Folder-type portable communication device having flexible display unit

• US 8,229,522 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yun-Su, Park, Jun-Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US11/947,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.3, 36167901-67961
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel

Abstract

A portable communication device includes a main housing, a folding housing coupled to the main housing by a hinge unit to rotate about a hinge axis, and a flexible display unit that is drawn out from the main housing to open its display screen when the folding housing unfolds.

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising:

a main housing;

a folding housing coupled to the main housing by a hinge unit to rotate about a hinge axis; and

a flexible display unit that is drawn out from the main housing to open its display screen when the folding housing unfolds,

wherein the hinge unit is a dual-axis hinge and provides a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis,

wherein the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis are parallel to each other, and

wherein the folding housing rotates up to a maximum angle of 180 degrees relative to a top surface of the main housing facing the folding housing.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal direction of the main housing is parallel to the hinge axis.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the flexible display unit is stored in the main housing in a rolled-up state and unrolls when the folding housing unfolds, and an end of the flexible display unit is coupled to the folding housing.

4. A portable communication device, comprising:

a main housing;

a protrusion unit extending along a side end of the main housing;

a folding housing coupled to the main housing by a hinge unit to rotate about a hinge axis; and

a flexible display unit that is drawn out from the protrusion unit to open its display screen when the folding housing unfolds,

wherein the hinge unit is a dual-axis hinge and provides a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis,

wherein the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis are parallel to each other,

wherein the folding housing rotates up to a maximum angle of 180 degrees relative to a top surface of the main housing facing the folding housing, and

wherein the protrusion unit protrudes from the top surface of the main housing by a determined height.

5. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the flexile display unit is stored in the protrusion unit in a rolled-up state and is drawn out from the protrusion unit when the folding housing unfolds.

6. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the amount by which the flexible display unit is drawn out is proportional to the amount by which the folding housing unfolds.

7. A portable communication device, comprising:

a main housing comprising a plurality of first keys that are always exposed;

a folding housing coupled to the main housing by a hinge unit to rotate about a hinge axis; and

a flexible display unit that is drawn out from the main housing to open its display screen when the folding housing unfolds,

wherein the hinge unit is a dual-axis hinge and provides a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis,

wherein the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis are parallel to each other, and

wherein the folding housing rotates up to a maximum angle of 180 degrees relative to a top surface of the main housing facing the folding housing.

8. The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein a protrusion unit extends along a side end of the main housing and the first keys are arranged on a top face of the protrusion unit, and the protrusion unit protrudes from a top surface of the main housing facing the folding housing by a determined height.

9. The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the flexible display unit is mounted on an external face of the folding housing and a plurality of second keys is disposed adjacent to the flexible display unit.

10. The portable communication device of claim 8, wherein the flexible display unit is stored in the protrusion unit in a rolled-up state and is drawn out from the protrusion unit when the folding housing unfolds.

11. The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the amount by which the flexible display unit is drawn out is proportional to the amount by which the folding housing unfolds.

12. The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the flexible display unit is a flexible liquid crystal display device.