Granted Patent B2

US 12,619,289 · App. 18/549,585 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventors: Yongho Lim (Chicago, IL); Peiwen Hung (New Taipei City, TW); Han-Wen Yeh (New Taipei City, TW); Wen Shian Lin (New Taipei City, TW)

Assignee: Google LLC

G06F1/1681G06F1/1652

Abstract

Claims (69)

1 . A folding device comprising:

a first assembly;

a second assembly;

a hinge assembly comprising:

a first shaft defining a first shaft axis;

a first scoop receiver defining a first scoop axis;

a second shaft defining a second shaft axis; and

a second scoop receiver defining a second scoop axis;

a continuous display spanning the hinge assembly from the first assembly to the second assembly; and

first assembly linkage components comprising:

a first arm having a medial end rotatably connected to the hinge assembly about the first shaft axis and a lateral end slidably connected to the first assembly; and

a first scoop having a curved medial end that slides within the first scoop receiver about the first scoop axis and a lateral end rotatably connected to the first assembly about a first scoop rotating center,

wherein the first axis rotates about the first scoop axis as the folding device transitions from fully closed to fully open, and

wherein the first axis rotates 90 degrees about the first scoop axis as the folding device transitions from fully closed to fully open

second assembly linkage components comprising:

a second arm having a medial end rotatably connected to the hinge assembly about the second shaft axis and a lateral end slidably connected to the second assembly; and

a second scoop having a curved medial end that slides within the second scoop receiver about the second scoop axis and a lateral end rotatably connected to the second assembly about a second scoop rotating center.

2 . The folding device of claim 1 , wherein, as the folding device transitions from fully closed to fully open, the first scoop causes the first assembly to slide relative to the hinge assembly.

3 . The folding device of claim 1 , wherein, as the folding device transitions from fully closed to fully open:

the first scoop causes the first assembly to slide relative to the hinge assembly along the lateral end of the first arm; and

the second scoop causes the second assembly to slide relative to the hinge assembly along the lateral end of the second arm.

4 . The folding device of claim 1 , further comprising:

torque components configured to generate force to resist rotation of the first assembly relative to the hinge assembly, wherein the force generated by the torque components is transmitted to the first assembly via the first arm.

5 . The folding device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first supporting plate configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully open.

6 . The folding device of claim 5 , wherein, when the folding device is fully open, a plane of an upper surface of the first supporting plate is not parallel with a plane of the continuous display on the first assembly.

7 . The folding device of claim 5 , further comprising:

a second supporting plate configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully open.

8 . The folding device of claim 7 , wherein, when the folding device is fully open, a plane of an upper surface of the second supporting plate is not parallel with a plane of the continuous display on the second assembly.

9 . The folding device of claim 7 , wherein, when the folding device is fully open, a medial edge of the first supporting plate is positioned at a distance from a medial edge of the second supporting plate.

10 . The folding device of claim 9 , wherein the distance is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

11 . The folding device of claim 5 , wherein the first supporting plate is attached to the first scoop such that movement of the first scoop directly results in movement of the first supporting plate.

12 . The folding device of claim 7 , wherein the second supporting plate is attached to the second scoop such that movement of the second scoop directly results in movement of the second supporting plate.

13 . The folding device of claim 1 , wherein the first scoop center is defined by both an x/y coordinate system and an θ/r coordinate system.

14 . A folding device comprising:

a first assembly;

a second assembly;

a hinge assembly comprising:

a first shaft defining a first shaft axis;

a first scoop receiver defining a first scoop axis;

a second shaft defining a second shaft axis; and

a second scoop receiver defining a second scoop axis; and

a continuous display spanning the hinge assembly from the first assembly to the second assembly;

first assembly linkage components comprising:

a first arm having a medial end rotatably connected to the hinge assembly about the first shaft axis and a lateral end slidably connected to the first assembly; and

a first scoop having a curved medial end that slides within the first scoop receiver about the first scoop axis and a lateral end rotatably connected to the first assembly about a first scoop rotating center;

a first supporting plate configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully open, wherein, when the folding device is fully open, a plane of an upper surface of the first supporting plate is not parallel with a plane of the continuous display on the first assembly, and wherein the first supporting plate is attached to the first scoop such that movement of the first scoop directly results in movement of the first supporting plate;

second assembly linkage components comprising:

a second arm having a medial end rotatably connected to the hinge assembly about the second shaft axis and a lateral end slidably connected to the second assembly; and

a second scoop having a curved medial end that slides within the second scoop receiver about the second scoop axis and a lateral end rotatably connected to the second assembly about a second scoop rotating center; and

a second supporting plate configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully open, wherein, when the folding device is fully open, a plane of an upper surface of the second supporting plate is not parallel with a plane of the continuous display on the second assembly, and wherein the second supporting plate is attached to the second scoop such that movement of the second scoop directly results in movement of the second supporting plate.

15 . The folding device of claim 14 , wherein, as the folding device transitions from fully closed to fully open, the first shaft axis rotates about the first scoop axis and the second shaft axis rotates about the second scoop axis.

16 . The folding device of claim 15 , wherein, as the folding device transitions from fully closed to fully open:

the first scoop causes the first assembly to slide relative to the hinge assembly along the lateral end of the first arm; and

the second scoop causes the second assembly to slide relative to the hinge assembly along the lateral end of the second arm.

17 . The folding device of claim 16 , further comprising:

first torque components configured to generate force to resist rotation of the first assembly relative to the hinge assembly, wherein the force generated by the first torque components is transmitted to the first assembly via the first arm; and

second torque components configured to generate force to resist rotation of the second assembly relative to the hinge assembly, wherein the force generated by the second torque components is transmitted to the second assembly via the second arm.

18 . A folding device comprising:

a first assembly;

a second assembly;

a hinge assembly comprising:

a first shaft defining a first axis;

a first scoop receiver defining a first scoop axis;

a continuous display spanning the hinge assembly from the first assembly to the second assembly;

a first supporting plate configured to support the continuous display when the folding device is fully open, wherein, when the folding device is fully open, a plane of an upper surface of the first supporting plate is not parallel with a plane of the continuous display on the first assembly; and

first assembly linkage components comprising:

a first arm having a medial end rotatably connected to the hinge assembly about the first axis and a lateral end slidably connected to the first assembly; and

a first scoop having a curved medial end that slides within the first scoop receiver about the first scoop axis and a lateral end rotatably connected to the first assembly about a first scoop rotating center.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (92)