# US 12,007,808 B2 · Foldable electronic device

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- Number: US 12,007,808 B2
- Document ID: US12007808B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/526,103
- Filed: 2021-11-15
- Published: 2022-03-10
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-15
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Myeongsil Park; Joohoon Lee; Seonghoon Kim; Jonghae Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007808B2

## CPC

- 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 1/1618: {the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure}
- G06F 1/1641: {the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence)}
- G06F 1/1643: {the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615)}
- G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable}
- G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- G06F 1/206: {comprising thermal management}
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 3/044: by capacitive means
- H05K 5/0226: {Hinges}
- G06F 2200/1632: Pen holder integrated in the computer
- G06F 2203/04107: Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
- 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

## Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed, including a foldable housing defining a folding axis, a first housing defining a first and second surface, a second housing defining a third and fourth surface, a display spanning from the first surface to the third surface, the display including a first and second layer disposed parallel to the first and/or the third surface, wherein the first and second layers include multiple first conductive lines extending in parallel, wherein the second layer includes multiple second conductive lines extending in parallel perpendicular to the first conductive lines as to form a plurality of intersects, wherein the display includes multiple conductive vias to electrically couple the first and second multiple conductive lines, and wherein the conductive vias are disposed on the display outside of the folding region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
a foldable housing, including:
a hinge structure defining a folding axis of the foldable housing,
a first housing coupled to the hinge structure and including a first surface facing a first direction, and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and
a second housing coupled to the hinge structure, including a third surface facing a third direction, and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, the second housing folded toward the first housing around the hinge structure; and
a display spanning across the first surface of the first housing to the third surface of the second housing,
wherein the display includes a first layer and a second layer disposed substantially parallel with the first surface or the third surface,
wherein the first layer, when viewed from above the first surface or the third surface, includes multiple first conductive lines extending parallel with each other in a fifth direction,
wherein the second layer, when viewed from above the first surface or the third surface, includes multiple second conductive lines extending parallel in a sixth direction substantially perpendicular to the fifth direction, the multiple second conductive lines intersecting with the multiple first conductive lines,
wherein the display includes multiple conductive vias formed between the first layer and the second layer to electrically couple at least a portion of the first multiple conductive lines and at least a portion of the second multiple conductive lines,
wherein the display comprises a folding region including the folding axis about which the housing is folded, and the conductive vias are disposed outside the folding region, and
wherein the multiple first conductive lines, together with the multiple second conductive lines, form a portion of at least one loop coil.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display further includes one of the first layer or the second layer in the folding region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a shield member disposed between the display and the second surface, and between the display and the fourth surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a reception space configured to receive an external input device within the foldable housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a portion of at least one of the multiple first conductive lines faces a direction different from the fifth direction, and is disposed spaced apart from the folding axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a via hole is formed at a terminal end of at least one of the multiple first conductive lines disposed either in or proximate to the folding region, and spaced apart from the folding axis by a predetermined distance.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the multiple first conductive lines include at least a (1-1)th conductive line, a (1-2)th conductive line, and a (1-3)th conductive line formed parallel with each other and extending in a direction away from the folding axis, and
wherein the multiple conductive vias include at least a first via hole formed at an end of the (1-1)th conductive line, a second via hole formed at an end of the (1-2)th conductive line, and a third via hole formed at an end of the (1-3)th conductive line.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the (1-1)th conductive line is disposed within or proximate to the folding region, and
wherein a portion of the (1-1)th conductive line extends in a direction away from the folding axis so that the first via hole is spaced by a predetermined distance away from the folding region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the (1-2)th conductive line is disposed within or proximate to the folding region,
wherein a portion of the (1-2)th conductive line extends in a direction away from the folding axis so that the second via hole is spaced by the predetermined distance away from the folding region, and
wherein the second via hole is disposed adjacent to the first via hole such that the second via hole is spaced by another distance greater than the predetermined distance away from the folding axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:
a first set of boundaries are defined in two different positions around the folding axis and spaced by a first distance apart from the folding axis, and
a second set of boundaries are defined in two different positions around the folding axis and spaced by a second distance greater than the first distance apart from the folding axis,
wherein the folding region includes a first folding region formed between the first set of boundaries in the two different positions, and second folding regions formed between the first set of boundaries and the second set of boundaries, and
wherein the first layer in the first folding region defines an opening.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a base layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer, and
a conductive material surrounding at least a portion of the first layer or the second layer, the conductive material at least partially forming the multiple conductive vias.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the conductive material is disposed beyond a first boundary spaced by a first distance apart from the folding axis, or beyond a second boundary spaced a second distance greater than the first distance apart from the folding axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising: an insulation layer stacked with at least one surface of the conductive material, and configured to insulate at least a portion of the conductive material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising: a masking layer stacked with at least one surface of the first layer or at least one surface of the second layer, and disposed adjacent to the conductive material.

### Claim 15

An electronic device, comprising:
a foldable housing including a folding region where the electronic device is substantially folded about a folding axis, wherein the foldable housing includes:
a hinge structure including the folding axis;
a first housing including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction; and
a second housing coupled to the hinge structure, including a third surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and folded toward the first housing around the hinge structure, and
a display spanning across the first surface of the first housing to the third surface of the second housing,
wherein the display includes:
a first layer including multiple first conductive lines of which at least a portion extends toward a fifth direction;
a second layer including multiple second conductive lines of which at least a portion extends toward sixth direction substantially perpendicular to the fifth direction;
a base layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer; and
a conductive material surrounding at least a portion of the first layer or at least a portion of the second layer and configured to form the multiple conductive vias, and
wherein the first layer includes an opening disposed at a first folding region defining a first boundary spaced a first distance apart from the folding axis, and
wherein the multiple first conductive lines, together with the multiple second conductive lines, form a portion of at least one loop coil.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the conductive material disposed beyond a second folding region spaced a second distance apart from the folding axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the multiple first conductive lines includes a portion facing a direction different from the fifth direction and is disposed spaced apart from the folding axis, and a via disposed at one end thereof to be electrically coupled to a second conductive line, and
wherein the via disposed spaced a predetermined distance apart from the folding region.

### Claim 18

An electronic device, comprising:
a foldable housing including a folding region where the electronic device is substantially folded about a folding axis;
a display panel which is visible from the outside through at least a portion of the foldable housing; and
a touch panel disposed at the rear surface of the display panel,
wherein the touch panel includes:
a first layer including multiple first conductive lines of which at least a portion extends in a direction parallel with the folding axis; and
a second layer including multiple second conductive lines of which at least a part extends in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis,
wherein the at least one of the multiple first conductive lines, adjacent to the folding axis, includes a portion formed to be away from the folding axis in the direction perpendicular to the folding axis,
wherein the at least one of the multiple first conductive lines includes, at the end thereof, a via for electrical connection to at least one of the multiple second conductive lines,
wherein the via is disposed at a position spaced at least a predetermined distance apart from the folding region,
wherein the first layer includes an opening disposed in a first folding region which defines a first boundary spaced a first distance apart from the folding axis, and
wherein the multiple first conductive lines, together with the multiple second conductive lines, form a portion of at least one loop coil.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the touch panel further include a base layer between the first layer and the second layer; and a conductive material surrounding at least a portion of the first layer or at least a portion of the second layer, and configured to form a via hole,
wherein the conductive material is disposed outside a second folding region spaced a second distance apart from the folding axis.