Foldable electronic device including hinge assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12535863-B2
Application number	US-202318356817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2023
Priority date	Dec 2, 2019
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

A foldable communication device including a housing including a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge housing coupled between the first housing and the second housing; a flexible display accommodated in the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge housing; and a hinge structure substantially accommodated in the hinge housing and coupled with the first housing and the second housing is provided. The hinge structure includes a first bracket coupled with the first housing and configured to rotate about a first axis; a second bracket coupled with the second housing and configured to rotate about a second axis; a first support member coupled with the first bracket, and including a first support rib protruding from one region of the first support member; a second support member coupled with the second bracket, and including a second support rib protruding from one region of the second support member; a third support member at least partially disposed between the first support member and the second support member; a stopper including a through-hole formed therein; and an elastic member disposed in at least one portion of the through-hole such that the elastic member is deformed when the third support member is moved in a first direction opposite to the hinge housing by the first support rib of the first support member or the second support rib of the second support member, according to the foldable communication device being changed from a folded state to an unfolded state, and is restored to move the third support member in a second direction opposite to the first direction, according to the foldable communication device being changed from the unfolded state to the folded state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A foldable communication device comprising:
a housing including a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge housing coupled between the first housing and the second housing; a flexible display accommodated in the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge housing; and a hinge structure substantially accommodated in the hinge housing and coupled with the first housing and the second housing, the hinge structure including:
a first bracket coupled with the first housing and configured to rotate about a first axis;
a second bracket coupled with the second housing and configured to rotate about a second axis;
a first support member coupled with the first bracket, and including a first support rib protruding from one region of the first support member;
a second support member coupled with the second bracket, and including a second support rib protruding from one region of the second support member;
a third support member at least partially disposed between the first support member and the second support member;
a stopper including a through-hole formed therein; and
an elastic member disposed in at least one portion of the through-hole such that the elastic member:
is deformed when the third support member is moved in a first direction opposite to the hinge housing by the first support rib of the first support member or the second support rib of the second support member, according to the foldable communication device being changed from a folded state to an unfolded state, and
is restored to move the third support member in a second direction opposite to the first direction, according to the foldable communication device being changed from the unfolded state to the folded state.

2 . The foldable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the third support member includes a protrusion region extended in a third direction substantially parallel with the second direction, and at least partially disposed in the through-hole.

3 . The foldable communication device of claim 2 , wherein the elastic member is disposed between the protrusion region of the third support member and a portion the stopper.

4 . The foldable communication device of claim 2 , wherein the hinge structure includes a screw coupled with the protrusion region of the third support member at least partially through the through-hole.

5 . The foldable communication device of claim 4 , wherein the elastic member is positioned to surround a portion of the screw.

6 . The foldable communication device of claim 4 , wherein a first end of the elastic member is in contact with the through-hole, and a second end of the elastic member is in contact with the screw.

7 . The foldable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first support rib of the first support member and the second support rib of the second support member are in contact with a first side area and a second side area of the third support member, respectively, when the foldable communication device is in the unfolded state.

8 . The foldable communication device of claim 7 , wherein each of the first side area and the second side area is protruded in a fourth direction substantially perpendicular to a length direction of the third support member.

9 . The foldable communication device of claim 7 , wherein the elastic member is compressed while the third support member is moved in the first direction.

10 . The foldable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the third support member includes a fixing rib configured to prevent the third support member from moving by at least a specific distance in a direction toward the flexible display while the foldable communication device is being changed from the folded state to the unfolded state.

11 . The foldable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the third support member is configured to be in contact with at least one portion of a rear surface of the flexible display when the foldable communication device is in the unfolded state.

12 . The foldable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a spring.

13 . The foldable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first support rib and the second support rib are spaced apart from the third support member, while the foldable communication device is being folded.

14 . The foldable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the stopper is located at a lower end of the third support member.

15 . A hinge device comprising:
a first bracket configured to rotate about a first axis; a second bracket configured to rotate about a second axis; a first support member coupled with the first bracket, and including a first support rib protruding from one region of the first support member; a second support member coupled with the second bracket, and including a second support rib protruding from one region of the second support member; a third support member at least partially disposed between the first support member and the second support member; a stopper including a through-hole formed therein; and an elastic member disposed in at least one portion of the through-hole such that the elastic member:
is deformed when the third support member is moved in a first direction by the first support rib of the first support member or the second support rib of the second support member, according to the hinge device being changed from a folded state to an unfolded state, and
is restored to move the third support member in a second direction opposite to the first direction, according to the hinge device being changed from the unfolded state to the folded state.

16 . The hinge device of claim 15 , wherein the first support member supports a first portion of the third support member when the hinge device is in the unfolded state and the second support member supports a second portion of the third support member when the hinge device is in the unfolded state.

17 . The hinge device of claim 15 , wherein the third support member includes a protrusion region extended in a third direction substantially parallel with the second direction, and at least partially disposed in the through-hole.

18 . The hinge device of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of a protrusion region of the third support member is surrounded by the stopper.

19 . The hinge device of claim 15 , wherein the elastic member is a spring.

20 . The hinge device of claim 15 , wherein the elastic member is in contact with a portion of the stopper.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Jaeho
• Lee Minsung

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04B1/3833

  Hand-held transceivers · CPC title

• G06F1/1681 Primary

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

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title