Foldable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021059059-A1
Application number	US-202016858760-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2020
Priority date	Aug 23, 2019
Publication date	Feb 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A foldable electronic device including a first body, a second body, a flexible display disposed on the first and the second bodies, a hinge assembly connected between the first and the second bodies, an extension chain assembly, and a linkage is provided. The first and the second bodies are rotated relatively to be unfolded or folded via the hinge assembly. An end of the linkage and an end of the extension chain assembly are pivoted together and coupled to the first body in a sliding and pivoting manner. Another end of the linkage is pivoted to the hinge assembly, and another end of the extension chain assembly is pivoted to the second body. In a transforming process between the folded and the unfolded states, an extension traveling of the extension chain assembly compensates a size difference of the flexible display between the folded and the unfolded states.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A foldable electronic device, comprising:
a first body; a second body; a flexible display, disposed on the first body and the second body; a hinge assembly, connected between the first body and the second body, the first body and the second body being rotated relatively via the hinge assembly, so as to transform between an unfolded state and a folded state; an extension chain assembly; and a linkage, an end of the linkage and an end of the extension chain assembly being pivoted together and coupled to the first body in a sliding and pivoting manner, another end of the linkage being pivoted to the hinge assembly, another end of the extension chain assembly being pivoted to the second body, wherein in a transforming process between the folded state and the unfolded state, an extension traveling of the extension chain assembly compensates a size difference of the flexible display generated in the transforming process between the folded state and the unfolded state.

2 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the position of the linkage, pivoted to the hinge assembly, is eccentric from a rotating shaft of the hinge assembly.

3 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein in the folded state, the extension chain assembly is in an arc shape, and in the unfolded state, the extension chain assembly is flattened and presents a straight line.

4 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the rotating shaft of the hinge assembly is located at the center of circle of the arc shape.

5 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion being disposed on the first body, the second portion being disposed on the second body, the third portion being connected between the first portion and the second portion, in the folded state, the first body being overlapped on the second body, the third portion being suspended between the first body and the second body, and the third portion leaning against an arc-shaped local portion of the extension chain assembly, and in the unfolded state, the first body and the second body moving apart from each other, the third portion being suspended between the first body and the second body, and the third portion leaning against a linear local portion of the extension chain assembly.

6 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the extension chain assembly comprises:
a plurality of chains and a plurality of shafts, arranged between the first body and the second body along a line, and the shafts respectively penetrating through the chains; and a plurality of connecting members, located at two opposite sides of the chains, each of the connecting members being pivoted to two adjacent shafts, each of the connecting members having a counterbore, one of any two adjacent shafts being pivoted to the counterbore, and the shaft pivoted to the counterbore moving between two opposite ends of the counterbore to form the extension traveling in the transforming process between the folded state and the unfolded state.

7 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly is a gull wing type hinge, a rotating shaft of the hinge assembly being located outside the first body and the second body.

8 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the linkage comprises:
a first connecting rod, having a first end pivoted with the extension chain assembly, and the first end being movably pivoted to the first body; and a second connecting rod, pivoted to a third end with the first connecting rod, the second connecting rod further having a second end to be pivoted to the hinge assembly, and the second end rotating relative to a rotating shaft of the hinge assembly.

9 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a bonding member, the extension chain assembly being linked to the flexible display by the bonding member.

Assignees

• Acer Inc

Inventors

• Pai Ting-Wen
• Lai Chi-Hung
• Lee Wu-Chen
• Liu Chih-Chun

Classifications

• 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

• E05D3/06

  with two or more pins (E05D7/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title

• H05K5/0017 Primary

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• E05D7/009

  Elongate hinges, e.g. piano-hinges · CPC title