Case for electronic device, and electronic device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a case for an electronic device, and an electronic device. The case comprises a case body region, a first functional region, and a second functional region. The first functional region is used to arrange a first display screen, and the second functional region is provided with a touch keyboard module. When the touch keyboard module is powered on, the touch keyboard module develops a touch keyboard in the second functional region and enables a touch function of the touch keyboard. When the touch keyboard module is powered off, the touch keyboard module hides the touch keyboard in the second functional region and turns off the touch function of the touch keyboard. On the basis of the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application, the use functions of the case of the electronic device can be broadened, so that greater use convenience is provided for a user.

Description

Housing for electronic device and electronic device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202410087597.1, filed on January 22, 2024, entitled "Housing for electronic device and electronic device", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of electronic devices, and in particular, to a housing for electronic device and electronic device. BACKGROUND

[0004] With the continuous development of electronic device technology, users have higher and higher individualization requirements for electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, etc. The housing of the electronic device has become a consideration aspect to meet the individualization needs of the users. How to expand the use function of the housing of the electronic device so as to provide more use convenience for the users is a main direction of research and development for the person skilled in the art.

[0005] SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present application provide a housing for electronic device and electronic device to expand the use function of the housing of the electronic device so as to provide more use convenience for the users.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present application, a housing for electronic device is provided, which comprises a housing body area, a first function area and a second function area, wherein the first function area is used to set a first display screen, and the second function area is provided with a touch keyboard module; when the touch keyboard module is powered on, the touch keyboard module displays a touch keyboard in the second function area and opens the touch function of the touch keyboard; when the touch keyboard module is powered off, the touch keyboard module hides the touch keyboard in the second function area and closes the touch function of the touch keyboard.

[0008] The housing of the embodiments of the present application not only has a display function, but also has a touch keyboard function. When the touch keyboard module is powered on, the user can input instructions through the touch keyboard displayed in the second function area. When the touch keyboard module is powered off, the touch keyboard can be hidden in the second function area, so that the housing has a relatively simple and coordinated overall appearance. Therefore, when the housing is applied to the electronic device, on the one hand, the touch keyboard function can be provided to expand the use function of the housing so as to provide more use convenience for the users, and on the other hand, the expansion of the use function of the housing has less impact on the overall appearance of the electronic device, and the housing of the electronic device can still have a relatively simple and coordinated overall appearance.

[0009] In some embodiments, when the touch keyboard module is powered off, the second functional area is integrated with the appearance of the shell body area. This embodiment design can reduce or even eliminate the influence of the touch keyboard module on the overall appearance of the shell when the touch keyboard module is powered off, so that the appearance of the shell is relatively simple and coordinated, and thus the design style of the appearance of the shell can be more flexible.

[0010] In some embodiments, the touch keyboard module includes an electrochromic display layer and a transparent touch layer, and the shell includes an inner support layer and an appearance layer, wherein the inner support layer, the electrochromic display layer, the transparent touch layer and the appearance layer are sequentially stacked. In this way, not only the manufacturing process can be simplified, but also the thin design of the shell is facilitated.

[0011] In some embodiments, the electrochromic display layer includes a first transparent electrode layer, an electrochromic material layer and a second transparent electrode layer which are sequentially stacked, or the electrochromic display layer includes a first transparent electrode layer, an electrochromic material layer, an electrolyte layer, an ion storage layer and a second transparent electrode layer which are sequentially stacked, wherein the electrochromic material layer has a pattern consistent with the touch keyboard. When the touch keyboard module is powered off, the electrochromic material layer presents a first visual feature, and when the touch keyboard module is powered on, an electric field is formed between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer, and the electrochromic material layer presents a second visual feature, wherein the second visual feature is different from the first visual feature in color and / or transparency.

[0012] Since the electrochromic material has a bistable performance, the electrochromic display layer consumes almost no power after displaying the pattern of the touch keyboard, and thus the power consumption of the touch keyboard module is small. In addition, compared with some other display technologies, the electrochromic display layer also has the technical advantages of no visual blind angle, high contrast, higher reliability, lighter and thinner, lower cost, etc.

[0013] In some embodiments, the appearance layer is a colorless transparent appearance layer, and the first visual feature is colorless transparency. When the touch keyboard module is powered off, the first visual feature presented by the electrochromic material layer is colorless transparency, so that the appearance of the touch keyboard module is also colorless transparent and can be hidden in the second functional area. At this time, the visual feature of the inner support layer becomes the main factor affecting the appearance of the shell, and the overall appearance of the shell is relatively simple and coordinated, and the design can be more flexible.

[0014] In some embodiments, the appearance layer is a colorless transparent appearance layer, the inner support layer includes a base layer and an ink layer arranged in a stack, the ink layer is located on a side of the base layer facing the appearance layer, and the first visual feature is consistent with a visual feature of the ink layer. The material and appearance style of the ink layer can be designed based on the first visual feature and the second visual feature of the electrochromic material layer, so that, on the one hand, the material selection range of the electrochromic material layer is wider, and the appearance design of the shell is more flexible and diverse, and on the other hand, through reasonable material selection and design, the second visual feature of the electrochromic material layer can be more prominent compared to the background, so that the touch keyboard can be more clearly displayed in the second functional area.

[0015] In some embodiments, the touch keyboard includes an input method keyboard. Based on this embodiment design, the shell of the electronic device not only has a display function, but also has a text input and editing function, and the user can conveniently input and edit text through the input method keyboard displayed in the second functional area.

[0016] In some embodiments, the shell body area is provided with an opening key, and the opening key is used to trigger the touch keyboard module to switch between power-on and power-off. In this way, the user can conveniently switch the touch keyboard module between power-on and power-off.

[0017] In some embodiments, the shell further includes at least one third functional area, each of the at least one third functional area is used to set a functional module, and the functional module includes at least one of a camera, a flash, a sensor, a loudspeaker, or a microphone. This embodiment can further expand the use function of the shell of the electronic device.

[0018] In some embodiments, the electronic device is a straight-line electronic device, and the shell is a straight-line shell; or the electronic device is a folding electronic device, and the shell is a folding shell, and the shell includes a first part and a second part located on both sides of a folding axis of the shell, and the shell body area, the first functional area, and the second functional area are located in the first part. The product form of the electronic device is not limited, and the shell designed in the embodiments of the present application can be used.

[0019] In some embodiments, the electronic device is a folding electronic device, and the shell is a folding shell, and the shell includes a first part and a second part located on both sides of a folding axis of the shell, and the shell body area, the first functional area, and the second functional area are located in the first part, and the first functional area and the second functional area are arranged along a direction perpendicular to the folding axis, or the first functional area and the second functional area are arranged along a direction parallel to the folding axis. The electronic device can be a folding electronic device unfolded by an upward flip operation, a folding electronic device unfolded by a downward flip operation, a folding electronic device unfolded by a left flip operation, or a folding electronic device unfolded by a right flip operation.

[0020] According to an aspect of the present application, an electronic device is provided, which comprises the shell of any of the preceding embodiments, and a first display screen arranged at the first functional area of the shell. The electronic device of the embodiments of the present application can take into account the functional expansion of the shell and the coordination of the overall appearance.

[0021] In some embodiments, the electronic device further comprises a processing chip electrically connected with the first display screen and the touch keyboard module respectively, and the processing chip is configured to: acquire a keystroke message of the touch keyboard when the touch keyboard module is powered on; and send an input instruction matched with the keystroke message to the first display screen, so that the first display screen performs a display response based on the input instruction. In this way, the instruction input by the user through the touch keyboard can be displayed and responded in real time on the first display screen.

[0022] In some embodiments, the switching mode of the touch keyboard module between power-on and power-off includes at least one of triggering a physical key, a virtual key, or software. The user can select to turn on or turn off the touch keyboard module according to the use demand.

[0023] In some embodiments, the electronic device is a foldable electronic device, the shell is a foldable shell, and the shell comprises a first part and a second part located on both sides of a folding axis, wherein the shell body area, the first functional area, and the second functional area are located on the first part; the electronic device further comprises a second display screen, which is a foldable display screen, and the second display screen is connected to the inner side of the folding of the first part and the second part and is arranged opposite to the first display screen.

[0024] In the folded state, the first display screen of the electronic device can display some information, such as clock information, weather information, incoming call information, short message information, or notification message, etc. If the user needs to use the second display screen, the electronic device can be unfolded to obtain a better screen use experience; if the user does not need or does not want to use the second display screen with a larger size, the user can input instructions using the touch keyboard module in the power-on state in the folded state of the electronic device, which is very convenient to operate and has better portability.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first part further comprises at least one third functional area; the electronic device further comprises at least one functional module arranged one-to-one in the at least one third functional area, and each functional module of the at least one functional module comprises at least one of a camera, a flash, a sensor, a loudspeaker, or a microphone. This embodiment arranges the functional module in the first part of the shell, so as to further expand the use function of the shell and provide more use convenience for the user to use the electronic device.

[0026] In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a foldable phone, a foldable tablet, or a foldable wearable device. The specific product type of the electronic device is not limited. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a front structural schematic diagram of a housing for an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present application, in which the left diagram illustrates a situation where a touch keyboard module is in a power-off state, and the right diagram illustrates a situation where the touch keyboard module is in a power-on state;

[0028] FIG. 2A is a front structural schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0029] FIG. 2B is a front structural schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0030] FIG. 2C is a back structural schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the housing at A-A in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a disassembled schematic diagram of a laminated structure of a second functional area of the housing according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a disassembled schematic diagram of a laminated structure of a second functional area of the housing according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a front structural schematic diagram of a housing for an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present application, in which the left diagram illustrates a situation where a touch keyboard module is in a power-off state, and the right diagram illustrates a situation where the touch keyboard module is in a power-on state.

[0035] REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[0036] 500 - electronic device; 100 - housing; 10 - shell body area; 101 - first functional area; 11 - first display screen; 102 - second functional area;

[0037] 21 - touch keyboard module; 210 - touch keyboard; 21a - power-on state; 21b - power-off state; 103 - second functional area; 31 - functional module;

[0038] 211 - electrochromic display layer; 212 - transparent touch layer; 104 - inner support layer; 105 - appearance layer; 1042 - ink layer; 107 - adhesive layer;

[0039] 111 - first transparent electrode layer; 112 - electrochromic material layer; 113 - second transparent electrode layer; 114 - electrolyte layer; 115 - ion storage layer;

[0040] 106 - on-off key; 100a - first part; 100b - second part; 120 - processing chip; 130 - second display screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In order to make the purposes, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0042] The terminology used in the following examples is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present application. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include both singular and plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0043] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "the" or "a" or "this" embodiment, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in the" or "in a" or "in this" embodiment in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0044] In some related technologies, for example, folding mobile phones, folding tablets and other folding electronic devices, the outer shell is provided with an outer display screen, which can display some information, such as clock information, weather information, incoming call information, short message information, or notification message, etc. when the folding electronic device is in a folded state. The shape and size of the outer display screen can be designed according to the needs, which generally does not have touch function, or although it has touch function, it is limited to some simple touch operations, such as making a call, viewing information, etc.

[0045] Therefore, the present application provides an outer shell for an electronic device and an electronic device, which can expand the use function of the outer shell of the electronic device, thereby providing more use convenience for the user.

[0046] The electronic device in the embodiments of the present application includes, but is not limited to, a straight mobile phone, a folding mobile phone, a straight tablet, a folding tablet, a straight wearable device, or a folding wearable device, etc.

[0047] The electronic device in the embodiments of the present application can include one or more display screens.

[0048] For example, for an electronic device such as a straight bar mobile phone, or a straight bar tablet computer, it can include a secondary display screen (the secondary display screen is, for example, the first display screen mentioned in some embodiments below) located on the back shell and a main display screen located on the front.

[0049] For example, for an electronic device such as a folding mobile phone, a folding tablet computer, or a folding wearable device, it can include a secondary display screen (the secondary display screen is, for example, the first display screen mentioned below) located on the folding outer side and on one side of the folding axis, and a folding main display screen (the folding main display screen is, for example, the second display screen mentioned in some embodiments below) located on the folding inner side.

[0050] For example, for an electronic device such as a folding mobile phone, a folding tablet computer, or a folding wearable device, it can include a secondary display screen (the secondary display screen is, for example, the first display screen mentioned below) located on the folding outer side and on one side of the folding axis, and a main display screen located on the folding inner side and on one side of the folding axis.

[0051] More product forms of the electronic device of the embodiments of the present application are not listed here.

[0052] The shell in the embodiments of the present application can provide installation, accommodation, support and protection for other structures of the electronic device, and as part of the appearance structure of the electronic device, the shell can be, but is not limited to, a back shell of a straight bar electronic device, or a folding shell of a folding electronic device, etc. The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 1, it is a front view structural schematic diagram of a shell 100 for an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present application, wherein "front view" can be understood as observing from the side of the shell 100 away from its accommodation space. The shell 100 includes a shell body area 10, a first functional area 101 and a second functional area 102, wherein the first functional area 101 is used to arrange a first display screen 11, and the second functional area 102 is provided with a touch keyboard module 21. As shown in the right drawing in the figure, when the touch keyboard module 21 is powered on, that is, the touch keyboard module 21 is in a power-on state 21a, in this case, the touch keyboard module 21 can develop a touch keyboard 210 in the second functional area 102, and turn on the touch function of the touch keyboard 210 (in the right drawing, the style of the touch keyboard 210 is only for illustration, and the actual product is not limited to be designed as this style). As shown in the left drawing in the figure, when the touch keyboard module 21 is powered off, that is, the touch keyboard module 21 is in a power-off state 21b, in this case, the touch keyboard module 21 hides the touch keyboard 210 in the second functional area 102, and turns off the touch function of the touch keyboard 210 (in the left drawing, the dashed box is only for illustrating the second functional area 102, which can not exist in the actual product).

[0054] In the embodiments of the present application, the shell body area 10, the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102, and the third functional area 103 described below can be understood as areas divided by the shell 100 according to different design functions. For example, the shell body area 10 mainly provides mounting, accommodation, support and protection for other structures, and serves as part of the appearance structure of the electronic device; the first functional area 101 is mainly used to realize display function; and the second functional area 102 is mainly used to realize touch display function. The touch keyboard 210 is displayed or hidden in the second functional area 102, which can be understood as being displayed or hidden in the appearance of the second functional area 102.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present application, the first display screen 11 can be integrally manufactured with the shell 100, so that the product structure of the shell 100 includes the first display screen 11. In other embodiments of the present application, the first display screen 11 and the shell 100 can also be manufactured separately, and then assembled together in the assembly process of the electronic device.

[0056] The shell 100 of the embodiments of the present application not only has display function, but also has touch keyboard function. In the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the power-on state 21a (as shown in the right drawing of FIG. 1), the user can input instructions through the touch keyboard 210 displayed in the second functional area 102; in the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the power-off state 21b (as shown in the left drawing of FIG. 1), the touch keyboard 210 can be hidden in the second functional area 102, so that the shell 100 has a relatively simple and coordinated overall appearance.

[0057] Therefore, the shell 100 of the embodiments of the present application applied to the electronic device can provide touch keyboard function, expand the use function of the shell 100, and thus provide more use convenience for the user; on the other hand, the expansion of the use function of the shell 100 has little effect on the overall appearance of the electronic device, and the shell 100 of the electronic device can still have a relatively simple and coordinated overall appearance.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present application, the electronic device can be a non-foldable straight-line electronic device, so that the above-mentioned shell 100 can be a non-foldable straight-line shell 100. The product types of the straight-line electronic device include but are not limited to straight-line mobile phones or straight-line tablet computers, etc. The straight-line shell 100 is located on the back of the straight-line electronic device, so that the above-mentioned first display screen 11 and the touch keyboard module 21 are also correspondingly located on the back of the straight-line electronic device. For the straight-line electronic device, the front side and the back side are opposite, wherein the front side can be understood as the side of the electronic device provided with a main display screen or a main operation panel, or more used by the user.

[0059] In some embodiments of the present application, the electronic device 500 can be a foldable electronic device, so that the above-mentioned housing 100 can be a foldable housing. The product types of these electronic devices 500 include, but are not limited to, foldable mobile phones, foldable tablets, or foldable wearable devices, etc.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2A, it shows a front view structural schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to some embodiments of the present application. The "front view" can be understood as that the electronic device 500 is in a folded state, and is observed from the side of the housing 100 where the first display screen 11 is located. As shown in FIG. 2B, it shows a front view structural schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to some embodiments of the present application. The "front view" can be understood as that the electronic device 500 is in an unfolded state, and is observed from the side of the housing 100 where the first display screen 11 is located. As shown in FIG. 2C, it shows a rear view structural schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to some embodiments of the present application. The "rear view" can be understood as that the electronic device 500 is in an unfolded state, and is observed from the side of the housing 100 where the first display screen 11 is not located.

[0061] In combination with FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, for the foldable electronic device, the housing 100 can include a first part 100a and a second part 100b located on both sides of the folding axis S, and the above-mentioned shell body area 10, the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102 can be located in the first part 100a.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 2A, in some embodiments of the present application, the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102 can be arranged along a direction orthogonal to the folding axis S. The first functional area 101 can be adjacent to the folding axis S, so that the second functional area 102 is located on the side of the first functional area 101 farther away from the folding axis S. In some other embodiments of the present application, the second functional area 102 can be adjacent to the folding axis S, so that the first functional area 101 is located on the side of the second functional area 102 farther away from the folding axis S. In some other embodiments of the present application, the first functional area and the second functional area can also be arranged along a direction parallel to the folding axis.

[0063] The electronic device 500 to which the housing 100 of these embodiments is applied can be, for example, a foldable electronic device that is unfolded by an upward flip operation (as shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C), a foldable electronic device that is unfolded by a downward flip operation, a foldable electronic device that is unfolded by a left flip operation, or a foldable electronic device that is unfolded by a right flip operation. The present application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present application, the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102 can also be arranged along a direction parallel to the folding axis S. Similarly, the electronic device to which the embodiments of the present application are applied can be, for example, a folding electronic device that is unfolded by an upward folding operation, a folding electronic device that is unfolded by a downward folding operation, a folding electronic device that is unfolded by a leftward folding operation, or a folding electronic device that is unfolded by a rightward folding operation. These embodiments are not shown in the drawings, and the present application is not limited in this regard.

[0065] The present application is not limited in the specific shapes of the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102. For example, in some embodiments, the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102 can be rectangular (as shown in FIG. 2A) or rounded rectangular, respectively. For example, in some embodiments, the first functional area can be circular, and the second functional area can be rectangular or rounded rectangular. For example, in some embodiments, the first functional area can be rectangular or rounded rectangular, and the second functional area can be designed in a "convex" shape or a "concave" shape, etc. More embodiments regarding the shapes of the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102 are not listed here.

[0066] The present application is not limited in the area ratio of the first functional area 101 and the second functional area 102. The area of the first functional area 101 can be greater than, less than, or equal to the area of the second functional area 102. In some embodiments, when the first display screen 11 occupies a small area, the area of the second functional area 102 can be designed to be greater than the area of the first functional area 101, so that a larger touch area can be provided, and the keys of the touch keyboard 210 can be designed to be relatively large, which is more convenient for users to perform touch operations.

[0067] The present application is not limited in the specific functions and appearance styles of the touch keyboard 210, and the touch keyboard 210 can be designed according to the product requirements of the electronic device 500, for example, the touch keyboard 210 can be a numerical input keyboard for numerical input, a dialing keyboard for making a call, or an input method keyboard for text input and editing, etc. Each key of the touch keyboard 210 can have one or more instruction input functions, and some keys can also be used in combination to support a certain instruction input function, and the present application is not limited in this regard.

[0068] In some embodiments of the present application, the touch keyboard 210 can be an input method keyboard. As shown in the right part of FIG. 1, when the touch keyboard module 21 is in the power-on state 21a, the appearance of the second functional area 102 displays an input method keyboard, and the input method keyboard supports touch operation. Thus, the processing chip 120 (refer to FIG. 2A, the specific arrangement position is not limited) of the electronic device 500 can obtain the keystroke message of the input method keyboard, and send the input instruction matched with the keystroke message to the first display screen 11, so that the first display screen 11 performs display response based on the input instruction, for example, displays the inputted text content, deletes text, inserts text, or copies and pastes text, and the like.

[0069] The principle of the input method is to convert the pinyin, strokes or other input methods input by the user into corresponding Chinese characters or characters. The running process of the input method includes input, conversion and output. There are many conversion algorithms for the input method, such as matching algorithm based on word library, statistical language model algorithm, neural network-based deep learning algorithm, and the like. There are many output methods for the input method, such as direct output, candidate box output, association output, and the like. In the embodiments of the present application, the input of the input method can be realized by the touch keyboard 210, the conversion of the input method can be realized by the processing chip 120, and the output of the input method can be realized by the first display screen 11. The specific implementation of the input method is not limited in the embodiments of the present application, which can include but is not limited to pinyin input method or five-stroke input method, and correspondingly, the touch keyboard 210 can include but is not limited to pinyin input keyboard or five-stroke input keyboard.

[0070] Based on the embodiment design, the shell 100 of the electronic device 500 not only has display function, but also has text input and editing function. The user can conveniently input and edit text through the input method keyboard displayed in the second functional area 102.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present application, when the touch keyboard module 21 is powered off, that is, when the touch keyboard module 21 is in the power-off state 21b, as shown in the left part of FIG. 1, the second functional area 102 and the shell body area 10 are integrated as a whole.

[0072] The "second functional area 102 is integrated with the appearance of the shell body area 10" can be understood as the second functional area 102 is consistent with or more coordinated with the appearance of the shell body area 10, so that the boundary between the two is not easily recognizable in vision. For example, in some embodiments, in the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-off state 21b, the appearance of the second functional area 102 and the shell body area 10 can present some same visual features; for example, present the same color features. For example, in some embodiments, in the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-off state 21b, the appearance of the second functional area 102 and the shell body area 10 can present a no-boundary gradual change visual feature, for example, can present a no-boundary gradual change color. More design schemes are not listed here.

[0073] The embodiment design can reduce or even eliminate the influence of the touch keyboard module 21 in the powered-off state 21b on the overall appearance of the shell 100, so that the appearance of the shell 100 is more simple and coordinated, so that the appearance design style of the shell 100 can be more flexible.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present application, the shell 100 has a laminated structure and can be made by a laminating process, and the touch keyboard module 21 is formed in the laminating process of the shell 100, so that not only the manufacturing process can be simplified, but also the thin design of the shell 100 is facilitated. In some other embodiments of the present application, the touch keyboard module 21 can also be separately manufactured and then assembled in the second functional area 102 by, for example, bonding or other fixing methods.

[0075] In the embodiments of the present application, the touch keyboard module 21 can realize the visualization of the touch keyboard 210 on the appearance of the second functional area 102 through various design schemes.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 3, it illustrates a cross-sectional structure schematic diagram of the shell 100 at A-A in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present application. In this embodiment, the shell 100 can have a laminated structure and be made by a laminating process, and the shell 100 can include an inner support layer 104, an electrochromic display layer 211, a transparent touch layer 212 and an appearance layer 105 which are sequentially laminated from inside to outside, wherein the electrochromic display layer 211 and the transparent touch layer 212 are the main structures constituting the touch keyboard module 21.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present application, the inner support layer 104 can be used to provide support and process manufacturing basis for other structures of the housing 100. The appearance layer 105 is used to strengthen the structural strength of the housing 100 and to provide protection for the internal structure, which can be a colorless transparent appearance layer, or can have a certain color and / or pattern, in addition, the material of the appearance layer 105 should support the realization of touch function. In the case of the appearance layer 105 being a colorless transparent appearance layer, the touch keyboard module 21 and the inner support layer 104 are the main factors affecting the appearance of the housing 100. The material type of the appearance layer 105 and the inner support layer 104 is not limited, for example, the main material of the appearance layer 105 can be glass, plastic or resin, etc., and the main material of the inner support layer 104 can be alloy, plastic or resin, etc. As shown in FIG. 3, since the electrochromic display layer 211 and the transparent touch layer 212 have a certain thickness, in order to keep the spacing between the appearance layer 105 and the inner support layer 104 consistent, a glue layer 107 can be arranged between the appearance layer 105 and the inner support layer 104, which can also have the effect of structural strengthening.

[0078] Electrochromism (EC) is a phenomenon that the optical properties (such as reflectivity, transmittance and absorption) of a material change stably and reversibly under the action of an external electric field. Electrochromism is manifested in appearance as a reversible change in color and / or transparency of an electrochromic material. The basic principle is that the electrochromic material undergoes a redox reaction under the action of an electric field, thereby changing the optical properties of the material, and thus realizing the change in color and / or transparency of the material.

[0079] In the embodiments of the present application, the electrochromic display layer 211 can be used to realize the display and appearance hiding of the touch keyboard 210. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, which illustrates a layer structure exploded view of the shell 100 in the second functional area 102 according to some embodiments of the present application. In these embodiments, the electrochromic display layer 211 includes a first transparent electrode layer 111, an electrochromic material layer 112 and a second transparent electrode layer 113 which are sequentially arranged. The electrochromic material layer 112 has a pattern consistent with the touch keyboard 210. The first transparent electrode layer 111, the electrochromic material layer 112 and the second transparent electrode layer 113 can be sequentially arranged in a direction away from the inner support layer 104, or can be sequentially arranged in a direction close to the inner support layer 104. In combination with FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, when the touch keyboard module 21 is powered off, i.e. in the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-off state 21b, the electrochromic material layer 112 can present a first visual feature; when the touch keyboard module 21 is powered on, i.e. in the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-on state 21a, an electric field is formed between the first transparent electrode layer 111 and the second transparent electrode layer 113, so that the electrochromic material layer 112 generates an electrochromic phenomenon, thereby presenting a second visual feature, wherein the second visual feature is different from the first visual feature in color and / or transparency.

[0080] The material type of the first transparent electrode layer 111 and the second transparent electrode layer 113 is not limited, and can include at least one of indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, or nano-silver, for example. The specific material type of the electrochromic material layer 112 is not limited, and can be an inorganic electrochromic material such as tungsten trioxide, or an organic electrochromic material such as polythiophene and its derivatives, viologen, tetrathiafulvalene, metal phthalocyanine compounds, etc. When the electrochromic material layer 112 uses different electrochromic materials, the color and / or transparency presented under the action of an electric field can be different.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 5, which illustrates a layer structure exploded view of the housing 100 in the second functional area 102 according to some embodiments of the present application, in these embodiments, the electrochromic display layer 211 can also be designed to include a first transparent electrode layer 111, an electrochromic material layer 112, an electrolyte layer 114, an ion storage layer 115, and a second transparent electrode layer 113, which are sequentially stacked. The electrochromic material layer 112 has a pattern consistent with the touch keyboard 210. The first transparent electrode layer 111, the electrochromic material layer 112, the electrolyte layer 114, the ion storage layer 115, and the second transparent electrode layer 113 can be sequentially arranged in a direction away from the inner support layer 104, or sequentially arranged in a direction close to the inner support layer 104. In combination with FIGS. 1 and 5, similarly, in the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-off state 21b, the electrochromic material layer 112 exhibits a first visual feature; in the case that the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-on state 21a, an electric field is formed between the first transparent electrode layer 111 and the second transparent electrode layer 113, causing the electrochromic material layer 112 to exhibit an electrochromic phenomenon, thereby exhibiting a second visual feature, wherein the second visual feature is different in color and / or transparency from the first visual feature.

[0082] The material types of the first transparent electrode layer 111, the second transparent electrode layer 113, and the electrochromic material layer 112 are not limited and can be selected by referring to the foregoing embodiments. The electrolyte layer 114 allows light to pass through while providing color-changing ions and blocking electrons, and the material of the electrolyte layer 114 can include but is not limited to lithium perchlorate, or sodium perchlorate, etc. The ion storage layer 115 plays a role in storing corresponding counter ions when the electrochromic material layer 112 undergoes a redox reaction, maintaining the overall charge balance. In some embodiments, the ion storage layer 115 can include an electrochromic material opposite to the color-changing performance of the electrochromic material layer 112, so that the ion storage layer 115 can play a role of color superposition or complementation with the electrochromic material layer 112. For example, the electrochromic material layer 112 can include an anodic oxidation color-changing material, and the ion storage layer 115 can include a cathodic reduction color-changing material.

[0083] Since the electrochromic material has a bistable performance, the electrochromic display layer 211 consumes almost no power after displaying the pattern of the touch keyboard 210, and has good energy saving performance, so that the power consumption of the touch keyboard module 21 is also small. In addition, compared with some other display technologies, the electrochromic display layer 211 also has technical advantages of no visual blind angle, high contrast, higher reliability, more lightweight, lower cost, etc.

[0084] In some embodiments of the present application, the appearance layer 105 of the shell 100 is a colorless transparent appearance layer, and the first visual feature presented by the electrochromic material layer 112 is colorless transparency when the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-off state 21b, so that the appearance of the touch keyboard module 21 is also colorless transparent, and can be hidden in the second functional area 102, i.e., hidden in the appearance of the second functional area 102. At this time, the visual feature of the inner support layer 104 becomes the main factor affecting the appearance of the shell 100, and the overall appearance of the shell 100 is relatively simple and coordinated, and the design can be more flexible.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present application, the appearance layer 105 of the shell 100 is a colorless transparent appearance layer, and the inner support layer 104 includes a base layer (not shown in the figure) and an ink layer 1042 located on the side of the base layer facing the appearance layer 105, and the first visual feature can be consistent with the visual feature of the ink layer 1042. The ink layer 1042 has a color, can present a certain transparency, and can also have a pattern. As shown in FIG. 6, which is a front view structural schematic diagram of the shell 100 based on the design concept in some embodiments of the present application, the left drawing schematically shows the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-off state, and the right drawing schematically shows the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-on state.

[0086] In the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-off state 21b, the first visual feature presented by the electrochromic material layer 112 can be consistent with the visual feature of the ink layer 1042, for example, both present the same color and transparency, so that, as shown in the left drawing of FIG. 6, the appearance of the touch keyboard 210 can be hidden in the second functional area 102, i.e., hidden in the appearance of the second functional area 102, and the overall appearance of the shell 100 is relatively simple and coordinated. In the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-on state 21a, the electrochromic material layer 112 produces an electrochromic phenomenon, thereby presenting a second visual feature different from the first visual feature, so that, as shown in the right drawing of FIG. 6, the touch keyboard 210 can be presented in the second functional area 102. In the embodiments of the present application, the ink layer 1042 can be formed on the side surface of the base layer facing the appearance layer 105 by various printing methods, including but not limited to inkjet printing or ultraviolet (UV) offset printing, etc.

[0087] In this embodiment, the material and appearance pattern of the ink layer 1042 can be designed based on the first visual feature and the second visual feature of the electrochromic material layer 112, so that, on the one hand, the material selection range of the electrochromic material layer 112 is wider, and the appearance design of the shell 100 is more flexible and diverse, and on the other hand, through reasonable material selection and design, the second visual feature of the electrochromic material layer 112 can be more prominent compared to the background (i.e., the ink layer 1042), so that the touch keyboard 210 can be more clearly displayed on the second functional area 102.

[0088] In the embodiments of the present application, the transparent touch layer 212 is used to detect the key position of the finger on the touch keyboard 210. The transparent touch layer 212 can be designed as a capacitive touch structure, a resistive touch structure, or an infrared touch structure, etc. In some embodiments of the present application, the transparent touch layer 212 is designed as a capacitive touch structure, which can include a plurality of first direction electrode lines and a plurality of second direction electrode lines made on a transparent base layer, the plurality of first direction electrode lines intersect with the plurality of second direction electrode lines and are insulated from each other at the intersection, thereby forming mutual inductance capacitance when powered on. The touch keyboard module 21 is in the powered-on state 21a, and since the finger touching the touch keyboard 210 will affect the change of the mutual inductance capacitance at the corresponding position, the processing chip 120 of the electronic device 500 can know the position of the finger touch point based on the change of the mutual inductance capacitance, thereby determining the specific key touched by the finger.

[0089] In some embodiments of the present application, the touch keyboard module 21 can also realize the display of the touch keyboard 210 on the appearance of the second functional area 102 through other design schemes. For example, in some embodiments of the present application, the touch keyboard module can include an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) transparent display layer and a transparent touch layer. The OLED transparent display layer can include a plurality of OLED lamps made on a transparent base layer, the plurality of OLED lamps are arranged in a pattern consistent with the touch keyboard 210, when the plurality of OLED lamps are lit, the OLED transparent display layer is displayed to present the pattern of the touch keyboard 210; when the plurality of OLED lamps are turned off, the OLED transparent display layer is in a transparent state as a whole.

[0090] In some embodiments of the present application, the power-on and power-off of the touch keyboard module 21 can be triggered by operating a physical key. As shown in FIG. 1, a key 106 can be designed on the shell body area 10, and the key 106 is used to trigger the power-on and power-off of the circuit in which the touch keyboard module 21 is located, so as to trigger the switching of the touch keyboard module 21 between the power-on state 21a and the power-off state 21b. The key 106 can be arranged at a position on the shell body area 10 which is convenient for operation, and the specific arrangement position is not limited. The key 106 is designed to facilitate the user to switch the touch keyboard module between the power-on and power-off.

[0091] In some embodiments of the present application, the power-on and power-off of the touch keyboard module 21 can be triggered by operating a virtual key. For example, the first display screen 11 can be a touch display screen which supports touch operation, and the virtual key can be a key displayed on the first display screen 11, or a key which can be automatically popped up on the first display screen 11 in some application scenarios.

[0092] In some embodiments of the present application, the power-on and power-off of the touch keyboard module 21 can be triggered by software. For example, a key 106 related to the touch keyboard module 21 can be designed in the system setting interface of the electronic device, and the user can select to turn on or turn off the touch keyboard module 21 according to the use demand; for example, the touch keyboard module 21 can be automatically switched to the power-on state 21a in some application scenarios by designing an application program. More embodiments are not listed here.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2C, in some embodiments of the present application, for the folding electronic device, the first part 100a of the shell 100 can further include at least one third functional area 103, and the third functional area 103 is used to arrange a functional module 31. The functional module 31 can include at least one of a camera, a flash, a sensor, a speaker, or a microphone, etc.

[0094] In some embodiments of the present application, the functional module 31 can be integrated with the shell 100, so that the product structure of the shell 100 includes the functional module 31. In some other embodiments of the present application, the functional module 31 and the shell 100 can be manufactured separately, and then assembled together in the assembly process of the electronic device.

[0095] The embodiment can further expand the use function of the shell 100 of the electronic device 500. As shown in FIG. 2A, as an example, the first part 100a can include a plurality of third functional areas 103, where each third functional area 103 is used to set up one camera. In some embodiments, the first part can also include one third functional area 103, which is used to set up a functional module integrated with multiple cameras, flashlights, light sensors, and the like. More design schemes of the third functional area 103 will not be exemplified one by one here.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 2A, in some embodiments of the present application, when the first part 100a includes a plurality of third functional areas 103, the plurality of third functional areas 103 can be arranged along a direction orthogonal to the folding axis S (as shown in the embodiment in the figure) or parallel. The arrangement layout of each functional area on the first part 100a can be reasonably arranged according to the use demand, shape, area, and the like of the functional area, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0097] In some embodiments of the present application, for a straight shell applied to a straight electronic device, it can also include at least one third functional area, which is used to set up a functional module, for example, can include at least one of a camera, a flashlight, a sensor, a loudspeaker, or a microphone, and the like.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, according to some embodiments of the present application, an electronic device 500 is also provided, which includes the shell 100 of any one of the above embodiments, and a first display screen 11 arranged at the first functional area 101 of the shell 100.

[0099] The product types of the electronic device 500 include but are not limited to a straight mobile phone, a folding mobile phone, a straight tablet computer, a folding tablet computer, a straight wearable device, or a folding wearable device, and the like. According to the product type of the electronic device 500, the electronic device 500 can include one display screen (such as the first display screen 11), or can include a plurality of display screens (one of which is the first display screen 11). It can be understood that according to the product type of the electronic device 500, the electronic device 500 can include other device elements in addition to the above shell 100 and first display screen 11, such as a processing chip 120, a battery system, a camera, a flashlight, a sensor, a loudspeaker, or a microphone, and the like, which is not specifically limited in the present application.

[0100] In some embodiments of the present application, the first display screen 11 can be integrally made with the shell 100. In some other embodiments of the present application, the first display screen 11 and the shell 100 can also be made separately, and then assembled together in the assembly process of the electronic device 500.

[0101] The shell 100 of the electronic device 500 of the embodiment of the present application not only has a display function, but also has a touch keyboard function. The principle of implementing the touch keyboard function can refer to the description of the foregoing embodiment, which will not be repeated here. When the touch keyboard module 21 is powered on, that is, in the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is in the power-on state 21a, the user can input instructions through the touch keyboard 210 displayed in the second function area 102. When the touch keyboard module 21 is powered off, that is, in the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is in the power-off state 21b, the touch keyboard 210 can be hidden in the second function area 102. Thus, the shell 100 has a relatively simple and coordinated overall appearance, and the appearance of the electronic device 500 is also relatively simple and coordinated. Therefore, the electronic device 500 of the embodiment of the present application can balance the functional expansion of the shell 100 and the coordination of the overall appearance.

[0102] In some embodiments of the present application, the switching of the touch keyboard module 21 between the power-on state 21a and the power-off state 21b can be triggered by at least one of a physical key, a virtual key, or software. The user can select to turn on or turn off the touch keyboard module 21 according to the use demand. These embodiments can refer to the related foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0103] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 2A, the electronic device 500 further includes a processing chip 120 electrically connected with the first display screen 11 and the touch keyboard module 21. The processing chip 120 is configured to: when the touch keyboard module 21 is powered on, that is, in the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is powered on, acquire the keystroke message of the touch keyboard 210; and send the input instruction matched with the keystroke message to the first display screen 11, so that the first display screen 11 performs a display response based on the input instruction. In this way, the instruction input by the user through the touch keyboard 210 can be displayed and responded in real time on the first display screen 11. In some embodiments, the touch keyboard 210 can be an input method keyboard. In the case where the touch keyboard module 21 is in the power-on state 21a, the user can conveniently input text (such as numbers, letters, characters, etc.) and edit (such as line change, deletion, insertion, copy, paste, etc.) through the input method keyboard. The input and edited content can be displayed in the first display screen 11.

[0104] As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, in some embodiments, the electronic device 500 is a foldable electronic device, and the housing 100 is a foldable housing, which includes a first portion 100a and a second portion 100b located on two sides of a folding axis S of the housing 100, wherein the shell body region 10, the first functional region 101 and the second functional region 102 are located on the first portion 100a. The foldable electronic device further includes a foldable second display screen 130, which is connected to the inner side of the fold of the first portion 100a and the second portion 100b and is arranged opposite to the first display screen 11, i.e., the second display screen 130 is arranged opposite to the display surface of the first display screen 11. The "inner side of the fold" can be understood as the side on which the first portion 100a and the second portion 100b are close to each other when folded.

[0105] The product types of the foldable electronic device include, but are not limited to, foldable mobile phones, foldable tablets, or foldable wearable devices, etc. In the folded state, the first display screen 11 (i.e., the outer display screen) of the electronic device 500 can display some information, such as clock information, weather information, incoming call information, short message information, or notification messages, etc. If the user needs to use the second display screen 130, for example, for audio-visual entertainment or reading, etc., the electronic device 500 can be unfolded to obtain a better screen use experience. If the user does not need or does not want to use the second display screen 130 with a larger size, he or she can use the touch keyboard module 21 in the power-on state 21a to input instructions in the folded state of the electronic device 500, for example, to input and edit text, which is very convenient and has better portability.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 2A, in some embodiments, the first portion 100a of the housing 100 further includes at least one third functional region 103, and the electronic device 500 further includes at least one functional module 31 corresponding to the at least one third functional region 103, wherein each functional module 31 can include at least one of a camera, a flash, a sensor, a speaker, or a microphone, etc.

[0107] In this embodiment, the functional module 31 is arranged on the first portion 100a of the housing 100, so that the use function of the housing 100 can be further expanded, and more use convenience can be provided for the user to use the electronic device 500. For example, the user can use the display function of the first display screen 11, the input function of the touch keyboard module 21, the photographing function of the camera, and the calling function, etc. without unfolding the electronic device 500.

[0108] The above merely provides the specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of the changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A housing for an electronic device, characterized in that: The housing comprises: Shell body region; A first functional area is used to set a first display screen; and The second functional area is provided with a touch keyboard module. When the touch keyboard module is powered on, the touch keyboard module displays the touch keyboard in the second functional area and turns on the touch function of the touch keyboard. When the touch keyboard module is powered off, the touch keyboard module hides the touch keyboard in the second functional area and turns off the touch function of the touch keyboard.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein When the touch keyboard module is powered off, the second functional area and the shell body area are integrated into one.

3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein The touch keyboard module includes an electrochromic display layer and a transparent touch layer; The housing includes an inner supporting layer and an outer appearance layer, wherein the inner supporting layer, the electrochromic display layer, the transparent touch layer and the outer appearance layer are stacked in sequence.

4. The housing according to claim 3, wherein: The electrochromic display layer includes a first transparent electrode layer, an electrochromic material layer, and a second transparent electrode layer stacked in sequence, or the electrochromic display layer includes a first transparent electrode layer, an electrochromic material layer, an electrolyte layer, an ion storage layer, and a second transparent electrode layer stacked in sequence, wherein the electrochromic material layer has a pattern consistent with the touch keyboard; When the touch keyboard module is powered off, the electrochromic material layer presents a first visual characteristic; When the touch keyboard module is powered on, an electric field is formed between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer, and the electrochromic material layer presents a second visual feature, wherein the second visual feature is different from the first visual feature in color and / or transparency.

5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein: The appearance layer is a colorless and transparent appearance layer, and the first visual feature is colorless and transparent.

6. The housing according to claim 4, wherein: The appearance layer is a colorless and transparent appearance layer; The inner support layer includes a base layer and an ink layer which are stacked together, wherein the ink layer is located on a side of the base layer facing the appearance layer, and the first visual feature is consistent with a visual feature of the ink layer.

7. The housing according to claim 1, wherein The touch keyboard includes an input method keyboard.

8. The housing according to claim 1, wherein The shell body area is provided with an on / off key, and the on / off key is used to trigger the touch keyboard module to switch between power on and power off.

9. The housing according to claim 1, wherein The housing further includes at least one third functional area, each of the at least one third functional area is used to set a functional module, and the functional module includes at least one of a camera, a flash, a sensor, a speaker, or a microphone.

10. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The electronic device is a bar-type electronic device, and the housing is a bar-type housing; or The electronic device is a foldable electronic device, the housing is a foldable housing, and the housing includes a first part and a second part located on both sides of its folding axis, wherein the housing body area, the first functional area and the second functional area are located in the first part.

11. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The electronic device is a foldable electronic device, the housing is a foldable housing, and the housing includes a first part and a second part located on both sides of a folding axis thereof, wherein: The shell body area, the first functional area and the second functional area are located in the first part, and the first functional area and the second functional area are arranged along a direction orthogonal to the folding axis, or the first functional area and the second functional area are arranged along a direction parallel to the folding axis.

12. An electronic device, characterized in that: include: The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 11; as well as A first display screen is provided in the first functional area.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein: Also includes: A processing chip is electrically connected to the first display screen and the touch keyboard module, and the processing chip is configured as follows: When the touch keyboard module is powered on, obtaining keystroke messages of the touch keyboard; as well as The input instruction matched by the keystroke message is sent to the first display screen, so that the first display screen performs a display response based on the input instruction.

14. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein: The touch keyboard module switches between power on and power off by triggering at least one of a physical key, a virtual key, or software.

15. The electronic device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that: The electronic device is a foldable electronic device, and the housing is a foldable housing, the housing comprising a first portion and a second portion located on both sides of a folding axis thereof, wherein the housing body area, the first functional area, and the second functional area are located in the first portion; The electronic device further includes a second display screen, which is a foldable display screen connected to the folded inner sides of the first part and the second part and arranged opposite to the first display screen.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that The first portion further includes at least one third functional area; The electronic device further includes at least one functional module arranged in a one-to-one correspondence in the at least one third functional area, and each of the at least one functional module includes at least one of a camera, a flash, a sensor, a speaker, or a microphone.

17. The electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that The electronic device includes a foldable mobile phone, a foldable tablet computer, or a foldable wearable device.

Images