# US 2019/0320048 A1 · Mobile terminal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0320048 A1 - Document ID: US20190320048A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/470,088 - Filed: 2016-12-16 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-16 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Hyunsuk YANG; Hangseok KIM; Minho PARK; Jaeyoung HAN; Jungyun LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190320048A1 ## 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} - H04M 1/0247: {comprising more than two body parts} - 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 1/1658: {related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module} - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - H04M 1/0214: {Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235)} - H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge} - H04M 1/0235: {Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts} - H04M 1/0262: {for a battery compartment} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - H04M 2250/16: including more than one display unit - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a three-stage foldable mobile terminal having a flexible display, and can provide a mobile terminal comprising: a body portion which comprises first to third bodies rotatably connected to each other and which implements a first state in which the first to third bodies are arranged side by side in one direction and a second state in which the first to third bodies overlap each other by the at least one hinge unit, respectively; and a flexible display unit which is mounted on the body portion, wherein the body portion comprises: a main circuit board which is disposed on the first body; a flexible circuit board which electrically connects the first and second bodies in the first state; and a connection member which is disposed on the second body so that the main circuit board and the third body are electrically connected to each other in the second state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile terminal comprising: a body part that is provided with first to third bodies rotatably connected to one another, and that implements a first state in which the first to third bodies are arranged side by side in one direction and a second state in which the first to third bodies overlap as the first and third bodies are rotated respectively in different directions, with respect to the second body, by at least one hinge unit; and a flexible display unit that is mounted on the body part and realized into an unfolded state in the first state and a folded state in the second state, wherein the body part comprises: a main circuit board disposed in the first body; a flexible circuit board electrically connecting the first and second bodies so that the main circuit board and electronic components disposed in the second body are electrically connected in the first state; and a connection member fixedly inserted into the second body such that the main circuit board and electronic components disposed in the third body are electrically connected in the second state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a main body, and first and second protrusions protruding from both surfaces of the main body to be in contact with the first and third bodies, respectively, and wherein the first and third bodies comprise first and second connection members disposed in the first and third bodies, respectively, to be electrically connected to the respective first and second protrusions in the second state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the second body comprises: a first frame rotatably mounted on the first body; and a second frame slidably mounted on the first frame, and wherein the second frame is slid in a direction away from the first body when the flexible display unit is switched from the second state to the first state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the first frame further comprises movement guide portions protruding from both ends of the first frame to partially cover both ends of the second frame, so as to guide the second frame to come and go with respect to the first frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the hinge unit comprises a first hinge portion having a hinge shaft disposed between the first and second bodies, and connecting the first and second bodies to each other so that the first body is rotatable in one direction with respect to the second body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the body part is provided with a front surface on which the flexible display unit is attached, and a rear surface that is disposed at a position opposite to the front surface, and wherein the hinge shaft is disposed between the first and second bodies and protrudes from the rear surface of the body part, so that the flexible display unit is maintained evenly in the first state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the flexible display unit has a first bending area supported by the first hinge portion and formed to surround a part of an outer circumferential surface of the hinge shaft when the body part is switched from the first state to the second state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the second and third bodies comprises first and second portions, adjacent to each other, of end portions of the second and third bodies, and wherein the hinge unit comprises a second hinge portion provided with first and second coupling portions mounted on the first and second portions, respectively, to be hidden from outside as the first and second portions face each other in the first state of the body part, the first and second coupling portions connecting the second and third bodies so that the third body is relatively rotatable in another direction with respect to the second body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the flexible display unit has a second bending area partially supported by the second hinge portion and configured to be bent in the second state by an accommodating unit formed adjacent to the second hinge portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the accommodating unit comprises: a first accommodating portion recessed by a predetermined depth in one surface of the second frame to accommodate a part of the second bending area; and a second accommodating portion arranged side by side with the first accommodating portion in a direction that the second frame is slid in the first state, and arranged to overlap the first accommodating portion to accommodate the rest of the second bending area in the second state, the second accommodating portion recessed by a predetermined depth in one surface of the third body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the third body comprises a bent portion formed at an end portion adjacent to the hinge shaft mounted in the first body in the second state, and bent to surround at least part of an outer circumferential surface of the hinge shaft when the first state is switched to the second state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the first body comprises a receiving portion formed to be adjacent to the first and second portions when the body part is in the second state, to receive the second and third bodies therein in an overlapped state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The mobile terminal of claim 12, further comprising: a first magnet portion disposed in an inner space formed by the receiving portion; a second magnet portion mounted on the first portion to generate repulsive force against the first magnet portion when the body part is switched from the first state to the second state; and a third magnet portion mounted on the second portion to generate attractive force with the first magnet portion when the body part is switched from the first state to the second state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the second magnet portion is disposed to generate the attractive force with the third magnet portion so that the second and third bodies are kept received in the receiving portion in an overlapped state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mobile terminal of claim 14, further comprising a button portion mounted on the first body to be pressed by external force and moving the first magnet portion in a pressed direction of the first magnet portion so that the first magnet portion is disposed adjacent to the second magnet portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The terminal of claim 15, further comprising an elastic portion having at least one spring mounted on one side of the button portion to apply restoring force to the button portion, and deformed in a contracting or expanding manner. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the second body comprises a power supply unit configured to supply power to the mobile terminal, and having a mobile battery mounted on the second frame to be slidable with respect to the first frame, and wherein the mobile battery is electrically connected to the main circuit board through the flexible circuit board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The mobile terminal of claim 17, further comprising a charging module disposed in the third body to receive a current from an external charger electrically connected to the third body, wherein a current passed through the charging module is applied to the main circuit board through the connection member and the current applied to the main circuit board is applied to the power supply unit through the flexible circuit board, when the body part is in the second state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first body comprises: a first upper body supporting one area of the flexible display unit; and a first lower body mounted on the first upper body and having a camera module mounted on one side thereof, and wherein the main circuit board is disposed between the first upper body and the first lower body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the third body comprises: a third lower body coupled to the second body to be rotatable relative to the second body; a third upper body formed to cover at least part of one surface of the third lower body; and an antenna module disposed between the third upper body and the third lower body.