US 12,135,589 B2
Double-axis soft hinge mechanism and foldable device having same
Shih-Wei Hsiang, Taipei (TW); Hung-Wei Wang, Taipei (TW); Ching-Chih Yen, Taipei (TW); Po-Kai Lai, Taipei (TW); and Jeng-wen Lin, Taipei (TW)
Assigned to Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/596,545
Filed by Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/070873
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 13, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/150360, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/963,788, filed on Jan. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0155828 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1681 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1652 (2013.01); H04M 1/0216 (2013.01); H04M 1/0268 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
12. A foldable device, comprising:
a housing;
a foldable display coupled to the housing; and
a hinge mechanism received in the housing, at a position corresponding to a bendable section of the foldable display, wherein the hinge mechanism includes:
a synchronizing module, including:
a first rotating link is-coupled to a first portion of the housing;
a second rotating link coupled to a second portion of the housing; and
a synchronizing gear assembly rotatably coupled to the first rotating link and the second rotating link through meshed engagement with the first rotating link and the second rotating link;
a torsion module coupled to the synchronizing module and configured to selectively exert a biasing force on the synchronizing module, wherein the torsion module includes:
a torque bracket;
a first torque beam and a second torque beam coupled to the torque bracket;
a first biasing device coupled to the torque bracket and to the first torque beam;
a second biasing device coupled to the torque bracket and to the second torque beam;
a first sliding device slidably coupled to the first torque beam, and fixedly coupled to the first portion of the housing; and
a second sliding device slidably coupled to the second torque beam, and fixedly coupled to the second portion of the housing; and
a cover module coupled to the first and second portions of the housing, for coordinated movement of the cover module, the synchronizing module, and the first and second portions of the housing.