# US 2018/0324964 A1 · Electronic device including flexible display

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- Number: US 2018/0324964 A1
- Document ID: US20180324964A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/966,364
- Filed: 2018-04-30
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Chung-Keun Yoo; Jung-Jin Kim; Jong-Yoon Kim; Gi-Dae Kim; Young-Sun Park; Moo-Hyun Baek; Hyun-Woo Sim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324964A1

## 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}
- E05D 3/122: {Gear hinges}
- E05D 3/18: with sliding pins or guides
- E05D 11/06: Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
- F16C 29/02: Sliding-contact bearings
- G06F 1/1635: {Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter}
- 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 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- G06F 1/1683: {for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling}
- G06F 1/1698: {the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone (details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266)}
- H01Q 1/2266: {disposed inside the computer}
- H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits
- H05K 5/0226: {Hinges}
- H05K 5/03: Covers
- H05K 7/1427: {Housings}
- E05Y 2201/224: Stops
- E05Y 2999/00: Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
- F16C 2380/00: Electrical apparatus
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device may comprise a first housing including a first surface and a second surface facing in a direction opposite the first surface, a second housing including a third surface and a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite the third surface, a hinge disposed between the first housing and the second housing configured to provide rotational motion between the first housing and the second housing, and a flexible display disposed from the first surface of the first housing across the hinge to the third surface of the second housing, at least part of the flexible display configured to form a curved surface as the hinge structure is folded, wherein the hinge may include dual-axis hinges configured to provide a first rotational axis allowing the first housing to rotate about the second housing and a second rotational axis allowing the second housing to rotate about the first housing and slides coupled with the first housing and the second housing and configured to provide sliding motion perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the first housing and the second housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
a first housing including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite the first direction;
a second housing including a third surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite the third direction;
a hinge disposed between the first housing and the second housing, and configured to provide rotational motion between the first housing and the second housing; and
a flexible display disposed from the first surface of the first housing across the hinge to the third surface of the second housing, at least part of the flexible display configured to form a curved surface as the hinge is folded, wherein the hinge comprises dual-axis hinges providing a first rotational axis configured to allow the first housing to rotate about the second housing and a second rotational axis configured to allow the second housing to rotate about the first housing and slides coupled with the first housing and the second housing and configured to provide sliding motion perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the first housing and the second housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible display includes a first area disposed in at least part of a first surface of the first housing, a second area disposed in at least part of a front surface of the second housing, and a third area extending from the first area and the second area and disposed over at least part of an outer surface of the hinge, and wherein the first area is configured to rotate about the second area corresponding to folding of the electronic device, and a virtual folding line included in the curved surface is disposed in the third area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the slides comprise a first slide and a second slide, wherein the first slide is connected with the first housing, and the second slide is connected with the second housing, and wherein when the first housing is folded about the second housing, the first slide and the second slide are configured to slide towards the third area of the flexible display assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the slides include a first slide and a second slide, wherein the first slide is connected with the first housing, and the second slide is connected with the second housing, and wherein when the first housing and the second housing are positioned in parallel with each other, the first slide and the second slide are configured to slide away from the third area of the flexible display assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the hinge includes:
a first slide cover and a second slide cover covering at least part of a rear surface of the electronic device;
the dual-axis hinges disposed in recesses formed in the first slide cover and the second slide cover and providing a virtual rotational axis and another virtual rotational axis to the first slide cover and the second slide cover, respectively;
a plurality of rail brackets each fastened to a respective one of the respective inner surfaces of the first slide cover and the second slide cover;
the slides configured to slide along guide holes formed in the rail brackets;
a pair of rail stoppers coupled to respective inner surfaces of the first slide cover and the second slide cover and configured to restrict rotational motion of the first slide cover and the second slide cover; and
a plurality of slide stoppers disposed between the pair of rail stoppers configured to move along slide lines disposed inside the slide covers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the slides each include:
a slide plate including at least one hole having an opening at a side thereof;
a roller disposed in the hole and exposed towards the opening, and configured to rotate in contact with a side surface of the rail bracket;
at least one elastic body comprising an elastic material disposed inside the hole and configured to provide tension to allow the roller to face the rail bracket; and
a bracket supporting the elastic body and the roller, wherein the rail brackets each include at least one trapezoidal notch in an inner side of the guide hole, and wherein the roller of the slide which is configured to move in the guide hole is configured to receive a force to pressurize from the elastic body to accelerate or decelerate along a direction of an inclined surface of the trapezoidal notch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the slides include a first slide and a second slide, wherein the first slide is connected with the first housing, and the second slide is connected with the second housing, and wherein when the first housing is configured to be unfolded about the second housing, the roller disposed in the first slide and the roller disposed in the second slide module are positioned to abut the inclined surfaces of the trapezoidal notches, and wherein the elastic bodies are configured to provide forces to the rollers in directions along which the rollers abut the inclined surfaces.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the first area of the display assembly is connected with the first slide, and the second area of the display assembly is connected with the second slide, and wherein corresponding to movements of the first slide and the second slide, the first area and the second area are configured to receive forces that face in directions opposite to the third area and the first area, the second area, and the third area form surfaces positioned parallel with each other.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the slides include a first slide and a second slide, wherein the first slide is connected with the first housing, and the second slide is connected with the second housing, and wherein when the first housing is configured to be folded about the second housing, the roller disposed in the first slide and the roller disposed in the second slide are positioned to abut the inclined surfaces of the trapezoidal notches, and wherein the elastic bodies are configured to provide forces to the rollers in directions along which the rollers abut the inclined surfaces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first area of the display is connected with the first slide, and the second area of the display is connected with the second slide, and wherein corresponding to movements of the first slide and the second slide, the first area and the second area are configured to receive forces that face the third area and the third area which is disposed in one surface of the hinge and remains an even curved surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the slide plate is coupled to an inner surface of the first housing or the second housing, and wherein the first housing or the second housing is configured to move back and forth corresponding to a movement of the slide.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The electronic device of claim 6, further comprising a ridge protruding in a lengthwise direction in the inner side of the guide hole of the rail bracket, and wherein a groove corresponding to the protruding ridge is formed in the slide plate, wherein the ridge is configured to fit into the groove.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the hinge includes a center bar disposed in a middle of an outer surface of the hinge and supporting the flexible display assembly and multi bars disposed at both sides of the center bar and configured to transform the third area of the flexible display assembly into the curved surface, wherein the multi bars include a first multi bar and a second multi bar disposed opposite each other with the center bar disposed therebetween, and the first multi bar and the second multi bar each include a plurality of bars.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the bars of each multi bar, are each configured so that an outer surface thereof is longer in width than an inner surface thereof, and wherein when the electronic device is folded, the respective inner surfaces of the bars contact each other and the respective outer surfaces of the bars are spaced away from each other.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13, wherein an inner surface of each multi bar includes a hole corresponding to a shape of an outer surface of the rail stopper and configured to be coupled with the rail stopper, and wherein the multi bar is configured to rotate corresponding to rotational motion of the rail stopper.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, when the electronic device is in an unfolded position, the first surface of the first housing and the third surface of the second housing are disposed to face in the same direction, and when the electronic device is in a folded position, the second surface of the first housing and the fourth surface of the second housing are disposed opposite each other, wherein, when the electronic device is the folded position, the outer surface of the hinge has a protruding structure on a side surface thereof, and wherein the protruding structure includes a flat surface disposed perpendicular to the second surface of the first housing and/or the fourth surface of the second housing to support a portion of the flexible display assembly and a curved surface extending from both sides of the flat surface to the first housing or the second housing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising a flexible printed circuit board disposed to extend from an inner side of the first housing through the hinge to an inner side of the second housing, wherein corresponding to folding of the electronic device, the flexible printed circuit board configured to form at least one curved portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the curved portion of the flexible printed circuit board is disposed to pass through an inside of the hinge, and wherein the curved portion includes a first portion coupled with a surface of the center bar, a second portion coupled with the slide cover disposed on the first housing, and a third portion coupled with the slide cover disposed on the second housing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the flexible display includes a flexible display, an elastic member comprising an elastic material disposed between the hinge structure and the display module and configured to fill a gap formed by a curved shape of the hinge or the display, and a support disposed between the display and the elastic member and configured to support the elastic member.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the flexible display further includes an adhesive disposed between the display and the support and/or between the elastic member and the hinge, and wherein the elastic member is configured to provide an elastic force to allow the multi bars of the hinge to transform as the electronic device unfolds and/or folds to form a virtual surface with a same height.