Structure of hinge for foldable electronic device, and electronic device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022011827-A1
Application number	US-202117349253-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2021
Priority date	Jul 13, 2020
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hinge structure is provided. The hinge structure includes a first rotary member connected with a first housing, a second rotary member connected with a second housing, a gear structure that makes the first rotary member and the second rotary member operate in conjunction with each other, a first arm connected with the first rotary member, a second arm connected with the second rotary member, a first torque providing member that fastens the first arm and the first rotary member, and a second torque providing member that fastens the second arm and the second rotary member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hinge structure comprising:
a first rotary member connected with a first housing; a second rotary member connected with a second housing; a gear structure configured to make the first rotary member and the second rotary member operate in conjunction with each other; a first arm connected with the first rotary member; a second arm connected with the second rotary member; a first torque providing member configured to fasten the first arm and the first rotary member; and a second torque providing member configured to fasten the second arm and the second rotary member, wherein the first torque providing member comprises:
a first friction plate configured to move depending on rotation of the first rotary member,
a second friction plate configured to at least partially face the first friction plate, and
a first elastic member configured to press one side of the first friction plate or the second friction plate, and
wherein the second torque providing member comprises:
a third friction plate configured to move depending on rotation of the second rotary member,
a fourth friction plate configured to at least partially face the third friction plate, and
a second elastic member configured to press one side of the third friction plate or the fourth friction plate.

2 . The hinge structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the first torque providing member further comprises:
a first rotary shaft coupled with the first friction plate, the second friction plate, and the first elastic member and fastened to a rack gear pattern of the first arm to rotate in place depending on a movement of the first arm, and
a first fixing shaft fastened with the second friction plate, and
wherein the second torque providing member further comprises:
a second rotary shaft coupled with the third friction plate, the fourth friction plate, and the second elastic member and fastened to a rack gear pattern of the second arm to rotate in place depending on a movement of the second arm, and
a second fixing shaft fastened with the fourth friction plate.

3 . The hinge structure of claim 2 ,
wherein the first friction plate comprises:
a hole into which the first rotary shaft is inserted and a hole into which the first fixing shaft is inserted, and
wherein the third friction plate comprises:
a hole into which the second rotary shaft is inserted and a hole into which the second fixing shaft is inserted.

4 . The hinge structure of claim 3 ,
wherein the second friction plate comprises a hole into which the first rotary shaft is inserted, wherein at least part of a section of the hole of the second friction plate comprises a straight portion, wherein the fourth friction plate comprises a hole into which the second rotary shaft is inserted, and wherein at least part of a section of the hole of the fourth friction plate comprises a straight portion.

5 . The hinge structure of claim 2 ,
wherein the first rotary member comprises:
a first insertion hole into which one side of the first rotary shaft is inserted, and
a second insertion hole into which one side of the first fixing shaft is inserted, and
wherein the second rotary member comprises:
a third insertion hole into which one side of the second rotary shaft is inserted, and
a fourth insertion hole into which one side of the second fixing shaft is inserted.

6 . The hinge structure of claim 5 ,
wherein the first arm comprises:
a first sliding hole in which an opposite side of the first rotary shaft is disposed, and
a first gear fastening hole into which one portion of the gear structure is inserted, and
wherein the second arm comprises:
a second sliding hole in which an opposite side of the second rotary shaft is disposed, and
a second gear fastening hole into which another portion of the gear structure is inserted.

7 . The hinge structure of claim 6 , wherein the sliding holes have an edge portion larger in size than a central portion.

8 . The hinge structure of claim 6 , wherein the rack gear patterns are formed in the sliding holes.

9 . The hinge structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the first torque providing member further comprises:
a first rotary shaft coupled with the first friction plate, the second friction plate, and the first elastic member and fastened to a rack gear pattern of the first rotary member to rotate in place depending on a movement of the first rotary member, and
a first fixing shaft fastened with the second friction plate, and
wherein the second torque providing member further comprises:
a second rotary shaft coupled with the third friction plate, the fourth friction plate, and the second elastic member and fastened to a rack gear pattern of the second rotary member to rotate in place depending on a movement of the second rotary member, and
a second fixing shaft fastened with the fourth friction plate.

10 . The hinge structure of claim 9 , further comprising:
sliding holes formed in the rotary members, wherein at least parts of the rotary shafts move inside the sliding holes.

11 . The hinge structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first cam structure formed on the second friction plate and the fourth friction plate; and a second cam structure formed on the first friction plate and the third friction plate.

12 . The hinge structure of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first cam structure formed on one side of each of the rotary members; and a second cam structure formed on one side of each of the rotary shafts.

13 . An electronic device comprising:
a first housing; a second housing; a display disposed on the first housing and the second housing; and a hinge structure configured to connect the first housing and the second housing, wherein the hinge structure comprises:
a first rotary member connected with the first housing,
a second rotary member connected with the second housing,
a gear structure configured to make the first rotary member and the second rotary member operate in conjunction with each other,
a first arm connected with the first rotary member,
a second arm connected with the second rotary member,
a first torque providing member configured to fasten the first arm and the first rotary member, and
a second torque providing member configured to fasten the second arm and the second rotary member,
wherein the first torque providing member comprises:
a first friction plate configured to move depending on rotation of the first rotary member,
a second friction plate configured to at least partially face the first friction plate, and
a first elastic member configured to press one side of the first friction plate or the second friction plate, and
wherein the second torque providing member comprises:
a third friction plate configured to move depending on rotation of the second rotary member,
a fourth friction plate configured to at least partially face the third friction plate, and
a second elastic member configured to press one side of the third friction plate or the fourth friction plate.

14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a hinge housing in which at least part of the hinge structure is seated.

15 . The electronic device of claim 13 ,
wherein the first torque providing member further comprises:
a first rotary shaft coupled with the first friction plate, the second friction plate, and the first elastic member and fastened to a rack gear pattern of the first arm to rotate in place depending on a movement of the first arm, and
a first fixing shaft fastened with the second friction pla

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jaehee
• Cho Chongkun
• Kim Hyungsoo

Classifications

• 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

• G06F1/1652

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

• F16C11/04 Primary

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

• F16C11/045

  with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02) · CPC title