IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,108,550
Granted Patent B2
US 12,108,550 · App. 17/701,858 · Granted Oct 1, 2024

Electronic device including hinge module

Inventor: Chanhee Oh (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H05K5/0226F16C11/04H05K5/0017
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,108,550
App. No.
17/701,858
Granted
Oct 1, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may include a first housing, a second housing, a hinge device configured to connect the first housing and the second housing to be foldable about a folding axis, and a flexible display arranged to be supported by at least a part of the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge device. The hinge device may include a hinge housing including an accommodation portion, at least one cam assembly arranged in the accommodation portion, at least two coil spring members providing a pressing force to the at least one cam assembly in a direction parallel to the folding axis, and at least one hinge plate configured to support the at least one cam assembly. The at least two coil spring members may be coiled in opposite directions. Various other embodiments may be possible.

Claims (49)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing;

a hinge device configured to connect the first housing and the second housing to be foldable about a folding axis; and

a flexible display arranged to be supported by at least a part of the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge device,

wherein the hinge device includes:

a hinge housing including an accommodation portion;

at least one cam assembly arranged in the accommodation portion;

at least two coil spring members providing a pressing force to the at least one cam assembly in a direction parallel to the folding axis; and

at least one hinge plate configured to support the at least one cam assembly and having a longitudinal length parallel to the folding axis,

wherein a coiling direction for the at least two coil spring members provided in sequence along the direction parallel to the folding axis, are in opposite directions, thereby offsetting a magnetic field.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge device further comprises at least one shaft arranged in the accommodation portion and passing through the at least one cam assembly and the at least two coil spring members.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one cam assembly further comprises a first cam assembly and a second cam assembly, and

wherein, in the hinge device, the at least two coil spring members are arranged between the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly along the at least one shaft.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the at least two coil spring members include a first coil spring member and a second coil spring member, and

wherein the hinge device further includes a center bar bracket arranged between the first coil spring member and the second coil spring member.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the first coil spring member is coiled along a first direction, and the second coil spring member is coiled along a second direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a position of the center bar bracket is fixed by the hinge plate.

7. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly are at least partially coupled to at least one bracket provided in the accommodation portion.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least two coil spring members are repeatedly compressed or relaxed by the pressing force.

9. A hinge device comprising:

a hinge housing including an accommodation portion; and

at least one hinge module arranged in one end and another end of the hinge housing,

wherein the at least one hinge module includes:

a first support member and a second support member including a first accommodation portion, which is a partial area of the accommodation portion, and configured to be foldable about a folding axis;

at least one cam assembly arranged in the accommodation portion; and

at least two coil spring members configured to provide a pressing force to the at least one cam assembly in a direction parallel to the folding axis, and

wherein a coiling direction for the at least two coil spring members provided in sequence along the direction parallel to the folding axis, are in opposite directions, thereby offsetting a magnetic field.

10. The hinge device of claim 9 , further comprising:

at least one shaft arranged in the accommodation portion and passing through the at least one cam assembly and the at least two coil spring members.

11. The hinge device of claim 9 , wherein the accommodation portion includes the first accommodation portion and a second accommodation portion different from the first accommodation portion, and

wherein one of the at least two coil spring members is arranged in the first accommodation portion and another one of the at least two coil spring members is arranged in the second accommodation portion.

12. The hinge device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one cam assembly includes a first cam assembly and a second cam assembly, and

wherein the at least two coil spring members are arranged between the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly along the at least one shaft in the first accommodation portion.

13. The hinge device of claim 12 , wherein the at least two coil spring members include a first coil spring member and a second coil spring member, and

wherein the hinge device further includes a center bar bracket arranged between the first coil spring member and the second coil spring member.

14. The hinge device of claim 13 , wherein the first coil spring member is coiled along a first direction, and the second coil spring member is coiled along a second direction opposite to the first direction.

15. The hinge device of claim 11 , wherein the at least two coil spring members include a first coil spring member and a second coil spring member, and

wherein the first coil spring member is arranged along at least one shaft in the first accommodation portion, and the second coil spring member is arranged along the at least one shaft in the second accommodation portion.

16. The hinge device of claim 15 , further comprising:

a cam bracket arranged between the first coil spring member and the second coil spring member.

17. The hinge device of claim 16 , wherein the cam bracket is coupled to the first support member and the second support member, and is fixed in position.

18. The hinge device of claim 16 , further comprising:

another cam assembly at least partially coupled to the cam bracket in the second accommodation portion; and

a shaft bracket fixed to the hinge housing,

wherein the second coil spring member is arranged between the cam assembly and the shaft bracket.

19. The hinge device of claim 18 , wherein the second coil spring member is repeatedly compressed or relaxed by the pressing force.

20. The hinge device of claim 9 , wherein the at least two coil spring members include a first coil spring member arranged to correspond to the first support member and a second coil spring member arranged to correspond to the second support member, and

wherein the first coil spring member is coiled along a first direction, and the second coil spring member is coiled along a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2022
From: OH, CHANHEE
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059372/0780 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0021670 · Feb 18, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2022002293 · Feb 16, 2022
Related Publication 20220264756A1 · Aug 18, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,602,090 US 12,720,693