MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120044620A1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pantech Co. Ltd. (Pantech Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Co. Ltd. (Pantech Incorporated)
• Inventors: SONG, Chang Jin, KIM, Sung Pil, SEO, Mun Deock, LEE, Kyu Gap, JIN, Young Joon
• Application Number:
  US13/196,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044620A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 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 Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A mobile device is includes a first case; a second case performing a swing motion about its end contiguous to the first case; a display portion formed to be wrapped around the end along external surfaces of the first case and the second case; and a hinge portion coupled to ends of the first case and the second case, wherein the hinge portion includes a first link having one end fixed to the interior of the first case and the other end coupled to a slot of the second case, and a second link having one end fixed to the interior of the second case and the other end coupled to a slot of the first case.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a first case comprising a slot, a first end, and a second end;

a second case comprising a slot, a first end, and a second end, wherein the second case rotates from a first state to a second state,

the first state being defined as the respective first ends and second ends of the first case and the second case being substantially adjacent to each other,

the second state being defined as the respective second ends of the first case and the second case being substantially adjacent to each other, and the respective first ends of the first case and the second case extending away from each other;

a display portion to wrap around an external surface of the first case and the second case; and

a hinge portion coupled to the second end of the first case and the second end of the second case, the hinge portion comprising

a first link comprising a first end fixed about the second end of the first case and a second end coupled to the slot of the first case; and

a second link comprising a first end fixed about the second end of the second case and a second end coupled to the slot of the first case.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first link and the second link are coupled at an axis substantially perpendicular to the slots of the first case and the second case.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the hinge portion rotates from the first state to the second state around the axis.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the hinge portion comprises a click hinge.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the respective second ends of the first case and the second case each have a quadrant-shaped curved surface.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein a sum of perimeter lengths of the curved surfaces of the first case and the second case at the first state is substantially equal to a distance of eccentricity between the curved surfaces of the first case and the second case at the second state.

7. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the display portion contacts the curved surfaces of the first and second case at the first state, and is level with the curved surfaces at the second state.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first link and the second link are linked with each other in the first case, each of the first link and the second link comprising a fixing portion rotating around the axis, an extending portion extending from the fixing portion, and a moving portion protruding from the extending portion and coupled to the slot of the second case.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the extending portions of the first link and the second link have the same length.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the first link and the second link are coupled to each other at an intersection area of the respective extending portions.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the slots of the first case and the second case are the same length.

12. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the display portion is coplanar with one surface of each of the first case and the second case at the second state.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first state corresponds to a closed state of the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second state corresponds to an open state of the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the display portion is a flexible display.

16. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the click hinge automatically rotates the second case from the first state to the second state if a predetermined angle between the first case and second case is achieved.

17. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the click hinge automatically rotates the second case from the second state to the first state if a predetermined angle between the first case and second case is achieved.

18. A mobile device, comprising:

an electronic display, the electronic display being flexible;

a support platform to rotate with at least one hinge portion from a compact state to a non-compact state, the support platform being coupled to the electronic display, wherein

the electronic display is substantially folded in the compact state, and

not folded in the non-compact state.