Electronic device comprising stretchable flexible printed circuit board

Abstract

An electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, may comprise: a first housing; a second housing configured to be coupled to the first housing by means of a hinge assembly so as to rotate between a folded state and an unfolded state; a flexible display disposed from one surface of the first housing to one surface of the second housing across an area in which the hinge assembly is disposed; a first wing plate rotatably coupled to the first housing; a second wing plate rotatably coupled to the second housing; and a flexible printed circuit board extending from the first housing and disposed inside the second housing. In one embodiment, in the folded state, the edge of the first wing plate makes contact with a first point on the flexible printed circuit board, and the edge of the second wing plate makes contact with a second point on the flexible printed circuit board, and thus, in response to tension applied by the first wing plate and the second wing plate, the length of one portion ('stretchable portion' hereafter) of the flexible printed circuit board between the first point and the second point may be configured to be extended. Other various embodiments are possible.

Description

Electronic device including a stretchable flexible printed circuit board

[0001] The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electronic devices, for example, electronic devices comprising a flexible printed circuit board.

[0002] The term "electronic device" may refer to devices that perform specific functions according to an installed program, ranging from home appliances to electronic notebooks, portable multimedia players, mobile communication terminals, tablet PCs, video / audio devices, desktop / laptop computers, or in-vehicle navigation systems. For example, these electronic devices can output stored information as sound or video. As the integration density of electronic devices increases and ultra-high-speed, high-capacity wireless communication becomes commonplace, various functions can be integrated into a single electronic device, such as a mobile communication terminal. For example, not only communication functions but also entertainment functions such as games, multimedia functions such as music / video playback, communication and security functions for mobile banking, or functions such as schedule management and electronic wallets are being integrated into a single electronic device.

[0003] With the widespread use of personal or portable communication devices such as smartphones, user demand for portability and ease of use is increasing. For example, a touchscreen display is an output device that outputs visual information, such as a screen, and can also provide a virtual keypad that replaces mechanical input devices (e.g., button-type input devices). As a result, portable communication devices or electronic devices can be miniaturized while providing the same or even better usability (e.g., a larger screen). On the other hand, with the commercialization of flexible displays, such as foldable or rollable displays, the portability and ease of use of electronic devices are expected to be further enhanced. Electronic devices including flexible displays can improve portability and ease of use by allowing multiple different structures (e.g., housings) to be carried in a folded or rolled state, and by providing a large screen when unfolded.

[0004] The information described above may be provided as related art for the purpose of aiding understanding of the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the foregoing may be applied as prior art in relation to the present disclosure.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include: a first housing; a second housing coupled to the first housing by a hinge assembly and configured to rotate between a folded state facing the first housing and an unfolded state unfolded by a specified angle from the first housing; a flexible display configured to output a screen and positioned from one surface of the first housing across an area where the hinge assembly is positioned to one surface of the second housing; a first wing plate rotatably coupled to the first housing and configured to be positioned obliquely with respect to one surface of the first housing in the folded state and positioned parallel to one surface of the first housing in the unfolded state; a second wing plate rotatably coupled to the second housing and configured to be positioned obliquely with respect to one surface of the second housing in the folded state and positioned parallel to one surface of the second housing in the unfolded state; and a flexible printed circuit board extending from the first housing and positioned inside the second housing. In one embodiment, in the folded state, the edge of the first wing plate contacts a first point of the flexible printed circuit board and the edge of the second wing plate contacts a second point of the flexible printed circuit board, so that the length of a portion of the flexible printed circuit board between the first point and the second point is extended in response to the tension applied by the first wing plate and the second wing plate.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include: a first housing; a second housing coupled to the first housing and configured to rotate between a folded state facing the first housing and an unfolded state unfolded by a specified angle from the first housing; a flexible display disposed from one surface of the first housing to one surface of the second housing and configured to output a screen; a first wing plate rotatably coupled to the first housing and configured to be positioned at an angle with respect to one surface of the first housing in the folded state and to support a part of the flexible display in the unfolded state; a second wing plate rotatably coupled to the second housing and configured to be positioned at an angle with respect to one surface of the second housing in the folded state and to support another part of the flexible display in the unfolded state; and a flexible printed circuit board extending from the first housing and disposed inside the second housing. In one embodiment, in the folded state, the edge of the first wing plate may contact a first point of the flexible printed circuit board and the edge of the second wing plate may contact a second point of the flexible printed circuit board. In one embodiment, a portion of the flexible printed circuit board between the first point and the second point may have a Shore hardness of 20A or more and 98A or less.

[0007] The aspects, configurations, and / or advantages described above regarding one embodiment of the present disclosure may become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic device in a network environment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an unfolded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the folded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a flexible printed circuit board of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a flexible printed circuit board cut along line A-A' of FIG. 7.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the arrangement of a flexible printed circuit board of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing an enlarged view of the 'E1' portion of FIG. 9, showing a part of a flexible printed circuit board placed or fixed in a first housing.

[0018] FIG. 11 is a drawing for explaining the folded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 12 is a drawing for explaining the tension applied to a flexible printed circuit board in a folded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 13 is a drawing for explaining the unfolded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating the appearance of a flexible printed circuit board in an unfolded state according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in which no external force is applied.

[0022] FIG. 15 is a drawing showing a first wing plate (or a second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 16 is a drawing showing the implementation of a protective member by enlarging the 'E2' portion of FIG. 15.

[0024] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the first wing plate (or second wing plate) cut along line B-B' of FIG. 15.

[0025] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or a second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or a second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or a second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or a second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 22 is a drawing showing a protective member implemented in a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 23 is a drawing showing the protective member of FIG. 22 viewed from the side.

[0031] FIG. 24 is a drawing showing a protective member implemented on a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 25 is a drawing showing the protective member of FIG. 24 viewed from the side.

[0033] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in an unfolded state.

[0034] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in an unfolded state.

[0035] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an electronic device in a folded state according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 29 is a side view of the electronic device of FIG. 28 viewed from one direction (e.g., -Y direction) toward the other direction (e.g., +Y direction).

[0037] FIG. 30 is a disassembled drawing of a part of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Throughout the attached drawings, similar parts, configurations, and / or structures may be assigned similar reference numbers.

[0039] Among electronic devices including flexible displays, an electronic device capable of deforming between a state where two different parts of the housing are folded facing each other and a state where they are unfolded side by side on one side of each other has been commercialized. In a housing with a deformable structure, or a structure in which two different parts move relative to each other, a flexible printed circuit board can be useful for providing electrical wiring. For example, the flexible printed circuit board can be easily placed bypassing other components or structures in a confined space within the housing and can be deformed to respond to changes in placement space resulting from the deformation (or partial relative movement) of the housing.

[0040] When the structure is such that the size of the placement space changes according to the deformation or movement of the housing, a flexible printed circuit board can be manufactured with a length corresponding to the expanded state of the placement space within the housing. In this case, when the placement space is reduced due to the deformation of the housing, the flexible printed circuit board can maintain a state of being accommodated within the reduced space while deforming into a curved shape. For example, when two different parts of the housing are folded facing each other, the flexible printed circuit board can be provided with a sufficient length to bypass the internal structure of an electronic device (e.g., a flexible display), and when two different parts of the housing are unfolded side by side on one side of each other, the placement space is reduced and the flexible printed circuit board can be deformed into a curved shape.

[0041] However, in a structure where the flexible printed circuit board is deformed into a shape with excessively large curvature, the electrical wiring (e.g., conductive patterns) of the flexible printed circuit board may be severed due to repeated deformation. Even if the curvature of the flexible printed circuit board is maintained within a specified size, it is difficult to predict the distribution or direction of action of the elastic force accumulated when deformed into a curved shape, making it practically impossible to exclude interference between the flexible printed circuit board and other surrounding structures. For example, when the placement space within the housing is reduced, interference with other structures may cause damage to the flexible printed circuit board. Damage to the flexible printed circuit board may be exacerbated by repeated deformation of the housing.

[0042] One embodiment of the present disclosure may provide an electronic device comprising a flexible printed circuit board that is stretchable in response to an external force, in order to at least resolve the disadvantages described above and at least provide the advantages described below.

[0043] One embodiment of the present disclosure may provide an electronic device comprising a flexible printed circuit board whose length can be adjusted according to deformation of the housing.

[0044] One embodiment of the present disclosure may provide an electronic device comprising a flexible printed circuit board that implements a placement structure in which interference with other structures is suppressed even when the placement space is reduced.

[0045] The technical problems to be solved in this document are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs from the description below.

[0046] The following description relating to the attached drawings may provide an understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, including the claims and their corresponding contents. While the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the following description include various specific details to aid understanding, they are to be considered as one of various exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications to the various embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the scope and technical spirit of the disclosure. Additionally, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known functions and configurations may be omitted.

[0047] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to their literal meanings but may be used to clearly and consistently describe an embodiment of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustrative purposes, not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the rights or the disclosure defined as equivalent thereto.

[0048] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, it should be understood that the singular forms of "a," "an," and "the" include a plural meaning. Thus, for example, "component surface" can be understood to include one or more of the component surfaces.

[0049] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) in a network environment (100) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (102) through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network) or may communicate with at least one of an electronic device (104) or a server (108) through a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) through a server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), memory (130), input module (150), sound output module (155), display module (160), audio module (170), sensor module (176), interface (177), connection terminal (178), haptic module (179), camera module (180), power management module (188), battery (189), communication module (190), subscriber identification module (196), or antenna module (197). In one embodiment, at least one of these components (e.g., connection terminal (178)) may be omitted from the electronic device (101), or one or more other components may be added. In one embodiment, some of these components (e.g., sensor module (176), camera module (180), or antenna module (197)) may be integrated into a single component (e.g., display module (160)).

[0050] The processor (120) can control at least one other component (e.g., hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) by executing software (e.g., program (140)), for example, and can perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) can store commands or data received from other components (e.g., sensor module (176) or communication module (190)) in volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in volatile memory (132), and store the resulting data in non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., central processing unit or application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) that can operate independently or together with it (e.g., graphics processing unit, neural processing unit (NPU), image signal processor, sensor hub processor, or communication processor). For example, if the electronic device (101) includes a main processor (121) and an auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a designated function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as part thereof.

[0051] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least some of the functions or states associated with at least one component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., display module (160), sensor module (176), or communication module (190)) on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., image signal processor or communication processor) may be implemented as part of another functionally related component (e.g., camera module (180) or communication module (190)). According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing an artificial intelligence model. The artificial intelligence model may be generated through machine learning. Such learning may be performed, for example, on the electronic device (101) itself where the artificial intelligence model is executed, or through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm may include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers.An artificial neural network may be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to the hardware structure, the artificial intelligence model may include a software structure, either additionally or substantially.

[0052] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)). The data may include, for example, input data or output data for software (e.g., program (140)) and related commands. The memory (130) may include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0053] The program (140) may be stored as software in memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0054] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used for a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., processor (120)) from outside the electronic device (101) (e.g., user). The input module (150) may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0055] The sound output module (155) can output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device (101). The sound output module (155) may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver may be used to receive incoming calls. According to one embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speaker or as part thereof.

[0056] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external (e.g., user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling said device. According to one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of the force generated by said touch.

[0057] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal or, conversely, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150) or output sound through the sound output module (155) or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphones) that is directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0058] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating state of the electronic device (101) (e.g., power or temperature) or the external environmental state (e.g., user state) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biosensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0059] The interface (177) may support one or more specified protocols that can be used for the electronic device (101) to be connected directly or wirelessly to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0060] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) can be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0061] The haptic module (179) can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration or movement) or an electrical stimulus that can be perceived by the user through tactile or kinesthetic senses. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulation device.

[0062] The camera module (180) can capture still images and video. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0063] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented, for example, as at least part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0064] The battery (189) can supply power to at least one component of the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0065] The communication module (190) can support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between an electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may include one or more communication processors that operate independently of the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., cellular communication module, short-range wireless communication module, or GNSS (global navigation satellite system) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., LAN (local area network) communication module, or power line communication module). The corresponding communication module among these communication modules can communicate with an external electronic device through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, WiFi (wireless fidelity) direct, or IrDA (infrared data association)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can identify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) using subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0066] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following 4G networks, for example, new radio access technology. NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (massive machine type communications (mMTC)), or high reliability and low latency (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC)). The wireless communication module (192) can support a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate, for example. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in the high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output), full-dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large-scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified by the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., a second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) may support a Peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or U-plane latency (e.g., downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) each 0.5 ms or less, or round trip 1 ms or less) for URLLC realization.

[0067] An antenna module (197) can transmit a signal or power to or from an external source (e.g., an external electronic device). According to one embodiment, the antenna module may include an antenna comprising a radiator made of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as a first network (198) or a second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by a communication module (190). The signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device through the selected at least one antenna. According to one embodiment, in addition to the radiator, other components (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module (197).

[0068] According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. According to one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent to a first surface (e.g., bottom surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a specified high frequency band (e.g., mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas) disposed on or adjacent to a second surface (e.g., top surface or side surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving a signal of the specified high frequency band.

[0069] At least some of the above components can be connected to each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)) and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other.

[0070] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) through a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102 or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations performed on the electronic device (101) may be performed on one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104 or 108). For example, if the electronic device (101) needs to perform a function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may request one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or service instead of performing the function or service itself or additionally. One or more external electronic devices that receive the above request may execute at least part of the requested function or service, or additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may provide the result as is or additionally processed as at least part of the response to the request. For this purpose, for example, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used. The electronic device (101) may provide ultra-low latency services using, for example, distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server using machine learning and / or neural networks. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included within the second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0071] The electronic device according to the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure may be of various forms. The electronic device may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a consumer electronics device. The electronic device according to the embodiment of the present document is not limited to the devices described above.

[0072] The embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of said embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, phrases such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” each may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as “first,” “second,” or “first” or “second” may be used simply to distinguish said components from other said components and do not limit said components in any other aspect (e.g., importance or order). Where any (e.g., first) component is referred to as “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., second) component, with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicationly,” it may be understood that said any component may be connected to said other component directly (e.g., via a wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0073] The term “module” as used in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit, for example. A module may be a component formed integrally, or a minimum unit of said component or a part thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0074] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software (e.g., a program) comprising one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory or external memory) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device) may call at least one of the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code that can be executed by an interpreter. The storage medium readable by the machine may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, "non-transitory" simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and this term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily in the storage medium.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the method according to the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure may be provided by being included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or an application store (e.g., Play Store). TM It can be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) through ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored or temporarily created on a device-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a relay server.

[0076] According to one embodiment, each component (e.g., module or program) of the components described above may include a singular or multiple entities, and some of the multiple entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to one embodiment, one or more of the components or operations among the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Generally or additionally, multiple components (e.g., module or program) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as those performed by the corresponding component among the multiple components prior to integration. According to one embodiment, operations performed by the module, program, or other components may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0077] In the following detailed description, the length direction, width direction, and / or thickness direction of the electronic device may be referred to, and the length direction may be defined as the 'Y-axis direction', the width direction as the 'X-axis direction', and / or the thickness direction as the 'Z-axis direction'. In one embodiment, regarding the direction in which the component is oriented, 'negative / positive (- / +)' may be referred to together with the Cartesian coordinate system illustrated in the drawings. For example, the front of the electronic device and / or housing may be defined as the 'face facing the +Z direction', and the rear may be defined as the 'face facing the -Z direction'. In one embodiment, the side of the electronic device and / or housing may include an area facing the +X direction, an area facing the +Y direction, an area facing the -X direction, and / or an area facing the -Y direction. In one embodiment, the 'X-axis direction' may mean both the '-X direction' and the '+X direction'. It should be noted that this is based on the Cartesian coordinate system described in the drawings for the sake of brevity of description, and that the description of these directions or components does not limit the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure. For example, depending on the design specifications of the electronic device or the user's usage habits, the orthogonal coordinate system may be defined differently from the present disclosure.

[0078] In the embodiments described below, the first housing and the second housing are rotatably coupled and can rotate relative to each other between a first position where they are folded facing each other and a second position where they are unfolded side by side. In the embodiments described below, descriptions referring to the orthogonal coordinate system when referring to the embodiments of the electronic device may generally be described based on the unfolded state. In the electronic device of the embodiments described below, the folding axis(s) may be understood as being substantially parallel to either the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction.

[0079] FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an unfolded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a folded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] Referring to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, the electronic device (101) may include a housing (201) for receiving a part of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a hinge module (250) and / or a hinge assembly (HA) of FIG. 4), and a display (230) disposed within the space formed by the housing (201).

[0081] According to one embodiment, the housing (201) may be referred to as a foldable housing (201). According to one embodiment, the display (230) may be referred to as a flexible display (230).

[0082] According to one embodiment, the housing (201) may include a first housing (210) and a second housing (220). According to one embodiment, the first housing (210) and / or the second housing (220) may form at least a part of the exterior of the electronic device (101).

[0083] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) and / or housing (201) may be deformed. For example, the housing (201) may be folded or unfolded. This may be understood as the electronic device (101) and / or housing (201) being folded or unfolded by the second housing (220) rotating (or pivoting) relative to the first housing (210). Or it may be understood as the first housing (210) being folded or unfolded relative to the second housing (220). In the following description and claims, only the movement of the second housing (220) relative to the first housing (210) may be referred to, which may be applied to the movement of the first housing (210) relative to the second housing (220). The first housing (210) may provide relative movement relative to the second housing (220), and the second housing (220) may provide relative movement relative to the first housing (210).

[0084] According to one embodiment, the second housing (220) can be rotated relative to the first housing (210) using a hinge assembly (e.g., the hinge module (250) and / or the hinge assembly (HA) of FIG. 4). Accordingly, the electronic device (101) can be changed from an unfolded state (e.g., FIG. 2) to a folded state (e.g., FIG. 3) or vice versa. Here, the unfolded state refers to a state in which the second housing (220) is unfolded by a specified angle from the first housing (210) and may be referred to as an 'opened state,' and the folded state refers to a state in which the second housing (220) is positioned substantially facing the first housing (210) and may be referred to as a 'closed state.' In the present disclosure, the term "unfolded state" (e.g., FIG. 2) of the electronic device (101) may mean that the electronic device (101) is in a fully unfolded state unless otherwise noted. For example, the unfolded state may refer to a position where the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) form an angle of approximately 180 degrees. In one embodiment, the term "folded state" (e.g., FIG. 3) of the electronic device (101) may mean that the electronic device (101) is in a fully folded state unless otherwise noted. For example, in the folded state, the first front surface (210a) and the second front surface (220a) may be substantially parallel. In one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) is fully folded, the first front (210a) may face the second front (220a) (or may be tilted by approximately a predetermined negative angle (e.g., -5 degrees), and when fully unfolded, the direction in which the first front (210a) faces may be the same as the direction in which the second front (220a) faces.For example, in a fully unfolded state, the first front surface (210a) may be located on substantially the same plane as the second front surface (220a).

[0085] According to one embodiment, the side of the display (230) that is visually exposed can be defined as the front of the electronic device (101) and / or housing (201) (e.g., a first front (210a) and a second front (220a)). And, the side opposite to the front can be defined as the rear of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a first rear (210b) and a second rear (220b)). Additionally, the side of the electronic device (101) that surrounds at least a portion of the space between the front and the rear can be defined as the side of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a first side (210c) and a second side (220c)).

[0086] According to one embodiment, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are positioned on both sides of the folding axis (A) and may have a shape that is symmetrical overall with respect to the folding axis (A). In one embodiment, the angle or distance between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may vary depending on whether the state of the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state between the unfolded state and the folded state. In one embodiment, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may rotate about the hinge module (250) and / or hinge assembly (HA) around different folding axes. For example, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) can be rotatably coupled to the hinge module (250) and / or the hinge assembly (HA), respectively, and can rotate from a position folded from each other to a position inclined from each other or a position positioned parallel to each other by rotating about the same axis (e.g., the folding axis (A)) or about different folding axes.

[0087] In the present disclosure, the terms “positioned side by side” or “extended side by side” may mean that two structures (e.g., the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) of the housing (201)) are positioned at least partially next to each other, or that at least the parts positioned next to each other are arranged in parallel. In some embodiments, the term “arranged side by side” may mean that two structures are positioned next to each other and are arranged to face in parallel directions or the same direction. Expressions such as “side by side” and “parallel” may be used in the following detailed description, but they can be easily understood based on the shape or arrangement relationship of the structures by referring to the attached drawings, etc.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a hinge cover (240). The hinge cover (240) may be positioned between a first housing (210) and a second housing (220). According to one embodiment, the hinge cover (240) may be covered or hidden by a portion of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220), or exposed to the outside of the electronic device (101), depending on the state of the electronic device (101). For example, when the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state (e.g., FIG. 2), at least a portion of the hinge cover (240) may be covered by the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) of the electronic device (101), and when the electronic device (101) is in a folded state (e.g., FIG. 3), at least a portion of the hinge cover (240) may be exposed to the outside of the electronic device (101). In a folded state or when exposed to the outside, the hinge cover (240) can be understood as being part of the housing (201).

[0089] According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state, the hinge cover (240) is substantially covered, and when the electronic device (101) is in a folded state, the hinge cover (240) is substantially exposed. Here, "substantially covered" is understood to mean that the hinge cover (240) is substantially or completely accommodated within the space provided by the first housing (210) and / or the second housing (220). In one embodiment, when the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are in an intermediate state that is folded with a certain angle, the hinge cover (240) may be partially exposed to the outside between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). However, in this case, the exposed area may be smaller than in the folded state. In one embodiment, the hinge cover (240) may include a curved surface.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the hinge cover (240) can protect a hinge module (e.g., the hinge module (250) of FIG. 4 described below) and / or a component (e.g., FPCB (260)) placed inside the electronic device (101) from external impacts of the electronic device (101). For example, the hinge cover (240) can be understood as part of the housing (201) as one of the structures protecting the hinge module and / or component. In one embodiment, when in an unfolded state, the hinge cover (240) can be substantially accommodated in the space provided by the first housing (210) and / or the second housing (220). For example, when in an unfolded state or in an internally accommodated state, the hinge cover (240) can be understood as one of the components (e.g., FPCB (260)) placed inside the electronic device (101).

[0091] According to one embodiment, the display (230) may include a display (e.g., a flexible display) in which at least some area may be deformed into a flat or curved surface. For example, the display (230) may be deformed in response to the relative movement of the second housing (220) with respect to the first housing (210). In one embodiment, the display (230) may be positioned from one side of the first housing (210) to one side of the second housing (220). For example, the display (230) may be understood to be positioned across an area where the hinge module (250) and / or hinge assembly (HA) is positioned.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the display (230) may include a folding area (233), a first display area (231) positioned on one side relative to the folding area (233), and a second display area (232) positioned on the other side. In one embodiment, the folding area (233) may be positioned corresponding to a hinge assembly (e.g., a hinge module (250) and / or a hinge assembly (HA) of FIG. 4). In one embodiment, the first display area (231) may be positioned on a first housing (210), and the second display area (232) may be positioned on a second housing (220). In one embodiment, the display (230) may be understood as being positioned or accommodated in the space provided by the first housing (210) and the second housing (220).

[0093] According to one embodiment, the display (230) may be combined with or placed adjacent to a touch detection circuit, a pressure sensor capable of measuring the intensity (pressure) of a touch, and / or a digitizer configured to detect a magnetic field type stylus pen.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a rear display (234). The rear display (234) may be positioned to face in a different direction from the display (230) (e.g., a first display area (231)). For example, the display (230) may be visually exposed through the front of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a first front (210a) and / or a second front (220a)), and the rear display (234) may be visually exposed through the rear of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a first rear (210b)). In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the position or size of the rear display (234) is exemplary and may vary depending on the embodiment.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include at least one camera (204, 206) and a flash (208). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a front camera (204) exposed through the front (e.g., a first front (210a)) and / or a rear camera (206) exposed through the rear (e.g., a first rear (210b)). The cameras (204, 206) may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, a flash, and / or an image signal processor. The flash (208) 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 (101).

[0096] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 4, the electronic device (101) may include a housing (201) including a first housing (210) and a second housing (220), a display (230), a hinge cover (240), a hinge module (250), a first circuit board (260), a second circuit board (270), and a battery (280). The configuration of the first housing (210), the second housing (220), the display (230), and the hinge cover (240) of FIG. 4 may be all or partly the same as the configuration of the first housing (210), the second housing (220), the display (230), and the hinge cover (240) of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the housing (201) may include a first bracket (212) and a second bracket (222). For example, the first housing (210) may include the first bracket (212), and the second housing (220) may include the second bracket (222). According to one embodiment, the first bracket (212) and / or the second bracket (222) may support components of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a display (230), a first circuit board (260), and a battery (280)). According to one embodiment, the first bracket (212) may be referred to as a 'first support bracket' or a 'first support member'. According to one embodiment, the second bracket (222) may be referred to as a 'second support bracket' or a 'second support member'.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the first bracket (212) and / or the second bracket (222) may be formed of a metal material and / or a non-metal (e.g., polymer) material. According to one embodiment, the first bracket (212) may be positioned between the display (230) and the battery (280). For example, the display (230) (e.g., the first display area (231)) may be attached to one side of the first bracket (212), and the battery (280) and the second circuit board (270) may be positioned on the other side.

[0100] According to one embodiment, the housing (201) may include a first deco member (214) and a second deco member (224). For example, the first housing (210) may include the first deco member (214), and the second housing (220) may include the second deco member (224). According to one embodiment, the deco members (214, 224) may protect the display (230) from external impact. For example, the first deco member (214) may surround at least a portion of the display (230) (e.g., the first display area (231) of FIG. 2), and the second deco member (224) may surround at least a portion of the other portion of the display (230) (e.g., the second display area (232) of FIG. 2).

[0101] According to one embodiment, the housing (201) may include a first rear plate (216) and a second rear plate (226). For example, the first housing (210) may include a first rear plate (216) connected to a first support member (212), and the second housing (220) may include a second rear plate (226) connected to a second support member (222). According to one embodiment, the rear plates (216, 226) may form part of the exterior of the electronic device (101). For example, the first rear plate (216) may form a first rear (e.g., the first rear (210b) of FIG. 1), and the second rear plate (226) may form a second rear (e.g., the second rear (220b) of FIG. 1). According to one embodiment, a first battery (282) and a second-1 circuit board (272) may be placed between a first bracket (212) and a first rear plate (216), and a second battery (284) and a second-2 circuit board (274) may be placed between a second bracket (222) and a second rear plate (226).

[0102] According to one embodiment, the hinge cover (240) may accommodate at least a portion of the hinge module (250). According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state, at least a portion of the hinge cover (240) may be located between the hinge module (250) and the housing (201). In one embodiment, the hinge cover (240) may provide an internal space (242) for accommodating the hinge module (250). For example, the hinge cover (240) may be understood as a part of the housing (201). In one embodiment, the combination of the hinge cover (240) and the hinge module (250) may be referred to as a hinge assembly (HA).

[0103] According to one embodiment, the first circuit board (260) can electrically connect a component located in the first housing (210) (e.g., second-1 circuit board (272)) and a component located in the second housing (220) (e.g., second-2 circuit board (274)). The first circuit board (260) may comprise at least a portion of a flexible material (e.g., polyimide (PI), Thermo Plastic Urethan (TPU), silicone, and / or Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE)). The first circuit board (260) may comprise a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). According to one embodiment, the first circuit board (260) may span across a hinge cover (240). For example, a portion of the first circuit board (260) may be placed within the first housing (210), and another portion may be placed within the second housing (220). According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the first circuit board (260) may be disposed in the internal space (242) of the hinge cover (240). For example, the first circuit board (260) may be understood as extending from the first housing (210) and disposed inside the second housing (220), and may be disposed in the internal space (242) of the hinge cover (240) in the area between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220).

[0104] According to one embodiment, the hinge module (250) may be connected to the first housing (210) and the second housing (220), respectively. In one embodiment, the second housing (220) may rotate relative to the first housing (210) using the hinge module (250). For example, the first housing (210) may rotate around an axis parallel to the width direction of the electronic device (101) (e.g., the folding axis (A) in FIG. 2), and the second housing (220) may be configured to rotate around the folding axis (A) in FIG. 2 or around another axis parallel to the axis on which the first housing (210) rotates. According to one embodiment, the hinge module (250) may include a plurality of hinge modules (250-1, 250-2) arranged in parallel. For example, the hinge module (250) may include a first hinge module (250-1) positioned at a location corresponding to the hinge cover (240) and a second hinge module (250-2) positioned on the opposite side of the first hinge module (250-1) with respect to the intermediate support member (251). According to one embodiment, the first hinge module (250-1) may be symmetrical with respect to an imaginary line drawn along the longitudinal direction (e.g., Y-axis direction) of the electronic device (101) with respect to the second hinge module (250-2).

[0105] In the embodiments described below, the same reference numerals may be assigned or omitted for components that overlap with one another or components that can be easily understood through prior embodiments, and their detailed descriptions may be omitted. Even if a reference numeral is assigned in the drawings but is not mentioned in the detailed description referring to those drawings, a person skilled in the art will be able to easily understand the configuration through the entire detailed description of the present disclosure.

[0106] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0107] The configuration of the first housing (210), second housing (220), display (230), and hinge cover (240) of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be all or partly the same as the configuration of the first housing (210), second housing (220), display (230), and hinge cover (240) of FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0108] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an electronic device (300) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIGS. 1 through 4) may include a plurality of wing plates (312, 322) and a flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., the first circuit board (260) of FIG. 4). In one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be disposed extending from the first housing (210) to the interior of the second housing (220). For example, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be understood to be disposed across the area where the hinge assembly (HA) of FIG. 4 is disposed and / or the hinge cover (240). In one embodiment, the plurality of wing plates (312, 322) include a first wing plate (312) disposed in the first housing (210) and a second wing plate disposed in the second housing (220). It may include a plate (322).

[0109] According to one embodiment, the first wing plate (312) may be rotatably coupled to the first housing (210) while being positioned adjacent to the second housing (220). For example, the first wing plate (312) may be understood to be positioned adjacent to or at least partially overlapping with the hinge assembly (HA). In one embodiment, the first wing plate (312) may be described as being part of the hinge assembly (HA). As will be seen with reference to FIGS. 11 and 13, the first wing plate (312) may rotate between a position inclined with respect to one side of the first housing (210) (e.g., the surface of the first bracket (212)) and a position parallel to one side of the first housing (210). For example, in the folded state of FIG. 11, the first wing plate (312) is positioned at an angle with respect to one side of the first housing (210), and in the unfolded state of FIG. 13, the first wing plate (312) may be positioned parallel to the first housing (210). Here, "positioned parallel to the first wing plate (312) and the first housing (210)" may refer, for example, that one side (or at least a part of the surface) of the first wing plate (312) is aligned to form a plane continuous with one side of the first housing (210). For example, in the unfolded state, the first wing plate (312) may support a part of the flexible display (230) (e.g., a part of the first display area (231) and / or folding area (233) of FIG. 2) together with one side of the first housing (210).

[0110] According to one embodiment, the second wing plate (322) may be rotatably coupled to the second housing (220) while being positioned adjacent to the first housing (210). For example, the second wing plate (322) may be understood to be positioned adjacent to or at least partially overlapping with the hinge assembly (HA). In one embodiment, the second wing plate (322) may be described as being part of the hinge assembly (HA). In one embodiment, similar to the first wing plate (312), the second wing plate (322) may rotate between a position inclined with respect to one side of the second housing (220) and a position parallel to one side of the second housing (220). For example, in the folded state of FIG. 11, the second wing plate (322) is positioned at an angle with respect to one side of the second housing (220), and in the unfolded state of FIG. 13, the second wing plate (322) may be positioned parallel to the second housing (220). For example, in the unfolded state, the second wing plate (322) may support a portion of the flexible display (230) (e.g., the second display area (232) and / or another portion of the folding area (233) of FIG. 2) together with one side of the second housing (220).

[0111] According to one embodiment, when in the folded state of FIG. 11, the wing plates (312, 322) are arranged at an angle with respect to one surface of the first housing (210) or the second housing (220), so that a space of a specified shape or specified size may be formed between the wing plates (312, 322). The space provided between the wing plates (312, 322) when in the folded state can accommodate a portion of the flexible display (230) that has been deformed into a curved shape. In one embodiment, the space provided between the wing plates (312, 322) when in the folded state can suppress the increase in the curvature of the flexible display (230). For example, even if the flexible display (230) is deformed, the curvature of the curved portion is suppressed within a specified size, and the accumulation of fatigue due to excessive deformation or damage to the flexible display (230) can be suppressed. In one embodiment, as mentioned with reference to FIG. 3, when the second housing (220) is aligned at an angle of approximately -5 degrees with respect to the first housing (210) in a folded state, the wing plates (312, 322) can be fixed in a parallel state to one side of the first housing (210) (or the second housing (220)). For example, when the wing plates (312, 322) are placed on the first housing (210) or the second housing (220), whether they rotate or are fixed may vary depending on the design of the electronic device (300) to be actually manufactured.

[0112] According to one embodiment, as the first housing (210) and / or the second housing (220) rotate using the hinge module (250) or hinge assembly (HA) of FIG. 4, the space in which a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., the first circuit board (260) of FIG. 4) is placed (e.g., a portion across the area where the hinge assembly (HA) is placed) may be deformed (e.g., expanded or reduced). For example, the space in which the flexible printed circuit board (360) can be placed in the unfolded state of FIG. 13 may be smaller than in the folded state of FIG. 11. In one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be deformed in proportion to the expansion or reduction of the placement space. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of at least a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be expanded or reduced in response to an external force. For example, in the folded state of FIG. 11, the flexible printed circuit board (360) is deformed (or expanded) into a curved (or curved) shape that bypasses the flexible display (230), and in the unfolded state of FIG. 13, it is contracted (or restored) and can be positioned parallel to the flat flexible display (230). The expansion or contraction of the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) will be examined in more detail with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 14.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be elongated in response to external force or deformation of the placement space (e.g., expansion) by including a material having elasticity or stretchability. In one embodiment, when no external force is applied or when the placement space is reduced, the flexible printed circuit board (360) having elasticity may be retracted to its original shape (or length). The material having elasticity may refer to, for example, a material having a Shore hardness of approximately 20A or more and 98A or less. For example, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may include at least one of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). In one embodiment, the thermoplastic urethane may have a Shore hardness of approximately 85A or more and approximately 98A or less, and the silicone may have a Shore hardness of approximately 20A or more and approximately 80A or less. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer may have a Shore hardness of approximately 40A or more and approximately 80A or less. In one embodiment, the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be extended by an external force (e.g., tension) in a range of approximately 5% or more and approximately 35% or less. As will be described later, depending on the external force or deformation of space, the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be extended in a range of approximately 120% or less. The ratio regarding the extension of length may be based on the initial manufacturing length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (or the first section (SP1) of FIG. 7) or the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (or the first section (SP1) of FIG. 7) when no external force is applied. In one embodiment, the ratio regarding the extension of length may be mentioned based on the second length (EL2) of the stretched portion (360a) of FIG. 13.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (300) can fix a portion of a flexible printed circuit board (360) to a first housing (210) (or a second housing (220)) by including a fixing groove (319)(s) (e.g., the fixing groove (319) of FIG. 10), a first fixing member (369)(s) and / or a second fixing member(s) (e.g., the second-1 fixing member (312b) of FIG. 6 and FIG. 11, and / or the second-2 fixing member (322b) of FIG. 11). If necessary, the fixing member (369, 312b) disposed in the first housing (210) may be referred to as the 'first-1 fixing member (369a)' or the 'second-1 fixing member (312b)', and the fixing member (369, 322b) disposed in the second housing (220) may be referred to as the 'first-2 fixing member (369b)' or the 'second-1 fixing member (322b)'. In describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, a structure in which a portion of a flexible printed circuit board (360) is disposed in the first housing (210) by means of the first fixing member (369) and the second fixing member (312b) may be referred to. Similar to what was described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be readily understood that on the second housing (220), another portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) will be substantially fixed on the second housing (220) by another first fixing member (369) and another second fixing member (322b). For example, a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., the first section (SP1) of FIG. 7 or the stretched portion (360a) of FIG. 12) may be understood to be substantially positioned between the first fixing members (369).

[0115] According to one embodiment, the fixing groove (319) may be provided in the first housing (210) (or second housing (220)) in an area adjacent to the hinge cover (240) or the hinge assembly (HA). In one embodiment, the first fixing member (369) may be placed or fixed on the flexible printed circuit board (360) in a shape corresponding to the fixing groove (319). For example, the first fixing member (369) may be placed or fixed in the fixing groove (319) by an interference fit, and a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be substantially fixed on the first housing (210) by fixing the first fixing member (369). For example, the first fixing members (369) may be placed in the first housing (210) or the second housing (220) in an area adjacent to the hinge assembly (HA).

[0116] According to one embodiment, the fixing groove (319) may provide a space of a size and shape sufficient to accommodate the first fixing member (369). For example, after the first fixing member (369) is accommodated in the fixing groove (319), the first fixing member (369) may be fixed to the first housing (210) by means of an adhesive or adhesive tape, by means of a fastening member such as a screw, and / or by means of welding. In one embodiment, the first fixing member (369) may be substantially fixed to the fixing groove (319) by means of an interference fit or a snap-fit ​​structure. Thus, a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be substantially fixed on the first housing (210).

[0117] According to one embodiment, the second fixing member (312b) may be placed on the first housing (210) to prevent the first fixing member (369) from detaching. For example, during a deformation operation of the electronic device (300) or the housing (201), the flexible printed circuit board (360) may temporarily accumulate elastic force, and the accumulated elastic force may act as a force to separate the first fixing member (369) from the first housing (210) (or the second housing (220)). The second fixing member (312b) may be placed on the first housing (210) (e.g., a fixing groove (319)) to support the first fixing member (369) and prevent it from being separated from the first housing (210). The structure in which another part of the flexible printed circuit board (360) is placed or fixed to the second housing (220) may be similar or substantially identical to the structure in which it is placed or fixed to the first housing (210).

[0118] According to one embodiment, based on the position where the first fixing member (369) is placed, one side of the flexible printed circuit board (360) is placed below (e.g., in the -Z direction) the first bracket (212), and the other side of the flexible printed circuit board (360) is placed above (e.g., in the +Z direction) the first bracket (212). For example, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be placed on the first housing (210) so as to penetrate the first bracket (212). In one embodiment, the penetration area provided in the first bracket (212) for the placement of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may allow foreign matter or moisture to move to another space. For example, when the internal space of the first housing (210) is partially contaminated, the penetration area provided in the first bracket (212) may allow the spread of contamination. In one embodiment, the second fixing member (312b) can substantially close the penetration area provided in the first bracket (212) in the placement path of the flexible printed circuit board (360). For example, in a structure where the flexible printed circuit board (360) is placed to penetrate another structure (e.g., the first bracket (212)), the second fixing member (312b) can function as a component providing a waterproof / dustproof function. In one embodiment, in a structure where the flexible printed circuit board (360) is placed to penetrate the second bracket (222), the second-2 fixing member (322b) of FIG. 11 can function as a component providing a waterproof / dustproof function.

[0119] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a flexible printed circuit board of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the flexible printed circuit board cut along line A-A' of FIG. 7.

[0120] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may include connectors (C1, C2, C3, C4) provided at both ends. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) is illustrated as having a structure including four connectors (C1, C2, C3, C4), but it should be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, depending on the specifications of the electronic device (300) to be actually manufactured, some of the illustrated connectors (C1, C2, C3, C4) may be omitted or additional connectors not illustrated may be provided. In one embodiment, depending on the specifications of the electronic device (300) to be actually manufactured, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may include a plurality of branch structures.

[0121] According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may include a substrate layer (L1) and a wiring layer (L2). In one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may have a structure of a multilayer circuit board in which a plurality of substrate layers (L1) and a plurality of wiring layers (L2) are alternately arranged. In one embodiment, the wiring layer (L2) may include a plurality of printed circuit patterns (e.g., conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3)) as a layer that transmits electrical signals or power between internal components of the first housing (210) and internal components of the second housing (220). In one embodiment, the wiring layer (L2) may be protected from the external environment by a protective layer (L4). The protective layer (L4) may be understood as being attached (or laminated) to the wiring layer (L2) by, for example, an adhesive layer (L3).

[0122] According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360), for example, at least the substrate layer (L1), may be made of a flexible material. The flexible material may include, for example, thermoplastic urethane (TPU), silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). In one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., substrate layer (L1)) may have a Shore hardness of approximately 20A or more and 98A or less. In one embodiment, when flexible, the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be extended by an external force (e.g., tension) in a range of approximately 135% or less relative to the initial manufacturing state. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, depending on the folded or unfolded state of the electronic device (300) and / or the housing (201), the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be extended by approximately 105% or more based on the initial manufacturing state (or based on the unfolded state). In one embodiment, depending on the folded or unfolded state of the electronic device (300) and / or the housing (201), the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be extended by approximately 130% or less based on the initial manufacturing state (or based on the unfolded state). In one embodiment, depending on the folded or unfolded state of the electronic device (300) and / or the housing (201), the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be extended by approximately 105% or more and approximately 125% or less based on the initial manufacturing state (or based on the unfolded state). As will be described later, considering the change in electrical resistance, the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) can be extended up to approximately 120% based on the initial manufacturing state.

[0123] According to one embodiment, the cross-sectional area or length of the wiring layer (L2) (e.g., conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3)) may vary depending on the change in length of the flexible printed circuit board (360). Since the electrical resistance may vary depending on the change in cross-sectional area or length of the conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3), there may be a change in the signal transmission environment or power transmission environment. In one embodiment, even if the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) is extended to approximately 120% relative to the initial manufacturing state (or unfolded state), the electrical resistance of the conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3) may be similar to or lower than the electrical resistance in the connectors (C1, C2, C3, C4). For example, it was confirmed that when the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) is extended to approximately 120%, the electrical resistance of the conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3) remains at approximately 10 mΩ or less. For example, even if the length of the flexible printed circuit board is extended by approximately 120% due to deformation of the electronic device and / or housing, the electrical resistance of the conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3) is maintained within the electrical resistance of the connectors (C1, C2, C3, C4) (e.g., approximately 10 mΩ or less), so that the signal transmission performance or power transmission performance of the flexible printed circuit board (360) can satisfy the design specifications.

[0124] According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be described as being divided into a first section (SP1), a second section (SP2), and / or a third section (SP3) based on the location where the first fixing members (369) are placed. For example, the first section (SP1) between the first fixing members (369) may be described as a section corresponding to the area where the hinge assembly (HA) and / or hinge cover (240) are placed. In one embodiment, the first section (SP1) may be placed at least partially inside a space that expands or contracts due to deformation of the electronic device (300) and / or housing (201). For example, at least a portion of the first section (SP1) may be deformed depending on the deformation of the electronic device (300) and / or housing (201). In the embodiment with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, the area between the points where the wing plates (312, 322) come into contact (e.g., the first point (CP1) and the second point (CP2) in FIG. 12 or FIG. 14) is described as a ‘stretchable portion (360a)’, and this stretchable portion (360a) may be a part of the first section (SP1) or the whole of the first section (SP1).

[0125] According to one embodiment, the substrate layer (L1) in at least the first section (SP1) among the first section (SP1), the second section (SP2), or the third section (SP3) may be made of a flexible material. In one embodiment, the substrate layer (L1) of the entire first section (SP1), the second section (SP2), and the third section (SP3) may be made of a flexible material. In one embodiment, at least one substrate layer (L1) in the second section (SP2) and the third section (SP3) may be made of a material having a Shore hardness of approximately 98A or more (e.g., polyimide (PI)). When manufacturing the substrate layer (L1) of the flexible printed circuit board (360), the same material or a combination of different materials according to the sections (SP1, SP2, SP3) may be implemented in various ways considering the manufacturing process and cost.

[0126] According to one embodiment, the second section (SP2) may be substantially positioned inside the first housing (210) (e.g., in the -Z axis direction relative to the first bracket (212) of FIG. 6). Inside the first housing (210), the second section (SP2) may be maintained in a substantially fixed shape. In one embodiment, the second section (SP2) may be electrically connected to the second-1 circuit board (272) of FIG. 4 inside the first housing (210). In one embodiment, the third section (SP3) may be substantially positioned inside the second housing (220) (e.g., in the -Z axis direction relative to the second bracket (222) of FIG. 5). Inside the second housing (220), the third section (SP3) may be maintained in a substantially fixed shape. In one embodiment, the third section (SP3) can be electrically connected to the second-2 circuit board (274) of FIG. 4 inside the second housing (220).

[0127] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a flexible printed circuit board of an electronic device arranged according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a drawing showing a portion of the flexible printed circuit board arranged or fixed in a first housing by enlarging the 'E1' portion of FIG. 9.

[0128] Referring to FIGS. 9 and FIGS. 10, a flexible printed circuit board (360) may be positioned from a first housing (210) to a second housing (220) (e.g., inside the first housing (210)). FIG. 9 may be understood to generally show the first section (SP1) of FIG. 7 or the extended portion (360a) of FIG. 12 of the flexible printed circuit board (360). FIG. 10 may be understood to show the second section (SP2) partially in the area adjacent to the first fixed member (369), and the remainder of the second section (SP2) may be understood to be concealed by being located in the -Z direction relative to the first housing (210) (e.g., the first bracket (212) of the sixth).

[0129] According to one embodiment, the first fixing member (369) may be substantially fixed within the fixing groove (319). For example, it may be substantially fixed to the first housing (210) within the fixing groove (319) by means of an interference fit structure, an adhesive structure, a fastening structure, and / or a welding structure. In one embodiment, the second fixing member (312b) of FIG. 6 is placed on the fixing groove (319) so that the first fixing member (369) and / or a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be prevented from being dislodged from the first housing (210). In one embodiment, the first section (SP1) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) while placed in the first housing (210) (and / or the second housing (220)) may be deformed in correspondence with the deformation of the electronic device (300) and / or the housing (201). In one embodiment, the second section (SP2) (and / or third section (SP3)) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) while placed in the first housing (210) (and / or second housing (220)) may be maintained in a specified shape regardless of deformation of the electronic device (300) and / or housing (201).

[0130] FIG. 11 is a drawing for explaining the folded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a drawing for explaining the tension applied to a flexible printed circuit board in the folded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0131] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be made of a material having a Shore hardness of approximately 98A or less, for example, a flexible material. In one embodiment, when the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are positioned facing each other (e.g., the folded state of FIG. 3), a first point (CP1) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be in contact with the first wing plate (312), and a second point (CP2) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be in contact with the second wing plate (322). In one embodiment, tension may be applied to a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., the first section (SP1) of FIG. 7 or the stretched portion (360a) of FIG. 12) by the first wing plate (312) and / or the second wing plate (322) contacting the first point (CP1) and / or the second point (CP2). In one embodiment, in response to the applied tension, the length of the portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be extended. In one embodiment, when in a folded state, the first section (SP1) or the stretched portion (360a) may be positioned to bypass the curved portion of the flexible display (230). In one embodiment, when in a folded state, the first section (SP1) or the stretched portion (360a) may be positioned to contact the curved portion of the flexible display (230).

[0132] According to one embodiment, the section where tension is applied may be limited by the first fixed members (369). For example, tension may not be applied to the second section (SP2) of FIG. 7 extending from the fixed groove (319) on the first housing (210) to the interior of the first housing (210) (or the third section (SP3) of FIG. 7 extending from the fixed groove (319) on the second housing (220) to the interior of the second housing (220). In one embodiment, the tension applied by contact between the wing plates (312, 322) may be applied to the entire first section (SP1). For example, for convenience of explanation, tension may be applied to the portion between the first point (CP1) and the second point (CP2) (e.g., the extended portion (360a) of FIG. 12) and the change in length of the extended portion (360a) may be described, but it should be noted that the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the tension generated by the contact of the wing plates (312, 322) can be applied to the section between the first fixed members (369) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., the first section (SP1) of FIG. 7), and it can be understood that the length of the first section (SP1) is expanded or contracted depending on the application of the external force.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 11, in a folded state, the flexible printed circuit board (360) having elasticity may come into contact with wing plates (312, 322) at a first point (CP1) or a second point (CP2), and may come into contact with a flexible display (230) near the middle between the first point (CP1) or the second point (CP2). For example, in a folded state, the flexible printed circuit board (360) having elasticity may reduce the length of the wiring path from the first housing (210) to the second housing (220) by bypassing the flexible display (230) and / or wing plates (312, 322). In FIG. 11, the path exemplified as 'F_PI1' may exemplify a wiring path of a flexible printed circuit board made of a material that is not flexible (e.g., having a Shore hardness greater than approximately 98A) when folded. When folded, the flexible printed circuit board wired along the F_PI1 path may have a length of approximately 21 mm in the first section. For example, when the flexible printed circuit board that is not flexible is placed in the structure of FIG. 11, the length between the first fixing members may be approximately 21 mm. For example, according to the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the flexible printed circuit board (360) that is flexible may be manufactured to have a length of approximately 14.6 mm in the first section (SP1). In one embodiment, a flexible printed circuit board (360) having a first section (SP1) of approximately 14.6 mm in length may have the length of the first section (SP1), or the length between the first point (CP1) and the second point (CP2) (e.g., the stretched portion (360a) of FIG. 12) extended by approximately 30% (e.g., the first length (EL1)) by tension generated by contact with the wing plates (312, 322) and / or the flexible display (230) in a folded state.

[0134] According to one embodiment, in the folded state, the wing plates (312, 322) are positioned at an angle to one side of the first housing (210) (or the second housing (220)) to provide a space for accommodating a portion of the flexible display (230) that has been deformed into a curved shape. In one embodiment, when in the folded state, a portion of the edges of the wing plates (312, 322) may come into contact with a first point (CP1) or a second point (CP2) of the flexible printed circuit board (360). The portion of the wing plates (312, 322) that comes into contact with the flexible printed circuit board (360) is positioned far apart from each other compared to other portions, thereby accommodating the curved portion of the flexible display (230) and applying tension to the flexible printed circuit board (360).

[0135] According to one embodiment, when a flexible printed circuit board (360) having elasticity is positioned to bypass another structure (e.g., wing plates (312, 322)) while in contact with said structure, the curvature at the contact point (e.g., first point (CP1) or second point (CP2))(s) may increase. For example, the deformation at the first point (CP1) or second point (CP2) may be greater than at other parts of the flexible printed circuit board (360), and excessive deformation or repeated deformation may cause damage or breakage at the contact point (CP1, CP2). The embodiments of the present disclosure may include a curved surface (312a, 322a) provided on the wing plates (312, 322)(s) and / or a protective member (e.g., protective member (512a, 612a) of FIG. 22 or FIG. 24). For example, by configuring the curved portion (312a, 322a) and / or protective member (512a, 612a) on the wing plates (312, 322)(s) to be in direct contact with the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., a first point (CP1) or a second point (CP2)), the curvature of the flexible printed circuit board (360) can be suppressed from becoming excessively large. The configuration of the curved portion (312a, 322a) and / or protective member (512a, 612a) provided on the wing plates (312, 322) will be examined again with reference to FIGS. 15 to 25.

[0136] FIG. 13 is a drawing for explaining the unfolded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a drawing for explaining the appearance in which no external force is applied to a flexible printed circuit board in the unfolded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0137] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the placement space of the flexible printed circuit board (360) extending from the first housing (210) to the second housing (220) in the unfolded state may be smaller than in the folded state. For example, a portion of the space provided by the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) in the folded state (e.g., the space where the flexible printed circuit board (360) is placed) may accommodate the hinge cover (240) in the unfolded state. For example, when the flexible printed circuit board (360) is defined as being placed to sequentially pass through the space provided by the first housing (210) - hinge cover (240) - second housing (220) in the unfolded state, it may be placed to substantially pass through the space provided by the hinge cover (240) in the folded state. In one embodiment, when in the unfolded state, a hinge cover (240) can be substantially placed in the placement space provided by the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). Thus, the space capable of accommodating the first section (SP1) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) can be reduced in the unfolded state compared to the folded state.

[0138] According to one embodiment, when unfolded, the wing plates (312, 322) (or flexible display (230)) are aligned in a substantially flat shape, and a first section (SP1) or extended portion (360a) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., a first point (CP1) and / or a second point (CP2)) may be spaced apart (or separated) from the wing plates (312, 322). For example, the first section (SP1) or extended portion (360a) of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may be positioned side by side or substantially parallel to the wing plates (312, 322) at a specified distance. In one embodiment, the first section (SP1) or the extended section (360a) is positioned at least partially between the wing plates (312, 322) and the hinge cover (240), and may be provided with a different positioning environment depending on the variation of the electronic device (300) and / or the housing (201). In one embodiment, the first section (SP1) or the extended section (360a) may be understood as being positioned at least partially between the flexible display (230) and the hinge cover (240).

[0139] According to one embodiment, when no external force (e.g., tension (T) of FIG. 12) is applied to the flexible printed circuit board (360) having elasticity, the length (e.g., second length (EL2)) of the first section (SP1) or the stretched section (360a) can be maintained at the initially manufactured length (e.g., approximately 14.6 mm). For example, compared to the first length (EL1) in the folded state, the second length (EL2) of the first section (SP1) or the stretched section (360a) in the unfolded state can be reduced by about 30%. For example, when the structure is manufactured such that the first section (SP1) or the stretched section (360a) has a length of approximately 14.6 mm, the length of the first section (SP1) or the stretched section (360a) in the folded state can be approximately 19 mm.

[0140] According to one embodiment, the path illustrated as 'F_PI2' in FIG. 13 may illustrate a wiring path of a flexible printed circuit board (360) made of a material that is not flexible (e.g., having a Shore hardness greater than approximately 98A) when unfolded. When unfolded, the flexible printed circuit board wired along the F_PI2 path may have a length of approximately 21 mm in the first section. For example, since the flexible printed circuit board is not flexible, the length of the first section may be maintained at approximately 21 mm regardless of whether it is in a folded or unfolded state. In one embodiment, since the placement space of the first section is reduced when unfolded and the length of the first section that is not flexible is substantially the same as in the folded state, the first section in the unfolded state may have more bending than in the folded state.

[0141] According to one embodiment, when a non-stretchable flexible printed circuit board (e.g., a first section) is deformed in a curved shape inside a hinge cover (240), a point designated as 'MC' in the first section may be a point of maximum curvature. As the curvature at the point designated as 'MC' increases, the structural or mechanical fatigue accumulated in the non-stretchable flexible printed circuit board increases, which may reduce the durability of the flexible printed circuit board. When the curved shape of the non-stretchable flexible printed circuit board is distributed to other parts of the first section, the maximum curvature in the first section may be reduced. However, when the non-stretchable flexible printed circuit board is deformed into a curved shape, elastic force is accumulated, and the accumulated elastic force may contact or frictionally rub any part of the first section against another structure (e.g., a hinge cover).

[0142] A flexible printed circuit board (360) according to an embodiment(s) of the present disclosure is made of a material having a Shore hardness of, for example, approximately 98A or less, so that in a folded state it can be extended to a sufficient length (e.g., a first length (EL1) in FIG. 12) that bypasses other structures, and in an unfolded state it can be reduced to its original length (e.g., a second length (EL2) in FIG. 14) so ​​as not to interfere with other surrounding structures (e.g., wing plates (312, 322) and / or hinge cover (240)). In one embodiment, it was found that in an unfolded state, the flexible printed circuit board (360) having a maximum curvature at approximately a first point (CP1) or a second point (CP2), and is relaxed to approximately 60% or less of the maximum curvature of a flexible printed circuit board without a flexible surface.

[0143] As previously mentioned, in one embodiment, as the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) is extended or shortened, the cross-sectional area or length of the conductor (e.g., the conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3) of FIG. 8) may change. For example, the electrical resistance of the flexible printed circuit board (360) may change depending on the deformation of the electronic device (300) and / or the housing (201), and there may be deviations in the signal transmission environment (or power transmission environment). In arranging the flexible printed circuit board (360) according to the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (and / or the first section (SP1)) may be allowed to be extended up to approximately 120% of the initial manufacturing specifications. For example, while allowing a change in the length of the flexible printed circuit board (360), the extendable length may be partially limited to ensure a stable signal transmission environment. In one embodiment, when the flexible printed circuit board (360) is expanded to approximately 120% of the initial manufacturing specification, the electrical resistance of the conductors (e.g., the conductive lines (CL1, CL2, CL3) of FIG. 8) within the flexible printed circuit board (360) can be kept lower than the electrical resistance (e.g., contact resistance) formed in the connector (e.g., the connectors (C1, C2, C3, C4) of FIG. 7).

[0144] FIG. 15 is a drawing showing a first wing plate (or a second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a drawing showing an enlarged view of the 'E2' portion of FIG. 15 showing the implementation of a protective member. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the first wing plate (or the second wing plate) cut along line B-B' of FIG. 15.

[0145] Referring to FIGS. 15 through 17, the wing plates (312, 322) include a curved portion (e.g., the curved portion (312a, 322a) of FIG. 11) so that the curvature of the flexible printed circuit board (e.g., the flexible printed circuit board (360) of FIG. 11) can be kept smaller than a specified size in contact with the flexible printed circuit board (360). For example, damage caused by excessive deformation can be prevented even if the flexible printed circuit board (360) comes into direct contact with another structure. In one embodiment, the first wing plate (312) and / or the second wing plate (322) are made of a metal plate, and the curved portion (312a, 322a) can be formed by bending or rolling a portion of the edge of the metal plate.

[0146] According to one embodiment, the first wing plate (312) (or the second wing plate (322)) may include a first metal plate (412a) positioned toward a flexible display (e.g., the flexible display (230) of FIG. 11 or FIG. 13) and a second metal plate (412b) attached to the first metal plate (412a) and positioned toward a flexible printed circuit board (360). In one embodiment, the curved portion (312a) may be implemented by bending or rolling a portion of the edge of at least one of the first metal plate (412a) and the second metal plate (412b). In the illustrated embodiment, the curved portion (312a) may exemplify a structure implemented by processing a portion of the edge of the second metal plate (412b).

[0147] According to one embodiment, within the space allowed by the first housing (210), the second housing (220) and / or the hinge cover (240), the size of the curved portion (312a) (e.g., radius or radius of curvature) may be varied. In one embodiment, as the curved portion (312a) becomes larger (or as the curvature of the curved portion (312a) becomes smaller), excessive deformation of the contact portion of the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., the first point (CP1) or the second point (CP2) of FIG. 11) may be suppressed or mitigated. In one embodiment, the protective member (512a, 612a) of FIG. 22 to 25 may replace the curved portion (312a) of FIG. 15 to 17 or be combined with the curved portion (312a) of FIG. 15 to 17 to implement additional embodiments. When the curved portion (312a) of FIGS. 15 to 17 is implemented by processing a metal plate, a low-density elastic body such as a sponge is provided on the surface of the curved portion (312a), thereby suppressing or mitigating wear of the flexible printed circuit board (360) due to contact.

[0148] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0149] As illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 21, the shape of the curved portion (312a) in the first wing plate (312; 312-1, 2, 3, 4) (and / or the second wing plate (322)) can be implemented in various ways. In one embodiment, the first wing plate (312) (and / or the second wing plate (322)) may be implemented by combining a plurality of metal plates or by a single metal plate. As previously mentioned, the curved portion (312a) may be implemented by processing a metal plate, or a separate protective member (e.g., the protective member (512a, 612a) of FIGS. 22 to 25) may be placed on the first wing plate (312) (and / or the second wing plate (322)) to be combined with or replace the curved portion (312a). With reference to FIGS. 22 to 25, we will examine the protective member (512a, 612a) that replaces the curved portion (312a) implemented by the metal plate.

[0150] FIG. 22 is a drawing showing a protective member implemented on a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a drawing showing the protective member of FIG. 22 viewed from the side. FIG. 24 is a drawing showing a protective member implemented on a first wing plate (or second wing plate) of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 25 is a drawing showing the protective member of FIG. 24 viewed from the side.

[0151] Referring to FIGS. 22 through 25, the protective member (512a, 612a) may be positioned along at least a portion of the edge of the first wing plate (512, 612) (or the second wing plate (222)). For example, when folded, the protective member (512a, 612a) may be positioned between the flexible printed circuit board (360) and the first wing plate (512, 612) (or the second wing plate (222)). In one embodiment, the protective member (512a, 612a) may substantially block the flexible printed circuit board (360) from coming into direct contact with the metal structure (e.g., the first wing plate (512, 612) (or the second wing plate (222))) when folded. In one embodiment, the protective member (512a, 612a) can directly contact the flexible printed circuit board (360) when in a folded state and can support the flexible printed circuit board (360) so that it has a curvature within a specified size even if the flexible printed circuit board (360) is deformed into a curved shape.

[0152] In one embodiment, the protective member (512a, 612a) may be implemented with an elastomer such as silicone, urethane, or sponge. In one embodiment, the protective member (512a, 612a) may be implemented with an engineering plastic such as nylon, acetal, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polycarbonate. In one embodiment, considering that the flexible printed circuit board (360) (e.g., the first point (CP1) or the second point (CP2) in FIG. 11) is intended to have a shape with a curvature less than or equal to a specified curvature while preventing direct contact with the metal (e.g., the first wing plate (512, 612) or the second wing plate (222)), the protective member (512a, 612a) may be made of engineering plastic and placed on the first wing plate (512, 612) (or the second wing plate (222)) and configured to make direct contact with the flexible printed circuit board (360).

[0153] According to one embodiment, the protective member (512a, 612a) may be understood to wrap around a portion of the surface of the first wing plate (512, 612) (or the second wing plate (222)). For example, the protective member (512a, 612a) may be disposed on one side of the first wing plate (512, 612) (or the second wing plate (222)) as illustrated in FIG. 22 or FIG. 23, or may be disposed to wrap around one side of the first wing plate (512, 612) (or the second wing plate (222)) and to wrap around a side connected to that side as illustrated in FIG. 24 or FIG. 25. Although not illustrated, additional embodiments regarding the implementation of the curved portion (312a) may be provided by attaching a film or other protective member in the form of a flat plate to the surface of the curved portion (312a) of FIGS. 15 to 17 (e.g., a curved portion implemented by a metal plate).

[0154] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in an unfolded state. FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in an unfolded state.

[0155] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (700) may include a housing (701). The electronic device (700) may include a display (702). The housing (701) may form a space in which the display (702) is placed. The display (702) may be a flexible display (702). At least a portion of the display (702) may be folded or unfolded. The housing (701) may be defined and / or referred to as a multi-foldable housing or a deformable housing.

[0156] According to one embodiment, the housing (701) may include a first housing (710). The housing (701) may include a second housing (720). The housing (701) may include a third housing (730). The first housing (710) may be positioned between the second housing (720) and the third housing (730). The second housing (720) may be rotatably coupled to the first housing (710). The third housing (730) may be rotatably coupled to the first housing (710). The display (702) may include a first display area (702a) corresponding to the first housing (710), a second display area (702b) corresponding to the second housing (720), and a third display area (702c) corresponding to the third housing (730).

[0157] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (700) may include a support (740, 750, 760). The support (740, 750, 760) may be positioned between the housing (701) and the display (702). The support (740, 750, 760) may be coupled to the housing (701) and may support the display (702). The support (740, 750, 760) may be positioned to surround the edge of the display (702). The support (740, 750, 760) may extend along the perimeter of the housing (701). The support members (740, 750, 760) may include a first support member (740) disposed in a first housing (710), a second support member (750) disposed in a second housing (720), and a third support member (760) disposed in a third housing (730). The support members (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "body." The support members (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "frame." The support members (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "sealing member." The support members (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "peripheral part." The support members (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "circumferential part." The support (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "peripheral structure." The support (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "circumferential structure." The support (740, 750, 760) may be placed between the housing (710, 720, 730) and the display (702). The support (740, 750, 760) may reduce friction between the housing (710, 720, 730) and the display (702). The support (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "cushioning member."

[0158] According to one embodiment, the support members (740, 750, 760) may include a first support member (740). The first support member (740) may be positioned between the first housing (710) and the display (702). The first support member (740) may be positioned along the edge of the first housing (710). The first support member (740) may include a first-1 support member (741) and a first-2 support member (742). At least a portion of the display (702) may be positioned between the first-1 support member (741) and the first-2 support member (742). The first-1 support member (741) may be positioned at one end of the first housing (710), and the first-2 support member (742) may be positioned at the other end of the first housing (710). Each of the first, second, and third supports (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "support." The supports (740, 750, 760) may be referred to as a "deco," a "finishing member," or a "non-conductive member."

[0159] According to one embodiment, the support (740, 750, 760) may include a second support (750). The second support (750) may be positioned between the second housing (720) and the display (702). The second support (750) may be positioned along the edge of the second housing (720). The second support (750) may include a second-1 support (751), a second-2 support (752), and a second-3 support (753). At least a portion of the display (702) may be positioned between the second-2 support (752) and the second-3 support (753). The second-1 support (751) may connect the second-2 support (752) and the second-3 support (753). The second-1 support member (751) may extend along the edge of the second housing (720). The second-1 support member (751) may be positioned between the edge (722) of the second housing (720) and the display (702). The second-1 support member (751) may be referred to as a "support frame" or a "first support frame." The second-2 support member (752) and the second-3 support member (753) may each be referred to as a "second support frame."

[0160] According to one embodiment, the support members (740, 750, 760) may include a third support member (760). The third support member (760) may be positioned between the third housing (730) and the display (702). The third support member (760) may be positioned along the edge of the third housing (730). The third support member (760) may include a third-1 support member (761), a third-2 support member (762), and a third-3 support member (763). At least a portion of the display (702) may be positioned between the third-2 support member (762) and the third-3 support member (763). The third-1 support member (761) may connect the third-2 support member (762) and the third-3 support member (763). The third-1 support member (761) may extend along the edge of the third housing (730). The third-1 support member (761) may be positioned between the edge (732) of the third housing (730) and the display (702). The third-1 support member (761) may be referred to as a "support frame" or a "first support frame." The third-2 support member (762) and the third-3 support member (763) may each be referred to as a "second support frame."

[0161] According to one embodiment, the first housing (710) may include a first-1 side portion (711) and a first-2 side portion (712). Each of the first-1 side portion (711) and the first-2 side portion (712) may form opposite sides of the first housing (710). The second housing (720) may be coupled to the first-1 side portion (711). The third housing (730) may be coupled to the first-2 side portion (712). The first-1 side portion (711) may be referred to as the "first coupling portion." The first-2 side portion (712) may be referred to as the "second coupling portion." The first-1 side portion (711) may be referred to as the "first portion." The first-2 side portion (712) may be referred to as the "second portion."

[0162] According to one embodiment, the second housing (720) may include a second-1 side portion (721) and a second-2 side portion (722). Each of the second-1 side portion (721) and the second-2 side portion (722) may form opposite sides of the second housing (720). The second-1 side portion (721) may be coupled to the first housing (710). The second-2 side portion (722) may form a side of the housing (701). The second-2 side portion (722) may be referred to as an "edge." The second-1 side portion (721) may be referred to as a "third side portion." The second-2 side portion (722) may be referred to as a "fourth side portion."

[0163] According to one embodiment, the third housing (730) may include a third-1 side portion (731) and a third-2 side portion (732). Each of the third-1 side portion (731) and the third-2 side portion (732) may form opposite sides of the third housing (730). The third-1 side portion (731) may be coupled to the first housing (710). The third-2 side portion (732) may form a side of the housing (701). The third-2 side portion (732) may be referred to as an "edge." The third-1 side portion (731) may be referred to as a "fifth side portion." The third-2 side portion (732) may be referred to as a "sixth side portion."

[0164] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (700) may include a first hinge assembly (770) and a second hinge assembly (780). The first hinge assembly (770) may be positioned between a first housing (710) and a second housing (720). The first hinge assembly (770) may be positioned between a first-1 side portion (711) and a second-1 side portion (721). The first hinge assembly (770) may rotatably connect the first housing (710) and the second housing (720). The second hinge assembly (780) may be positioned between the first housing (710) and a third housing (730). The second hinge assembly (780) may be positioned between a first-2 side portion (712) and a third-1 side portion (731). The second hinge assembly (780) can rotatably connect the first housing (710) and the third housing (730).

[0165] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in a folded state. FIG. 29 is a side view of the electronic device of FIG. 28 viewed from one direction (e.g., -Y direction) toward another direction (e.g., +Y direction).

[0166] The components described with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29 may be partially or substantially identical to the components of the prior embodiments. The embodiments of FIGS. 28 and 29 may be optionally combined with the prior embodiments(s).

[0167] According to one embodiment, the second housing (720) can be rotated relative to the first housing (710). The first hinge assembly (770) can provide a center of rotation to the second housing (720). The first hinge assembly (770) can connect the first-1 side portion (711) and the second-1 side portion (721). The third housing (730) can be rotated relative to the first housing (710). The second hinge assembly (780) can provide a center of rotation to the third housing (730). The second hinge assembly (780) can connect the first-2 side portion (712) and the third-1 side portion (731).

[0168] According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first, second, and third housings (710, 720, 730) may each be arranged in one direction (e.g., +Y direction). For example, the third housing (730) may be placed above the first housing (710), and the second housing (720) may be placed above the third housing (730). For example, the third housing (730) may be placed between the first housing (710) and the second housing (720).

[0169] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (700) may include an antenna (723). The antenna (723) may be formed on the edge (722) of the second housing (720). The antenna (723) may be integral with the second housing (720) and may be a part of the edge (722). The antenna (723) may be provided separately from the second housing (720) and may be coupled to the edge (722) of the second housing (720). The antenna (723) may be referred to as a "first conductive part." The antenna (723) may include a metallic material. According to one embodiment, the edge (722) of the second housing (720) may be an area of ​​the second housing (720) that overlaps with a portion of the screen of the flexible display (702) that is not visible from the outside of the housing (e.g., the second housing (720)) when the flexible display (702) is viewed in the screen display direction (e.g., +Z direction). For example, the edge (722) of the second housing (720) may include a bezel portion of the second housing (720) and an antenna (723).

[0170] According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the antenna (723) may be spaced apart from the second hinge assembly (780). One side of the antenna (723) may face the second hinge assembly (780). The width of the first hinge assembly (770) may be greater than the width of the second hinge assembly (780). For example, with reference to FIG. 29, the length of the first hinge assembly (770) extended in the +Z direction may be greater than the length of the second hinge assembly (780) extended in the +Z direction.

[0171] According to one embodiment, the antenna (723) may include electrically conductive parts mechanically connected by an electrically insulating material. Each of the electrically conductive parts may be spaced apart from one another along the edge (722) of the second housing (720). For example, two adjacent electrically conductive parts may be mechanically connected while being electrically insulated by an electrically insulating material. In one embodiment, even though they are electrically insulated by an electrically insulating material, two adjacent electrically conductive parts may form an electromagnetic coupling. In one embodiment, electrically conductive parts that are electrically insulated from one another may function as radiating conductors for transmitting and receiving wireless signals.

[0172] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (700) may include a first antenna (715), a second antenna (725), and a third antenna (735). The first antenna (715) may form a part of the first housing (710). The first antenna (715) may form at least a part of the surface of the first housing (710). The second antenna (725) may form a part of the second housing (720). The second antenna (725) may form at least a part of the surface of the second housing (720). The third antenna (735) may form a part of the third housing (730). The third antenna (735) may form at least a part of the surface of the third housing (730).

[0173] According to one embodiment, the first antenna (715) may include a first-1 antenna portion (7151), a first-2 antenna portion (7152), and a first-3 antenna portion (7153). The first-1 antenna portion (7151) may be positioned between the first-2 antenna portion (7152) and the first-3 antenna portion (7153). The first antenna (715) may include a first-1 segment portion (7154) and a first-2 segment portion (7155). The first-1 antenna portion (7151) and the first-2 antenna portion (7152) may be spaced apart from each other, and the first-1 segment portion (7154) may be positioned between the first-1 antenna portion (7151) and the first-2 antenna portion (7152). The first-1 antenna portion (7151) and the first-3 antenna portion (7153) may be spaced apart from each other, and the first-2 segment portion (7155) may be positioned between the first-1 antenna portion (7151) and the first-3 antenna portion (7153).

[0174] According to one embodiment, the second antenna (725) may include a second-1 antenna portion (7251), a second-2 antenna portion (7252), and a second-3 antenna portion (7253). The second-1 antenna portion (7251) may be positioned between the second-2 antenna portion (7252) and the second-3 antenna portion (7253). The second antenna (725) may include a second-1 segment portion (7254) and a second-2 segment portion (7255). The second-1 antenna portion (7251) and the second-2 antenna portion (7252) may be spaced apart from each other, and the second-1 segment portion (7254) may be positioned between the second-1 antenna portion (7251) and the second-2 antenna portion (7252). The second-1 antenna portion (7251) and the second-3 antenna portion (7253) may be spaced apart from each other, and the second-2 segment portion (7255) may be positioned between the second-1 antenna portion (7251) and the second-3 antenna portion (7253).

[0175] According to one embodiment, the third antenna (735) may include a third-1 antenna portion (7351), a third-2 antenna portion (7352), and a third-3 antenna portion (7353). The third-1 antenna portion (7351) may be positioned between the third-2 antenna portion (7352) and the third-3 antenna portion (7353). The third antenna (735) may include a third-1 segment portion (7354) and a third-2 segment portion (7355). The third-1 antenna portion (7351) and the third-2 antenna portion (7352) may be spaced apart from each other, and the third-1 segment portion (7354) may be positioned between the third-1 antenna portion (7351) and the third-2 antenna portion (7352). The third-1 antenna portion (7351) and the third-3 antenna portion (7353) may be spaced apart from each other, and the third-2 segment portion (7355) may be positioned between the third-1 antenna portion (7351) and the third-3 antenna portion (7353).

[0176] According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first housing (710), the second housing (720), and the third housing (730) may be aligned with each other. For example, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first housing (710), the third housing (730), and the second housing (720) may be aligned in one direction (e.g., +Z direction) in the order described. When the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first antenna (715), the second antenna (725), and the third antenna (735) may be aligned with each other. For example, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first antenna (715), the third antenna (735), and the second antenna (725) may be aligned in one direction (e.g., +Z direction) in the order described. When the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first antenna (715), the second antenna (725), and the third antenna (735) can be aligned with each other in a stacked direction (e.g., +Z direction) where the housings (710, 720, 730) are stacked. For example, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first-1 antenna portion (7151), the second-1 antenna portion (7251), and the third-1 antenna portion (7351) can be aligned in a first direction (e.g., +Z direction). For example, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first-2 antenna portion (7152), the second-2 antenna portion (7252), and the third-2 antenna portion (7352) can be aligned in a first direction (e.g., +Z direction). For example, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first-3 antenna portion (7153), the second-3 antenna portion (7253), and the third-3 antenna portion (7353) can be aligned in a first direction (e.g., +Z direction). For example, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first-1 segment portion (7154), the second-1 segment portion (7254), and the third-1 segment portion (7354) can be aligned in a first direction (e.g., +Z direction).For example, when the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, the first-2 segment (7155), the second-2 segment (7255), and the third-2 segment (7355) can be aligned in a first direction (e.g., +Z direction).

[0177] According to one embodiment, when the state of the electronic device (700) is in a folded state (e.g., FIG. 28), at least a portion of the third housing (730) may be located between the first housing (710) and the second housing (720). For example, when the state of the electronic device (700) changes from an unfolded state to a folded state, the direction in which the second housing (720) rotates relative to the first housing (710) may be opposite to the direction in which the third housing (730) rotates relative to the first housing (710). Although not illustrated, when the state of the electronic device (700) is in a folded state, at least a portion of the first housing (710) may be located between the second housing (720) and the third housing (730). For example, when the electronic device (700) changes from an unfolded state to a folded state, the second housing (720) can be rotated to cover the front of the first housing (710) (e.g., the side facing the +Z direction in FIG. 28), and the third housing (730) can be rotated to cover the rear of the first housing (710) (e.g., the side facing the -Z direction in FIG. 28). For example, when the state of the electronic device (700) changes from an unfolded state to a folded state, the direction in which the second housing (720) rotates relative to the first housing (710) may be substantially the same as the direction in which the third housing (730) rotates relative to the first housing (710).

[0178] FIG. 30 is a disassembled drawing of a part of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0179] The components described with reference to FIG. 30 may be partially or substantially identical to the components of the prior art. The embodiment of FIG. 30 may optionally be combined with the prior art(s).

[0180] According to one embodiment, the first housing (710) may include a first housing body (716). The first housing (710) may include a first cover (717). The first housing body (716) and the first cover (717) may be combined. At least a portion of a display (e.g., the display (702) of FIG. 26) may be seated on the first housing body (716).

[0181] According to one embodiment, the second housing (720) may include a second housing body (726). The second housing (720) may include a second cover (727). The second housing body (726) and the second cover (727) may be combined. At least a portion of a display (e.g., the display (702) of FIG. 2) may be seated on the second housing body (726). An antenna (e.g., the antenna (723) of FIG. 29) may be a part of the second housing body (726).

[0182] According to one embodiment, the third housing (730) may include a third housing body (736). The third housing (730) may include a third cover (737). The third housing body (736) and the third cover (737) may be combined. At least a portion of a display (e.g., the display (702) of FIG. 2) may be seated on the third housing body (736).

[0183] According to one embodiment, the first hinge assembly (770) can rotatably connect the first housing body (716) and the second housing body (726). The second hinge assembly (780) can rotatably connect the first housing body (716) and the third housing body (736).

[0184] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (700) may include batteries (703)(s). The batteries (703)(s) may supply power to the electrical components of the electronic device (700) (e.g., a display (702), circuit boards (704)(s)). The batteries (703)(s) may be placed between the housing body (716, 726, 736) and the cover (717, 727, 737). The electronic device (700) may include circuit boards (704)(s). The circuit boards (704)(s) may be electrically connected to the electrical components of the electronic device (700) (e.g., a display (702), batteries (703)(s), a second display or antenna circuit not shown). Circuit boards (704)(s) may be disposed between the housing body (716, 726, 736) and the cover (717, 727, 737). The electronic device (700) may include a camera assembly (705). The camera assembly (705) may be disposed between the housing body (716, 726, 736) and the cover (717, 727, 737). The electronic device (700) may include flexible printed circuit boards (709)(s). The flexible printed circuit boards (709)(s) may be connected to the circuit boards (704)(s). The flexible printed circuit boards (709)(s) may be implemented, for example, similarly to or substantially identical to the flexible printed circuit board (360) of FIGS. 5 through 14. Depending on the specifications of the electronic device to be actually manufactured, the size and shape of the flexible printed circuit board (709)(s) and / or the electrical wiring implemented in the flexible printed circuit board (709)(s) may be varied.

[0185] In an electronic device according to the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, a flexible printed circuit board (e.g., the first circuit board (260) of FIG. 4 and / or the flexible printed circuit board (360) of FIG. 5 to 14) is implemented to be stretchable in response to an external force, thereby allowing the electrical connection structure to be stably maintained by bypassing other structures in expanded spaces without directly contacting other structures in narrow spaces. For example, an electronic device according to the embodiment(s) of the present disclosure (e.g., the electronic device (101, 300, 700) of FIG. 1 to 5 and / or FIG. 26 to 30) can secure a stable wiring structure, and durability can be improved by suppressing damage or breakage of the electrical wiring (e.g., the first circuit board (260) of FIG. 4 and / or the flexible printed circuit board (360) of FIG. 5 to 14) even under repeated deformation.

[0186] The effects obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the description of the above-described embodiment(s).

[0187] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (101, 300, 700) of FIGS. 1 to 5 and / or FIGS. 26 to 30) comprises: a first housing (e.g., a first housing (210) of FIGS. 2 to 5); a second housing (e.g., a second housing (220) of FIGS. 2 to 5) coupled to the first housing by a hinge assembly (e.g., a hinge assembly (HA) of FIG. 4) and configured to rotate between a folded state facing the first housing and an unfolded state unfolded by a specified angle from the first housing; a flexible display (e.g., a flexible display (230) of FIGS. 2, 4, 5, FIG. 11, and / or FIG. 13) disposed from one side of the first housing across an area where the hinge assembly is disposed and configured to output a screen; and a flexible display (e.g., a flexible display (230) of FIGS. 2, 4, 5, FIG. 11, and / or FIG. 13) rotatably coupled to the first housing. It may include a first wing plate (e.g., the first wing plate (312) of FIG. 5 or FIG. 11) configured to be positioned obliquely with respect to one side of the first housing in a folded state and positioned parallel to one side of the first housing in an unfolded state, a second wing plate (e.g., the second wing plate (322) of FIG. 5 or FIG. 11) configured to be positioned obliquely with respect to one side of the second housing in a folded state and positioned parallel to one side of the second housing in an unfolded state, extending from the first housing and positioned inside the second housing (e.g., the first circuit board (260) of FIG. 4 and / or the flexible printed circuit board (360) of FIG. 5 to 14)).In one embodiment, in the folded state, the edge of the first wing plate contacts a first point of the flexible printed circuit board (e.g., the first point (CP1) in FIG. 11) and the edge of the second wing plate contacts a second point of the flexible printed circuit board (e.g., the second point (CP2) in FIG. 11), so that the length of a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (e.g., the stretchable portion (360a) in FIG. 12) between the first point and the second point is extended in response to the tension applied by the first wing plate and the second wing plate.

[0188] According to one embodiment, the first length of the stretched portion when in the folded state (e.g., the first length (EL1) of FIG. 12) may be greater than the second length of the stretched portion when in the unfolded state (e.g., the second length (EL2) of FIG. 14).

[0189] According to one embodiment, the first length may be 105% or more and 135% or less of the second length.

[0190] According to one embodiment, when in the unfolded state, the first point may be configured to be spaced apart or separated from the first wing plate, and the second point may be configured to be spaced apart or separated from the second wing plate.

[0191] According to one embodiment, at least one of the first wing plate or the second wing plate may include a curved portion provided at the edge (e.g., the curved portion (312a, 322a) of FIG. 11). In one embodiment, when in the folded state, the curved portion may be configured to contact the first point or the second point.

[0192] According to one embodiment, the first wing plate or the second wing plate is made of a metal plate, and the curved portion may be formed by bending or rolling a portion of the edge of the metal plate.

[0193] According to one embodiment, the first wing plate or the second wing plate comprises a first metal plate (e.g., the first metal plate (412a) of FIG. 17) positioned toward the flexible display and a second metal plate (e.g., the second metal plate (412b) of FIG. 17) attached to the first metal plate and positioned toward the flexible printed circuit board, and the curved portion may be formed by bending or rolling a portion of the edge of the second metal plate.

[0194] According to one embodiment, the curved surface may be formed by a protective member (e.g., protective member (512a, 612a) of FIGS. 22 to 25) disposed along at least a portion of the edge of the first wing plate or the second wing plate.

[0195] According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board may include a substrate layer (e.g., substrate layer (L1) of FIG. 8) and a wiring layer (e.g., wiring layer (L2) of FIG. 8) provided on one side of the substrate layer. In one embodiment, the substrate layer may include any one of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

[0196] According to one embodiment, the thermoplastic urethane may have a Shore hardness of 85A or more and 98A or less, the silicone may have a Shore hardness of 20A or more and 80A or less, and the thermoplastic elastomer may have a Shore hardness of 40A or more and 80A or less.

[0197] According to one embodiment, the electronic device described above may further include at least one fixing member (e.g., the first fixing member (369) of FIG. 6 or FIG. 10) disposed in the first housing or the second housing at a position adjacent to the hinge assembly. In one embodiment, a portion of the flexible printed circuit board may be fixed to the first housing or the second housing by the at least one fixing member.

[0198] According to one embodiment, the electronic device described above may further include a first-1 fixing member (e.g., a first fixing member indicated as '369a' of the first fixing member (369) in FIG. 6) configured to be disposed in the first housing at a position adjacent to the hinge assembly and to fix a portion of the flexible printed circuit board to the first housing, and a first-2 fixing member (e.g., a first fixing member indicated as '369b' of the first fixing member (369) in FIG. 6) configured to be disposed in the second housing at a different position adjacent to the hinge assembly and to fix another portion of the flexible printed circuit board to the second housing. In one embodiment, the stretched portion may be disposed in a path between the first-1 fixing member and the first-2 fixing member.

[0199] According to one embodiment, the electronic device described above may further include a hinge cover (e.g., the hinge cover (240) of FIG. 3 to 5 and / or FIG. 11) disposed between the other side of the first housing and the other side of the second housing. In one embodiment, the hinge cover may be configured to be at least partially exposed to an external space in the folded state.

[0200] According to one embodiment, the stretched portion may be positioned at least partially between the flexible display and the hinge cover.

[0201] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device (101, 300, 700) of FIGS. 1 to 5 and / or FIGS. 26 to 30) comprises: a first housing (e.g., a first housing (210) of FIGS. 2 to 5); a second housing (e.g., a second housing (220) of FIGS. 2 to 5) coupled to the first housing and configured to rotate between a folded state facing the first housing and an unfolded state unfolded by a specified angle from the first housing; a flexible display (e.g., a flexible display (230) of FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 11, and / or FIGS. 13) disposed extending from one surface of the first housing to one surface of the second housing and configured to output a screen; and a flexible display (e.g., a flexible display (230) of FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 11, and / or FIGS. 13) rotatably coupled to the first housing and positioned at an angle with respect to one surface of the first housing in the folded state and supporting a portion of the flexible display in the unfolded state. It may include a first wing plate configured (e.g., the first wing plate (312) of FIG. 5 or FIG. 11), a second wing plate (e.g., the second wing plate (322) of FIG. 5 or FIG. 11) configured to be rotatably coupled to the second housing and positioned at an angle to one side of the second housing in the folded state and to support another part of the flexible display in the unfolded state, and a flexible printed circuit board (e.g., the first circuit board (260) of FIG. 4 and / or the flexible printed circuit board (360) of FIG. 5 to 14) extending from the first housing and positioned inside the second housing. In one embodiment, in the folded state, the edge of the first wing plate may be in contact with a first point (e.g., the first point (CP1) in FIG. 11) of the flexible printed circuit board, and the edge of the second wing plate may be in contact with a second point (e.g., the second point (CP2) in FIG. 11) of the flexible printed circuit board.In one embodiment, the portion of the flexible printed circuit board between the first point and the second point (e.g., the stretchable portion (360a) of FIG. 12) may have a Shore hardness of 20A or more and 98A or less.

[0202] According to one embodiment, in the folded state, the length of the elongated portion between the first point and the second point may be configured to expand in response to the tension applied by the first wing plate and the second wing plate.

[0203] According to one embodiment, the first length of the stretched portion when in the folded state (e.g., the first length (EL1) of FIG. 12) may be 105% or more and 135% or less of the second length of the stretched portion when in the unfolded state (e.g., the second length (EL2) of FIG. 14).

[0204] According to one embodiment, at least one of the first wing plate or the second wing plate may include a curved portion provided at the edge (e.g., the curved portion (312a, 322a) of FIG. 11). In one embodiment, when in the folded state, the curved portion may be configured to contact the first point or the second point.

[0205] According to one embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board may include a substrate layer (e.g., substrate layer (L1) of FIG. 8) and a wiring layer (e.g., wiring layer (L2) of FIG. 8) provided on one side of the substrate layer. In one embodiment, the substrate layer may include any one of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

[0206] According to one embodiment, the electronic device described above may further include a first-1 fixing member (e.g., a first fixing member indicated as '369a' among the first fixing members (369) of FIG. 6) configured to be disposed in the first housing at a position adjacent to the second housing and to fix a portion of the flexible printed circuit board to the first housing, and a first-2 fixing member (e.g., a first fixing member indicated as '369b' among the first fixing members (369) of FIG. 6) configured to be disposed in the second housing at a position adjacent to the first housing and to fix another portion of the flexible printed circuit board to the second housing. In one embodiment, the stretched portion may be disposed in a path between the first-1 fixing member and the first-2 fixing member.

[0207] Although the present disclosure has been described by way of example with respect to one embodiment, it should be understood that the embodiment is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detailed configuration may be made without departing from the whole context of the present disclosure, including the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. In an electronic device (101; 300; 700), First housing (210); A second housing (220) coupled to the first housing by a hinge assembly (HA) and configured to rotate between a folded state facing the first housing and an unfolded state unfolded by a specified angle from the first housing; A flexible display (230) configured to output a screen, positioned from one side of the first housing across the area where the hinge assembly is positioned to one side of the second housing; A first wing plate (312) rotatably coupled to the first housing and configured to be positioned obliquely with respect to one side of the first housing in the folded state and positioned parallel to one side of the first housing in the unfolded state; A second wing plate (322) rotatably coupled to the second housing and configured to be positioned obliquely with respect to one side of the second housing in the folded state and positioned parallel to one side of the second housing in the unfolded state; and It includes a flexible printed circuit board (260; 360) extending from the first housing and disposed inside the second housing, and An electronic device configured such that, in the above-mentioned folded state, the edge of the first wing plate contacts a first point (CP1) of the flexible printed circuit board and the edge of the second wing plate contacts a second point (CP2) of the flexible printed circuit board, thereby extending the length of a portion of the flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as the 'stretchable portion (360a)') between the first point and the second point in response to the tension applied by the first wing plate and the second wing plate.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first length (EL1) of the stretched portion in the folded state is greater than the second length (EL2) of the stretched portion in the unfolded state.

3. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the first length is 105% or more and 135% or less of the second length.

4. An electronic device configured such that, in any one of claims 1 to 3, when in the unfolded state, the first point is spaced apart or separated from the first wing plate and the second point is spaced apart or separated from the second wing plate.

5. In any one of claims 1 to 4, at least one of the first wing plate or the second wing plate comprises a curved portion (312a, 322a) provided at the edge, and An electronic device configured such that, when in the folded state, the curved surface contacts the first point or the second point.

6. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first wing plate or the second wing plate is made of a metal plate, and the curved portion is formed by bending or rolling a portion of the edge of the metal plate.

7. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first wing plate or the second wing plate comprises a first metal plate (412a) positioned toward the flexible display and a second metal plate (412b) attached to the first metal plate and positioned toward the flexible printed circuit board, and the curved portion is formed by bending or rolling a portion of the edge of the second metal plate.

8. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the curved surface is formed by a protective member (512a; 612a) disposed along at least a portion of the edge of the first wing plate or the second wing plate.

9. In any one of claims 1 to 8, the flexible printed circuit board comprises a substrate layer (L1) and a wiring layer (L2) provided on one surface of the substrate layer, and The above substrate layer comprises any one of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

10. An electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the thermoplastic urethane has a Shore hardness of 85A or more and 98A or less, the silicone has a Shore hardness of 20A or more and 80A or less, and the thermoplastic elastomer has a Shore hardness of 40A or more and 80A or less.

11. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 10, Further comprising at least one fixing member (369) disposed in the first housing or the second housing at a position adjacent to the hinge assembly, An electronic device in which a portion of the flexible printed circuit board is fixed to the first housing or the second housing by the at least one fixing member.

12. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 10, A first-1 fixing member (369a) configured to be disposed in the first housing at a position adjacent to the hinge assembly and to fix a portion of the flexible printed circuit board to the first housing; and Further comprising a first-second fixing member (369b) configured to be disposed in the second housing at another location adjacent to the hinge assembly and to fix another part of the flexible printed circuit board to the second housing, An electronic device in which the above-mentioned elongated portion is positioned in the path between the first-1 fixed member and the first-2 fixed member.

13. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 12, An electronic device further comprising a hinge cover (240) disposed between the other side of the first housing and the other side of the second housing and configured to be at least partially exposed to the external space in the folded state.

14. In claim 13, the stretched portion is an electronic device disposed at least partially between the flexible display and the hinge cover.

15. In claim 1, the stretched portion is an electronic device having a Shore hardness of 20A or more and 98A or less.

Images