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EP-4738052-A1 - HINGE STRUCTURE AND FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING SAME

EP4738052A1EP 4738052 A1EP4738052 A1EP 4738052A1EP-4738052-A1

Abstract

The hinge structure includes a first rotation member that is rotated around a first axis, a first arm member that is rotated in response to rotation of the first rotation member, a second rotation member that is rotated around a second axis, a second arm member that is rotated in response to rotation of the second rotation member, and a first link member that is fastened to the first rotation member and the first arm member, the first rotation member includes a first rail that is formed on a first side surface of the first rotation member and a first rail groove that is disposed in an opposite direction to the first side surface of the first rotation member, and the first rail protrudes from a surface of the first side surface and the first rail groove is formed to be recessed from a surface of the second side surface.

Inventors

  • KANG, JAEHO
  • KIM, JONGKEUN
  • BAIK, JINWOOK
  • HAN, YONGHWA

Assignees

  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241007

Claims (15)

  1. A foldable electronic device comprising: a display (160); a first housing (110) and a second housing (120), in which at least a portion of the display is received; and at least one hinge structure (200a, 200b) coupling the first housing and the second housing; and a hinge housing (150), in which the at least one hinge structure is seated, wherein the at least one hinge structure includes: a first rotation member (211) rotated around a first axis; a first arm member (221) rotated in response to rotation of the first rotation member; a second rotation member (212) rotated around a second axis; a second arm member (222) rotated in response to rotation of the second rotation member; and a first link member (250_1) fastened to the first rotation member and the first arm member, wherein the first rotation member includes: a first rail projection (211_2r2) formed on a first side surface of the first rotation member; and a first rail groove (211_2r1) formed on a second side surface of the first rotation member disposed on an opposite direction to the first side surface, wherein the first rail projection protrudes from a surface of the first side surface, and wherein the first rail groove is recessed from a surface of the second side surface.
  2. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first link member includes: a first link part (215) fastened to the first rotation member; a second link part (223) fastened to the first arm member; and a first link connecting part (215c) connecting the first link part and the second link part, and wherein the first link part includes: a first link body (215_3); a first sidewall (215_1) formed at a periphery of one side of the first link body, and in which a first link rail projection fastened to the first rail groove is formed; and a second sidewall (215_2) formed at a periphery of an opposite side of the first link body, and in which a first link step facing one surface of the first rail projection is formed.
  3. The foldable electronic device of claim 2, further comprising: a first link cover structure (228assy) disposed to press a portion of the first rotation member toward the first housing.
  4. The foldable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first link cover structure includes: a first link cover (228) disposed on the first link connecting part, and disposed to cover a portion of the first rail projection; a first coupling member (228_scr) fastened to the first link cover; and a first link elastic member (217_el) disposed between the first link connecting part and one side of the first coupling member.
  5. The foldable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the first link elastic member includes at least one of a disc spring and a coil spring.
  6. The foldable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the first link cover includes: a first inclined part (217_s1) facing one side of the first rail projection, wherein a first curvature of the first inclined part is formed to be the same as a curvature of the first rail projection.
  7. The foldable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first arm member includes: a first arm body (221_3); a first arm part (221_1) formed in a first direction from the first arm body; and a second arm part (221_2) formed in a second direction from the first arm body and fastened to the second link part, and wherein the second arm part includes: a second rail groove (221_2r1) formed on a first side surface of the second arm part; and a second rail projection (221_2r2) formed on a second side surface of the second arm part.
  8. The foldable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the second link part includes: a second link body (223_3); a third sidewall (223_1) formed at a periphery of one side of the second link body, and in which a second link rail projection (223_1r) fastened to the second rail groove is formed; and a fourth sidewall (223_2) formed at a periphery of an opposite side of the second link body, and in which a second link step (223_2r) fastened to the second rail projection is formed.
  9. The foldable electronic device of claim 8, further comprising: a second link cover structure (229assy) disposed to press a portion of the first arm member toward the first housing.
  10. The foldable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second link cover structure includes: a second link cover (229) disposed on the first link connecting part, and disposed to cover a portion of the second rail projection; a second coupling member (229_scr) fastened to the second link cover; and a second link elastic member (229_el) disposed between the first link connecting part and one side of the second coupling member.
  11. The foldable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first link cover includes: a second inclined part (229_s) covering one side of an upper portion of the second rail projection, wherein a second curvature of the second inclined part is formed to be the same as a curvature of the second rail projection.
  12. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first arm member includes: a first arm body (221_3); a first arm part (221_1) formed in a first direction from the first arm body; and a second arm part (221_2) formed in a second direction from the first arm body and fastened to the second link part, and wherein the second arm part includes: a second rail groove (221_2r1) formed on a first side surface of the second arm part; and a second rail projection (221_2r2) formed on a second side surface of the second arm part, wherein the first link member includes: a first link part (215) fastened to the first rotation member; a second link part (221) fastened to the first arm member; and a first link connecting part (215c) connecting the first link part and the second link part, wherein the first link part includes: a first link body (215_3); a first sidewall (215_1) formed at a periphery of one side of the first link body, and in which a first link rail projection (215_1r) fastened to the first rail groove is formed; and a second sidewall (215_2) formed at a periphery of an opposite side of the first link body, and in which a first link step (215_2r) facing one surface of the first rail projection is formed, and wherein the second link part includes: a second link body (223_3); a third sidewall (223_1) formed at a periphery of one side of the second link body, and in which a second link rail projection (223_1r) fastened to the second rail groove is formed; and a fourth sidewall (223_2) formed at a periphery of an opposite side of the second link body, and in which a second link step (223_2r) fastened to the second rail projection is formed.
  13. The foldable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising: a link cover structure (217assy) disposed to press a portion of the first rotation member and a portion of the first arm member toward the first housing, wherein the link cover structure includes: a link cover (217) disposed to cover a portion of the first rail projection and a portion of the second rail projection; a coupling member (217_scr) fastened to the link cover; and a first link elastic member (217_el) disposed between the link connecting part and one side of the coupling member, wherein the first link cover includes: a first inclined part (217_s1) facing one side of the first rail projection; and a second inclined part (217_s2) facing one side of the second rail projection, and a curvature of the first inclined part is different from a curvature of the second inclined part, wherein the curvature of the first inclined part is greater than the curvature of the second inclined part.
  14. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first rotation member further includes: a through-hole (211_2ph) that passes through the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein the first link member includes: a first link part (215) fastened to the first rotation member; a second link part (223) fastened to the first arm member; and a first link connecting part (215c) connecting the first link part and the second link part, and wherein the first link part includes: a first link body (215_3); a first sidewall (215_1) formed at a periphery of one side of the first link body, and in which a first link rail projection (215_1r) fastened to the first rail groove is formed; and a second sidewall (215_2) formed at a periphery of an opposite side of the first link body, and in which a first link step (215_2r) facing one surface of the first rail projection is formed; a first hole formed on one side of the first sidewall and a second hole formed in the second sidewall; and a rail pin (250_pin) disposed to pass through the first hole, the second hole, and the through-hole.
  15. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, comprising: a fixing bracket (213) disposed in the hinge housing, and wherein the fixing bracket includes: a bracket body (213a3). a first fixing rail groove (213a1) formed in the bracket body and coupled to a portion of the first rotation member (211); and a second fixing rail groove (213a2) formed in the bracket body and coupled to a portion of the second rotation member (212).

Description

BACKGROUND 1. Field Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a foldable electronic device including a hinge structure. 2. Description of Related Art A portable electronic device, such as a smartphone, may support call functions and various content search functions based on various types of applications. The portable electronic device may output an image corresponding to each function in a process of providing various functions. When the user uses the above-described various functions, the user may want to use a wider screen. In general, when a display device is to be expanded for screen display in a portable electronic device, the overall size of the electronic device has to be increased, which may deteriorate portability. Accordingly, a foldable portable electronic device, in which a display is folded to increase the size of the screen while maintaining portability has been provided. Such a foldable portable electronic device can have folded and unfolded states. An electronic device having a hinge structure may include a plurality of housings which may support respective areas of a display in an unfolded state, and a hinge structure which interconnects the plurality of housings. The hinge structure may support connecting the plurality of housings and allowing them to be held at a specific angle while the plurality of housings are in a folded or unfolded state. The information may be provided as related art to help understanding the disclosure. None of the above may be claimed as a prior art related to the disclosure or used to determine the prior art. SUMMARY A foldable electronic device (or a portable electronic device, a portable communication device, a foldable electronic device, or a foldable electronic device having a communication function) may include a hinge structure including a first rotation member which is rotated around a first axis, a first arm member which is rotated in response to rotation of the first rotation member, a second rotation member which is rotated around a second axis, a second arm member which is rotated in response to rotation of the second rotation member, and a first link member which is fastened to the first rotation member and the first arm member, where the first rotation member includes a first rail protrusion which is formed on a first side surface of the first rotation member and a first rail groove which is disposed in an opposite direction to the first side surface of the first rotation member, and where the first rail protrusion protrudes from a surface of the first side surface and the first rail groove is formed to be recessed from a surface of the second side surface, a first housing and a second housing which are operated in a hinged manner by the hinge structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A to 1C are perspective views variously illustrating unfolded and folded states of a foldable electronic device according to various embodiments;FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to various embodiments;FIG. 3 is a rear plan view illustrating a first-type hinge structure of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment;FIG. 4 is a front plan view illustrating a first-type hinge structure according to an embodiment;FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first link member, a first arm member, and a first rotation member according to an embodiment;FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a first link member according to an embodiment;FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a first disposition state of a first rotation member according to an embodiment;FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a second disposition state of a first rotation member according to an embodiment;FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a first disposition state of a first arm member according to an embodiment;FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a second disposition state of a first arm member according to an embodiment;FIGS. 11A and 11B are a top plan view and a perspective view of a first link cover according to an embodiment;FIG. 12 is a top plan view illustrating an upper surface of a first-type hinge structure according to an embodiment;FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating a side surface of a first-type hinge structure according to an embodiment;FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the first-type hinge structure of FIG. 12;FIG. 15A is a top plan view and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view along line 15A'-15A FIG. 15A, of a first-type hinge structure according to an embodiment;FIG. 16 is a top plan view illustrating a second-type hinge structure according to an embodiment;FIG. 17A is a top plan view and FIGS. 17B and 17C are perspective views illustrating a third link cover and a fourth link cover of a second-type hinge structure according to an embodiment;FIG. 18A is a top plan view and FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view along line 19A1'-19A1 of FIG. 18A of a s