FOLDABLE DEVICE

• US 20170115701A1
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: BAE, Yu-dong, SEO, Ho-seong, KAIHOTSU, Wataru, TAKAYANAGI, Toshikazu, PARK, Jin-hyoung
• Granted Patent: US 10,365,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/04 Pivotal connections hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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

Abstract

A foldable device includes a flexible display including first, second, and third portions; a body including first, second, and third support portions which respectively supports the first, second, and third portions; a hinge including a first rotation axis which connects the first support portion to the third support portion, and a second rotation axis which connects the second support portion to the third support portion; and a slot hole which is rotatably coupled with the first and second rotation axes, and which moves the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis when the first support portion and the second support portion rotate with respect to the third support portion. The first and second rotation axes allow the first and second support portions to rotate with respect to the third support portion when the flexible display changes from an open state to a closed state.

Claims

1. A foldable device comprising:

a flexible display comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion;

a body comprising a first support portion which supports the first portion of the flexible display, a second support portion which supports the second portion of the flexible display, and a third support portion which supports the third portion of the flexible display;

a hinge comprising a first rotation axis which connects the first support portion to the third support portion, and a second rotation axis which connects the second support portion to the third support portion, the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis allowing the first support portion and the second support portion to rotate with respect to the third support portion when the flexible display changes from an open state to a closed state; and

a slot hole which is disposed on at least one of the first support portion and the third support portion, and at least one of the second support portion and the third support portion, which is rotatably coupled with the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, and which moves the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis when the first support portion and the second support portion rotate with respect to the third support portion.

2. The foldable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third support portion comprises a first support wing rotatably connected to the first support portion and a second support wing rotatably connected to the second support portion.

3. The foldable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first rotation axis is disposed on both sides of the first support wing, the second rotation axis is disposed on both sides of the second support wing, and the slot hole comprises a first slot hole disposed on the first support portion to receive the first rotation axis of the first support wing and a second slot hole disposed on the second support portion to receive the second rotation axis of the second support wing.

4. The foldable device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second slot holes have a shape of a straight line.

5. The foldable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the slot hole comprises a first slot hole disposed on both sides of the first support wing and a second slot hole disposed on both sides of the second support wing, and

wherein the first rotation axis is disposed on the first support portion and inserted to the first slot hole of the first support wing, and the second rotation axis is disposed on the second support portion and inserted to the second slot hole of the second support wing.

6. The foldable device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second slot holes have a curved shape.

7. The foldable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the slot hole comprises a first slot hole disposed on both sides of the first support wing, a second slot hole disposed on both sides of the second support wing, a third slot hole disposed on the first support portion which faces the first slot hole of the first support wing, and a fourth slot hole disposed on the second support portion which faces the second slot hole of the second support wing,

wherein the first rotation axis is inserted to the first slot hole of the first support wing and the third slot hole of the first support portion, and the second rotation axis is inserted to the second slot hole of the second support wing and the fourth slot hole of the second support portion.

8. The foldable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a fixing member which fixes a third portion of the flexible display is fixed on an upper surface of the first and second support wings.

9. The foldable device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fixing member comprises a double-sided tape and an adhesive.

10. The foldable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first reinforcing plate that covers a part of the first support portion and the third support portion, and supports a part of the flexible display; and

a second reinforcing plate that covers a part of the second support portion and the third support portion, and supports a part of the flexible display.

11. The foldable device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second reinforcing plates are fixed on a rear surface of the flexible display.

12. The foldable device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

first and second guide slots and first and second support arms which allow the first and second support wings to move, according to movement of the first and second support portions, between a support position which supports that the third portion of the flexible display is in the same plane as the first and second portions, and a receiving position which forms a receiving space to receive a curved third portion of the flexible display between the first and second support portions.

13. The foldable device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second guide slots move along with the first and second support portions and the first and second support arms move by the first and second guide slots.

14. The foldable device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second support arms comprise first and second guide pins which pass through the first and second guide slots and are extended to a bottom of the first and second support wings.

15. The foldable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third support portion further comprises a central support member which supports a central portion of the third portion of the flexible display.

16. A foldable device comprising:

a flexible display comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion;

a body comprising a first support portion which supports the first portion of the flexible display, a second support portion which supports the second portion of the flexible display, and a third support portion which supports the third portion of the flexible display;

a hinge comprising a first rotation axis which connects the first support portion to the third support portion, a second rotation axis which connects the second support portion to the third support portion, the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis allowing the first support portion and the second support portion to rotate with respect to the third support portion when the flexible display changes from an open state to a closed state; and

a movement restriction member that moves a part of the third portion of the flexible display along with the third support portion when the flexible display changes from the open state to the closed state.

17. The foldable device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the third support portion comprises a first support wing rotatably connected to the first support portion and a second support wing rotatably connected to the second support portion.

18. The foldable device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the movement restriction member comprises:

a plurality of slot grooves disposed on upper surfaces of each of the first and second support wings; and

a sliding gel which is received in the plurality of slot grooves and slidably moves the third portion of the flexible display while the third portion is attached to upper surfaces of the first and second support wings.

19. The foldable device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sliding gel comprises a lubricating oil and grease.

20. The foldable device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the movement restriction member comprises:

a first stiffener which is fixed on a rear side of a part of the third portion of the flexible display corresponding to the first support wing; and

a second stiffener which is fixed on a rear side of a part of the third portion of the flexible display corresponding to the second support wing.