IP Library Granted Patent US 12,695,821
Granted Patent B2
US 12,695,821 · App. 18/640,732 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Electronic device comprising display support module

Inventors: Kyungrok Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Hongseok Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Yongsang Yun (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H04M1/022
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,695,821
App. No.
18/640,732
Filed
Apr 19, 2024
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2841
USPC
361/679.01
Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing comprising a first housing and a second housing, a display including a first display area connected to the first housing, a second display area connected to the second housing, and a folding area located between the first display area and the second display area, a hinge connected to the first housing and the second housing, and a display support connected to the hinge and being configured to rotate based on a rotation of the hinge. The display support comprises a gear assembly connected to the hinge, a case structure including a first area, a second area, and a third area, the first area being connected to the gear assembly, the second area extending from the first area in a first direction and including a first support surface configured to face the folding area in an unfolded state of the electronic device, the third area extending from the first area in a second direction different from the first direction and including a second support surface configured to face the folding area in a folded state of the electronic device, and a deformable member disposed on the third area and being configured to contact the folding area.

Claims (44)

1 . An electronic device comprising:

a housing including a first housing and a second housing;

a display including a first display area connected to the first housing, a second display area connected to the second housing, and a folding area located between the first display area and the second display area;

a hinge comprising:

a first rotation structure connected to the first housing and configured to rotate with respect to a first rotation axis, and

a second rotation structure connected to the second housing and configured to rotate with respect to a second rotation axis; and

a display support connected to the hinge and being configured to rotate according to a rotation of the first rotation structure or the second rotation structure of the hinge with respect to a third rotation axis,

wherein the display support comprises:

a gear assembly connected to the hinge, and

a rotation body configured to rotate with respect to the third rotation axis, wherein the rotation body includes:

a first side being connected to the gear assembly,

a second side including a first support surface configured to face the folding area in an unfolded state of the electronic device, and

a third side, different from the second side, including a second support surface configured to support the folding area in a folded state of the electronic device.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the display support further comprises a deformation member disposed on the second support surface of the third side,

wherein the deformation member is configured to contact the folding area in the folded state of the electronic device, and

wherein the deformation member includes a cushioning member.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 ,

wherein the deformation member includes a metal member connected to the cushioning member, and

wherein the metal member includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being disposed on the third side and having a first expansion rate, the second layer being disposed between the first layer and the cushioning member and having a second expansion rate greater than the first expansion rate in a first temperature range.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the metal member includes at least one of nickel, iron, manganese, molybdenum, or copper.

5 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the third side includes a recess for accommodating at least a portion of the deformation member.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a display support plate supporting at least a portion of the display and being at least partially disposed between the display and the hinge.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the display support plate provides an accommodation space surrounding at least a portion of the display support.

8 . The electronic device of claim 6 ,

wherein the display support plate includes a first plate surface supporting the display,

wherein the display support further comprises a first support surface located at an end portion of the second side, and

wherein the first plate surface and the first support surface are parallel to each other in the unfolded state of the electronic device.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the gear assembly includes a first gear and a second gear, the first gear being configured to rotate based on the rotation of the hinge, the second gear being meshed with the first gear and connected to the first side.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge further comprises:

an interlocking structure configured to interlock rotation of the first rotation structure with the second rotation structure.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the display support is located between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis.

12 . The electronic device of claim 10 ,

wherein the interlocking structure includes at least one interlocking gear configured to rotate according to the rotation of the first rotation structure or the second rotation structure, and

wherein the gear assembly is connected to the at least one interlocking gear.

13 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a hinge cover connected to the hinge,

wherein the display support is disposed between the hinge cover and the folding area.

14 . The electronic device of claim 2 ,

wherein the second side includes the first support surface facing the display in the unfolded state of the electronic device,

wherein the third side includes the second support surface facing the display and accommodating a deformation member in the folded state of the electronic device, and

wherein the first support surface and the second support surface are perpendicular to each other.

15 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the deformation member is configured to contact at least a portion of the display based on a temperature in the folded state of the electronic device.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 67168 FRAME: 788. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 18, 2024
From: LEE, KYUNGROK; KIM, HONGSEOK; YUN, YONGSANG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 068384/0132 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2024
From: LEE, KYUNGROK; KIM, HONGSEOK; YUN, YONGSANG
To: CO., LTD., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS
Reel/Frame 067168/0788 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0142546 · Oct 25, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2022014576 · Sep 28, 2022
Related Publication 20240267442A1 · Aug 8, 2024
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