Mobile terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12041193-B2
Application number	US-201917436523-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2019
Priority date	Mar 19, 2019
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable mobile terminal characterized by comprising: a foldable body; a flexible display panel which is provided on one surface of the body and folds together with the body; and a protective cover covering the flexible display panel. The protective cover comprises a first cover covering a foldable first area in the flexible display panel, and a second cover covering second covers provided on both sides of the first area in the flexible display panel. The second cover is made of a material which is different from the material of the first cover, and has a higher rigidity than the first cover.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
a flexible display panel including a first region, a second region, and a third region arranged between the first region and the second region;
a first body configured to support the first region;
a second body configured to support the second region; and
a hinge module configured to support the third region, wherein the first body and the second body are rotatably connected to the hinge module,
wherein the hinge module comprises:
a hinge body including a first shaft and a second shaft on both sides thereof;
a first hinge connector pivoting on the first shaft and connected to the first body;
a second hinge connector pivoting on the second shaft and connected to the second body;
a hinge body shield arranged on a rear surface of the hinge body;
a first hinge connector shield provided on a rear surface of the first hinge connector; and
a second hinge connector shield provided on a rear surface of the second hinge connector, and
wherein:
a distance of the first body to the first shaft varies according to a rotation angle of the first hinge connector; and
a distance of the second body to the second shaft varies according to a rotation angle of the second hinge connector.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge connector and the second hinge connector rotate the same angle around the first shaft and the second shaft in opposite directions through a plurality of first gear groups operatively engaged with each other.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2 , wherein:
the first body comprises a first rack to be engaged with a first pinion provided to the first hinge connector, wherein a distance of the first rack to the first shaft varies according to rotation of the first pinion; and
the second body comprises a second rack to be engaged with a second pinion provided to the second hinge connector, wherein a distance of the second rack to the second shaft varies according to rotation of the second pinion,
wherein the first pinion and the second pinion are arranged on one side surface of the first hinge connector and one side surface of the second hinge connector, respectively, and
wherein the first pinion and the second pinion rotate according to the rotation angle of the first hinge connector and the second hinge connector.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein, when the flexible display panel forms one flat surface, front surfaces of the hinge body, the first hinge connector and the second hinge connector of the hinge module are arranged in the same plane to support the third region.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein:
the first body comprises:
a first guide including a guide groove to receive a first protrusion protruding from one side surface of the first hinge connector and inserted thereinto; and
the second body comprises:
a second guide including a guide groove to receive a second protrusion protruding from one side surface of the second hinge connector and inserted thereinto.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5 , wherein each of the first protrusion and the second protrusion includes a polygonal cross section with respect to a protruding direction thereof.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 5 , wherein, when the flexible display panel forms one flat surface, the first guide and the second guide include front surfaces arranged in the same plane as a front surface of the hinge module to support the third region.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7 , wherein, when the flexible display panel forms the one flat surface, the first guide and the second guide contact each other to support the third region.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein:
the first body comprises a first hinge cover extending toward the hinge module; and
the second body comprises a second hinge cover extending toward the hinge module,
wherein, when the flexible display panel forms one flat surface, the first hinge cover and the second hinge cover contact each other at a rear side of the hinge module to shield the hinge module from an outside.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1 ,
wherein the hinge body shield comprises a central sidewall extending along the two shafts and protruding toward the flexible display panel.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein, when the flexible display panel forms one flat surface, the central sidewall includes a front surface arranged in the same plane as a front surface of the hinge body to support the third region.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 10 ,
wherein the first hinge connector shield and the second hinge connector shield include a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending along the two shafts and protruding toward the flexible display panel, respectively.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12 , wherein, when the flexible display panel forms one flat surface, the first sidewall and the second sidewall include front surfaces arranged in the same plane as front surfaces of the first hinge connector and the second hinge connector to support the third region.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 12 , wherein the first sidewall includes a first slope and the second sidewall includes a second slope, wherein the first slope and the second slope are arranged on both sides of the central sidewall and inclined toward the central sidewall,
wherein the central sidewall includes a third slope and a fourth slope inclined toward the first sidewall or the second sidewall, the third slope and the fourth slope corresponding to the first slope or the second slope.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first body is arranged on both sides of the second region,
wherein the first region and the third region of the flexible display panel are arranged on both sides of the second region, and
wherein the second body is connected to the first body arranged on both sides through the hinge module.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15 , wherein, in an unfolded state of the mobile terminal, the first body on both sides of the second body are arranged in the same plane, and
wherein, in a folded state of the mobile terminal, the first body arranged on one side of the second body overlap the first body arranged on an opposite side of the second body.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16 , wherein the hinge body of the hinge module provided on the opposite side of the second body has a wider width than the hinge body of the hinge module provided on the one side of the second body.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 16 , wherein:
the hinge module provided on the one side of the second body comprises:
a hinge body shield extending on a rear surface of the hinge body along the first shaft; and
the hinge module provided on the opposite side of the second body comprises:
a hinge body shield;
a first hinge connector shield extending on a rear surface of the first hinge connector along the first shaft; and
a second hinge connector shield extending on a rear surface of the second hinge connector along the first shaft.

19. A mobile terminal comprising:
a flexible display panel including a first region, a second region, and a third region arranged between the first region and the second region;
a first body configured to support a rear side of the first region;
a second body configured to support a rear side of the second region;
a hinge module configured to support the third region, wherein the first body and the second body are rotatably connected to hinge module;
a first hinge cover extending from the first body to

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Cha Youngdo
• Lee Jungyun

Classifications

• H04M1/0247

  comprising more than two body parts · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• H04M2201/38

  Displays · CPC title

• H05K5/0086

  portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus (casings for switching devices H01H9/02) · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title