Electronic device for moving flexible printed circuit board along support plate during unfolding operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12356569-B2
Application number	US-202217903405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2022
Priority date	Aug 3, 2021
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

According to various example embodiments, a foldable electronic device configured to move a flexible printed circuit board along a support plate during an unfolding operation may include: a hinge configured to support a flexible printed circuit board, wherein the hinge may include: a hinge body, a support plate rotatably connected to the hinge body, a slider slidable along the support plate and configured to support the flexible printed circuit board, and a connecting part configured to connect the support plate and a connecting plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable electronic device configured to move a flexible printed circuit board along a support plate during an unfolding operation, the electronic device comprising:
a hinge;
a first housing and a second housing rotatably connected to the hinge;
a display disposed in the first housing and the second housing and deformable based on movement of the first housing and the second housing; and
the flexible printed circuit board provided at an inside of the first housing and the second housing,
wherein the hinge comprises:
a hinge body;
a pair of first support plates connected to the first housing and rotatably connected to the hinge body based on a first rotation axis;
a pair of second support plates connected to the second housing and rotatably connected to the hinge body based on a second rotation axis;
a first slider positioned between the pair of first support plates, slidable along the first support plate and configured to support one side of the flexible printed circuit board;
a second slider positioned between the pair of second support plates, slidable along the second support plate and configured to support the other side of the flexible printed circuit board;
a first circuit board disposed on the first slider; and
a second circuit board disposed on the second slider;
wherein the flexible printed circuit board is connected to the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first slider and the first rotation axis changes based on the first support plate rotating.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first slider is configured to move along the first support plate in a direction of increasing distance from the first rotation axis, based on the first support plate rotating in a direction in which an angle between the first support plate and the second support plate increases.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first slider is rotatably connected to the hinge body based on a third rotation axis parallel with the first rotation axis and spaced apart from the first rotation axis.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a distance between the third rotation axis and the first rotation axis is greater than a distance between the third rotation axis and the second rotation axis.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge further comprises:
a first connecting part configured to connect the first support plate to the first slider; and
a second connecting part configured to connect the second support plate to the second slider.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the first support plate and the first slider are movable in one degree of freedom, and the second support plate and the second slider are movable in the one degree of freedom.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the first connecting part comprises: a connecting body connected to any one of the first support plate and the first slider, and a connecting guide provided in the other one of the first support plate and the first slider and configured to accommodate the connecting body.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the connecting body is configured to move along the connecting guide in a direction of increasing distance from the first rotation axis, based on the first support plate rotating in a direction in which an angle between the first support plate and the second support plate increases.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first guide plate rotatably connected to the hinge body based on a third rotation axis and configured to support the first slider;
a second guide plate rotatably connected to the hinge body based on a fourth rotation axis and configured to support the second slider.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first driving gear connected to the first guide plate and rotatable based on the third rotation axis;
a second driving gear connected to the second guide plate and rotatable based on the fourth rotation axis; and
an even number of connecting gears configured to connect the first driving gear to the second driving gear.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first support plate, the second support plate, the first slider, the second slider, the first guide plate, and the second guide plate are configured to move in one degree of freedom.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first slider and the second slider are disposed in parallel with each other in a fully folded state of the electronic device in which the first support plate and the second support plate are parallel with each other, and
the first slider is aligned with the second slider in a fully unfolded state of the electronic device in which the first support plate is aligned with the second support plate.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide cam configured to move the first slider with respect to the first support plate by pressing the first slider based on the first support plate rotating.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein a length of a portion of the guide cam protruding from the first rotation axis toward a first direction is different from a length of a portion of the guide cam protruding from the first rotation axis toward a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

16. A foldable electronic device comprising a hinge supporting a flexible printed circuit board, the electronic device comprising:
a hinge comprising:
a hinge body;
a pair of support plates rotatably connected to the hinge body;
a slider positioned between the pair of support plates, slidable along the support plate and configured to support the flexible printed circuit board;
a connecting part configured to connect the support plate to a connecting plate; and
a first circuit board disposed on the slider, configured to connect the flexible printed circuit board.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein a distance between the slider and a rotation axis of the support plate changes based on the support plate rotating.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the connecting part comprises: a connecting body connected to any one of the support plate and the slider, and a connecting guide provided in the other one of the support plate and the slider and configured to accommodate the connecting body.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the hinge further comprises:
a guide plate rotatably connected to the hinge body and configured to support the slider, wherein a rotation axis of the guide plate is provided at a location apart from a rotation axis of the support plate.

20. A foldable electronic device configured to move a flexible printed circuit board along a support plate during an unfolding operation, the electronic device comprising:
a hinge;
a first housing and a second housing rotatably connected to the hinge;
a display disposed in the first housing and the second housing and deformable based on movement of the first housing and the second housing; and
the flexible printed circuit board provided at an inside of the first housing and the second housing,
wherein the hinge comprises:
a hinge body;
a pair of first support plate connected to the first housing and rotatably connected to the hinge body based on a first rotation axis;
a pair of second support plate connected to the second housing and rotatably connected to the hinge body based o

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Youngsun

Classifications

• H04M1/022 Primary

  The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes · CPC title

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0237

  Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom · CPC title

• H04M1/0277

  for a printed circuit board assembly · CPC title

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title