Electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10229629-B2
Application number	US-201715724083-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2017
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

An electronic device includes first and second body part; a third body part connecting the first and second body parts such that the first an second body parts are switched to an unfolded state or a folded state, a display unit disposed on one surface of each of the first and second body parts and provided such that a partial region thereof is foldable in the unfolded state and the folded state, an extending part extending in the unfolded state, a support part including first and second support regions supporting the display unit, and an elastic force providing unit providing an elastic force in different directions such that the unfolded state and the folded state are maintained.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a first body and a second body, wherein the first body comprises a first support region and a second support region, wherein the first support region includes ribs which cooperate with ribs of the second support region, wherein the first body and the second body are positionable between an unfolded state and a folded state, and wherein the first support region is positionable relative to the second support region in opposing first and second directions when in the unfolded state;
a connecting member connecting the first body with the second body, wherein the connecting member permits positioning of the first body and the second body between the unfolded state and the folded state;
a display located on a side of each of the first body and the second body, wherein the display comprises a first region, a second region, and a third region located between the first region and the second region; and
an elastic member providing an elastic force to maintain displacement of the first support region relative to the second support region in the unfolded state.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein
a first swivel arm and a second swivel arm located in a recess of the first body, wherein a first end of each of the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm are coupled to the first support region of the first body,
wherein the elastic member is coupled to a second end of each of the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm, and
wherein the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm rotatably move in mutually opposite directions when the first support region is positioned relative to the second support region in opposing first and second directions when in the unfolded state.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein
the connecting member includes a hinge shaft extending in a direction, and
in the unfolded state, the elastic member provides a contracting elastic force in a direction parallel to the direction of the hinge shaft, and
in the folded state the elastic member provides a force in a direction perpendicular to the hinge shaft direction.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein
the first body includes a cover moving to open and close the recess by an elastic force when switching to the folded state or the unfolded state, and moving the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein
the recess is formed in a region overlapping the display.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein
the connecting member is a hinge shaft,
the first support region is coupled to the hinge shaft,
the ribs of the first support region extend in a direction away from the hinge shaft, and spaces are formed between the ribs of the first support region.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein
the first support region is sized to receive the second support region when in the folded state.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein
the first support region includes the elastic member within a defined space.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein
the first support region, the second support region, and the second body include a bezel region, and
the ribs the first support region, the ribs of the second support region, and the elastic member, overlap with the display.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to:
cause the display to display first screen information on the first region of the display that corresponds the first body, when in the folded state;
cause the display to display second screen information different from the first screen information on the second region of the display that corresponds to the second body, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state; and
cause the display to display a portion of the first screen information on the third region of the display, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein
the first screen information and the second screen information include a plurality of icons respectively corresponding to a plurality of applications.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to:
cause the display to display a first execution screen of a specific application on the first region of the display that corresponds the first body, when in the folded state;

cause the display to display a second execution screen of the application on the second region of the display that corresponds to the second body, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state; and
cause the display to display an image that relates to the first execution screen on the third region of the display, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a controller configured to:
change the first execution screen displayed on the first region of the display in response to a touch received at the second region.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to:
cause the display to display a plurality of execution screens of different applications on the first region and the second region, and display an image including a specific icon on the third region, when in the folded state.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 ,
wherein the controller is further configured to:
cause the display to magnify or reduce one of the plurality of execution screens based on a drag touch input applied to the first region, the second region, and the third region of the display.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is coupled to the first support region and the second support region.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein
in the folded state, the first region of the display faces a first direction, the second region of the display faces a second direction that is opposite that of the first direction, and
in the unfolded state, the first region of the display, the second region of the display, and the third region of the display, all face the first direction.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yang Hyunsuk
• Kim Hangseok
• Park Minho
• Han Jaeyoung

Classifications

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G09G2380/02

  Flexible displays · CPC title

• G09G3/2096 Primary

  Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a flat panel (suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/006; specific for a CRT G09G1/167) · CPC title