US 12,242,309 B2
Foldable electronic device
Kyunghoon Hyun, Suwon-si (KR); Daehyeong Park, Suwon-si (KR); Heebo Shim, Suwon-si (KR); and Minsung Lee, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Gyeonggi-Do (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/972,843.
Application 17/972,843 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2022/011881, filed on Aug. 9, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0104909 (KR), filed on Aug. 9, 2021; and application No. 10-2022-0013699 (KR), filed on Jan. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0038719 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1681 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1647 (2013.01); G06F 1/1652 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a foldable housing comprising a first housing, a second housing, and a folding part between the first housing and the second housing;
a flexible display positioned in an internal space of the foldable housing and visible through a front surface of the foldable housing;
a first support structure positioned in an internal space of the first housing and configured to support a first portion of the flexible display;
a second support structure positioned in an internal space of the second housing and configured to support a second portion of the flexible display;
a first hinge assembly and second hinge assembly positioned in the internal space of the foldable housing over the folding part, configured to connect the first support structure and the second support structure, and spaced apart from each other in a direction of a folding axis of the folding part; and
a first plate assembly positioned in the internal space of the foldable housing over the folding part, coupled to the first support structure, and configured to support a third portion of the flexible display corresponding to the folding part;
wherein the first plate assembly comprises:
a first plate comprising a first surface facing the first support structure and a second surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the first surface and positioned between the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly;
a second plate comprising a third surface facing the second surface and a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the third surface;
a third plate comprising a fifth surface and a sixth surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the fifth surface, the fifth surface facing the second surface and the first hinge assembly; and
a fourth plate comprising a seventh surface and an eighth surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the seventh surface, the seventh surface facing the second surface and the second hinge assembly;
wherein the second plate is configured to be positioned between the third plate and the fourth plate, when viewed from above the fourth surface.