# US 12,602,076 B2 · Electronic device comprising hinge module

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,602,076 B2
- Document ID: US12602076B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/625,684
- Filed: 2024-04-03
- Published: 2024-07-25
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-06
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Giuk Kang; Younghun Kim; Dongmin Shin; Jaehun Ko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12602076B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements
- 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}
- F16C 11/04: Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D)
- 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 1/1641: {the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence)}
- 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)}
- H04M 1/022: {The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes}
- H05K 5/0226: {Hinges}
- 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
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a first housing and a second housing configured to rotate with respect to the first housing, a display including a first display area disposed on the first housing and a second display area disposed on the second housing, a hinge module connected to the first housing and the second housing, and a hinge cover surrounding at least a portion of the hinge module, wherein the hinge module includes a hinge arm including a first hinge arm connected to the first housing and includes a first slot, and a second hinge arm connected to the second housing and includes a second slot, a shaft structure connected to the hinge cover, the shaft structure including a first shaft structure having at least a portion located within the first slot and providing a first shaft and a second shaft structure having at least a portion located within the second slot and providing a second shaft, and an interlocking structure including a first interlocking member connected to the first housing and including a first gear, and a second interlocking member connected to the second housing and including a second gear configured to rotate based on the rotation of the first gear, wherein the first hinge arm is configured to slide and rotate with respect to the first shaft based on a folding angle of the electronic device, and wherein the second hinge arm is configured to slide and rotate with respect to the second shaft based on the folding angle of the electronic device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising a first housing and a second housing configured to rotate relative to the first housing;
a first display disposed on the first housing;
a second display disposed on the second housing and physically distinct from the first display, wherein a first edge of the first display and a second edge of the second display are adjacent to each other, and wherein the first display and the second display face each other in a folded state of the electronic device and face a same direction in an unfolded state of the electronic device;
a hinge module connected to the first housing and the second housing; and
a hinge cover configured to surround at least a portion of the hinge module,
wherein the hinge module comprises:
a hinge arm comprising a first hinge arm connected to the first housing and comprising a first slot, and a second hinge arm connected to the second housing and comprising a second slot,
a shaft structure connected to the hinge cover, the shaft structure comprising a first shaft structure at least partially located within the first slot and providing a first axis, and a second shaft structure at least partially located within the second slot and providing a second axis, and
an interlocking structure comprising a first interlocking member connected to the first housing and comprising a first gear, and a second interlocking member connected to the second housing and comprising a second gear configured to rotate based on rotation of the first gear,
wherein the first hinge arm is configured to slide and rotate about the first axis, based on a folding angle of the electronic device, and
wherein the second hinge arm is configured to slide and rotate about the second axis, based on the folding angle of the electronic device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the shaft structure comprises:
a third shaft structure connected to the first interlocking member and providing a third axis; and
a fourth shaft structure connected to the second interlocking member and providing a fourth axis parallel to the third axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2,
wherein the first display is configured to rotate with respect to a first display axis, and
wherein the second display is configured to rotate with respect to a second display axis, the first axis is located between the first display axis and the third axis, and the second axis is located between the second display axis and the fourth axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the interlocking structure comprises:
a first rotation plate connected to the first housing; and
a second rotation plate connected to the second housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge module comprises:
a rotation structure comprising:
a first rotation member connected to the first housing,
a second rotation member connected to the second housing, and
a rotation bracket connected to the hinge cover and accommodating the first rotation member and the second rotation member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electronic device of claim 5,
wherein the rotation bracket comprises a third slot and a fourth slot,
wherein the first rotation member comprises a first protruding area located within the third slot and a second protruding area located within the fourth slot, and
wherein the first rotation member and the second rotation member are configured to rotate and slide relative to the rotation bracket.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1,
wherein the interlocking structure comprises a gear assembly connected to the hinge cover, the gear assembly comprising a third gear connected to the first gear, a fourth gear connected to the second gear, and a fifth gear connected to the third gear and the fourth gear,
wherein the third gear, the fourth gear, and the fifth gear are helical gears,
wherein the first interlocking member is configured to rotate with respect to a center of the third gear, and
wherein the second interlocking member is configured to rotate with respect to a center of the fourth gear.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1,
wherein the hinge module comprises a connection structure comprising:
a first connection member comprising a first through-hole accommodating the first shaft structure, and
a second connection member comprising a second through-hole accommodating the second shaft structure, and
wherein the first connection member and the second connection member are connected to the hinge cover.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge module comprises a fixing structure located between the hinge arm and the interlocking structure, the fixing structure configured to provide an elastic force to at least one of the hinge arm or the interlocking structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the fixing structure comprises:
a first cam member connected to the first shaft structure and the first interlocking member; and
a second cam member connected to the second shaft structure and the second interlocking member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the fixing structure comprises:
a first elastic member located between the first cam member and the first interlocking member; and
a second elastic member located between the second cam member and the second interlocking member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, while the electronic device is folded, at least a portion of the hinge cover is overlapped with at least a portion of the housing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a substrate part comprising:
a first circuit board disposed in the first housing,
a second circuit board disposed in the second housing, and
a flexible circuit board configured to electrically connect the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2,
wherein the first interlocking member is rotatably coupled to the third axis which is misaligned to a center of the first gear, and
wherein the second interlocking member is rotatably coupled to the fourth axis which is misaligned to a center of the second gear.

### Claim 15 (depends on 3)

The electronic device of claim 3, wherein as the folding angle between the first display and the second display of the electronic device decreases, a second distance between both the first display axis and the second display axis and the hinge cover decreases.