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KR-20260065409-A - FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING HINGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING FRICTION WHEELS

KR20260065409AKR 20260065409 AKR20260065409 AKR 20260065409AKR-20260065409-A

Abstract

A foldable electronic device comprises a foldable housing including a first housing part and a second housing part, and a hinge assembly rotatably connecting the first housing part and the second housing part. The hinge assembly comprises a hinge bracket, a first rotator rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket, a first arm configured to rotate together with the rotation of the first housing part, a second rotator rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket, a second arm configured to rotate together with the rotation of the second housing part, and friction wheels configured to synchronize the rotation of the first arm with the rotation of the second arm. One (a) friction wheel among the friction wheels includes a projection that contacts a projection of another friction wheel adjacent to the one friction wheel among the friction wheels when the foldable electronic device is in an unfolded state.

Inventors

  • 이성진

Assignees

  • 삼성전자주식회사

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241101

Claims (20)

  1. In a foldable electronic device (101, 200), A foldable housing (201) comprising a first housing part (210) and a second housing part (220); and It includes a hinge assembly (300) that rotatably connects the first housing part (210) and the second housing part (220), and The above hinge assembly (300) is, hinge bracket (310), A first rotator (321) rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket (310) to guide the rotation of the first housing part (210), A first arm (331) configured to rotate together with the rotation of the first housing part (210), A second rotator (322) rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket (310) to guide the rotation of the second housing part (220), A second arm (332) configured to rotate together with the rotation of the second housing part (220), and It includes friction wheels (400) configured to synchronize the rotation of the first arm (331) and the rotation of the second arm (332), and One (a) friction wheel among the above friction wheels (400) is, When the above-mentioned foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in an unfolded state, it includes a projection that contacts a projection of another friction wheel adjacent to one of the friction wheels (400). Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  2. In paragraph 1, The projection of the above-mentioned friction wheel and the projection of the above-mentioned friction wheel are, When the foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in the unfolded state, the device is configured to restrict the rotation of the friction wheel and the rotation of the other friction wheel according to the unfolding operation of the foldable electronic device (101, 200). Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  3. In paragraph 1 or 2, Among the above friction wheels (400), the friction wheel is, When the above-mentioned foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in a folded state, it includes another protrusion among the friction wheels (400) that contacts another protrusion of the other friction wheel, Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  4. In paragraph 3, The other protrusion of the above-mentioned friction wheel and the other protrusion of the above-mentioned friction wheel are, When the foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in the folded state, the device is configured to restrict the rotation of the friction wheel and the rotation of the other friction wheel according to the folding operation of the foldable electronic device (101, 200). Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  5. In paragraph 3 or 4, The protrusion of the above friction wheel is, Opposite to the other protrusion of the friction wheel, Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  6. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 5, The above hinge assembly (300) is, It includes a first shaft (351) coupled to the first arm (331) and a second shaft (352) coupled to the second arm (332), and The above friction wheels (400) are, A first friction wheel (410) coupled to the first shaft (351), A second friction wheel (420) coupled to the second shaft (352), A third friction wheel (430) in contact with the first friction wheel (410), and A fourth friction wheel (440) that is in contact with the second friction wheel (420) and in contact with the third friction wheel (430), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  7. In paragraph 6, The first friction wheel (410) above is, It includes a first projection (411) and a second projection (412) spaced apart from the first projection (411), and The above second friction wheel (420) is, It includes a third projection (421) and a fourth projection (422) spaced apart from the third projection (421), The above third friction wheel (430) is, It includes a fifth projection (431) and a sixth projection (432) spaced apart from the fifth projection (431), The above fourth friction wheel (440) is, It includes a seventh projection (441) and an eighth projection (442) spaced apart from the seventh projection (441), When the above foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in the unfolded state, The first projection (411) of the first friction wheel (410) is, It is in contact with the fifth projection (431) of the third friction wheel (430), and The third projection (421) of the second friction wheel (420) is, It is in contact with the seventh projection (441) of the fourth friction wheel (440), and The sixth projection (432) of the third friction wheel (430) is, contacting the eighth projection (442) of the fourth friction wheel (440), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  8. In Paragraph 7, When the above foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in a folded state, The second projection (412) of the first friction wheel (410) is, It is in contact with the sixth projection (432) of the third friction wheel (430), and The fourth projection (422) of the second friction wheel (420) is, It is in contact with the eighth projection (442) of the fourth friction wheel (440), and The fifth projection (431) of the third friction wheel (430) is, contacting the seventh projection (441) of the fourth friction wheel (440), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  9. In any one of paragraphs 6 through 8, The above hinge assembly (300) is, Rotation of the first arm (331) according to the rotation of the first housing part (210), Rotation of the first shaft (351) according to the rotation of the first arm (331), Rotation of the first friction wheel (410) according to the rotation of the first shaft (351), Rotation of the third friction wheel (430) according to the rotation of the first friction wheel (410), Rotation of the fourth friction wheel (440) according to the rotation of the third friction wheel (430), Rotation of the second friction wheel (420) according to the rotation of the fourth friction wheel (440), Rotation of the second shaft (352) according to the rotation of the second friction wheel (420), and By the rotation of the second arm (332) according to the rotation of the second shaft (352), Configured to synchronize the rotation of the first arm (331) and the rotation of the second arm (332), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  10. In any one of paragraphs 6 through 9, The first size of the first friction wheel (410) is, Corresponding to the second size of the second friction wheel (420) above, The third size of the third friction wheel (430) is, Corresponding to the fourth size of the fourth friction wheel (440), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  11. In any one of paragraphs 6 through 10, The above hinge assembly (300) is, A structure comprising an elastic sheet (370) configured to at least partially wrap the first shaft (351) and the second shaft (352) and to press the friction wheels (400) in a direction in which the friction wheels (400) come into close contact with each other. Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  12. In any one of paragraphs 6 through 11, The above hinge assembly (300) is, A third shaft (353) coupled to the third friction wheel (430), A fourth shaft (354) coupled to the fourth friction wheel (440), A first spur gear (361) coupled to the third shaft (353) and configured to rotate together with the rotation of the third friction wheel (430) through the third shaft (353), and A second spur gear (362) coupled to the fourth shaft (354), engaged with the first spur gear (361), and configured to rotate together with the rotation of the fourth friction wheel (440) through the fourth shaft (354). Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  13. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 12, The above hinge assembly (300) is, A first coupling bracket (341) that connects the first rotator (321) to the first housing part (210), A second coupling bracket (342) that connects the second rotator (322) to the second housing part (220), A third coupling bracket (343) for coupling the first arm (331) to the first housing part (210), and A fourth coupling bracket (344) for coupling the second arm (332) to the second housing part (220), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  14. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 13, It further includes a flexible display (230), The above flexible display (230) is, A first part (231) corresponding to the first housing part (210) above, A second part (232) corresponding to the second housing part (220), and A third part (233) extending from the first part (231) of the flexible display (230) to the second part (232) of the flexible display (230), configured to be at least partially bent based on the rotation of the first housing part (210) and the rotation of the second housing part (220). Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  15. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 14, The above friction wheels (400) are, Not including these (teeth), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  16. In a foldable electronic device (101, 200), A foldable housing (201) comprising a first housing part (210) and a second housing part (220); A flexible display (230), the flexible display (230) is, A first part (231) corresponding to the first housing part (210) above, A second part (232) corresponding to the second housing part (220), and Includes a third part (233) extending from the first part (231) to the second part (232) and configured to be at least partially bent based on the rotation of the first housing part (210) and the rotation of the second housing part (220); and It includes a hinge assembly (300) that rotatably connects the first housing part (210) and the second housing part (220), and The above hinge assembly (300) is, It includes friction wheels (400) configured to synchronize the rotation of the first housing part (210) and the rotation of the second housing part (220), and The above friction wheels (400) are, A first friction wheel (410) configured to rotate together with the rotation of the first housing part (210), A second friction wheel (420) configured to rotate together with the rotation of the second housing part (220), A third friction wheel (430) in contact with the first friction wheel (410), and A fourth friction wheel (440) that is in contact with the second friction wheel (420) and in contact with the third friction wheel (430), Foldable electronic device (101, 200),
  17. In Paragraph 16, The first friction wheel (410) above is, It includes a first projection (411) and a second projection (412) spaced apart from the first projection (411), and The above second friction wheel (420) is, It includes a third projection (421) and a fourth projection (422) spaced apart from the third projection (421), The above third friction wheel (430) is, It includes a fifth projection (431) and a sixth projection (432) spaced apart from the fifth projection (431), The above fourth friction wheel (440) is, It includes a seventh projection (441) and an eighth projection (442) spaced apart from the seventh projection (441), When the above foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in the unfolded state, The first projection (411) of the first friction wheel (410) is, It is in contact with the fifth projection (431) of the third friction wheel (430), and The third projection (421) of the second friction wheel (420) is, It is in contact with the eighth projection (442) of the fourth friction wheel (440), and The sixth projection (432) of the third friction wheel (430) is, contacting the seventh projection (441) of the fourth friction wheel (440), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  18. In Paragraph 17, When the above foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in a folded state, The second projection (412) of the first friction wheel (410) is, It is in contact with the sixth projection (432) of the third friction wheel (430), and The fourth projection (422) of the second friction wheel (420) is, It is in contact with the seventh projection (441) of the fourth friction wheel (440), and The fifth projection (431) of the third friction wheel (430) is, contacting the eighth projection (442) of the fourth friction wheel (440), Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  19. In paragraph 17 or 18, The first projection (411) of the first friction wheel (410), the third projection (421) of the second friction wheel (420), the fifth projection (431) of the third friction wheel (430), the sixth projection (432) of the third friction wheel (430), the seventh projection (441) of the fourth friction wheel (440), and the eighth projection (442) of the fourth friction wheel (440) are, When the foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in the unfolded state, the friction wheels are configured to restrict rotation according to the unfolding operation of the foldable electronic device (101, 200). Foldable electronic device (101, 200).
  20. In any one of paragraphs 18 to 19, The second projection (412) of the first friction wheel (410), the fourth projection (422) of the second friction wheel (420), the fifth projection (431) of the third friction wheel (430), the sixth projection (432) of the third friction wheel (430), the seventh projection (441) of the fourth friction wheel (440), and the eighth projection (442) of the fourth friction wheel (440) are, When the foldable electronic device (101, 200) is in the unfolded state, the friction wheels are configured to restrict rotation according to the unfolding operation of the foldable electronic device (101, 200). Foldable electronic device (101, 200).

Description

Foldable electronic device including hinge assembly comprising friction wheels The present disclosure relates to a foldable electronic device comprising a hinge assembly including friction wheels. An electronic device may include a foldable housing comprising a plurality of housing parts that are rotatably connected to each other. The electronic device may include a hinge assembly for rotatably connecting the plurality of housing parts. For example, the electronic device may include a first housing part and a second housing part that are rotatably connected to each other through the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly may be configured to synchronize the rotation of the first housing part with the rotation of the second housing part. The information described above may be provided as related art for the purpose of aiding understanding of the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the foregoing may be applied as prior art in relation to the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to one embodiment. FIG. 2a illustrates an example of an unfolded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 2b illustrates an example of a folded state of an electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 2c is an exploded view of an electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates a foldable housing and a hinge assembly of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the hinge assembly of FIG. 3. Fig. 5 illustrates spur gears. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state, cut along the AA' line of FIG. 3. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a foldable electronic device in a folded state. FIG. 8 illustrates the unfolded state of a foldable electronic device when slip is induced in the friction wheels. FIG. 9 illustrates the folded state of a foldable electronic device when slip is caused on the friction wheels. Figure 10 illustrates the process of removing slip from friction wheels. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a hinge assembly of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly of FIG. 12 cut along the BB' line. FIG. 14 illustrates friction wheels of a hinge assembly according to one embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, in a network environment (100), an electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (102) through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network) or with an electronic device (104) or a server (108) through a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (104) through a server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), memory (130), input module (150), sound output module (155), display module (160), audio module (170), sensor module (176), interface (177), connection terminal (178), haptic module (179), camera module (180), power management module (188), battery (189), communication module (190), subscriber identification module (196), or antenna module (197). In some embodiments, at least one of these components (e.g., connection terminal (178)) may be omitted from the electronic device (101), or one or more other components may be added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., sensor module (176), camera module (180), or antenna module (197)) may be integrated into a single component (e.g., display module (160)). The processor (120) can control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) by executing software (e.g., a program (140)), and can perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) can store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in volatile memory (132), and store the resulting data in non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) that can operate independently or together with it (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor). For example, if the electronic device (101) includes a main processor (121) and an auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use low