IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,336,123
Granted Patent B2
US 12,336,123 · App. 18/155,741 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Foldable display device and supporting assembly thereof

Inventors: Keisuke Hashimoto (Hsinchu, TW); Kenji Nakazawa (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
H05K5/0226F16C11/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,336,123
App. No.
18/155,741
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A supporting assembly comprises a first body having a first surface, a second body having a second surface, a third body having a third surface, a fourth body having a fourth surface, a first hinge member, and a second hinge member. The first hinge member is hinged to the first body and the second body. The second hinge member is hinged to the second body and the third body. The fourth body has hinged to and between the second body and the third body.

Claims (63)

1. A foldable display device, comprising:

a supporting assembly, comprising:

a first body, having a first surface;

a second body, having a second surface;

a first hinge member, hinged to both the first body and the second body;

a third body, having a third surface;

a fourth body, having a fourth surface, wherein the fourth body has hinged to and between the second body and the third body; and

a second hinge member, hinged to both the second body and the third body; and

a flexible display panel, disposed to the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface,

wherein when the foldable display device is folded to be in a first state, the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface are noncoplanar, the flexible display panel is folded, a first included angle is formed between two parts of the flexible display panel respectively on the third body and the second body form, and a second included angle is formed between a horizontal line and a part of the flexible display panel on any one of the first body and the second body,

wherein the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface are coplanar, and the flexible display panel is flattened when the foldable display device is flattened to be in a second state.

2. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein a size of each of the second body and the third body is smaller than a size of the first body.

3. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein a first gap is formed between the first surface and the second surface, and a second gap is formed between the first surface and the third surface when the foldable display device is in a first state;

wherein a width of the first gap is greater than a width of the second gap.

4. The foldable display device of claim 3 , wherein the width of the first gap gradually decreases from the first hinge member to the second hinge member.

5. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the foldable display device in the first state has a first thickness and a second thickness, and the first thickness is thinner than the second thickness,

wherein the first thickness extends from the first body to the third body, and the second thickness extends from the first body to the second body.

6. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting assembly in the first state has an acute included angle formed between the first surface and the second surface, and the acute included angle is opposite to the first hinge member.

7. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel has a gap width when the foldable display device is in the first state, and the gap width between the first surface and the third surface ranges between 1 mm and 4 mm.

8. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the second hinge member comprises:

a pair of hinge parts, comprising two link sections apiece, wherein the link sections of each of the pair of hinge parts pivotally connected to each other are connected to the second body and the third body respectively, the fourth body is a support plate disposed between the pair of hinge parts; and

two shafts, disposed coaxially and opposite to each other, wherein each of the shafts is connected to the link sections of one of the pair of hinge parts, and the link sections of each of the pair of hinge parts pivot relative to each other around the shafts.

9. The foldable display device of claim 8 , wherein the second hinge member further comprises:

at least one guiding piece, connected to the support plate and having a slot, wherein one of the shafts enters the slot when the foldable display device is in the second state,

wherein one of the shafts leaves the slot when the foldable display device is in the first state.

10. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the second hinge member comprises:

a pair of hinge parts, comprising a first piece and a second piece apiece, wherein the first piece has a protrusion, and the second piece has a recess,

wherein the protrusion enters the recess when the foldable display device is in the second state,

wherein the protrusion leaves the recess when the foldable display device is in the first state.

11. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the fourth body is located between the second surface and the third surface when the foldable display device is in the second state, the supporting assembly further comprising:

a blocking member, comprising:

a sliding part, movably disposed to the third body; and

at least one restoration component connected to the sliding part, wherein the at least one restoration component causes the sliding part to move to the fourth body, so that the sliding part extends from the third body to the fourth body when the foldable display device is in the second state.

12. A supporting assembly, comprising:

a first body, having a first surface;

a second body, having a second surface;

a first hinge member, hinged to both the first body and the second body;

a third body, having a third surface;

a fourth body, having a fourth surface, wherein the fourth body has hinged to and between the second body and the third body; and

a second hinge member, hinged to both the second body and the third body;

wherein the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface are noncoplanar when the supporting assembly is folded to be in a first state,

wherein the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface are coplanar when the supporting assembly is flattened to be in a second state.

13. The supporting assembly of claim 12 , wherein a size of each of the second body and the third body is smaller than a size of the first body.

14. The supporting assembly of claim 12 , wherein a first gap is formed between the first surface and the second surface, and a second gap is formed between the first surface and the third surface when the supporting assembly is in a first state;

wherein a width of the first gap is greater than a width of the second gap.

15. The supporting assembly of claim 14 , wherein the width of the first gap gradually decreases from the first hinge member to the second hinge member.

16. The supporting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the supporting assembly in the first state has a first thickness and a second thickness, and the first thickness is thinner than the second thickness,

wherein the first thickness extends from the first body to the third body, and the second thickness extends from the first body to the second body.

17. The supporting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the supporting assembly in the first state has an acute included angle formed between the first surface and the second surface, and the acute included angle is opposite to the first hinge member.

18. The supporting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second hinge member comprises:

a pair of hinge parts, comprising two link sections apiece, wherein the link sections of each of the pair of hinge parts pivotally connected to each other are connected to the second body and the third body respectively, the fourth body is a support plate disposed between the pair of hinge parts; and

two shafts, disposed coaxially and opposite to each other, wherein each of the shafts is connected to the link sections of one of the pair of hinge parts, and the link sections of each of the pair of hinge parts pivots relative to each other around the shafts.

19. The supporting assembly of claim 18 , wherein the second hinge member further comprises:

at least one guiding piece, connected to the support plate and having a slot, wherein one of the shafts enters the slot when the supporting assembly is in the second state,

wherein one of the shafts leaves the slot when the supporting assembly is in the first state.

20. The supporting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second hinge member comprises:

a pair of hinge parts, comprising a first piece and a second piece apiece, wherein the first piece has a protrusion, and the second piece has a recess,

wherein the protrusion enters the recess when the supporting assembly is in the second state,

wherein the protrusion leaves the recess when the supporting assembly is in the first state.

21. The supporting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the fourth body is located between the second surface and the third surface when the supporting assembly is in the second state, the supporting assembly further comprising:

a blocking member, comprising:

a sliding part, movably disposed to the third body; and

at least one restoration component connected to the sliding part, wherein the at least one restoration component causes the sliding part to move to the fourth body, so that the sliding part extends from the third body to the fourth body when the supporting assembly is in the second state.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2023
From: HASHIMOTO, KEISUKE; NAKAZAWA, KENJI
To: E INK HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 064252/0741 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 111148145 · Dec 15, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63302545 · Jan 24, 2022
Related Publication 20230240029A1 · Jul 27, 2023
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