US 12,107,979 B2
Electronic device capable of folding motion and sliding motion
Seungjoon Lee, Suwon-si (KR); Sungho Ahn, Suwon-si (KR); Youngseong Kim, Suwon-si (KR); Sungmin Hong, Suwon-si (KR); Jooyoung Kang, Suwon-si (KR); Yangwook Kim, Suwon-si (KR); Gyeongtae Park, Suwon-si (KR); and Hyunju Hong, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Jul. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/373,218.
Application 17/373,218 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2021/007293, filed on Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0070411 (KR), filed on Jun. 10, 2020; and application No. 10-2021-0058736 (KR), filed on May 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2021/0409532 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. H05K 1/14 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01); H05K 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC H04M 1/0268 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1652 (2013.01); G06F 1/1681 (2013.01); H05K 1/028 (2013.01); H05K 1/148 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10128 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10151 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10159 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device comprising:
a first sensor;
a second sensor;
a third sensor;
at least one processor electrically connected with the first sensor, the second sensor and the third sensor;
a base housing, wherein the third sensor is disposed on the base housing;
a sliding housing at least partially overlapping the base housing and slidably coupled to the base housing, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the sliding housing;
a folding housing at least partially overlapping the base housing and connected to the sliding housing, wherein the second sensor is disposed on the folding housing;
a display disposed on the folding housing and the sliding housing, at least part of the display being located inside the base housing;
a rolling module comprising a rollable support coupled to a rear surface of the display, the rolling module having one side connected to the sliding housing and an opposite side extending into an inner space of the base housing; and
a hinge module comprising a hinge connected to the folding housing and the sliding housing, wherein the sliding housing is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation and the folding housing is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect whether the electronic device is in a sliding-in state or a sliding-out state based on sensor signals representing a distance between the first sensor and the third sensor, and whether the electronic device is in a folded state or a flat state based on sensor signals representing a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor and a distance between the first sensor and the third sensor,
wherein the electronic device is configured to be capable of performing:
a sliding motion wherein the folding housing and the sliding housing are configured to move in a sliding direction to extend and/or retract a display area of the electronic device; and
a folding motion wherein the folding housing is configured to be folded or unfolded relative to the sliding housing to fold or unfold part of a display area.
 
12. An electronic device comprising: a base housing;
a sliding housing at least partially overlapping the base housing and slidably coupled to the base housing;
a folding housing at least partially overlapping the base housing and connected to the sliding housing;
a display disposed on the folding housing and the sliding housing, at least part of the display being located inside the base housing;
a rolling module comprising a rollable support coupled to a rear surface of the display, the rolling module having one side connected to the sliding housing and an opposite side extending into an inner space of the base housing; and
a hinge module comprising a hinge connected to the folding housing and the sliding housing, wherein the sliding housing is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation and the folding housing is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation,
wherein the electronic device is configured to be capable of performing:
a sliding motion wherein the folding housing and the sliding housing are configured to move in a sliding direction to extend and/or retract a display area of the electronic device; and
a folding motion wherein the folding housing is configured to be folded or unfolded relative to the sliding housing to fold or unfold part of a display area,
wherein the display includes a first area disposed on at least part of the folding housing, a second area disposed on at least part of the sliding housing, and a third area disposed in the inner space of the base housing, and
wherein the electronic device is configured to include:
a first state in which the first area and the second area form a front side of the electronic device and the third area is disposed in the inner space;
a second state in which the first area is folded with a predetermined angle relative to the second area and the third area is disposed in the inner space;
a third state in which at least part of the third area forms the front side together with the first area and the second area; and
a fourth state in which at least part of the third area forms the front side together with the first area and the second area and the first area is folded with a predetermined angle relative to the second area.
 
18. An electronic device comprising:
a base housing;
a sliding housing at least partially overlapping the base housing and slidably coupled to the base housing;
a folding housing at least partially overlapping the base housing and connected to the sliding housing;
a display disposed on the folding housing and the sliding housing, at least part of the display being located inside the base housing;
a rolling module comprising a rollable support coupled to a rear surface of the display, the rolling module having one side connected to the sliding housing and an opposite side extending into an inner space of the base housing; and
a hinge module comprising a hinge connected to the folding housing and the sliding housing, wherein the sliding housing is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation and the folding housing is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation;
a first circuit board disposed in the base housing;
a second circuit board disposed in the sliding housing; and
a first flexible circuit board connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board,
wherein the first flexible circuit board is at least partially surrounded by the rolling module and is configured to extend to surround at least part of a shaft of a roller, and
wherein the electronic device is configured to be capable of performing:
a sliding motion wherein the folding housing and the sliding housing are configured to move in a sliding direction to extend and/or retract a display area of the electronic device; and
a folding motion wherein the folding housing is configured to be folded or unfolded relative to the sliding housing to fold or unfold part of a display area.