Protective cover and electronic device comprising same

Abstract

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure comprises a housing, and may comprise a protective cover positioned on any one surface of the housing of the electronic device. The protective cover may include an at least partially transparent substrate. The protective cover may include a visual effect film positioned inside the transparent substrate and configured to provide a visual effect visible from outside the electronic device, through the protective cover. The protective cover may include a printed band that is printed to at least partially overlap, on a surface of the transparent substrate, the edge of the visual effect film.

Description

Protective cover and electronic device including the same

[0001] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a protective cover for an electronic device and an electronic device including the same.

[0002] The electronic device may include an imaging device (e.g., a camera) for capturing still images and / or video. A transparent protective cover is used to protect the camera's lens and other components from external elements. The protective cover may include materials such as tempered glass or sapphire.

[0003] Since the protective cover is transparent to preserve the optical performance of the camera, the aesthetic appeal of the electronic device may be degraded as the interior of the electronic device is visible through the cover, and light from a light-emitting element inside the electronic device (e.g., camera flash) may leak through the gap between the protective cover and the camera. To solve the above problems, a light-blocking portion (which may be referred to as a black matrix) may be formed on the periphery of the protective cover (e.g., the part excluding the optical aperture).

[0004] When printing on a protective cover as a means to form a light-blocking portion on the protective cover, costs increase when covering a large area, and there are certain limitations in displaying various optical effects (e.g., holographic effects and / or warm colors) to improve the appearance of the electronic device. Additionally, when a light-blocking film is laminated onto the protective cover, positional errors may occur in the film, and there is a risk of light leakage due to gaps caused by dimensional tolerances between the film and the edge of the protective cover. Furthermore, if such dimensional tolerances are reduced, the adhesive (e.g., OCA (optically clear adhesive)) used to attach the film to the protective cover may be exposed to the outside of the protective cover, potentially causing reduced water resistance and film detachment.

[0005] According to various embodiments of the present invention, a protective cover and an electronic device including the same can be provided, which improve waterproofness and enhance the appearance quality of the electronic device.

[0006] An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is an electronic device comprising a housing, and may include a protective cover located on one side of the housing of the electronic device. The protective cover may include a transparent substrate that is at least partially transparent. The protective cover may include a visual effect film located on the inside of the transparent substrate and configured to provide a visual effect visible from the outside of the electronic device through the protective cover. The protective cover may include a printed strip printed on the surface of the transparent substrate so as to overlap at least partially with the edge of the visual effect film.

[0007] A protective cover according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be a protective cover for a camera of an electronic device. The protective cover may include a transparent substrate that is at least partially transparent. The protective cover may include a visual effect film configured to be located inside the electronic device with respect to the transparent substrate and to provide a visual effect visible from outside the electronic device through the protective cover. The protective cover may include a printed strip printed on the surface of the transparent substrate so as to overlap at least partially with the edge of the visual effect film.

[0008] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a protective cover may be provided that prevents deterioration of appearance quality and light leakage caused by positional errors of the visual effect film by covering the edges of the visual effect film with a printed layer.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device capable of performing the operations described in this document.

[0010] FIG. 2a is a front perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the rear of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 4a is a perspective view showing an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 4b is a plan view showing a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 4d is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 4e is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover and a protective ring according to a comparative example.

[0019] FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 6b is an enlarged view showing an exemplary optical pattern of a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 6c is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover according to a comparative example.

[0022] FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view of a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 7b is an enlarged view of an exemplary moth-eye pattern of a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 7c is a graph showing the operation of a moth-eye pattern according to various embodiments.

[0025] FIG. 7d is a cross-sectional view of a protective cover according to various embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device (100) capable of performing the operations described in this document.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device (100) may be one of various forms of electronic devices, such as a notebook (190), smartphones (191) having various form factors (e.g., a bar-type smartphone (191-1), a foldable-type smartphone (191-2), or a sliderable (or rollable)-type smartphone (191-3)), a tablet (192), a cellular phone (not shown), and other similar computing devices (not shown). The components, their relationships, and their functions illustrated in FIG. 1 are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the implementations described or claimed herein. The electronic device (100) may be referred to as a mobile device, a user device, a multifunction device, a portable device, or a server.

[0028] The electronic device (100) may include components comprising at least one processor (110) (hereinafter referred to as processor (110)), at least one memory (120) (hereinafter referred to as memory (120)), at least one display (140) (hereinafter referred to as display (140)), at least one image sensor (150) (hereinafter referred to as image sensor (150)), at least one communication circuit (160) (hereinafter referred to as communication circuit (160)), and / or at least one sensor (170) (hereinafter referred to as sensor (170)). The components are merely exemplary. For example, the electronic device (100) may include other components (e.g., power management integrated circuitry (PMIC), audio processing circuit, antenna, rechargeable battery, or input / output interface). For example, some components may be omitted from the electronic device (100). For example, some components may be integrated into a single component.

[0029] The processor (110) may be implemented as one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) chips and may perform various data processing operations. The processor (110) may include at least one electrical circuit and may process instructions (or programs, data) stored in memory (120) individually or collectively in a distributed manner. The processor (110) may include a processor assembly comprising one or more processing circuits. The processor (110) may include any processing circuit that is operative to control the performance and operations of one or more components of the electronic device (100) (e.g., memory (120), display (140), image sensor (150), communication circuit (160), and / or sensor (170)). For example, the processor (110) (e.g., application processor (AP)) may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) (e.g., a single chip or chipset). For example, the processor (110) may be implemented with a plurality of cores (or at least one core circuit), a plurality of chips, or a plurality of chipsets. For example, the processor (110) may include one or more processing circuits. For example, the processor (110) may include one or more processing circuits configured to perform the various functions of the present disclosure individually and / or collectively. As an example without limitation, at least a portion of the processor (110) may be included in a first chip of the electronic device (100), and at least another portion of the processor (110) may be included in a second chip of the electronic device (100) different from the first chip of the electronic device (100).

[0030] For example, the processor (110) may include a central processing unit (111), a graphics processing unit (112), a neural processing unit (113), an image signal processor (114), a display controller (115), a memory controller (116), a storage controller (117), a communication processor (118), and / or a sensor interface (119). These components of the processor (110) are merely exemplary. For example, the processor (110) may include other components. For example, some components of the processor (110) may be omitted from the processor (110). For example, some components of the processor (110) may be included as separate components of the electronic device (100) outside of the processor (110). For example, some components of the processor (110) (e.g., memory controller (116)) may be included in other components (e.g., at least part of memory (120), an interface (e.g. available for connection to at least one component of the electronic device (100)), a display (140) and / or an image sensor (150)).

[0031] The processor (110) may cause other components of the electronic device (100) to perform various operations by executing instructions stored in memory (120). The CPU (111) (or central processing circuit) may be configured to control the components of the processor (110) based on the execution of instructions stored in memory (120) (e.g., volatile memory (121) and / or non-volatile memory (122)). The GPU (112) (or graphics processing circuit) may be configured to execute parallel operations (e.g., rendering). The NPU (113) (or neural processing circuit, or AI (artificial intelligence) chip) may be configured to execute operations for an artificial intelligence model (e.g., convolution computation). An ISP (114) (or image signal processing circuit) may be configured to process a raw image acquired through an image sensor (150) into a format suitable for a component within the electronic device (100) or a component of the processor (110). A display controller (115) (or display control circuit, or DPU (display processing unit)) may be configured to process an image acquired from a CPU (111), GPU (112), ISP (114), or memory (120) (e.g., volatile memory (121)) into a format suitable for a display (140). A memory controller (116) (or memory control circuit) may be configured to control reading data from the volatile memory (121) and writing data to the volatile memory (121). A storage controller (117) (or storage control circuit) may be configured to control reading data from the non-volatile memory (122) and writing data to the non-volatile memory (122).The CP (118) (communication processing circuit) may be configured to process data obtained from a component of the processor (110) into a format suitable for transmitting to another electronic device via the communication circuit (160), or to process data obtained from another electronic device via the communication circuit (160) into a format suitable for processing by the component of the processor (110). For example, the communication circuit (160) may include one or more communication circuits. The sensor interface (119) (or sensing data processing circuit, sensor hub) may be configured to process data regarding the state of the electronic device (100) and / or the state around the electronic device (100), obtained through the sensor (170), into a format suitable for the component of the processor (110).

[0032] Memory (120) may include one or more storage media (or one or more storage devices). For example, memory (120) may include a memory assembly comprising one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include a hard drive, a permanent memory such as flash memory, read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., non-volatile memory (122)), a semi-permanent memory such as random access memory (RAM) (e.g., volatile memory (121)), any other suitable type of storage (or storage assembly), or any combination thereof. Memory (120) may include a cache memory, which is one or more different types of memory used to temporarily store data for a function or feature of the electronic device (100). As an example not limited to, the cache memory may be included within the processor (110). The memory (120) may be fixedly embedded within the electronic device (100) or incorporated into one or more suitable types of components (e.g., a SIM (subscriber identity module) card and / or an SD (secure digital) card) that can be repeatedly inserted into and removed from the electronic device (100).

[0033] For example, memory (120) may store one or more software applications, such as operating system (or system) software applications, firmware software applications, driver software applications, plugin (e.g., add-in, add-on, and / or applet) software applications, and / or any other suitable software applications. For example, the one or more software applications may include instructions executable by the processor (110). For example, memory (120) may store instructions that can be called by an application programming interface (API). For example, memory (120) may store instructions within a library.

[0034] The electronic device according to the various embodiments disclosed in this document 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 embodiments of this document is not limited to the devices described above.

[0035] The various embodiments of this document 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" may each 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., 1st) component is referred to as “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., 2nd) component, with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicationly,” it means that said any component may be connected to said other component directly (e.g., via a wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0036] The term “module” as used in the various embodiments of this document 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).

[0037] Various embodiments of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., a program) comprising one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory (136) or external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device (100)). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor (110)) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device (100)) may call at least one of the one or more instructions stored in 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-temporary' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as 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 distributed online (e.g., download or upload) through an application store (e.g., Play Store™) 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.

[0039] According to various embodiments, 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 various embodiments, one or more of the components or operations of 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 various embodiments, 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.

[0040] In the following description, the Cartesian coordinate system (xyz coordinate system) of the drawings may be referenced to describe various directions. The directions in the Cartesian coordinate system of the drawings referenced in the following description are exemplary, and it should be understood that descriptions such as ‘first direction’ and ‘second direction’ of the embodiments of the present disclosure may include not only specific directions in the drawings but also other directions. Additionally, in the following description, terms such as ‘x-axis direction’ may include both directions of the corresponding coordinate axis, for example, the +x direction and the -x direction.

[0041] FIG. 2a is a front perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2b is a rear perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 2a according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0042] The electronic device (200) of FIGS. 2a and 2b may be at least partially similar to the electronic device (100) of FIG. 1, or may include various embodiments of the electronic device.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, an electronic device (200) according to one embodiment may include a housing (210) comprising a first surface (or front) (210A), a second surface (or rear) (210B), and a side (210C) surrounding the space between the first surface (210A) and the second surface (210B). In one embodiment (not shown), the housing (210) may refer to a structure forming some of the first surface (210A), the second surface (210B), and the side (210C). According to one embodiment, the first surface (210A) may be formed by a front plate (202) (e.g., a glass plate or a polymer plate including various coating layers) in which at least a portion is substantially transparent. The second surface (210B) may be formed by a rear plate (211) that is substantially opaque. The rear plate (211) may be formed, for example, by coated or colored glass, ceramic, polymer, metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of the above materials. The side (210C) may be formed by a side frame (or "side member") (218) comprising metal and / or polymer, which is combined with the front plate (202) and the rear plate (211). In some embodiments, the rear plate (211) and the side frame (218) may be formed integrally and may comprise the same material (e.g., a metallic material such as aluminum).

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the front plate (202) may include a first region (210D) that curves seamlessly from the first surface (210A) toward the rear plate at both ends of the long edge of the front plate. In the illustrated embodiment (see FIG. 2b), the rear plate (211) may include a second region (210E) that curves seamlessly from the second surface (210B) toward the front plate at both ends of the long edge. In some embodiments, the front plate (202) or the rear plate (211) may include only one of the first region (210D) or the second region (210E). In some embodiments, the front plate (202) and the rear plate (211) may not include the first region and the second region, but may include only a flat plane positioned parallel to the second surface (210B). In the above embodiments, when viewed from the side of the electronic device, the side frame (218) may have a first thickness (or width) on the side that does not include the first region (210D) or the second region (210E) as above, and may have a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness on the side that includes the first region or the second region.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (200) may include at least one of a display (300), an input device (203), an audio output device (207, 214), a sensor module (204, 219), a camera module (205, 212, 213), a key input device (217), an indicator (not shown), and a connector (208). In some embodiments, the electronic device (200) may omit at least one of the components (e.g., a key input device (217), or an indicator) or additionally include other components.

[0046] The display (300) may be exposed, for example, through a substantial portion of the front plate (202). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the display (300) may be exposed through the front plate (202) forming the first surface (210A) and the first area (210D) of the side (210C). The display (300) may be combined with or placed adjacent to a touch sensing circuit, a pressure sensor capable of measuring the intensity (pressure) of the touch, and / or a digitizer that detects a magnetic field-type stylus pen. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the sensor module (204, 219) and / or at least a portion of the key input device (217) may be placed in the first area (210D) and / or the second area (210E).

[0047] The input device (203) may include a microphone. In some embodiments, the input device (203) may include a plurality of microphones positioned to detect the direction of sound. The sound output device (207, 214) may include speakers. The speakers may include an external speaker (207) and a call receiver (214). In some embodiments, the microphone, speakers, and connector (208) may be positioned in the space of the electronic device (200) and may be exposed to the external environment through at least one hole formed in the housing (210). In some embodiments, the hole formed in the housing (210) may be used for both the microphone and the speakers. In some embodiments, the sound output device (207, 214) may include a speaker (e.g., a piezo speaker) that operates with the hole formed in the housing (210) excluded. In some embodiments, the electronic device (200) may include a tray member positioned through at least a portion of the side frame (218).

[0048] The sensor module (204, 219) can generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to an internal operating state of the electronic device (200) or an external environmental state. The sensor module (204, 219) may include, for example, a first sensor module (204) (e.g., proximity sensor) and / or a second sensor module (not shown) (e.g., fingerprint sensor) disposed on a first surface (210A) of the housing (210), and / or a third sensor module (219) (e.g., HRM sensor) disposed on a second surface (210B) of the housing (210). The fingerprint sensor may be disposed on the first surface (210A) of the housing (210). The fingerprint sensor (e.g., ultrasonic or optical fingerprint sensor) may be disposed below the display (300) on the first surface (210A). The electronic device (200) may further include at least one of an unillustrated sensor module, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biosensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor (204).

[0049] The camera modules (205, 212, 213) may include a first camera device (205) disposed on a first surface (210A) of the electronic device (200), a second camera device (212) disposed on a second surface (210B), and / or a flash (213). The camera modules (205, 212) may include one or more optics, an image sensor, and / or an image signal processor. The flash (213) may include, for example, a light-emitting diode or a xenon lamp. In some embodiments, two or more lenses (wide-angle and telephoto lenses) and image sensors may be disposed on one surface of the electronic device (200).

[0050] A key input device (217) may be placed on the side (210C) of the housing (210). In one embodiment, the electronic device (200) may not include some or all of the aforementioned key input devices (217), and the key input devices (217) that are not included may be implemented in other forms, such as soft keys, on the display (300). In one embodiment, the key input device (217) may be implemented using a pressure sensor included in the display (300).

[0051] An indicator may be placed, for example, on a first surface (210A) of a housing (210). The indicator may, for example, provide status information of an electronic device (200) in the form of light. In one embodiment, a light-emitting element may, for example, provide a light source that is coupled with the operation of a camera module (205). The indicator may include, for example, an LED, an IR LED, and a xenon lamp.

[0052] The connector hole (208) may include a first connector hole (208) capable of accommodating a connector (e.g., a USB connector or an IF module (interface connector port module)) for transmitting and receiving power and / or data with an external electronic device, and / or a second connector hole (or earphone jack) capable of accommodating a connector for transmitting and receiving audio signals with an external electronic device.

[0053] Some of the camera modules (205, 212), some of the sensor modules (204, 219), or indicators may be positioned to be exposed through the display (300). For example, the camera module (205), sensor module (204), or indicator may be positioned to come into contact with the external environment through an opening or a transparent area perforated from the internal space of the electronic device (200) to the front plate (202) of the display (300). In one embodiment, the area facing the display (300) and the camera module (205) may be formed as a transparent area having a certain transmittance as part of the area for displaying content. In one embodiment, the transparent area may be formed to have a transmittance in the range of about 5% to about 20%. This transparent area may include an area that overlaps with the effective area (e.g., field of view area) of the camera module (205) through which light passes to form an image and generate an image by being formed by an image sensor. For example, the transparent area of ​​the display (300) may include an area with a lower pixel density than the surrounding area. For example, the transparent area may replace the opening. For example, the camera module (205) may include an under-display camera (UDC). In one embodiment, some sensor modules (204) may be positioned to perform their functions without being visually exposed through the front plate (202) within the internal space of the electronic device. For example, in this case, the perforated opening may be unnecessary for the area of ​​the display (300) facing the sensor modules.

[0054] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 2a according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device (200) may include a frame (301), a front plate (202) (e.g., a front cover), a display (300), a substrate (240), a battery (250), a support bracket (260) (e.g., a rear case or support member), an antenna (270), and a rear plate (211) (e.g., a rear cover). At least one of the components of the electronic device (200) may be identical or similar to at least one of the components of the electronic device (200) of FIG. 2a or FIG. 2b, and redundant descriptions are omitted below.

[0056] According to various embodiments, the frame (301) may include a side member (218) (e.g., the side frame (218) of FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b) and an inner frame (2181a) (e.g., an extension member or a support member).

[0057] The inner frame (2181a) may be disposed inside the electronic device (200) and structurally coupled with the side member (218), or formed integrally with the side member (218). The inner frame (2181a) may be formed, for example, from a metal material and / or a non-metal (e.g., polymer) material. The inner frame (2181a) may have a display (300) coupled to one side and a substrate (240) coupled to the other side. The substrate (240) may be equipped with a processor, memory, and / or an interface. The processor may include, for example, one or more of a central processing unit, an application processor, a graphics processing unit, an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor. The memory may include, for example, volatile memory or non-volatile memory.

[0058] In some embodiments, the electronic device (200) may omit at least one of the components (e.g., an inner frame (2181a), or a support bracket (260)) or additionally include other components.

[0059] The interface may include, for example, an HDMI (high definition multimedia interface), a USB (universal serial bus) interface, an SD (secure digital) card interface, and / or an audio interface. The interface may, for example, electrically or physically connect the electronic device (200) to an external electronic device and may include a USB connector, an SD card / MMC (multi-media card) connector, or an audio connector.

[0060] The battery (250) is a device for supplying power to at least one component of the electronic device (200) and may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell. At least a portion of the battery (250) may be disposed substantially coplanar with, for example, the substrate (240). The battery (250) may be integrally disposed inside the electronic device (200). In one embodiment, the battery (250) may be disposed detachably from the electronic device (200).

[0061] An antenna (270) may be positioned between the rear plate (211) and the battery (250). The antenna (270) may include, for example, a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and / or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The antenna (270) may, for example, communicate near-field with an external device or wirelessly transmit and receive power required for charging. In one embodiment, the antenna structure may be formed by a part or a combination thereof of the side member (218) and / or the inner frame (2181a).

[0062] FIG. 4a is a perspective view showing an electronic device (400) according to various embodiments.

[0063] FIG. 4b is a plan view showing a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0064] FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0065] FIG. 4d is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0066] FIG. 4e is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0067] In FIG. 4b, the illustration of the transparent substrate (410) is omitted for clarity.

[0068] Figures 4c and 4d are cross-sectional views of Figure 4b in the WW direction.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 4a, an electronic device (400) according to various embodiments (e.g., electronic device (100) of FIG. 1, electronic device (200) of FIG. 2a through 3) may include a protective cover (401). For example, the protective cover (401) may be a member that is at least partially transparent and is positioned on the rear surface of the electronic device (400) (e.g., rear surface (210B) of FIG. 2b) to protect the camera (409) of the electronic device (400) from external impact and / or the ingress of foreign matter from the outside. In various embodiments, the protective cover (401) may be fixed to a protective ring (402) located on the rear surface of the electronic device (400). For example, the protective cover (401) may be attached to the protective ring (402) by adhesive, snap, or similar means. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a waterproof member (408) that prevents moisture from penetrating into the camera. In some embodiments, the waterproof member (408) may be located between the protective cover (401) and the camera (409) (e.g., between the visual effect film (420) described later and the camera (409)).

[0070] Referring to FIGS. 4b through 4d, the protective cover (401) may include a transparent substrate (410), a visual effect film (420), and a printed strip (430). The transparent substrate (410) may include, for example, glass, sapphire, polycarbonate and / or a similar transparent material.

[0071] A visual effect film (420) may be a component located on the inside of a transparent substrate (410) and configured to provide a visual effect visible from the outside of an electronic device (400). For example, the visual effect film (420) may provide a visual effect that is visually visible when viewed from the outside of the electronic device (400) in the +z direction on the drawing. The visual effect may include, for example, a design, contrast, color, relief, gradient, interference pattern, structural color (e.g., warm color) and / or holographic effect. In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may be attached to the lower surface (e.g., the surface facing the +z direction) of the transparent substrate (410) by an adhesive layer (440) (e.g., an optically clear adhesive (OCA)). In various embodiments, the thickness of the visual effect film (420) may be 100 to 200 micrometers.

[0072] The printed strip (430) may be a component printed on the surface of the transparent substrate (410) (e.g., the surface facing the +z direction or the surface facing the -z direction). In various embodiments, the printed strip (430) may be positioned to overlap at least partially with the edge of the visual effect film (420). For example, the printed strip (430) may be positioned to cover the edge of the visual effect film (420) (at least one of the outer edge or the inner edge described later) when viewed from the top (-z direction) of the transparent substrate (410). An embodiment in which the printed strip (430) is positioned to cover the inner and outer edges of the visual effect film (420) is illustrated in FIGS. 4b through 4d, but this is a non-limiting example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0073] In various embodiments, an optical opening (429) may be formed in the visual effect film (420). The optical opening (429) may be formed, for example, by cutting out a portion of the central part of the visual effect film (420). For example, the visual effect film (420) may have a ring shape formed by cutting out a central part in a circular, elliptical, or polygonal shape. In some embodiments, the edge of the optical opening (429) formed by cutting out the inner side of the visual effect film (420) may be defined as the inner edge of the visual effect film (420).

[0074] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may be spaced apart from the outer edge of the transparent substrate (410) by a predetermined distance. For example, the radius of the outer edge of the visual effect film (420) may be smaller than the radius of the transparent substrate (410) by a predetermined dimensional tolerance (C) (0.8 mm to 0.12 mm as a non-limiting example). The optical film that attaches the visual effect film (420) to the transparent substrate (410) may also be spaced apart from the outer edge of the transparent substrate (410) with the same or similar dimensional tolerance as the visual effect film (420). Such dimensional tolerance can reduce the risk of interference caused by alignment errors during the lamination process of the visual effect film (420) and damage to the waterproof performance of the protective cover. This will be described in more detail later.

[0075] Due to the aforementioned dimensional tolerance, there is a concern that light generated from a light source (e.g., a flashlight for a camera) inside the electronic device (400) may be visible outside the electronic device (400) (which may be referred to as "light leakage"). According to the present disclosure, the light leakage described above can be prevented and / or reduced by the printing strip (430) covering the edges of the visual effect film (420).

[0076] Additionally, since the process of printing the print strip (430) has high positional precision, the appearance quality of the electronic device (400) can be improved. When attaching the visual effect film (420) to the transparent substrate (410), an attachment position error may occur. For example, the center of the visual effect film (420) and the center of the transparent substrate (410) may not completely coincide. Such an attachment position error can degrade the appearance quality of the electronic device (400). According to the present disclosure, since printing generally has higher positional precision than film attachment, the positional error of the visual effect film (420) can be offset by the print strip (430) covering the edge (e.g., inner edge) of the visual effect film (420), thereby reducing and / or preventing the degrade in appearance quality of the electronic device (400).

[0077] Referring to FIG. 4e, the visual effect film (420) may include various layers. For example, the visual effect film (420) may include a base film (421), a printing layer (422) (e.g., a first printing layer (4221) and a second printing layer (4222)), a molding layer (423), and / or a deposition layer (426). The base film (421) may be a layer that supports other layers and provides a surface for the other layers to be positioned. The base film (421) may include a polymer material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The first printing layer (4221) and the second printing layer (4222) may be layers printed with various colors, patterns, or designs to provide visual effects. For example, the first printing layer (4221) may be a tint printing layer (422), and the second printing layer (4222) may be a gradation printing layer (422). The gradation printing layer (422) may be a layer printed such that the brightness and / or color gradually changes so that the printing strip (430) does not stand out against the first printing layer (4221) and the second printing layer (4222) of the background. For example, the gradation printing layer (422) may provide a brightness and / or color similar to the printing strip (430) for the area overlapping with the printing strip (430) and the adjacent area, and the brightness and / or color may gradually change as it moves away from said area. The molding layer (423) may be a layer that protects the printing layer (422). The molding layer (423) may include a material such as, for example, UV-curing resin. As described below, various three-dimensional patterns may be formed on the molding layer (423) in various embodiments. The deposition layer (426) comprises a metal and / or ceramic material that can be applied by deposition and may provide reflection of light incident from the top of the protective cover (401) and / or shielding of light emitted from the bottom of the protective cover (401).

[0078] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover (1) and a protective ring (2) according to a comparative example.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 5, the protective cover (1) according to the comparative example may include a transparent substrate (10) and a visual effect film (20). In the comparative example, the visual effect film (20) may be attached to the lower surface of the transparent substrate (10) such that its outer perimeter matches the outer perimeter of the transparent substrate (10) without any tolerance or gap. In this case, when the visual effect film (20) is attached, the adhesive of the adhesive layer (40) may be located within the gap (G) between the protective cover (01) and the protective ring (02) due to an attachment position error or viscoelastic flow of the adhesive layer (40). If the adhesive of the adhesive layer (40) (e.g., OCA (optically clear adhesive)) is located within the gap (G) between the protective cover (1) and the protective ring (2), it is exposed to moisture entering from the outside, and the moisture is absorbed into the interior of the electronic device, and there is a risk of the visual effect film (20) falling off due to the deterioration of the adhesive of the adhesive layer (40).

[0080] In contrast, referring again to FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c, according to the present disclosure, by leaving a predetermined gap (C) between the outer edge of the visual effect film (420) and the transparent substrate (410), the possibility of reduced water resistance and / or detachment of the visual effect film (420) caused by the adhesive of the adhesive layer (440) being exposed to the outside can be reduced or prevented. In addition, the deterioration in appearance quality caused by leaving the aforementioned predetermined gap (C) can be reduced and / or prevented by the printed strip (430) of the present disclosure.

[0081] FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0082] FIG. 6b is an enlarged view showing an exemplary optical pattern (424) of a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0083] FIG. 6c is a cross-sectional view showing a protective cover (1) according to a comparative example.

[0084] Regarding the transparent substrate (410), printed strip (430), and adhesive layer (440) of FIG. 6a, reference may be made to the descriptions in FIG. 4a through 4e, provided there is no contradiction.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 6a, in various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include a base film (421) and a molding layer (423). The base film (421) may be a film made of a polymer material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The molding layer (423) may be a layer formed by molding a resin (e.g., UV-curing resin) and may include an optical pattern (424).

[0086] In various embodiments, the base film (421) and the molding layer (423) of the visual effect film (420) may be positioned over the optical opening (429). Since the molding layer (423) and the base film (421) are transparent, light incident on the protective cover (401) may be transmitted. For example, the portion of the molding layer (423) corresponding to the optical opening (429) may have a substantially flat shape, and the optical pattern (424) of the molding layer (423) may be formed around the optical opening (429).

[0087] In various embodiments, a deposition layer (426) may be formed on the optical pattern (424) of the molding layer (423), and a shielding printing layer (427) may be formed on the deposition layer (426). The deposition layer (426) may reflect light passing through the molding layer (423) to enhance the optical effect of the optical pattern (424).

[0088] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include a coating layer (450). The coating layer (450) may include an anti-reflection (AR) coating layer (450) and / or an anti-fouling (AF) coating layer (450). The anti-reflection coating layer (450) can reduce optical defects such as ghosting, halos, and flares caused by reflection and scattering in a camera (e.g., camera (409) in FIG. 4c and FIG. 4d) located under the protective cover (401) by removing reflected light due to interference effects occurring in the thin film. In various embodiments, the coating layer (450) may be applied to the visual effect film (420) by means such as deposition and / or spray coating.

[0089] In various embodiments, the coating layer (450) may be located below the molding layer (423). For example, the coating layer (450) may be placed on the lower surface of the area of ​​the molding layer (423) corresponding to the optical opening (429). Additionally, the coating layer (450) may be placed on the lower surface of a layer (e.g., a shielding printed layer (427)) on the optical pattern (424).

[0090] Referring to FIG. 6b, the optical pattern (424) may be a pattern of protrusions and / or grooves formed on the molding layer (423) to produce optical effects by diffraction (e.g., interference fringes, holography, and / or structural color (e.g., iridescence)). The protrusions and / or grooves of the optical pattern (424) may be formed at predetermined intervals and heights determined to produce specific optical effects by diffraction.

[0091] Referring again to FIG. 6a, the thickness of the portion corresponding to the optical opening (429) in the molding layer (423) may be substantially the same as the thickness of the portion where the optical pattern (424) is formed and the layers disposed on that portion (e.g., the deposition layer (426) and / or the shielding printing layer (427)). For example, the step between the portion corresponding to the optical opening (429) in the molding layer (423) and the shielding printing layer (427) may be 5 micrometers or less.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 6c, in the comparative example, the base film (21) layer and the molding layer (23) in the area corresponding to the optical opening (29) of the visual effect film (20) may be removed (e.g., cut off). In the comparative example, a coating layer (50) (e.g., an anti-reflective coating layer (50)) may be placed on the lower surface of the protective cover (1). For example, the anti-reflective layer may be placed on the lower surface of the transparent substrate (10) in the area corresponding to the optical opening (29), and the anti-reflective layer may be placed on the lower surface of the visual effect film (20) in the area where the visual effect film (20) is placed.

[0093] In various embodiments, the thickness of the visual effect film (20) is about 150 to 200 micrometers, so when a coating layer (50) is deposited or spray-coated while the visual effect film (20) is attached, a shaded area (S) may occur in an area adjacent to the visual effect film (20). In the shaded area (S), the thickness of the coating layer (50) is reduced or the coating layer (50) is not applied, so the thickness of the coating layer (50) is uneven, and when the camera takes a picture through the protective cover (1), the image quality (e.g., resolution measured by SFR (spatial frequency response) or MTF (modulation transfer function)) may be degraded.

[0094] In contrast, referring to FIG. 6a, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the base film (421) and the molding layer (423) are also located at the optical aperture, so the height difference between the optical aperture and its periphery (the area where the optical pattern (424) is formed) is low or substantially no height difference, so the shaded area can be reduced or eliminated when the coating layer (450) is deposited or spray-coated. Accordingly, the image quality of the camera (e.g., the camera (409) of FIG. 4c and FIG. 4d) taking pictures through the protective cover (401) can be improved.

[0095] FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view of a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0096] FIG. 7b is an enlarged view of an exemplary moth-eye pattern (425) of a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0097] FIG. 7c is a graph showing the operation of a moth-eye pattern (425) according to various embodiments.

[0098] FIG. 7d is a cross-sectional view of a protective cover (401) according to various embodiments.

[0099] Referring to FIGS. 7a and 7b, the molding layer (423) may include a moth-eye pattern (425). In various embodiments, the moth-eye pattern (425) may be formed in the molding layer (423) in an area corresponding to an optical opening (429). The moth-eye pattern (425) may be a biomimetic nanostructure and may include micro-protrusions (e.g., conical or polygonal pyramidal protrusions) having a size (e.g., width and height) smaller than the wavelength of light. The size of the moth-eye pattern (425) may be determined according to the wavelength of light for which anti-reflection is required. For example, the size of the moth-eye pattern (425) for visible light may be 0.2 to 0.4 micrometers. The moth-eye pattern (425) may be formed by applying means such as nanoimprinting to the resin of the molding layer (423).

[0100] In various embodiments, the anti-reflective coating layer (450) may not be located on the molding layer (423) on which the moth-eye pattern (425) is formed. Since the moth-eye pattern (425) suppresses light reflection, a separate anti-reflective coating may not be required. Since the anti-fouling coating layer (450) has a thickness of several nanometers or less, in some embodiments, the anti-fouling coating layer (450) may be placed on the molding layer (423) on which the moth-eye pattern (425) is formed.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 7c, in various embodiments, the surface of the molding layer (423) on which the moth-eye pattern (425) is formed can cause the refractive index of the light (L) incident on the molding layer (423) to change gradually. Since the refractive index at the interface between air and the molding layer (423) changes gradually rather than abruptly, the reflection of light caused by the difference in refractive index is reduced, so the surface of the molding layer (423) on which the moth-eye pattern (425) is formed can suppress the reflection of light from the surface of the molding layer (423) even without a separate anti-reflection coating layer (450).

[0102] Referring to FIG. 7d, in various embodiments, the protective cover (401) may include a plurality of different visual effect films (420). For example, a first visual effect film (420a) may be attached to the lower surface of the transparent substrate (410) of the protective cover (401) by a first adhesive layer (440a), and a second visual effect film (420b) may be attached to the first visual effect film (420a) by a second adhesive layer (440b). In various embodiments, the first visual effect film (420a) may include a printing layer (422) (e.g., the first printing layer (4221) and / or the second printing layer (4222) of FIG. 4e), and the second visual effect film (420b) may include a molding layer (423). The molding layer (423) may include an optical pattern (424) and / or a moth-eye pattern (425). By laminating a plurality of visual effect films (420), the optical effects of various visual effect films (420) can be combined. For example, the first adhesive layer (440a) may include a gradient printing layer (422) to mask the printed strip (430), and the second adhesive layer (440b) may provide a diffraction interference effect by the optical pattern (424) and an anti-reflection effect by the moth-eye pattern (425). Since the base film (421) of each visual effect film (420) extends into an optical aperture region, it is possible for a plurality of visual effect films (420) to be stably laminated together.

[0103] An electronic device (400) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is an electronic device (400) comprising a housing, and may include a protective cover (401) located on one side of the housing of the electronic device (400). The protective cover (401) may include a transparent substrate (410) that is at least partially transparent. The protective cover (401) may include a visual effect film (420) located on the inside of the transparent substrate (410) and configured to provide a visual effect visible from the outside of the electronic device (400) through the protective cover (401). The protective cover (401) may include a printed strip (430) printed on the surface of the transparent substrate (410) so as to overlap at least partially with the edge of the visual effect film (420).

[0104] In various embodiments, the printed strip (430) may be printed on the inner surface of the transparent substrate (410).

[0105] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include a printed layer (422) printed to provide the visual effect.

[0106] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may be positioned so as to be spaced apart from the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410) by a predetermined distance. The printed strip (430) may be positioned to cover the predetermined distance between the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410) and the visual effect film (420).

[0107] In various embodiments, the protective cover (401) may further include an adhesive layer (440) that bonds the visual effect film (420) and the protective cover (401) to each other between the visual effect film (420) and the transparent substrate (410). The adhesive layer (440) may be positioned at a predetermined distance from the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410).

[0108] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) has an optical opening (429) formed to allow light passing through the protective cover (401) to pass through, and the printed strip (430) can be printed so as to overlap with the edge of the opening.

[0109] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include an optical pattern (424) formed to cause diffraction interference.

[0110] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include a substrate layer and a molding layer (423) located on the substrate layer and having the optical pattern (424) formed thereon.

[0111] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) has an optical opening (429) formed to allow light passing through the protective cover (401) to pass through,

[0112] The above molding layer (423) has the optical pattern (424) formed outside the optical opening (429), and

[0113] The above visual effect film (420) may further include an anti-reflective coating layer (450) located on the molding layer (423).

[0114] In various embodiments, the molding layer (423) may include a moth-eye pattern formed in an area corresponding to the optical opening (429) and formed with a size smaller than the wavelength of the light.

[0115] A protective cover (401) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be a protective cover (401) for a camera (409) of an electronic device (400). The protective cover (401) may include a transparent substrate (410) that is at least partially transparent. The protective cover (401) may include a visual effect film (420) configured to be located inside the electronic device (400) with respect to the transparent substrate (410) and to provide a visual effect visible from outside the electronic device (400) through the protective cover (401). The protective cover (401) may include a printed strip (430) printed on the surface of the transparent substrate (410) so as to overlap at least partially with the edge of the visual effect film (420).

[0116] In various embodiments, the printed strip (430) may be printed on the surface of the transparent substrate (410) facing the inside of the electronic device (400).

[0117] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include a printed layer (422) printed to provide the visual effect.

[0118] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may be positioned so as to be spaced apart from the outer perimeter of the transparent substrate (410) by a predetermined distance, and the printed strip (430) may be positioned to cover the predetermined distance between the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410) and the visual effect film (420).

[0119] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) and the protective cover (401) are further bonded to each other between the visual effect film (420) and the transparent substrate (410), and

[0120] The adhesive layer (440) may be positioned at a predetermined distance from the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410).

[0121] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) has an optical opening (429) formed to allow light passing through the protective cover (401) to pass through, and the printed strip (430) can be printed so as to overlap with the edge of the opening.

[0122] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include an optical pattern (424) formed to cause diffraction interference.

[0123] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) may include a substrate layer and a molding layer (423) located on the substrate layer and having the optical pattern (424) formed thereon.

[0124] In various embodiments, the visual effect film (420) has an optical opening (429) formed to allow light passing through the protective cover (401) to pass through, and the molding layer (423) has an optical pattern (424) formed outside the optical opening (429), and the visual effect film (420) may further include an anti-reflective coating layer (450) located on the molding layer (423).

[0125] In various embodiments, the molding layer (423) may include a moth-eye pattern formed in an area corresponding to the optical opening (429) and formed with a size smaller than the wavelength of the light.

[0126] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings are merely specific examples presented to facilitate the explanation of the technical content according to the embodiments disclosed in this document and to aid in understanding the embodiments disclosed in this document, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments disclosed in this document. Accordingly, the scope of the various embodiments disclosed in this document should be interpreted to include all modifications or variations derived based on the technical concept of the various embodiments disclosed in this document, in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. In an electronic device (400) including a housing, It includes a protective cover (401) located on one side of the housing of the electronic device (400), and The above protective cover (401) is, At least partially transparent transparent substrate (410); A visual effect film (420) configured to be located on the inner side of the transparent substrate (410) and to provide a visual effect visible from the outside of the electronic device (400) through the protective cover (401); An electronic device comprising a printed strip (430) printed on the surface of the transparent substrate (410) so as to overlap at least partially with the edge of the visual effect film (420).

2. In Paragraph 1, The above printed strip (430) is an electronic device printed on the inner surface of the above transparent substrate (410).

3. In Paragraph 1, The above visual effect film (420) is an electronic device comprising a printed layer (422) printed to provide the above visual effect.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above visual effect film (420) is positioned at a predetermined distance from the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410), and The above printed strip (430) is an electronic device positioned to cover the predetermined gap between the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410) and the visual effect film (420).

5. In Paragraph 1, It further includes an adhesive layer (440) that mutually bonds the visual effect film (420) and the protective cover (401) between the visual effect film (420) and the transparent substrate (410). The above adhesive layer (440) is an electronic device positioned at a predetermined distance from the outer boundary of the transparent substrate (410).

6. In Paragraph 1, The above visual effect film (420) has an optical opening (429) formed to allow light passing through the protective cover (401) to pass through, The above printed strip (430) is an electronic device printed to overlap with the border of the opening.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above visual effect film (420) is an electronic device comprising an optical pattern (424) formed to cause diffraction interference.

8. In Paragraph 7, The above visual effect film (420) is, base film (421); and An electronic device comprising a molding layer (423) having an optical pattern (424) formed thereon and positioned on the base film (421).

9. In Paragraph 8, The above visual effect film (420) has an optical opening (429) formed to allow light passing through the protective cover (401) to pass through, The above molding layer (423) has the optical pattern (424) formed outside the optical opening (429), and The above visual effect film (420) is an electronic device further comprising an anti-reflective coating layer (450) located on the molding layer (423).

10. In Paragraph 9, The above molding layer (423) is, An electronic device comprising a moth-eye pattern formed in an area corresponding to the optical opening (429) and formed with a size smaller than the wavelength of the light.

11. In a protective cover (401) for a camera (409) of an electronic device (400), At least partially transparent transparent substrate (410); A visual effect film (420) configured to be located on the inside of the electronic device (400) with respect to the transparent substrate (410) and to provide a visual effect visible from the outside of the electronic device (400) through the protective cover (401); A protective cover comprising a printed strip (430) printed on the surface of the transparent substrate (410) so as to overlap at least partially with the edge of the visual effect film (420).

12. In Paragraph 11, The above printed strip (430) is a protective cover printed on the surface of the transparent substrate (410) facing the inside of the electronic device (400).

13. In Paragraph 11, The above visual effect film (420) is a protective cover comprising an optical pattern (424) formed to cause diffraction interference.

14. In Paragraph 13, The above visual effect film (420) is, base film (421); and A protective cover comprising a molding layer (423) having an optical pattern (424) formed thereon and positioned on the base film (421).

15. In Paragraph 14, The above visual effect film (420) has an optical opening (429) formed to allow light passing through the protective cover (401) to pass through, The above molding layer (423) has the optical pattern (424) formed outside the optical opening (429), and The above visual effect film (420) is a protective cover further comprising an anti-reflective coating layer (450) located on the molding layer (423).

Images