# US 10,485,115 B1 · Electronic device with hinge defining an asymmetrical service loop for a flexible display and corresponding systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,485,115 B1 - Document ID: US10485115B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/016,316 - Filed: 2018-06-22 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-22 - Assignees: Motorola Mobility LLC - Applicants: Motorola Mobility LLC - Inventors: Daryl Cromer; Scott P DeBates; Grant Lloyd; Alberto R Cavallaro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10485115B1 ## CPC - H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge} - E05D 7/00: Hinges or pivots of special construction (used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02) - 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} - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G06F 1/1677: {for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment} - G06F 1/1683: {for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - H05K 5/0226: {Hinges} - E05D 3/12: with two parallel pins and one arm - E05Y 2999/00: Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass - H04M 1/022: {The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes} - H04M 1/0247: {comprising more than two body parts} - H10K 2102/311: {Flexible OLED} - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES ## Abstract An electronic device includes a hinge coupling at least a first device housing to a second device housing. A flexible display is coupled to the first device housing and the second device housing and spans the hinge. The first device housing defines a curvilinear recess forming at least some of the flexible display into an asymmetrical service loop when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge from an axially displaced open position to a closed position. Additional hinges and device housings can be added to accommodate flexible displays of varying lengths. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a first device housing and a second device housing; a hinge coupling the first device housing to the second device housing, the first device housing pivotable about the hinge relative to the second device housing; one or more springs; and a flexible display coupled to the first device housing and the second device housing and spanning the hinge; wherein: one housing of the first device housing or the second device housing defines a curvilinear recess causing the flexible display to define a service loop, the service loop comprising a hemi-cardioid contour defining a convex lobe extending to a bifurcated distal cusp, when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge from an axially displaced open position to a closed position; a first portion of the hemi-cardioid contour disposed to a first side of an axis bisecting the bifurcated distal cusp defines both a convex contour and a concave contour abutting the curvilinear recess; another housing of the first device housing or the second device housing defines a linear recess into which the flexible display is positioned; a second portion of the hemi-cardioid contour disposed to a second side of the axis bisecting the bifurcated distal cusp defines a linear portion extending distally from the convex lobe; the service loop becomes planar when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge to the axially displaced open position from the closed position; and the one or more springs bias the first device housing away from the second device housing when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge to the axially displaced open position from the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the hinge comprising a first cam and a second cam, the flexible display situated between the first cam and the second cam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising one or more followers biased by the one or more springs against the first cam, the second cam, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the one or more springs, the one or more followers, and at least one of the first cam or the second cam are manufactured from electrically conductive materials, thereby defining an electrically conductive pathway between the first device housing and the second device housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a first radius of the convex contour is less than a second radius of the concave contour. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a radius of the convex lobe is between two and six millimeters, inclusive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the radius of the convex lobe is about five millimeters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the radius of the convex lobe is about three millimeters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein a first radius of the convex contour is less than a second radius of the concave contour. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible conductor positioned between the hinge and the flexible display. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one slidable tray situated within at least one of the one housing or the another housing, the at least one slidable tray applying tension to the flexible display when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge to the axially displaced open position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, the one housing of the first device housing or the second device housing having a cross-sectional thickness that is greater than the another of the first device housing or the second device housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the curvilinear recess defines a boundary portion of the linear recess. ### Claim 14 An electronic device, comprising: a hinge coupling a first device housing to a second device housing; a flexible display coupled to the first device housing and the second device housing and spanning the hinge; and one or more springs; the first device housing defining a curvilinear recess forming at least some of the flexible display into an asymmetrical service loop when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge from an axially displaced open position to a closed position, the asymmetrical service loop comprising a hemi-cardioid contour comprising a convex lobe extending to a bifurcated distal cusp, with a first portion of the hemi-cardioid contour defining a convex contour and a concave contour abutting the curvilinear recess and a second portion of the hemi-cardiod contour defining a linear portion extending distally from the convex lobe; the second device housing defining a recess into which the flexible display is positioned; the asymmetrical service loop transforming to define a planar portion of the flexible display when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge to the axially displaced open position from the closed position; and the one or more springs biasing the first device housing away from the second device housing when the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge to the axially displaced open position from the closed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first device housing is thicker, in cross section, than the second device housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising one or more magnets retaining the first device housing and the second device housing in the closed position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, the concave contour having a radius greater than the convex contour. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a flexible fascia disposed above the flexible display. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising another hinge coupling a third device housing to one of the first device housing or the second device housing, wherein the flexible display passes between the first device housing and the second device housing, around the another hinge, and along an exterior of the third device housing when both the hinge and the another hinge are in the closed position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising another hinge coupling a third device housing to the second device housing, wherein the first device housing is situated between the second device housing and the third device housing when both the first device housing and the second device housing pivot about the hinge from the axially displaced open position to the closed position and the third device housing and the second device housing pivot about the another hinge from the axially displaced open position to the closed position.