# US 12,602,090 B2 · Support plate for folding portable display device

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- Number: US 12,602,090 B2
- Document ID: US12602090B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/600,503
- Filed: 2024-03-08
- Published: 2025-09-11
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2024-03-08
- Assignees: Google Inc.
- Applicants: Google LLC
- Inventors: Yongho Lim; Peiwen Hung; Tingwei Hsu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12602090B2

## 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 1/1637: {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 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An example folding device comprising: a first housing; a second housing; a hinge assembly rotatably connected to the first housing and the second housing; a continuous display connected to and across the first housing and the second housing; and a first collapsible support plate connected to the first housing and configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully opened, wherein: the first collapsible support plate comprises a single continuous plate folded over itself to form two parallel plates, a first parallel plate of the two parallel plates defines a straight edge that overhangs one or more voids in a second parallel plate of the two parallel plates, and the straight edge defined by the first parallel plate is adjacent to the hinge assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A folding device comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing;
a hinge assembly rotatably connected to the first housing and the second housing;
a continuous display connected to and across the first housing and the second housing; and
a first collapsible support plate connected to the first housing and configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully opened, wherein:
the first collapsible support plate comprises a single continuous plate of sheet material folded over itself to form two parallel plates,
a first parallel plate of the two parallel plates comprises one or more voids and defines a straight edge that overhangs one or more voids in a second parallel plate of the two parallel plates, and
the straight edge defined by the first parallel plate is adjacent to the hinge assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, wherein the first parallel plate of the two parallel plates comprises fewer voids than the second parallel plate of the two parallel plates and, wherein the voids in the second parallel plate are proximal to the hinge assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, wherein the voids in the two parallel plates comprise at least one or more of:
assembly geometry; and
weight reduction features.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, wherein the voids in the two parallel plates comprise weight reduction features, and wherein one or more interflex connections are routed between the first housing and the second housing, and wherein the weight reduction features are not present at regions of the single continuous plate where the interflex is routed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, wherein the voids in the two parallel plates comprise assembly geometry, and wherein the assembly geometry further comprises a circular void configured to comprise a screw and/or a filler, wherein:
a portion of the screw or the filler distal to the hinge assembly is flush with the first parallel plate of the two parallel plates, and
the circular void is not intersected by the straight edge of the first parallel plate or the fold in the single continuous plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, wherein a fold in the single continuous plate is opposite the straight edge of the first parallel plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, wherein the first parallel plate and the second parallel plate of the two parallel plates are spot welded together.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, wherein the single continuous plate of sheet material is formed of stainless steel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The folding device of claim 1, further comprising:
a second collapsible support plate connected to the second housing and configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully opened, wherein,
the second collapsible support plate comprises a single continuous plate folded over itself to form two parallel plates.