# US 12,111,693 B2 · Foldable display device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,693 B2 - Document ID: US12111693B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/418,516 - Filed: 2019-11-22 - Published: 2022-03-17 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-28 - Assignees: Nissha Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Nissha Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tasuku Nishioka; Takeshi Nishimura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111693B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G09F 9/301: {flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED} - 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 1/1624: {with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display} - G06F 1/1637: {Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing} - G06F 1/1641: {the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge} - H04M 1/022: {The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes} - H04M 1/0247: {comprising more than two body parts} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Problem A first chassis and a second chassis are pivotably coupled with a simple structure in a foldable display device. Solution means A mobile terminal (1) includes a first chassis (3) and a second chassis (5). A pivot coupling portion (9) couples the first chassis (3) and the second chassis (5) to allow an open state and a closed state. The first chassis (3) and the second chassis (5) are open to enter a planar state in the open state. The first chassis (3) and the second chassis (5) are closed to enter a state of being bent inward in the closed state. A flexible display (7) is arranged to cover main surfaces of the first chassis (3) and the second chassis (5). A support member (11) is arranged between the first chassis (3) and the second chassis (5). The support member (11) has a flat support surface (13a) that supports the flexible display (7) when the flexible display (7) is in the open state. The display (7) includes adhesive portions (7a, 7b) and a non-adhesive portion (7c). The adhesive portions (7a, 7b) are adhered to the first chassis (3) and the second chassis (5). The non-adhesive portion (7c) is separable from the flat support surface (13a) of the support member (11) between the first chassis (3) and the second chassis (5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foldable display device in which a plurality of chassis are foldably coupled, comprising: a first chassis; a second chassis; a pivot coupling portion that couples the first chassis and the second chassis to position the first chassis and the second chassis to an open state and a closed state, the first chassis and the second chassis being open to enter a planar state in the open state, the first chassis and the second chassis being closed to enter a state of being bent inward in the closed state; a flexible display arranged to cover surfaces of the first chassis and the second chassis, wherein the display is in the open state and the closed state in accordance with the first chassis and the second chassis; and a support member arranged between the first chassis and the second chassis, the support member having a flat support surface that supports the display when the display is in the open state, wherein the display includes adhesive portions and a non-adhesive portion, the adhesive portions are adhered to the first chassis and the second chassis, and the non-adhesive portion is separable from the flat support surface of the support member between the first chassis and the second chassis, wherein the non-adhesive portion of the display bends at a position away from the flat support surface in an upward direction when the display is in the closed state; and wherein the support member has a first curved surface and a second curved surface corresponding to portions of a circular arc around the pivot center of the pivot coupling portion when viewed in a direction in which a pivot axis of the pivot coupling portion extends, and the first chassis has a third curved surface and the second chassis has a fourth curved surface that complementarily support the first curved surface and the second curved surface, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a first abutting portion facing the first chassis and a second abutting portion facing the second chassis, and the first chassis and the second chassis include a third abutting portion and a fourth abutting portion, respectively, the third abutting portion and the fourth abutting portion are positioned away from the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion in a rotation direction with the display in the open state, respectively, and when the display is in the closed state, the third abutting portion and the fourth abutting portion abut on the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The foldable display device according to claim 2, further comprising: an elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the first elastic cover member covering an outer side of the support member when the first chassis and the second chassis transition from the open state to the closed state and while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The foldable display device according to claim 2, further comprising: an elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the elastic cover member supporting the non-adhesive portion of the display while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the open state, the elastic cover member covering an outer side of the bent non-adhesive portion in a curved state while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising a first elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the first elastic cover member covering an outer side of the support member when the first chassis and the second chassis transition from the open state to the closed state and while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The foldable display device according to claim 5, further comprising: a second elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the second elastic cover member supporting the non-adhesive portion of the display while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the open state, the elastic cover member covering an outer side of the bent non-adhesive portion in a curved state while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the elastic cover member supporting the non-adhesive portion of the display while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the open state, the elastic cover member covering an outer side of the bent non-adhesive portion in a curved state while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a first abutting portion facing the first chassis and a second abutting portion facing the second chassis, and the first chassis and the second chassis include a third abutting portion and a fourth abutting portion, respectively, the third abutting portion and the fourth abutting portion are positioned away from the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion in a rotation direction with the display in the open state, respectively, and when the display is in the closed state, the third abutting portion and the fourth abutting portion abut on the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a first abutting portion facing the first chassis and a second abutting portion facing the second chassis, and the first chassis and the second chassis include a third abutting portion and a fourth abutting portion, respectively, the third abutting portion and the fourth abutting portion are positioned away from the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion in a rotation direction with the display in the open state, respectively, and when the display is in the closed state, the third abutting portion and the fourth abutting portion abut on the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising: an elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the first elastic cover member covering an outer side of the support member when the first chassis and the second chassis transition from the open state to the closed state and while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising: an elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the first elastic cover member covering an outer side of the support member when the first chassis and the second chassis transition from the open state to the closed state and while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising: an elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the elastic cover member supporting the non-adhesive portion of the display while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the open state, the elastic cover member covering an outer side of the bent non-adhesive portion in a curved state while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising: an elastic cover member fixed to an end of the second chassis facing the first chassis, the elastic cover member supporting the non-adhesive portion of the display while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the open state, the elastic cover member covering an outer side of the bent non-adhesive portion in a curved state while the first chassis and the second chassis are in the closed state.