Foldable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11567540-B2
Application number	US-202117157566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2021
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A foldable device includes first and second bodies that respectively support a first part and a second part of a flexible display device and are foldably connected to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position, and a movable support member that continuously near-supports a third part of the flexible display device between the first part and the second part when the first body and the second body change from the folded position to the unfolded position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable device, comprising:
a flexible display comprising a first part, a second part, and a third part disposed between the first part and the second part;
a first body configured to support the first part;
a second body configured to support the second part and rotate by being synchronized with the first body;
a hinge configured to connect the first body and the second body to be rotatable based on a first center axis and a second center axis, respectively;
a supporting member configured to be disposed between the first body and the second body and support the third part based on the flexible display being unfolded; and
a first pivot lever and a second pivot lever configured to connect to the supporting member,
wherein the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever are configured to pivot from the supporting member while rotating for the first body and the second body to be folded, and
wherein the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever form, in a state of the flexible display being folded, a space in which a curved portion of the third part is provided.

2. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises a first gear, and
wherein the second body comprises a second gear configured to engage with the first gear.

3. The foldable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first receiver and a second receiver which are connected with the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever respectively,
wherein the first receiver and the second receiver are configured to be pivoted by the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever while rotating for the first body and the second body to be folded, and support the third part.

4. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting member comprises a slot formed in a horizontal direction toward the first body and the second body, and
wherein the first body and the second body are disposed at one end facing each other and comprise a pair of guide portions configured to be slidingly inserted to the slot.

5. The foldable device of claim 4 , wherein the supporting member is configured to move in one direction or another direction by the sliding of the pair of guide portions according to rotation of the first body and the second body.

6. The foldable device of claim 4 , wherein the first body and the second body comprise a first base cover and a second base cover, and a first frame and a second frame configured to be disposed inside of the first base cover and the second base cover and support the flexible display, and
wherein the pair of guide portions are disposed at one end of the first frame and the second frame facing each other.

7. The foldable device of claim 6 , wherein the one end of the first frame and the second frame are formed to bend toward the flexible display in a state of the flexible display being unfolded.

8. The foldable device of claim 4 , wherein the supporting member further comprises an insertion groove configured to be formed at a center portion of the slot and for the pair of guide portions to be inserted.

9. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting member is configured to evenly support the third part in a state of the flexible display being unfolded, and form a receiving space receiving the third part with the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever in the state of the flexible display being folded.

10. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the first body and the second body further comprise a stopper configured to support the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever, and
wherein the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever are supported by the stopper based on the flexible display being unfolded so that the third part is evenly unfolded.

11. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting member is configured to support the third part when the flexible display is folded.

12. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the curved portion is provided entirely between the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever along a direction perpendicular to the first center axis, in a state of the flexible display being folded.

13. A foldable device, comprising:
a flexible display comprising a first part, a second part, and a third part disposed between the first part and the second part;
a first body configured to support the first part;
a second body configured to support the second part and rotate by being synchronized with the first body;
a hinge configured to connect the first body and the second body to be rotatable based on a first center axis and a second center axis, respectively;
a supporting member configured to be disposed between the first body and the second body and support the third part based on the flexible display being unfolded; and
a first pivot lever and a second pivot lever configured to connect to the supporting member,
wherein the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever are configured to pivot from the supporting member while rotating for the first body and the second body to be folded, and form a space for receiving a curved portion of the third part, and
wherein the first pivot lever extends along a first plane, and the second pivot lever extends along a second plane, and the curved portion is provided entirely between the first plane and the second plane, in a state of the flexible display being folded.

14. A foldable device, comprising:
a flexible display comprising a first part, a second part, and a third part disposed between the first part and the second part;
a first body configured to support the first part;
a second body configured to support the second part and rotate by being synchronized with the first body;
a hinge configured to connect the first body and the second body to be rotatable based on a first center axis and a second center axis, respectively;
a supporting member configured to be disposed between the first body and the second body and support the third part based on the flexible display being unfolded; and
a first pivot lever and a second pivot lever configured to connect to the supporting member,
wherein the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever are configured to pivot from the supporting member while rotating for the first body and the second body to be folded, and form a space for receiving a curved portion of the third part, and
wherein the third part is entirely provided between portions of the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever that face each other, in a state of the flexible display being folded.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Seo Ho-Seong
• Park Kyung-Wan
• Lee Ga-Eun
• Jung Ji-Hyun
• Cho Shi-Yun

Classifications

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1652 Primary

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title