Mobile terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12088744-B2
Application number	US-201917616300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2019
Priority date	Jun 24, 2019
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A mobile terminal comprises: a first frame; a second frame configured to make a sliding movement in a first direction with regard to the first frame, or in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a rotating gear coupled to the second frame to be able to rotate around an axis of rotation extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction; a flexible display unit comprising a first area coupled to the front surface of the first frame and a second area which is bent while surrounding the rotating gear; a first flexible rack gear extending from the first frame in the first direction, the first flexible rack gear being positioned between the flexible display unit and the second frame and being bent while surrounding the rotating gear; and a second flexible rack gear coupled to the back surface of the flexible display unit so as to engage with the rotating gear and rotate accordingly. When expanded, the mobile terminal can be stably supported, thereby solving the problem of sagging of the flexible display unit, or the problem of an error occurring during a touch input.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
a first frame;
a second frame configured to slidably move in a first direction with respect to the first frame or in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
a rotary gear rotatably coupled to the second frame about a rotary shaft extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and including a first portion and a second portion positioned in the third direction from the first portion;
a flexible display unit configured to include a first region coupled to a front surface of the first frame, and a second region that is bent while surrounding the rotary gear;
a first flexible rack gear coupled to the first frame and extending in the first direction, wherein the first flexible rack gear is disposed between the second region of the flexible display unit and the second frame, and formed to be bent while surrounding the first portion of the rotary gear; and
a second flexible rack gear coupled to a back surface of the flexible display unit, and configured to rotate while surrounding the second portion of the rotary gear,
wherein a length in the first direction of the first flexible rack gear is longer than a length in the first direction of the second flexible rack gear, and
wherein the first flexible rack gear rotates the rotary gear when the second frame slides and the rotating rotary gear moves the second flexible rack gear so that the second region moves.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein: in the rotary gear, the first portion formed to overlap the first flexible rack gear is larger in size than the second portion formed to overlap the second flexible rack gear.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2 , wherein:
a diameter of the first portion of the rotary gear is equal to a diameter of the second portion of the rotary gear; and
a serrated pitch of the first flexible rack gear is equal to a serrated pitch of the second flexible rack gear.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 2 , wherein:
a diameter of the second portion of the rotary gear is larger in size than a diameter of the first portion of the rotary gear; and
a serrated pitch of the second flexible rack gear is larger in size than a serrated pitch of the first flexible rack gear.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein:
one pair of the second flexible rack gears is arranged in the third direction; and
the first flexible rack gear is disposed between the two second flexible rack gears making the one pair.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible rack gear includes:
a plurality of curved uneven portions formed on a surface facing the flexible display unit.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 6 , wherein:
the plurality of curved uneven portions is formed to extend in the third direction, and is arranged side by side in the first direction.

8. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first flexible rack gear further includes at least one guide protrusion located at both side surfaces arranged in the third direction; and
the second frame further includes a guide rail formed to cover both side surfaces arranged in the second direction and formed to include a guide rail into which the guide protrusion is inserted.

9. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of first magnets disposed in the first frame, and arranged in the first direction; and
a second magnet disposed in the second frame,
wherein the second magnet is magnetically coupled to one of the plurality of first magnets when the second frame moves in the first direction.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third frame configured to move in the second or first direction with respect to the first frame, and disposed symmetrical to the second frame;
a fixing groove formed in the first frame; and
a fixing protrusion formed in each of the second frame and the third frame, and inserted into the fixing groove when pressed.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the second frame further includes:
a slide rail extending in the first direction such that both ends arranged in the third direction of the slide rail are configured to accommodate ends of the flexible display unit.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Jiho
• Lee Byunghwa
• Han Jaeyoung
• Kim Minsoo
• Lee Kyunghwan

Classifications

• H04M2201/38

  Displays · CPC title

• H04M2201/08

  Magnetic elements · CPC title

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

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

• G06F1/1624

  with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display · CPC title