Foldable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9791892-B2
Application number	US-201514752101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A foldable device includes: a flexible display including: a first part; a second part; and a third part provided between the first and second parts; a first body supporting the first part; and a second body supporting the second part, each of the first and second body are configured to move between a first and a second position, in response to each of the first and second bodies being provided in the first position, the first body and the second body form a receiving space, the third part forms a curved portion of the flexible display and the curved portion is provided within the receiving space, and wherein the first part is configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the flexible display with respect to the first body in response to the first and second bodies moving between the first and second positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable device comprising:
a first body and a second body;
a flexible display supported by the first body and the second body and sliding on the first body according a rotation of the first body and the second body;
a hinge rotatably connecting the first body and the second body so that the flexible display is in-bending;
a resistance member applying a force to the flexible display in a direction opposite to a sliding direction of the flexible display while the flexible display is folded; and
a movement limiting member disposed on the first body to stop sliding of the flexible display,
wherein the flexible display is sliding and stopped by the movement limiting member while the flexible display is folded.

2. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display comprises a first part sliding on the first body, a second part fixed to the second body and a third part disposed between the first part and the second part.

3. The foldable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control an operation of the foldable device; and
a signal line connecting the flexible display and the controller,
wherein the controller is provided within one of the first body and the second body.

4. The foldable device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a battery configured to supply power to the controller and the flexible display,
wherein the battery is provided within the other of the first body and the second body.

5. The foldable device of claim 2 , wherein the first body comprises:
a fixed frame;
a movable frame to which the first part of the flexible display is fixedly attached;
a first rail provided on the movable frame; and
a second rail provided on the fixed frame, coupled to the first rail, and configured to support the first rail of the movable frame, and
wherein the movable frame is configured to move with respect to the fixed frame.

6. The foldable device of claim 5 , further comprising a friction reducing member provided between the fixed frame and the movable frame and configured to reduce friction between the movable frame and the fixed frame.

7. The foldable device of claim 6 , wherein the friction reducing member comprises a film and is provided on the fixed frame.

8. The foldable device of claim 6 , wherein the first body further comprises a base cover secured to the fixed frame by a fastening member,
wherein the fixed frame comprises an opening through which the fastening member passes,
wherein an electrical circuit is provided in an accommodating space provided between the base cover and the fixed frame, and
wherein the friction reducing member covers the opening.

9. The foldable device of claim 5 , further comprising a rail member coupled to the fixed frame and configured to correspond to the second rail.

10. The foldable device of claim 9 , wherein a fastening member is configured to couple the rail member to the fixed frame, and
wherein the fixed frame comprises a fastening hole having a closed end portion, the closed end portion provided at a second end of the fastening hole opposite to a first end of the fastening hole, the fastening member enters the fastening hole from the first end.

11. The foldable device of claim 10 , wherein the first body further comprises a base cover coupled to the fixed frame,
wherein an electrical circuit is provided in an accommodating space provided between the base cover and the fixed frame, and
wherein the electrical circuit comprises a battery configured to supply power to the flexible display.

12. The foldable device of claim 11 , further comprising a controller provided within the second body and configured to control an operation of the foldable device,
wherein the battery is configured to supply power to the flexible display through the controller.

13. The foldable device of claim 2 , wherein the a movement limiting member configured to limit a movement range of the first part of the flexible display.

14. The foldable device of claim 13 , wherein the movement limiting member is configured to allow the first part of the flexible display to move only when an unfolding angle formed between the first body and the second body is equal to or greater than a movement limiting angle.

15. The foldable device of claim 14 , wherein the movement limiting angle is equal to or greater than 90°.

16. The foldable device of claim 14 , wherein the movement limiting angle is equal to or greater than 120°.

17. The foldable device of claim 13 , wherein the first body comprises:
a movable frame to which the first part of the flexible display is fixed; and
a fixed frame configured to support the movable frame, the movable frame configured to move in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the movement limiting member is configured to contact the movable frame at the movement limiting angle.

18. The foldable device of claim 2 , wherein each of the first body and the second body is configured to move between a first position and a second position,
wherein, in response to each of the first body and the second body being provided in the first position, the first body and the second body form a receiving space, the third part forms a curved portion of the flexible display, and the curved portion is provided within the receiving space, and
wherein the first part is configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the flexible display with respect to the first body in response to the first body and the second body moving between the first position and the second position.

19. The foldable device of claim 2 , wherein the a movement limiting member configured to allow the first part of the flexible display to move only when an angle formed between the first body and the second body is equal to or greater than a movement limiting angle,
wherein the resistance member is configured to apply the force against the movement of the first part of the flexible display only when the angle is equal to or greater than the movement limiting angle.

20. The foldable device of claim 2 , wherein, as an angle formed between the first body and the second body decreases, the resistance member is configured to apply a higher force against the movement of the first part of the flexible display.

21. The foldable device of claim 18 , further comprising a shielding member provided on the first body and the second body and configured to cover a side portion of the third part when the first body and the second body change between the first position and the second position.

22. The foldable device of claim 21 , wherein the shielding member comprises a first end portion and a second end portion,
wherein a guide is provided in one of the first body and the second body,
wherein the first end portion of the shielding member comprises a protrusion configured to be inserted into the guide in a sliding manner, and
wherein the second end portion of the shield is pivotably connected to the other of the first body and the second body.

23. The foldable device of claim 22 , wherein the guide extends in the longitudinal direction on one of the first and the second body.

24. The foldable device of claim 18 , wherein the first body is configured to pivot about a first axis to transition between the first position and the second position,
wherein the second body is configured to pivot about a second axis to transition between the first position and the second position, an

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jin-Hyoung
• Seo Ho-Seung
• Takayanagi Toshikazu
• Bae Yu-Dong
• Kaihotsu Wataru
• Cho Shi-Yun
• Kim Dae-Myung
• Huh Jae-Young

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 Primary

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

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

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

• G06F1/1635

  Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter · CPC title