WO2024025045A1

WO2024025045A1 - Hinge apparatus for foldable device

Info

Publication number: WO2024025045A1
Application number: PCT/KR2022/018338
Authority: WO
Inventors: 윤태중; 이정현
Original assignee: 윤태중; 이정현
Priority date: 2022-07-25
Filing date: 2022-11-18
Publication date: 2024-02-01
Also published as: KR102576270B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hinge apparatus for a foldable device and, more particularly, to a hinge apparatus for a foldable device, which: can support a flexible display in a single plane in the case of unfolding and maximize a spare space in the case of folding, thus preventing breakage of the flexible display; with a minimal number of elements, can maximize the spare space in the case of folding, and stably support the display in a single plane in the case of unfolding; can symmetrically rotate a first device and a second device without any element for synchronization; can be configured as an integrated case without being coupled to the first device and the second device; and can fundamentally prevent introduction of foreign matter during the folding or unfolding process.

Description

Hinge device for foldable device {HINGE APPARATUS FOR FOLDABLE DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a hinge device mounted on a folded or unfolded portion of a foldable device. More specifically, a foldable device is a device that folds and unfolds by applying a flexible display, and a hinge device that can be folded is provided in the center of the foldable device. The present invention relates to a hinge device that can stably support a display by maintaining a flat state when unfolded while securing free space to maximize the radius of curvature of the folded portion when folded.

Recently, curved displays have become popular, and displays with a curved surface are being released instead of conventional flat displays. In addition, displays that can be folded or unfolded like foldable devices are being mass-produced.

A foldable device is basically a device with a flexible display panel. Instead of the display panel being formed on a hard substrate such as a glass substrate like conventional LCDs and OELDs, the display panel is formed on a flexible substrate so that images can be displayed even when bent. It is a device that can

Since these foldable devices are devices that bend or fold, the folded part is more likely to be damaged than the non-folded part, and when unfolded, it must be able to maintain the same flatness as an FPD.

However, conventional FPDs do not basically assume folding, so they do not have a folding structure. An example of a typical hinge is a hinge. If a hinge that simply folds or unfolds is applied directly to a flexible substrate such as a foldable display, the radius of curvature when folded is too small, causing damage to the display of the foldable device. There is a problem that cannot be applied.

To solve this problem, a hinge device for a conventional foldable display device is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1875855, and Patent No. 855 includes a flexible panel as a first body, a second body, a first support, and a second body. It is supported through two supports, and the first body and the second body are foldable and connected through a hinge member. When folded, the radius of curvature of the flexible panel is maintained to a certain extent, and when unfolded, the first support and second body are connected to each other in a foldable manner. A hinge device that supports a display using two supports is disclosed. However, the first body and the second body are coupled through a separate hinge member with two rotation axes, and when folded, the radius of curvature of the flexible display extends from the first and second bodies to the first and second supports. Since it is formed within the space created, there is a limit to increasing the radius of curvature of the display when folded. In addition, since there is a gap at the part where the first support and the second support meet, when folding/unfolding is repeated, fold marks are bound to occur at the folded part of the flexible panel, and when unfolding, the panel is kept on a perfect plane. There is a problem that cannot be supported. In addition, since there are many essential components included in the hinge device, the operation is complicated and there are multiple rotation axes, so there is a possibility that the left and right bodies of the hinge device operate separately. Additionally, in order to prevent this problem, a separate synchronization configuration is required, and durability is reduced as the first and second bodies rotate to their respective rotation centers.

The present invention is intended to solve the problems described above. When unfolding, the flexible display can be supported on a single plane while maximizing the free space when folded, preventing damage to the flexible display, and folding with minimal configuration. The display can be stably supported on a single plane when unfolded while maximizing free space when unfolding. The first and second devices can be rotated symmetrically without separate configuration for synchronization, and the first and second devices can be rotated symmetrically. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a hinge device for a foldable device that can be configured as a case-integrated hinge device without being coupled to a case, and can prevent foreign substances from entering during the folding or unfolding process.

In order to achieve the above object, the hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention is a hinge device provided at the folding/unfolding portion of a foldable device including a first device and a second device, the hinge device of the first device A first pivot portion formed on one side, a second pivot portion formed on one side of the second device, a first link portion rotatably connected to the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion, and the first link A first connection part including a second link part foldably connected to the unit, a third link part rotatably connected to the second pivot part and the first pivot part, and a foldable connection to the third link part. A second connection unit including a fourth link unit, wherein the first device and the second device are provided with guides for moving paths of the second link unit and the fourth link unit at areas in contact with the second link unit and the fourth link unit, respectively. It is characterized in that a guiding part is provided.

In addition, a first bending hole is formed in the first link portion at the portion where the third link portion is connected to the first pivot portion, and a second bending hole is formed in the third link portion at the portion where the first link portion is connected to the second pivot portion. It is characterized by the formation of a hole.

In addition, the first bending hole and the second bending hole are characterized in that they have a curved shape similar to the rotation trajectory of the first link part and the third link part.

In addition, the first connection part and the second connection part are arranged to be engaged with each other between the first device and the second device, and when unfolded, form a single surface to support the display included in the foldable device.

In addition, the guiding part forms a curved or inclined plane extending from the lower part of the first device and the second device to the upper part, and the second link part and the fourth link part form a single surface when unfolded. One end of the link part is guided, and when folded, the second link part and the fourth link part are guided to come into close contact with the lower surfaces of the first device and the second device.

In addition, the shape of each contact surface of the first link portion, second link portion, third link portion, and fourth link portion is such that rotation is possible only in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction when folded or unfolded. It is characterized by having a shape that engages in a tapered state with a constant inclination.

In addition, a first reverse rotation prevention part extending below the second link part or the first link part is formed on the first link part or the second link part, and a fourth link part is formed on the third link part or the fourth link part. Or, a second reverse rotation prevention part is formed extending to the lower part of the third link part, and after the first reverse rotation prevention part and the second reverse rotation prevention part are unfolded, the second link part and the fourth link part are rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. It is characterized by preventing rotation in one direction.

In the present invention configured as described above, the flexible panel forms a maximum radius of curvature when the foldable device is folded and can be stably supported while maintaining a perfect single plane when unfolded.

Additionally, both devices of the foldable device can be rotated in a linked state without separate configuration for synchronization.

In addition, it has the durability to be applied to large-sized foldable devices through the link structure and pivot portion that are directly connected to the foldable device.

In addition, the inflow of foreign substances into the rear of the display can be fundamentally blocked through the hinge device during the folding or unfolding process.

1 is a perspective view of a hinge device for a foldable device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a hinge device for a foldable device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention when unfolded;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing that the guiding part of the hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention is formed with a curved surface;

Figures 5a and 5b are cross-sectional views showing various shapes of the first pivot part and the second pivot part in the hinge device for the foldable device of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a link portion showing an example of a configuration for preventing reverse rotation in the hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a hinge device for a foldable device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hinge device for a foldable device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view of a hinge device for a foldable device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a foldable device of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view when the hinge device for a device is unfolded, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing that the guiding part of the hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention is formed as a curved surface, and Figures 5a and 5b are a cross-sectional view of the hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing various shapes of the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the link portion showing an example of a configuration for preventing reverse rotation in the hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention.

A foldable device includes a flexible display, and when unfolded, the display must be supported so that it remains flat. When folded, the display must be supported so that the radius of curvature of the folded part is maximized so that the display does not become sharp. There is a need to secure. However, the conventional hinge device does not have a support structure in the center when unfolding, so wrinkles occur in the flexible display, and there is a limit to maximizing the radius of curvature of the display when folding. In addition, not only is the hinge device configured in a complex manner, but the left and right bodies are coupled to the hinge device around the hinge device, so the left and right bodies move separately or a separate configuration is required to synchronize the rotation of the left and right bodies, so the configuration of the hinge device is complicated. There is a problem with termination.

The hinge device for a foldable device of the present invention is intended to solve this problem, and is designed to provide folding/unfolding of a foldable device including a first device 10 and a second device 20 provided on both sides around the folding area. In the hinge device provided at the portion where the first device 10 and the second device 20 come into contact, a first pivot portion 140, a second pivot portion 240, and a first pivot portion are provided, respectively. It includes a first link part 110 rotatably connected to the unit 140 and the second pivot part 240, and a second link part 120 foldably connected to one end of the first link part 110. It is foldable at one end of the first connection portion 100, the second pivot portion 240, and the third link portion 210 and the third link portion 210 that are pivotally connected to the first pivot portion 140. It includes a second connection unit 200 including a fourth link unit 220 that is connected to the A guiding part 300 is provided at the area in contact with the link part 220 to guide the movement path of the second link part 120 and the fourth link part when moving the upper and lower parts of the foldable device during folding/unfolding. .

The first connection part 100 of the present invention has a certain range in the first pivot part 140 provided on one side of the first device 10 and the second pivot part 240 provided on one side of the second device 20. It includes a first link part 110 rotatably connected within the first link part 110 and a second link part 120 foldably connected through a first link connection part 115 at one end of the first link part 110. Similarly, the second connection portion 200 is rotatably connected to the second pivot portion 240 provided in the second device 20 and the first pivot portion 140 provided in the first device 10 within a certain range. It includes a third link unit 210 and a fourth link unit 220 that is foldably connected to one end of the third link unit 210 through a second link connection unit 215.

The first link unit 110 included in the first connection unit 100 and the third link unit 210 included in the second connection unit 200 of the present invention are the first device 10 and the second device 20, respectively. ) is prepared over a period of time. Therefore, the first link unit 110 and the third link unit 210 overlap in an engaged shape between the first device 10 and the second device 20, and the overlapped portion forms a single surface, thereby leaving the display empty. You can support it without it.

The coupling relationship between the first connection unit 100, the second connection unit 200, the first device 10, and the second device 20 of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The first link portion 110 of the present invention rotates on the first pivot portion 140 provided on one side of the first device 10 and the second pivot portion 240 provided on one side of the second device 20. Possibly connected. Similarly, the third link part 210 is also rotatably connected to the second pivot part 240 and the first pivot part 140. According to this arrangement, as described above, the first link unit 110 and the third link unit 210 are arranged to be engaged with each other between the first device 10 and the second device 20. Both the first link part 110 and the third link part 210 are coupled to the first pivot part 140 and the second pivot part 240, and since they are coupled to each other, the third link part 210 is the first link part 210. A portion coupled to the pivot portion 140 is located within the first link portion 110. Therefore, in order for the first link part 110 to rotate during the folding/unfolding process, a first bending hole 150 is provided in the first link part 110, and the location and shape of the first bending hole 150 are similar to those of the third. It is preferable that the link unit 210 has a shape that includes the position at which the link unit 210 is coupled to the first pivot unit 140 and the rotation trajectory of the first link unit 110. Similarly, the third link part 210 is provided with a second bending hole 250 at the area where the first link part 110 is coupled to the second pivot part 240. In FIG. 2, the connection between the first link unit 110 and the first device 10 and the second device 20 is indicated in red, and the connection between the third link unit 210 and the second device 20 is indicated in blue. Although the coupling positions of the first link part 110 and the third link part 210, which are coupled to the first pivot part 140 and the second pivot part 240, are located side by side in the vertical direction, the thickness of the device, the first The arrangement of the coupling positions may vary as shown in FIG. 5B depending on various factors such as the separation distance between the device 10 and the second device 20 and the shape of the first and

third link parts

110 and 210. Of course. Even if the arrangement of the coupling positions is different, the first link part 110 and the third link part 210 must form a single surface to support the display when unfolded. Of course, the shapes of the first link part 110 and the third link part 210 may vary depending on the arrangement of the coupling positions of the first and

second pivot parts

140 and 240.

The first bending hole 150 and the second bending hole 250 are preferably provided in a curved shape according to the rotation trajectory because the first link part 110 and the third link part 210 must rotate smoothly. Of course, the first and second bending holes 150 and 250 can be formed as one large hole containing a rotation trajectory, but in terms of improving the durability of the hinge device, it is preferable to provide them in a curved shape that matches the rotation trajectory.

The second link part 120 and the fourth link part 220 are folded with the first link connection part 115 of the first link part 110 and the second link connection part 215 of the third link part 210, respectively. Possibly combined. In order to firmly support the display located at the top in the unfolded situation, the second link part 120 is rotated counterclockwise around the first link connection part 115, and the fourth link part 220 is connected to the second link. It is necessary to prevent clockwise rotation around the connection portion 215. To this end, the first link unit 110, the second link unit 120, the third link unit 210, and the fourth link unit 220 are rotated to fold in the downward direction of the display. The first link unit 110 And if the third link part 210 has a long lower surface and the upper surfaces of the second link part 120 and the fourth link part 220 have a long shape, they can only be rotated downward when folded. The top of the display does not fold. Additionally, since it can be folded without any separation, the display can be supported without any gaps. In addition, the first reverse rotation prevention part 160 extends to the lower part of the first link part 110 and the third link part 210, which contact the ends of the second link part 120 and the fourth link part 220, respectively. ) and a second reverse rotation prevention portion 260 can be provided to prevent each link portion from rising above the single surface formed during unfolding. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 6, a first reverse rotation prevention portion 160 and a second reverse rotation prevention portion 260 may be provided on the first link portion 110 and the third link portion 210. The above configuration for preventing reverse rotation has the effect of preventing each link part from moving up after forming a single surface and at the same time increasing durability by increasing the bonding force of each link part.

When the guiding part 300 of the present invention is unfolded, the second link part 120 and the fourth link part 220 form a single plane with the first device 10 and the second device 20 to display the display. It must be supported, and when folding, the second link portion 120 and the fourth link portion 220 must be in close contact with the lower surfaces of the first device 10 and the second device 20, so when folding or unfolding, the second link It is a configuration that serves to guide the movement path of the unit 120 and the fourth link unit 220. To this end, when unfolding, the second link portion 120 is guided to come into close contact with the first contact portion 15 of the first device 10, and the fourth link portion 220 is guided to the second contact portion of the second device 20. Guide it to adhere closely to (25). Therefore, the guiding part 300 may have a surface in contact with the second and

fourth link parts

120 and 220 in the form of a line segment as shown in FIG. 2, or may be configured in the form of a curved surface as in FIG. 4. It may be possible. A curved shape is more advantageous in terms of improving the durability of the display because it can also induce the curvature of the display when folded.

Claims

In the hinge device provided at the folding/unfolding portion of the foldable device including the first device and the second device,

A first pivot portion formed on one side of the first device,

A second pivot portion formed on one side of the second device,

A first connection part including a first link part rotatably connected to the first pivot part and the second pivot part and a second link part foldably connected to the first link part,

A second connection unit including a third link unit rotatably connected to the second pivot unit and the first pivot unit, and a fourth link unit foldably connected to the third link unit,

A foldable device characterized in that the first device and the second device are provided with a guiding part that guides the movement path of the second link part and the fourth link part at the area in contact with the second link part and the fourth link part, respectively. Hinge device.
In claim 1,

A first bending hole is formed in the first link portion at a portion where the third link portion is connected to the first pivot portion, and a second bending hole is formed in the third link portion at a portion where the first link portion is connected to the second pivot portion. A hinge device for a foldable device, characterized in that it is formed.
In claim 2,

A hinge device for a foldable device, wherein the first bending hole and the second bending hole have a curved shape similar to the rotation trajectory of the first link portion and the third link portion.
In claim 1,

The first connection part and the second connection part are arranged to engage each other between the first device and the second device, and form a single side when unfolded to support the display included in the foldable device. Hinge device.
In claim 1,

The guiding part forms a curved or inclined plane extending from the lower part of the first device and the second device to the upper part,

When unfolding, the ends of the second link section and the fourth link section are guided so that the first connection section and the second connection section form a single surface, and when folding, the second link section and the fourth link section are in close contact with the lower surfaces of the first device and the second device. A hinge device for a foldable device characterized in that it is guided as much as possible.
In claim 1,

The shape of each contact surface of the first link part, the second link part, the third link part, and the fourth link part has a constant slope so that rotation is possible only in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction when folded or unfolded. A hinge device for a foldable device, characterized in that it has a shape that engages in a tapered state.
In claim 1,

A first reverse rotation prevention portion extending below the second link portion or the first link portion is formed on the first link portion or the second link portion,

A second reverse rotation prevention part extending below the fourth link part or the third link part is formed on the third link part or the fourth link part,

A hinge device for a foldable device, characterized in that the first reverse rotation prevention unit and the second reverse rotation prevention unit prevent the second link unit and the fourth link unit from rotating clockwise or counterclockwise after being unfolded.