# US 12,222,774 B2 · Electronic device including flexible display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,774 B2 - Document ID: US12222774B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/453,614 - Filed: 2023-08-22 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-10 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jonghwan Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222774B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - G06F 1/1616: {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 1/1643: {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 1/1647: {including at least an additional display (G06F1/1692 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A portable electronic device is provided having a foldable housing, a flexible display, and a hinge structure. The hinge structure includes a hinge cover, a rotary shaft assembly substantially accommodated in the hinge cover under the flexible display, and including a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft substantially parallel to each other. The hinge structure also includes a first arm structure and a second arm structure rotatably coupled with the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft, respectively. The hinge structure further includes a guide member connected with the rotary shaft assembly and including a recessed area located substantially between the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft when viewed from above the flexible display. The recessed area is configured to accommodate at least part of a third display portion when the foldable housing is at least partially folded. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable communication device comprising: a foldable housing including a first housing and a second housing each rotatable with respect to a first axis and a second axis; a flexible display including a first display portion accommodated in the first housing, a second display portion accommodated in the second housing, and a third display portion between the first and second display portion and bendable according to the foldable housing being at least partially folded; and a hinge structure disposed under the flexible display and connected with each of the first housing and the second housing, wherein the hinge structure includes: a hinge cover; a rotary shaft assembly substantially accommodated in the hinge cover under the flexible display, and including a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft substantially parallel to each other; a first arm structure and a second arm structure rotatably coupled with the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft, respectively; and a guide member connected with the rotary shaft assembly and including a recessed area located substantially between the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft when viewed from above the flexible display, the recessed area configured to accommodate at least part of the third display portion when the foldable housing is at least partially folded, wherein the flexible display includes a display panel and a support plate attached to a rear surface of the display panel, wherein at least part of the support plate is accommodated in the recessed area when the foldable housing is at least partially folded, wherein the support plate includes a bending portion where is bendable when the foldable housing is at least partially folded, wherein the bending portion is formed supports at least part of the third display portion in an unfolded state in which the third display portion forms a flat surface, and wherein the bending portion is partially received in the recessed area while being spaced apart from the third display portion in a folded state in which the third display portion forms a curved surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least part of the support plate accommodated in the recessed area is formed as a lattice portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the guide member includes a first planar area extending from a first edge of the recessed area in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis toward the first display portion, and a second planar area extending from a second edge of the recessed area opposite to the first edge in a second direction opposite to the first direction toward the second display portion, and wherein the flexible display is supported by the first and second planar areas without the at least part of the third display portion being accommodated in the recessed area when the foldable housing is unfolded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the hinge structure includes: a first bracket structure connected with the first arm structure and supporting the first display portion; and a second bracket structure connected with the second arm structure and supporting the second display portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the guide member includes a first opening and a second opening formed therein, and wherein the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft are connected via the first opening and the second opening, respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the guide member includes a third opening and a fourth opening formed therein, and wherein the hinge structure includes: a first shaft gear disposed on the first rotary shaft; a second shaft gear disposed on the second rotary shaft; a first idle gear disposed between the first shaft gear and the second rotary shaft; and a second idle gear disposed between the first idle gear and the second rotary shaft, wherein the first idle gear disposed on a third shaft and the second idle gear disposed on a fourth shaft, and wherein the third shaft and the fourth shaft are connected via the third opening and the fourth opening, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein at least part of the bending portion is bent toward a folding axis of the display panel by being brought into contact with the recessed area when the portable communication device is changed from the unfolded state to the folded state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein in the folded state, a distance by which the third display portion and the bending portion are spaced apart from each other increases toward a direction in which the recessed area is concavely formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the bending portion is formed includes a plurality of slits formed through at least a partial area of the support plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The portable communication device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of slits includes at least one of a first slit discontinuously formed along a lengthwise direction of the bending portion or a second slit continuously formed along the lengthwise direction of the bending portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the bending portion is formed partially contains a flexible material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive member disposed between the display panel and at least a portion of the support plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising: a reinforcing member disposed between the display panel and the bending portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the hinge structure includes: a hinge module including a first hinge module and a second hinge module disposed to face each other in a direction of a folding axis of the display panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The portable communication device of claim 14, wherein the guide member is disposed on at least one of the first hinge module or the second hinge module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The portable communication device of claim 15, wherein the guide member includes a first guide member disposed on the first hinge module, a second guide member disposed on the second hinge module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The portable communication device of claim 16, wherein at least part of the bending portion is supported by the first guide member and the second guide member or is supported by the second guide member when the first housing and the second housing are folded toward each other.