitizer) may be a panel for detecting an input of the pen input device (120). For example, the electromagnetic induction panel (390) may include a printed circuit board (PCB) (e.g., a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)) and a shielding sheet. The shielding sheet may prevent or reduce interference between components included in the electronic device (100) due to electromagnetic fields generated from the components (e.g., a display module, a printed circuit board, an electromagnetic induction panel). The shielding sheet may block or reduce the electromagnetic fields generated from the components, and may support accurate transmission of an input from the pen input device (120) to a coil included in the electromagnetic induction panel (240). The electromagnetic induction panel (240) according to various embodiments may include an opening formed in at least a portion of an area corresponding to a biometric sensor disposed in the electronic device (100).

[0071] According to one embodiment, the first support member (311) may be disposed inside the electronic device (300) and connected to the side bezel structure (310), or the first support member (311) may be formed integrally with the side bezel structure (310). The first support member (311) may be formed of, for example, a metallic material and / or a non-metallic (e.g., polymer) material. The first support member (311) may have a display (330) coupled to one surface and a printed circuit board (340) coupled to the other surface. A processor, a memory, and / or an interface may be mounted on the printed circuit board (340). The processor may include, for example, one or more of a central processing unit, an application processor, a graphic processing unit, an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the memory may include, for example, volatile memory or non-volatile memory.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the interface may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, and / or an audio interface. The interface may electrically or physically connect the electronic device (300) to an external electronic device, for example, and may include a USB connector, an SD card / MMC connector, or an audio connector.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the battery (350) is a device for supplying power to at least one component of the electronic device (300), and may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell. At least a portion of the battery (350) may be disposed substantially on the same plane as, for example, the printed circuit board (340). The battery (350) may be disposed integrally within the electronic device (300), or may be disposed detachably from the electronic device (300).

[0075] According to one embodiment, the antenna (370) may be positioned between the rear plate (380) and the battery (350). The antenna (370) may include, for example, a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and / or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The antenna (370) may, for example, perform short-range communication with an external device or wirelessly transmit and receive power required for charging. According to one embodiment, the antenna structure may be formed by a part or a combination of the side bezel structure (310) and / or the first support member (311).

[0076] The terms "waterproof structure" and "structure for waterproofing" are used interchangeably herein. For example, the "waterproof structure" described herein may assist in waterproofing an electronic device (or a potential ingress point of an electronic device) from moisture, liquid, etc.

[0077] Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a front case, a rear case, and a waterproof structure constituting an electronic device according to one embodiment. Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a waterproof structure disposed in each of the front case and the rear case constituting an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an electronic device according to one embodiment (e.g., the electronic device (100) illustrated in FIG. 1) may be a portable communication device. According to one embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing (e.g., the housing (110) illustrated in FIG. 1), and the housing may include a front plate (e.g., the front plate (102) illustrated in FIG. 1), a rear plate (e.g., the rear plate (111) illustrated in FIG. 2), a front case (40), a rear case (50), and a waterproof structure (60).

[0079] In one embodiment, the front case (40) may be coupled to the rear case (50) by a hooking structure or fastener, not shown. In one embodiment, a waterproof structure (60) may be disposed between the front case (40) and the rear case (50) to prevent or reduce moisture penetration into the housing.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the front case (40) may have a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above and may include first to fourth straight edges (401-404). According to one embodiment, the front case (40) may include a first surface (40a) facing in a first direction (①) (e.g., toward the front plate), a second surface (40b) (a surface opposite the first surface) facing in a second direction (②) opposite to the first direction (①) (e.g., toward the rear plate), and a first side surface (40c) facing in a third direction (③) (e.g., a lateral direction) substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the third direction (③) is not limited to a direction approximately perpendicular to the first and second directions (①,②), and the third direction (③) may be directed in a direction slightly inclined (e.g., within 10 degrees) from the perpendicular direction of the first and second directions (①,②).

[0082] For example, the first direction (①) may be upward, the second direction (②) may be downward, the third direction (③) may be lateral, the first side (40a) may be an upper side, and the second side (40b) may be a lower side. According to one embodiment, the first side (40c) may be a straight section.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the rear case (50) may have a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above and may include first to fourth edge regions (501-504). According to one embodiment, the rear case (50) may include a third surface (50a) facing in a first direction, a fourth surface (50b) (a surface opposite to the third surface) facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a second side surface (50c) facing perpendicular to the first and second directions. For example, the first direction may be upward, the second direction may be downward, the third surface (50a) may be an upper surface, and the fourth surface (50b) may be a lower surface. According to one embodiment, each of the first to fourth edge regions (501-504) may be a curved section.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the waterproof structure (60) may include a first waterproof member (61-64) (also referred to herein as the first sponge member (61) to the fourth sponge member (64)) disposed in the front case (40), and a second waterproof member (65-68) (also referred to herein as the fifth sponge member (65) to the eighth sponge member (68)) disposed in the rear case (50). According to one embodiment, the first waterproof member (61-64) may be disposed in the front case (40), and the second waterproof member (65-68) may be disposed in the rear case (50).

[0085] Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a waterproof structure disposed in each of the front case and the rear case constituting an electronic device according to one embodiment. Fig. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a waterproof structure of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0086] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, according to one embodiment, when the front case (40) and the rear case (50) are coupled, at least a portion of the first waterproof member (61-64) and at least a portion of the second waterproof member (65-68) may be connected. According to one embodiment, when the front case (40) is coupled to the rear case (50), the first waterproof member (61-64) may be integrally connected to the second waterproof member (65-68). For example, in the above state, when the front case (40) and the rear case (50) are coupled, when viewed from above the front case (40), the first waterproof member (61-64) and the second waterproof member (65-68) may be integrally connected. For example, when the front case (40) and the rear case (50) are coupled, the first and second waterproof members may be arranged in a closed curve shape.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the first waterproof member (61-64) may be disposed on one surface of the front case (40), and the second waterproof member (65-68) may be disposed on one surface of the rear case (50). According to one embodiment, the first waterproof member (61) may include first to fourth sponge members (61-64) disposed on the first to fourth straight edges of the front case (40), respectively. According to one embodiment, among the first to fourth sponge members (61-64), the lengths of the second and third sponge members (62, 63) may be formed longer than the lengths of the first and fourth sponge members (61, 64). According to one embodiment, the first to fourth sponge members (61-64) may each have a linear shape. According to one embodiment, the first waterproof member (61-64) may be attached to the front case (40). According to one embodiment, the material of the first waterproof member (61-64) is not limited to sponge, and may be replaced with any one of a bonding layer and silicone rubber. For example, the first waterproof member (61-64) may include sponge, a bonding layer, silicone rubber, or a combination thereof.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the second waterproofing member (65-68) may include fifth to eighth sponge members (65-68) arranged in the first to fourth edge regions (501-504) of the rear case (50), respectively. According to one embodiment, the fifth to eighth sponge members (65-68) may each be formed in a curved shape. The fifth to eighth sponge members (65-68) may be formed in the same shape. According to one embodiment, the second waterproofing member (65-68) may be attached to the rear case (50). According to one embodiment, the material of the second waterproofing member (65-68) is not limited to sponge, and may be replaced with any one material of a bonding layer or silicone rubber. For example, the second waterproofing member (65-68) may include sponge, a bonding layer, silicone rubber, or a combination thereof.

[0089] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, the mounting of the first waterproof member according to one embodiment will be described.

[0090] Fig. 7 is a plan view and a side view showing a front case according to one embodiment. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of area A of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing area A of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a front view showing a protruding portion of one end of a first waterproof member according to one embodiment.

[0091] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, according to one embodiment, the front case (40) may include four flat, straight sides (40c). According to one embodiment, the four sides (40c) may extend along the first to fourth straight edges (401-404) of the front case (40), respectively.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the front case (40) may have a first waterproof member (e.g., one of the first waterproof members (61-64)) disposed on each side (40c). For example, the first and fourth sponge members (61, 64) may be disposed on the upper and lower sides (40c) that are relatively short, and the second and third sponge members (62, 63) may be disposed on the left and right sides (40c) that are relatively long. According to one embodiment, the first to fourth sponge members (61-64) may each be linear and may be attached to each side (40c) of the rear case (50) by a bonding layer. According to one embodiment, the first and fourth sponge members (61, 64) may be disposed to face each other, and the second and third sponge members (62, 63) may be disposed to face each other. According to one embodiment, the first and fourth sponge members (61, 64) may be arranged parallel to each other, and the second and third sponge members (62, 63) may be arranged parallel to each other.

[0093] According to one embodiment, each of the first to fourth sponge members (61-64) may be positioned closer to the second surface (40b) (illustrated in FIG. 5) than to the first surface (40a). This positioning of the first waterproof members (61-64) is intended to prevent or reduce moisture infiltration at the point of entry of moisture infiltration, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the first to fourth sponge members (61-64) constituting the first waterproof member (61-64) may each be linear and include protruding portions at their respective ends. For example, protruding portions may be formed at each end of the first sponge member (61), protruding portions may be formed at each end of the second sponge member (62), protruding portions may be formed at each end of the third sponge member (63), and protruding portions may be formed at each end of the fourth sponge member (64). Since the structure of the protruding portions of the first waterproof members (61-64) is the same, the fourth sponge member (64) will be described as an example, and the description of the remaining waterproof members (61-63) will be omitted.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the fourth sponge member (64) may have a substantially linear shape, and protruding portions (640) may be formed at each end of the fourth sponge member (64). According to one embodiment, each protruding portion (640) of the fourth sponge member may have the same shape and may be arranged symmetrically to each other. According to one embodiment, the protruding portions (640) attached to the front case (40) may face in the second direction.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the fourth sponge member (64) does not need to be limited to a rectangular cross-section, and the cross-section of the fourth sponge member (64) may be formed as any one of a square, circle, or oval cross-section.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the front case (40) may be formed with a receiving groove (413) in which the fourth sponge member (64) is seated. According to one embodiment, the receiving grooves (413) may be formed on each of the four side surfaces (40c) of the rear case (50). Since the structure of the four receiving grooves (413) corresponds to the shapes of the four first to fourth sponge members (61-64), only the structure of the receiving groove (413) in which the fourth sponge member (64) is seated will be described. That is, the structure of the receiving groove (413) in which the fourth sponge member (64) is seated may be equally applied to the structure of the receiving grooves (413) in which the first to third sponge members (61) to (63) are seated.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the receiving groove (413) may have a shape corresponding to that of the fourth sponge member (64). The receiving groove (413) is a groove recessed to a certain depth in which the fourth sponge member (64) is received and then seated, and the receiving groove (413) may include a roughly linear receiving groove (411) and a protruding receiving groove (412). According to one embodiment, when the fourth sponge member (64) is seated in the receiving groove (413), the upper end (641) of the fourth sponge member (64) may not be received in the protruding receiving groove (412), but may protrude from the protruding receiving groove (412). The upper end (641) of the fourth sponge member may be a compressed portion that overlaps the second waterproof member (65-68).

[0099] Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, the mounting of the second waterproof member according to one embodiment will be described.

[0100] Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a rear case in which a second waterproof member is arranged according to one embodiment. Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of area B of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing area B of Fig. 11.

[0101] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a rear case (50) according to one embodiment may include a third surface (50a) facing in a first direction, a fourth surface (50b) facing in a second direction, and a side surface (50c) facing in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first and second directions, respectively. According to one embodiment, the rear case (50) may include four first to fourth edge regions (501 to 504). According to one embodiment, fifth to eighth sponge members (65 to 68) may be respectively disposed in the four edge regions (501 to 504). According to one embodiment, the fifth to eighth sponge members (65 to 68) may each have a curved shape and may be respectively disposed along the edges of the first to fourth edge regions (501 to 504).

[0102] According to one embodiment, the second waterproof member (65-68) may be arranged on the third side (50a) of the rear case (50). For example, the fifth to eighth sponge members (65-68) may be arranged symmetrically left-right, up-down, left-right, or up-down, right-left, or left-right, but are not limited to such a symmetrical structure.

[0103] Referring to FIG. 13, the rear case (50) may have a step portion (511) formed along the edge of a corner region (e.g., the first to fourth corner regions (501-504)) of the third surface (50a). For example, the rear case (50) may include a plurality of step portions (511), and the plurality of step portions (511) may be spaced apart from each other and formed respectively along the corner region (501) of the third surface (50a). As another example, the step portions (511) may be formed continuously along the edge of the rear case (50). According to one embodiment, the fifth sponge member (65) may be disposed in the step portion (511) formed in the corner region (501) of the third surface of the rear case (50). For example, the fifth sponge member (65) may be attached to each step portion (511) by a bonding layer. According to one embodiment, each of the sixth to eighth sponge members (66-68) may also be arranged in each step portion (511) with the same structure as the fifth sponge member (65).

[0104] According to one embodiment, the step portion (511) may be recessed to a predetermined depth from the upper edge (501) of the corner region (501) of the rear case (50).

[0105] Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment. Fig. 15 is a front view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment. Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment. Fig. 17 is a plan view showing a state in which the first and second waterproofing members are arranged in an overlapping manner according to one embodiment.

[0106] Referring to FIGS. 14 to 17, according to one embodiment, when the front case (40) and the rear case (50) are coupled, each of the opposite ends of the first waterproof member is connected to each end of the second waterproof member, and the opposite end portions may be arranged in an overlapping (D) structure. According to one embodiment, in a boundary area between the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member, a portion of the first waterproof member may be connected to a portion of the second waterproof member and may be arranged to overlap.

[0107] For example, the protruding portion of the third sponge member (63) arranged on one side of the front case (40) may be arranged to overlap (D) one end of the fifth sponge member (65) arranged on the third side of the rear case (50), and the protruding portion of the first sponge member (61) may be arranged to overlap (C) the other end of the fifth sponge member (65). According to one embodiment, a total of eight overlapping portions may be formed by the arrangement of the first waterproof members (61-64) and the second waterproof members (65-68). For example, the fifth to eighth sponge members (65-68) constituting the second waterproof member (65-68) may form overlapping portions that overlap with the ends of the first sponge member (61) to the fourth sponge member (64). The overlapping portion may be located at the boundary between the first waterproofing member (61-64) and the second waterproofing member (65-68).

[0108] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, when the front case (40) and the rear case (50) are combined, the fifth sponge member (65) may have an overlapping groove (651) formed into which the upper end (631) of the third sponge member (63) is inserted. According to one embodiment, the overlapping groove (651) is a groove into which the upper end (631) of the third sponge member protruding from the receiving groove is inserted, and may be an overlapping structure between the third sponge member (63) (e.g., the first waterproof member) and the fifth sponge member (65) (e.g., the second waterproof member).

[0109] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view sequentially showing a process of combining a rear case with a first waterproof member attached to a front case according to one embodiment.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 18, according to one embodiment, in a process of joining a front case (40) to a rear case (50), a first sponge member (61) (e.g., the first to fourth sponge members (61-64) arranged on the front case) attached to one side of the front case (40) by a hook structure (412, 512) formed between the front case (40) and the rear case (50) can be compressed by the rear case at the final point in the joining process. Each hook structure (412 and 512) can be configured to perform a hooking operation as described herein, for example, each hook structure (412 and 512) serves to secure one component to another component.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the hooking structure includes a first hooking structure (412) formed in the front case (40) and a second hooking structure (512) formed in the rear case (50), and by the sliding linkage between the first and second hooking structures (412, 512), the first sponge member (61) is compressed at the final point in the joining process, not at the beginning, so that the slippage of the attachment state of the first sponge member (61) by the rear case (50) can be prevented or reduced.

[0112] Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of a straight section according to one embodiment.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 19, according to one embodiment, the first waterproof member (61) arranged in the lateral straight section of the front case (40) may be located at the entrance of the front case (40) and the rear case (50) joint structure. According to one embodiment, moisture may infiltrate (infiltrate in the direction of the thick arrow) through the parting line between the front case (40) and the rear case (50), and the first waterproof member (61) may be arranged at an entrance close to (or close to) the parting line, thereby providing a structure advantageous for efficiently preventing or reducing moisture infiltration. The term 'close' used herein may indicate a distance less than or equal to a critical distance. An element described as 'close' to another element may be within the critical distance from that element.

[0114] Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of an overlapping section according to one embodiment.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 20, according to one embodiment, in the section where the first and second waterproofing members (63, 65) are connected, i.e., in the corner area of ​​the rear case (50) where the straight section and the curved section meet, the first and second waterproofing members (63, 65) may be positioned at the beginning (e.g., the entrance, the potential moisture ingress point, the intersection between the included components, the starting point of the parting line described herein) of the front case (40) and the rear case (50) joining structure. According to one embodiment, moisture may infiltrate (infiltrate in the direction of the bold arrow) through the parting line between the front case (40) and the rear case (50), in the case where the first waterproofing member (63) and the second waterproofing member (65) described herein are not implemented. According to one embodiment, the first and second waterproofing members (63, 65) and the overlapping portions of the first and second waterproofing members (63, 65) may be arranged at an inlet close to (or near) the parting line, thereby providing a structure advantageous for efficient prevention or reduction of moisture penetration.

[0116] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of a curved section according to one embodiment.

[0117] Referring to FIG. 21, according to one embodiment, the second waterproof member (65-68) arranged in the curved section, which is the corner area of ​​the third surface (50a) of the rear case (50), may be positioned close to (or close to) the entrance of the front case (40) and the rear case (50) joint structure. According to one embodiment, moisture may infiltrate (infiltrate in the direction of the thick arrow) through the parting line between the front case (40) and the rear case (50), and the second waterproof member (e.g., the fifth sponge member (65)) may be arranged at the entrance close to (or close to) the parting line, thereby providing a structure advantageous for efficiently preventing or reducing moisture infiltration.

[0118] Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a first waterproof member (e.g., a third sponge member (63)) according to one embodiment.

[0119] Referring to FIG. 22, according to one embodiment, one surface (411a) of a receiving groove (411) formed in a front case (40) to which a straight first waterproof member (63) is attached, and one surface (511a) of a rear case (50) facing the attached first waterproof member (61) may be arranged to be approximately parallel to each other. According to one embodiment, one surface (411a) to which the first waterproof member (61) is attached may be a flat surface, and one surface (511a) of the rear case (50) facing the first waterproof member (61) may be formed as a flat surface. According to one embodiment, when the front case (40) and the rear case (50) are combined, the attached first waterproof member (63) may be compressed and may maintain the compressed state.

[0120] FIG. 23a is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of an overlapping section according to one embodiment, FIG. 23b shows an overlapping amount when the attachment surface of the front case is inclined 3 degrees (or about 3 degrees) from a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and FIG. 23c is an exemplary view showing an overlapping amount when the attachment surface of the front case is inclined 5 degrees (or about 5 degrees) from a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0121] Referring to FIGS. 23a to 23c, according to one embodiment, in a section where the first and second waterproof members overlap, the overlapping amount (E) of the first and second waterproof members may be different depending on the degree of inclination of one side (411a) of the front case (40) to which the first waterproof member (e.g., the third sponge member (63)) is attached.

[0122] According to one embodiment, one side (411a) of the front case (40) to which the first waterproof member (63) is attached is a flat surface, and may be formed as a vertical wall (without inclination), or may be formed with a slight inclination from a direction perpendicular to the first direction, for example, with an inclination of 0 to 5 degrees.

[0123] FIG. 23b shows a case where the inclination angle of one side (411a) of the front case (40) to which the first waterproof member (63) is attached is 3 degrees, and FIG. 23c shows a case where the inclination angle of one side (411a) of the front case (40) to which the first waterproof member (61) is attached is 5 degrees. According to one embodiment, the amount of overlap (m2) when the inclination angle of one side (411a) of the front case (40) to which the first waterproof member (63) is attached is 5 degrees may be greater than the amount of overlap (m1) when the inclination angle of one side (411a) of the front case (40) to which the first waterproof member (63) is attached is 3 degrees.

[0124] Fig. 24a is a cross-sectional view showing a waterproof structure of an overlapping section according to one embodiment, and Fig. 24 is a drawing showing a protruding portion for overlapping a first waterproof member.

[0125] Referring to FIG. 24a, according to one embodiment, in a section where the first and second waterproof members (e.g., the third sponge member (63) and the fifth sponge member (65)) overlap, the larger the area (a) of the surface of the second waterproof member (65) that contacts the front case (40) and the surface that contacts the rear case (50), the larger the waterproofable area, which may be advantageous for waterproofing.

[0126] According to one embodiment, a gap (b) may exist between one end of the first waterproof member (63) and one side of the stepped portion of the front case (40). According to one embodiment, the gap may be formed to take into account the manufacturing tolerance of the rear case (50) or the front case (40) and to prevent external exposure of the first waterproof member (61).

[0127] According to one embodiment, the gap (c) between the front case (40) and the rear case (50) where the second waterproof member (65) is arranged can be designed so that the compression ratio of the second waterproof member (65) is between 30% and 50%.

[0128] Referring to FIG. 24b, according to one embodiment, the first waterproof member (63) may be positioned to protrude from one surface of the rear case (50) by a certain length (d). According to one embodiment, the first waterproof member (63) may be positioned to protrude in consideration of the amount of overlap with the second waterproof member. According to one embodiment, the protruding length (d) may be the overlapping portion.

[0129] Fig. 25a is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the overlapping amount of the first and second waterproofing members according to one embodiment is insufficient, and Fig. 25b is a perspective view showing the path through which moisture penetrates with arrows.

[0130] Referring to FIGS. 25a and 25b, according to one embodiment, if the protruding length of the first waterproof member (61) is small in the overlapping section of the first and second waterproof members (63, 65), the amount of overlap (D) of the first and second waterproof members is insufficient, and thus moisture may infiltrate in the direction of the arrow (the penetration path along which moisture advances) through the parting line between the front case (40) and the rear case (50). In other words, the insufficient amount of overlap (D) of the first and second waterproof members may cause a reduction in the waterproof function.

[0131] Fig. 26a is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the amount of overlap between the first and second waterproofing members is appropriate according to one embodiment, and Fig. 26b is a perspective view showing the path through which moisture penetrates with arrows.

[0132] Referring to FIGS. 26a and 26b, according to one embodiment, in the overlapping section of the first and second waterproofing members (63, 65), if the protruding length of the first waterproofing member (61) is appropriate, the amount of overlapping (D) of the first and second waterproofing members is appropriate, so that moisture infiltration can be prevented or reduced through the parting line between the front case (40) and the rear case (50). The direction of the arrow represents a moisture infiltration path, and moisture that has infiltrated can no longer advance in the overlapping (D) portion of the first and second waterproofing members (63, 65), thereby preventing or reducing moisture infiltration.

[0133] Fig. 27a is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the overlapping amount of the first and second waterproofing members is excessive according to one embodiment, and Fig. 27b is a perspective view showing the path through which moisture penetrates with arrows.

[0134] Referring to FIGS. 27a and 27b, according to one embodiment, in the overlapping section of the first and second waterproofing members (63, 65), if the protruding length of the first waterproofing member (61) is exceeded (when it exceeds the critical protruding length for preventing moisture infiltration as described herein), the overlapping amount (D) of the first and second waterproofing members is exceeded, but since the overlapping portion is compressed to a greater extent (when it exceeds the critical overlapping amount for preventing moisture infiltration as described herein), moisture infiltration can be prevented or reduced through the parting line between the front case (40) and the rear case (50). The direction of the arrow represents the moisture infiltration path, and the penetrated moisture can no longer advance in the overlapping (D) portion of the first and second waterproofing members, thereby preventing or reducing moisture infiltration.

Claims

1. In electronic devices, front plate; back plate; A front case comprising a first side facing the front plate, a second side facing the rear plate, and a first side facing in a lateral direction, the front case being disposed between the front plate and the rear plate; A rear case including a third side facing the front plate, a fourth side facing the rear plate, and a second side facing in the lateral direction, and arranged between the front case and the rear plate, and coupled to the front case; and An electronic device comprising a waterproof structure including a first waterproof member arranged in the front case and a second waterproof member arranged in the rear case, wherein a portion of the first waterproof member and a portion of the second waterproof member are connected, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are connected overlap.

2. An electronic device in which, in the first paragraph, the front case and the rear case are combined, the first and second waterproof members are integrally arranged in a closed curve shape.

3. An electronic device in the first paragraph, wherein the first waterproof member is arranged in a straight line along the first side, and the second waterproof member is arranged on the third side.

4. An electronic device in the third paragraph, wherein the first waterproof member is arranged along a straight section of the first side on the first side, and the second waterproof member is arranged along a curved section in a corner area of ​​the third side.

5. An electronic device in the third paragraph, wherein the first waterproof member is linear and the second waterproof member is curved.

6. In the third paragraph, the first waterproof member is an electronic device including first to fourth sponge members each arranged along a straight section of the first side, on the first side.

7. An electronic device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the second waterproof member includes fifth to eighth sponge members arranged at the edge of the corner area of ​​the third surface.

8. In the first paragraph, the first waterproof member is further formed with a protruding portion, and the protruding portion is arranged to overlap the second waterproof member. An electronic device in which the above protruding portion protrudes from the rear plate.

9. An electronic device in the first paragraph, wherein the lateral direction is directed in a direction substantially inclined from a direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the first surface and the second surface face, or a direction in which the lateral direction is substantially inclined from a direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the first surface faces and the direction in which the second surface faces, and the inclination of the inclined direction is 10 degrees or less.

10. An electronic device in the first paragraph, wherein the second waterproof member is further formed with an overlapping groove for overlapping with the first waterproof member.

11. In the first paragraph, a receiving groove is further formed on the first side in which the first waterproof member is secured, and the receiving groove is Straight receiving groove; and An electronic device in which a protruding receiving groove is further formed extending from the above linear receiving groove.

12. An electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first waterproof member is positioned close to the second surface, thereby preventing moisture penetration through the parting line formed by the joining of the front case and the rear case at the beginning.

13. An electronic device in the first paragraph, wherein the second waterproof member is arranged in a step portion recessed into the rear plate on the third surface.

14. An electronic device in which, in the first paragraph, a catch structure is further formed between the front case and the rear case, and in the process of combining the front case and the rear case, the first waterproof member is compressed by the rear case at the end of the catch operation of the catch structure.

15. In electronic devices, A front case comprising a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a first side surrounding at least a portion between the first and second sides; A rear case including a third side facing the second side, a fourth side opposite the third side, and a second side covering at least a portion between the third and fourth sides, and coupled to the front case; and An electronic device comprising a waterproof structure including a first waterproof member arranged on the first side and a second waterproof member arranged on the third side, wherein a portion of the first waterproof member and a portion of the second waterproof member are connected, and a boundary portion where the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member are connected overlaps.

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