# US 12,216,493 B2 · Electronic device including hinge module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,493 B2 - Document ID: US12216493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/175,537 - Filed: 2023-02-28 - Published: 2023-07-27 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-27 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Myoungjun Choi; Haein Chung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216493B2 ## 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 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - G06F 1/20: Cooling means - G06F 1/203: {for portable computers, e.g. for laptops} - H05K 5/0226: {Hinges} - H05K 5/03: Covers - H05K 7/20136: {Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans (H05K7/202 takes precedence)} - G06F 2200/202: Air convective hinge - 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 According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an electronic device may includes: a first housing in which a display module is disposed; a second housing in which a circuit board and a cooling fan connected to the circuit board are accommodated, where a first opening is defined in the second housing to introduce air into the cooling fan; and a hinge module rotatably connected to the first housing and the second housing, and disposed adjacent to the first opening. The hinge module may includes: a hinge housing in which a first hinge opening is defined to be connected to the first opening; a first main gear disposed in the hinge housing and operably connected to the first housing; a second main gear operably connected to the second housing and configured to rotate in correspondence with the first main gear; a driving gear disposed adjacent to at least one of the first main gear or the second main gear and rotatable in correspondence with at least one of the first main gear or the second main gear; and a first cover plate disposed in the hinge housing and including a first rack gear area which meshes with the driving gear. The electronic device may be switchable between a closed state in which an angle formed by the first housing and the second housing is less than a predetermined angle and an open state in which the angle formed by the first housing and the second housing is equal to or greater than the predetermined angle. When the electronic device is in the closed state, the first cover plate is disposed to overlap with at least part of the first hinge opening. When the electronic device is in the open state, the first cover plate may be spaced apart from the first hinge opening, and the first hinge opening may be opened. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a first housing in which a display module is disposed; a second housing in which a circuit board and a cooling fan connected to the circuit board are accommodated, wherein a first opening is defined in the second housing to introduce air into the cooling fan; and a hinge module rotatably connecting the first housing and the second housing to each other, and disposed adjacent to the first opening, wherein the hinge module comprises: a hinge housing in which a first hinge opening is defined to be connected to the first opening; a first main gear disposed in the hinge housing and operably connected to the first housing; a second main gear operably connected to the second housing and rotatable in correspondence with the first main gear; a driving gear disposed adjacent to at least one of the first main gear or the second main gear and rotatable in correspondence with at least one of the first main gear or the second main gear; and a first cover plate disposed in the hinge housing and including a first rack gear area which meshes with the driving gear, wherein the electronic device is switchable between a closed state in which an angle formed by the first housing and the second housing is less than a predetermined angle and an open state in which the angle formed by the first housing and the second housing is equal to or greater than the predetermined angle, wherein when the electronic device is in the closed state, the first cover plate is disposed to overlap at least part of the first hinge opening, and wherein when the electronic device is in the open state, the first cover plate is spaced apart from the first hinge opening, and the first hinge opening is opened. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a reception gear disposed to have a same rotation axis as the driving gear, wherein the reception gear is configured to transmit a force received from at least one of the first main gear or the second main gear to the driving gear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a transmission gear disposed to have a same axis as the first main gear or the second main gear, wherein the transmission gear is disposed to mesh with the reception gear and configured to transmit the force from at least one of the first main gear or the second main gear to the reception gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary gear disposed between the first main gear and the second main gear, wherein the auxiliary gear rotatably meshes with the first main gear and the second main gear. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a second cover plate including a second rack gear area, wherein a second hinge opening is defined in the hinge housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein in the closed state, the second cover plate is disposed to overlap at least part of the second hinge opening, and wherein in the open state, the second cover plate is spaced apart from the second hinge opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first rack gear area and the second rack gear area are disposed on opposing sides of the driving gear, respectively, to face each other, and when the driving gear operates, the first cover plate and the second cover plate move in different directions from each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a second hinge module spaced apart from the hinge module, wherein the second housing further comprises a second opening, and wherein the second hinge module comprises: a second hinge housing in which a third hinge opening to be connected to the second opening; a third main gear disposed in the second hinge housing and connected to the first housing; a fourth main gear connected to the second housing and rotatable in correspondence with the third main gear; a second driving gear disposed adjacent to at least one of the third main gear or the fourth main gear and rotatable in correspondence with at least one of the third main gear or the fourth main gear; and a third cover plate disposed in the hinge housing and including a third rack gear area which meshes with the driving gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein, in the open state, the first hinge opening defines an inlet to introduce air into the electronic device, and the third hinge opening defines an output to discharge air from the inside of the electronic device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is at least one of a laptop computer or a tablet personal computer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge module further comprises a first connection member connected to the first housing, and wherein the first connection member is disposed to have a same axis as the first main gear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge module further comprises a second connection member connected to the second housing, and wherein the second connection member is disposed to have a same axis as the second main gear. ### Claim 13 A hinge module for rotatably connecting a first housing and a second housing to each other, the hinge module comprising: a hinge housing in which a first hinge opening is defined to be connected to a first opening defined in the first housing or the second housing; a first connection unit including a first connection shaft, a first main gear connected to the first connection shaft, and a first connection member connected to the first connection shaft and the first housing; a second connection unit including a second connection shaft, a second main gear connected to the second connection shaft, a second connection member connected to the second connection shaft and the second housing, and a transmission gear connected to the second connection shaft and disposed adjacent to the second main gear; a driving gear which operates by a force received from the transmission gear; and a first cover plate including a first rack gear area which meshes with the driving gear, wherein when at least one of the first housing or the second housing rotates, the first cover plate operates to be spaced from the first hinge opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hinge module of claim 13, further comprising a reception gear disposed to have a same rotation axis as the driving gear, wherein the reception gear is disposed to mesh with the transmission gear and configured to transmit a force from at least one of the first main gear or the second main gear to the driving gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The hinge module of claim 13, further comprising an auxiliary gear disposed between the first main gear and the second main gear, wherein the auxiliary gear rotatably meshes with the first main gear and the second main gear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The hinge module of claim 13, further comprising a second cover plate including a second rack gear area, wherein a second hinge opening is defined in the hinge housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hinge module of claim 16, wherein the first rack gear area and the second rack gear area are disposed on opposing sides of the driving gear, respectively, to face each other, and when the driving gear operates, the first cover plate and the second cover plate move in different directions from each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The hinge module of claim 13, wherein the hinge module is switchable between a first state in which the first hinge opening is shielded and a second state in which the first hinge opening is opened. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The hinge module of claim 13, wherein the first rack gear area is defined in a partial area of the first cover plate corresponding to the first hinge opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The hinge module of claim 13, wherein a second hinge opening is defined in the hinge housing to be disposed side by side with the first hinge opening.