# US 12,181,934 B2 · Electronic device comprising hinge assembly

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- Number: US 12,181,934 B2
- Document ID: US12181934B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/944,685
- Filed: 2022-09-14
- Published: 2023-03-02
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-01
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Sungkwang Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181934B2

## CPC

- 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)}
- F16C 11/04: Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D)
- G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements
- 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}
- G09F 9/301: {flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED}
- 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 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- 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

Disclosed is an electronic device including a hinge assembly. The electronic device may include: a display including a first area and a second area; a first housing positioned in the first area; a second housing positioned in the second area; a hinge assembly including a hinge foldably connecting the first housing and the second housing based on a folding axis, and configured to operate between a folding position at which the first area and the second area face each other and an unfolding position at which the first area and the second area form a substantially same plane; and a stopper configured to connect to the hinge assembly and to limit a movement of the first housing and the second housing based on the first housing and the second housing being at a rest angle. The stopper may include a first stopper positioned in the first housing; and a second stopper positioned in the second housing, and the first stopper and the second stopper may contact each other at the rest angle and the movement of the first housing and the second housing may be limited.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device comprising:
a display comprising a first area and a second area;
a first housing positioned in the first area;
a second housing positioned in the second area;
a hinge assembly including a hinge foldably connecting the first housing and the second housing based on a folding axis, and configured to operate between a folding position at which the first area and the second area face each other and an unfolding position at which the first area and the second area form a substantially same plane; and
a stopper connected to the hinge assembly and configured to limit a movement of the first housing and the second housing based on the first housing and the second housing being at a rest angle,
wherein the stopper comprises:
a first stopper positioned in the first housing; and
a second stopper positioned in the second housing,
wherein the first stopper comprises a first body and a first protrusion protruding from the first body, and
the second stopper comprises a second body and a second protrusion protruding from the second body,
wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion contact with each other at the rest angle and the contact of the first protrusion and the second protrusion limits the movement of the first housing and the second housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first stopper is configured to rotate based on a first axis of rotation, the second stopper is configured to rotate based on a second axis of rotation, and the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are spaced apart at a same distance from the folding axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first stopper and the second stopper have a non-circular cross-sectional shape symmetrical to each other with respect to a folding surface through which the folding axis passes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first body has a cylindrical shape and a first hole formed at the center of the first body, and
the second stopper the second body has a cylindrical shape, and a second hole formed at the center of the second body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic device of claim 4, wherein a first set of teeth is formed at an outside of the first body and a second set of teeth is formed at an outside of the second body, and
the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are configured to be engaged with each other and an amount of rotation of the first body and the second body is constrained.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The electronic device of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the first hole has a straight portion and a portion of the second hole has a straight portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first stopper further comprises a third protrusion facing the first protrusion based on the first hole, and
the second stopper further comprises a fourth protrusion facing the second protrusion based on the second hole.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion comprises a first curved section formed from the first body and a first planar section formed from the first curved section to an end, and
the second protrusion comprises a second curved section formed from the second body and a second planar section formed from the second curved section to an end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein, based on the first housing and the second housing being at the rest angle, the first planar section and the second planar section are in contact with a folding surface through which the folding axis passes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the rest angle is an angle formed between the first housing and the second housing at one of the unfolding position and the folding position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly comprises:
a first rotator to which the first housing is fastened and in which the first area of the display is positioned;
a second rotator to which the second housing is fastened and in which the second area of the display is positioned;
a first gear shaft positioned on one side of the first rotator and configured to rotate with the first rotator;
a second gear shaft positioned on one side of the second rotator, configured to rotate with the second rotator, and spaced apart at a same distance as the first gear shaft from the folding axis;
a first gear inserted into and configured to rotate with the first gear shaft;
a second gear inserted into and configured to rotate with the second gear shaft;
a first idle gear shaft into which a first idle gear contacting the first gear is inserted and configured to rotate; and
a second idle gear shaft into which a second idle gear contacting the second gear is inserted and configured to rotate,
wherein the first idle gear and the second idle gear are configured to rotate in opposite directions and in contact with each other,
the first stopper into which the first idle gear shaft is inserted and configured to rotate, and the second stopper into which the second idle gear shaft is inserted and configured to rotate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises: a limit bracket configured to constrain the first idle gear shaft and the second idle gear shaft, and
the first stopper is positioned between the limit bracket and the first idle gear, and the second stopper is positioned between the limit bracket and the second idle gear.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first stopper is configured to be press-fit and coupled to the first idle gear shaft, and the second stopper is configured to be press-fit and coupled to the second idle gear shaft.

### Claim 14

A hinge assembly comprising:
a rotate bracket;
a first gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to a first side of the rotate bracket into which a first gear is inserted and configured to rotate;
a second gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to a second side of the rotate bracket, into which a second gear is inserted and configured to rotate, and spaced apart at a same distance as the first gear shaft from a folding axis;
a first idle gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to the first side of the rotate bracket and into which a first idle gear contacting the first gear is inserted and configured to rotate;
a second idle gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to the second side of the rotate bracket, into which a second idle gear contacting the second gear is inserted and configured to rotate, and spaced apart at a same distance as the first idle gear shaft from the folding axis;
a first stopper into and the first idle gear shaft is inserted and configured to rotate; and
a second stopper into which the second idle gear shaft is inserted and configured to rotate,
wherein the first idle gear and the second idle gear rotate in opposite directions in contact with each other,
the first stopper comprises a first body, a first hole formed at the center of the first body and into which the first idle gear shaft is inserted, and a first protrusion protruding from the first body, and
the second stopper comprises a second body, a second hole formed at the center of the second body and into which the second idle gear shaft is inserted, and a second protrusion protruding from the second body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hinge assembly of claim 14, wherein a sum of a distance from a center of the first hole to an outside of the first body and a distance from a center of the second hole to an outside of the second body is less than a distance between the first hole and the second hole, and
a sum of a distance from the center of the first hole to an end of the first protrusion and a distance from the center of the second hole to an end of the second protrusion is greater than the distance between the first hole and the second hole.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The hinge assembly of claim 14, wherein a cross section of the first idle gear shaft has a shape corresponding to a cross section of the first hole, and/or a cross section of the second idle gear shaft has a shape corresponding to a cross section of the second hole.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The hinge assembly of claim 16, wherein the first stopper comprises a first press-fitting protrusion protruding inward of the first hole and configured to press-fit and couple to the first idle gear shaft, and/or the second stopper comprises a second press-fitting protrusion protruding inward of the second hole and configured to press-fit and couple to the second idle gear shaft.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The hinge assembly of claim 16, wherein a cross section of the first hole or a cross section of the second hole has at least one of a D shape, a cross shape, a polygonal shape, and a gear shape.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The hinge assembly of claim 14, wherein the first stopper member further comprises a third protrusion formed to face the first protrusion based on the first hole,
the second stopper further comprises a fourth protrusion formed to face the second protrusion based on the second hole,
a placement angle between the first protrusion and the third protrusion is set based on a gear ratio of the first gear and the first idle gear, and
a placement angle between the second protrusion and the fourth protrusion is set based on a gear ratio of the second gear and the second idle gear.

### Claim 20

An electronic device comprising:
a display comprising a first area and a second area;
a first housing positioned in the first area;
a second housing positioned in the second area; and
a hinge assembly including a hinge foldably connecting the first housing and the second housing based on a folding axis, and configured to operate between a folding position at which the first area and the second area face each other and an unfolding position at which the first area and the second area form the substantially same plane,
wherein the hinge assembly comprises:
a rotate bracket having a first side connected to the first housing and a second side connected to the second housing;
a first gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to the first side of the rotate bracket and into which a first gear is inserted and configured to rotate;
a second gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to the second side of the rotate bracket, into which a second gear is inserted and configured to rotate, and spaced apart at a same distance as the first gear shaft from the folding axis;
a first idle gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to the first side of the rotate bracket and into which a first idle gear connected to the first gear is inserted and configured to rotate;
a second idle gear shaft rotatably inserted into and coupled to the second side of the rotate bracket, into which a second idle gear connected to the second gear is inserted and configured to rotate, and spaced apart at a same distance as the first idle gear shaft from the folding axis;
a first stopper into which the first idle gear shaft is inserted and configured to rotate; and
a second stopper into which the second idle gear shaft is inserted and configured to rotate,
the first idle gear and the second idle gear are configured to rotate in opposite directions in contact with each other,
the first stopper comprises a first body, a first hole formed at the center of the first body and into which the first idle gear shaft is inserted, and a first protrusion protruding from the first body,
the second stopper comprises a second body, a second hole formed at the center of the second body into which the second idle gear shaft is inserted, and a second protrusion protruding from the second body,
a sum of a distance from a center of the first hole to an outside of the first body and a distance from a center of the second hole to an outside of the second body is less than a distance between the first hole and the second hole, and
a sum of a distance from the center of the first hole to an end of the first protrusion and a distance from the center of the second hole to an end of the second protrusion is greater than the distance between the first hole and the second hole.