Electronic device with foldable deployable display

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device with a foldable deployable display. An electronic device has a foldable display. A first portion and a second portion of an electronic device housing for the device may be joined using a hinge structure. The flexible display may overlap the first housing portion, the hinge structure, and the second housing portion. A layer, such as a sheet metal layer, may be used to support the display and may overlap the hinge structure. The hinge structures may include gear teeth, belts, and / or other movement synchronization structures. The hinge structure may include members that move relative to each other during buckling. The moving member may include a rod having opposing curved bearing surfaces and a coupling. The stop surface may prevent excessive rotation of the rod and the coupling relative to each other. The coupling is rotatable about a pivot point located within the display thickness without the hinge structure being present within the display thickness.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the application date of May 25, 2020, application number 202010449049.0, and name “Electronic device with a foldable and unfoldable display”.

[0002] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 784,833 filed on February 7, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 853,642 filed on May 28, 2019, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices having displays. Background Art

[0004] Electronic devices often include displays. Touch screen displays may be used in cellular phones or other portable devices to display information to a user and to capture user input.

[0005] If care is not taken, the display may not provide enough screen space to display the information the user is interested in. At the same time, it may be difficult to scale up the size of an electronic device too large to accommodate a larger display because it would make the device too bulky. Summary of the invention

[0006] An electronic device may have a foldable display supported by a foldable electronic device housing. A first portion and a second portion of the electronic device housing may be joined using a hinge structure. The electronic device may have a flexible display, such as an organic light emitting diode display. The flexible display may overlap the first housing portion, the hinge structure, and the second housing portion. A flexible support layer, such as a metal sheet layer, may be used to support the display and may overlap the hinge structure.

[0007] The hinge structure may include components that are configured to move relative to each other when the hinge structure bends. In some configurations, the hinge structure of the device includes gear teeth, belts, and / or other moving synchronization structures. The moving components in the hinge structure may include rods and connectors having relative curved bearing surfaces. Stop surfaces may prevent the rods and connectors from rotating excessively relative to each other.

[0008] The rods and connectors or other moving members in the hinge structure can rotate relative to each other about a virtual pivot point located outside the hinge structure. The pivot point can establish a plane of reduced stress (e.g., a plane of middle stress or a plane of approximately middle stress). The plane of reduced stress can be located within the flexible display. This can help reduce stress on pixels or other fragile layers of the display module when the display is bent.

[0009] In some configurations, the hinge structure may include a sliding hinge pin support plate. A hinge pin that passes through the second portion of the housing may be supported by the sliding hinge pin support plate. The hinge pin allows the second portion of the housing to rotate relative to the plate and the first housing portion. When the first housing portion and the second housing portion are folded together, the support plate may slide relative to the first housing portion, thereby moving the hinge pin relative to the first housing portion. This helps ensure that the connector in the hinge structure smoothly wraps around the curved surface on the second housing surface when the device is folded. When the display is folded, the bent portion of the display may rest on the outward-facing surface of the hinge structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device with a foldable display according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device with a sliding display according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device with a scrolling display according to an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary flexible display structure according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with a foldable display according to an embodiment.

[0018] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of exemplary layers in a flexible display according to an embodiment.

[0019] Fig.10 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary layer in a protective layer for a display according to an embodiment.

[0020] Fig.11 is a top view of a layer of an illustrative display according to an embodiment showing how isolated adhesive posts may be used to couple sub-layers in the layer together.

[0021] Fig.12and Fig.13 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a flexible display with an interlocking sliding structure coupled between adjacent display layers according to an embodiment.

[0022] Fig.14 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with a folded display in an undeployed configuration according to an embodiment.

[0023] Fig.15 According to an embodiment, the Fig.14 A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device.

[0024] Fig.16 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible device with a segmented hinge according to an embodiment.

[0025] Fig.17 In the folded configuration according to the embodiment Fig.16 Cross-sectional side view of an exemplary flexible device.

[0026] Fig.18 and Fig.19 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative flexible display according to an embodiment showing how a stress-reducing plane can be constructed to coincide with an interior portion of the flexible display aligned with a thin-film pixel layer or other fragile display layer.

[0027] Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with a multi-link hinge structure supporting a flexible display according to an embodiment.

[0028] Fig.21 is a perspective view of an illustrative foldable electronic device with a segmented hinge according to an embodiment.

[0029] Fig. 22 According to the embodiment, the hinge is in a configuration in which the hinge has been bent at a right angle. Fig.21 A perspective view of an exemplary device.

[0030] Fig.23 According to the embodiment, the hinge is in a configuration in which the hinge has been bent 180°. Fig.21 A perspective view of an exemplary device.

[0031] Fig.24 is a side view of an illustrative foldable electronic device with a folding mechanism that synchronizes movement of a first hinged housing portion and a second hinged housing portion according to an embodiment.

[0032] Fig.25 According to the embodiment, in an electronic device (such as Fig.24Side view of a synchronized hinge structure used in an electronic device.

[0033] Fig.26 According to an embodiment, it can be used to help synchronize electronic devices (such as Fig.24 Side view of an illustrative pulley mechanism for movement between hinge structures in an electronic device.

[0034] Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary friction mechanism for a hinge according to an embodiment.

[0035] Fig.28 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary stop mechanism for a hinge according to an embodiment.

[0036] Fig.29 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary foldable device hinge mechanism according to an embodiment, which has a flexible material layer such as a spring metal sheet or other flexible sheet to help synchronize the movement of corresponding foldable device housing parts while supporting a flexible display.

[0037] Fig.30 , Fig.31 and Fig.32 is a side view of an exemplary profile of a prestressed layer of flexible metal according to an embodiment.

[0038] Fig.33 For use according to the implementation scheme Fig.29 Top view of an illustrative pattern of flexibility-enhancing openings in a layer of flexible material.

[0039] Fig.34 is a side view of an illustrative movable hinge plate for a foldable device according to an embodiment.

[0040] Fig.35 According to the embodiment, the Fig.34 Side view of an illustrative foldable electronic device with a movable hinge plate.

[0041] Fig.36 According to the implementation plan Fig.35 A perspective view of a portion of an illustrative foldable electronic device showing how a hinge structure of the device may include a movable hinge plate and a set of hinge couplings.

[0042] Fig.37 In the folded configuration according to the embodiment Fig.36 perspective view of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an array of pixels for displaying images to a user. The display may be an organic light emitting diode display, a micro light emitting diode display formed from an array of crystalline semiconductor light emitting diode dies, and / or may be any other suitable display. A two-dimensional touch sensor such as a capacitive touch sensor or other touch sensor may be incorporated into the display (e.g., by forming capacitive sensor electrodes from thin film display circuitry), and / or a touch sensor layer may be laminated to an array of pixels in the display.

[0044] The display of the electronic device can be operated in an undeployed configuration and an unfolded configuration. In the undeployed configuration, the portability of the device is enhanced. In the unfolded configuration, the visible display area is increased, making it easier to provide touch input and view images on the display.

[0045] Figure 1 A perspective view of an illustrative electronic device of the type that may include an expandable display is shown. Device 10 may be a laptop computer; a computer monitor containing an embedded computer; a tablet computer; a desktop computer; a cellular telephone; a media player; or other handheld or portable electronic device; a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a wristband device, a hanging device, a headset, or a handset device; a head-mounted device such as glasses, goggles, a helmet, or other device worn on a user's head; or other wearable or miniature device; a television; a computer monitor that does not contain an embedded computer; a gaming device; a navigation device; an embedded system, such as a system in which the device is mounted in a kiosk, automobile, airplane, or other vehicle; a removable housing for an electronic device; an accessory, such as a remote control device, a computer mouse, a track pad, a wireless or wired keyboard, or other accessory, and / or a device that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices. Figure 1 In the exemplary configuration of , device 10 is a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone or a tablet computer. This configuration may sometimes be described herein as an example.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, device 10 may have a housing such as housing 12. Housing 12 may be formed from materials such as polymers, glass, metal, crystalline materials such as sapphire, ceramics, fabrics, foams, wood, other materials, and / or combinations of these materials. Device 10 may have any suitable shape. Figure 1In the example of FIG. 1 , device 10 has a front face F, an opposite rear face R, and a sidewall portion (sidewall) W. Portion W may be formed as an extension of the housing structure on the front face F, rear face R, and / or may be formed using one or more separate sidewall members (as an example). The sidewall structure may be planar (e.g., to form a vertical sidewall extending between the front face F and rear face R) and / or may have a curved cross-sectional profile. Input-output devices such as one or more buttons may be mounted on housing 12 (e.g., mounted on sidewall portion W).

[0047] Device 10 may have one or more displays, such as display 14. Figure 1 In the example of , display 14 covers front face F. Display 14 may also be mounted on other portions of device 10. For example, one or more displays such as display 14 may cover all of front face F, a portion of front face F, some or all of rear face R, and / or some or all of sidewalls W. In some configurations, some or all of display 14 may be covered with flexible or rigid transparent members that serve as protective display covers. Such transparent display cover layer structures (sometimes referred to as housing structures) may overlap at least some of display 14 and may serve as display covers. If desired, the transparent film structure may serve as a protective display layer (e.g., a scratch-resistant layer, an oleophobic antifouling coating, etc.).

[0048] Display 14 may have a planar shape, a shape having a curved cross-sectional profile, or other suitable shape. Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 5 , front face F has a planar shape and lies in the XY plane. Display 14 may have a rectangular footprint (outline when viewed from above) or other suitable footprint. Device 10 is oriented along longitudinal axis 56 (e.g., parallel to Figure 1 The thickness of device 10 in dimension Z may be less than the width of device 10 in dimension X and less than the length of device 10 in dimension Y (as an example).

[0049] To help accommodate user desires for compactness while accommodating user desires for large amounts of display space, device 10 may have structure that allows for adjustment of the shape and size of device 10 and display 14. In particular, device 10 may have a display and associated housing structure that supports folding motion, sliding motion, rolling motion, and / or other behavior that allows for adjustment of device 10 during use.

[0050] When a compact size is desired, device 10 can be adjusted to be compact. For example, device 10 and display 14 can be folded inward or outward about bending axis 58. As another example, a sliding or rolling display structure can be retracted to minimize the size of the device.

[0051] When a large screen size is desired, device 10 and display 14 may be unfolded (in a configuration in which device 10 is foldable), or display 14 may be unfolded laterally in one or more directions, such as direction 52 (parallel to longitudinal axis 56) or direction 54 (e.g., a lateral direction perpendicular to longitudinal axis 56 and perpendicular to the thickness of device 10). Device 10 and display 14 may be unfolded, for example, by sliding portions of device 10 (and display 14) along axis 56 or axis 58 or by unrolling a rolled flexible display in direction 52 or direction 54.

[0052] When unfolded, display 14 exhibits an unfolded viewable area. Specifically, the portion of display 14 that can be viewed by a user of device 10 when device 10 is unfolded (sometimes referred to as the unfolded viewable area of ​​display 14) is larger than the undeployed viewable area of ​​display 14 presented to the user of device 10 when device 10 is not unfolded. In general, device 10 may use any suitable arrangement that allows adjustment of the display and / or device size and / or shape (e.g., between a first configuration such as an undeployed viewable area configuration, in which a first amount of display 14 is visible to a user viewing the front of device 10 or the other side of device 10, and a second configuration such as an unfolded viewable area configuration, in which a first amount of display 14 is visible to a user viewing the front of device 10 or the other side of device 10, and in which a second amount of display 14 that is larger than the first amount is visible to a user viewing the front of device 10 or the other side of device 10). These arrangements may exhibit inward and / or outward folding, rolling, sliding, and / or other housing and display movement when device 10 and display 14 transition between the undeployed state and the unfolded state.

[0053] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an exemplary electronic device is shown. Figure 2 As shown, device 10 may include control circuitry 30 , communication circuitry 32 , and input-output devices 34 .

[0054] The control circuitry 30 may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of the device 10. The storage and processing circuitry may include storage devices such as non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically programmable read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random access memory), etc. The processing circuitry in the control circuitry 30 may be used to collect inputs from sensors and other input devices, and may be used to control output devices. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors and other wireless communication circuits, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc.

[0055] To support communications between apparatus 10 and external electronic devices, control circuitry 30 may communicate using communication circuitry 32. Communication circuitry 32 may include an antenna, radio frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communication circuitry and / or wired communication circuitry. Circuitry 32, which may sometimes be referred to as control circuitry and / or control and communication circuitry, may, for example, support wireless communications using a wireless local area network link, a near field communication link, a cellular telephone link, a millimeter wave link, and / or other wireless communication pathways.

[0056] Input-output devices 34 may be used to gather user input, to gather information about the user's surroundings, and / or to provide output to the user.

[0057] The display 14 of the input-output device 34 has a pixel array for displaying images to the user. The display 14 can be a light-emitting diode display (e.g., an organic light-emitting diode or a display with a pixel array having light-emitting diodes formed by a crystalline semiconductor die), an electrophoretic display, a liquid crystal display, or other display. The display 14 may include a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor or other touch sensor for collecting touch input. The display 14 may have a substrate formed of a flexible dielectric (e.g., a sheet of polyimide or other bendable polymer layer) and / or may have a rigid substrate structure. The arrangement of a flexible display can be used to provide the display 14 with the ability to change size and shape by folding, rolling, sliding, etc. If desired, some or all of the display 14 may include a rigid (non-flexible) display structure.

[0058] Device 34 may include sensor 36. Sensor 36 may include force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, capacitive touch sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, non-capacitive touch sensors, ultrasonic sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation, and / or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors such as compass sensors, gyroscopes, and / or inertial measurement units that include some or all of these sensors), muscle activity sensors (EMG), heart rate sensors, electrocardiogram sensors, and other biometric sensors, radio frequency sensors (e.g., radar and other ranging and positioning sensors), humidity sensors, water content sensors, and / or other sensors.

[0059] Sensors 36 and other input-output devices 34 may include optical components such as: light emitting diodes (e.g., camera flashes or other overlay illumination, etc.); lasers, such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and other laser diodes; laser components that emit multiple parallel laser beams (e.g., for three-dimensional sensing); lights; and light sensing components, such as photodetectors and digital image sensors. For example, sensors 36 in device 34 may include: optical sensors such as depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and / or depth sensors based on stereoscopic imaging devices that can optically sense three-dimensional shapes); optical sensors such as self-mixing sensors and light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors that collect time-of-flight measurements and / or other measurements to determine the distance between the sensor and external objects and / or can determine relative speed; monochrome and / or color ambient light sensors that can measure ambient light levels; light-based proximity sensors (e.g., optical proximity sensors that include a light source and a corresponding light detector, wherein the light source is such as an infrared light emitting diode and / or a laser, light detectors such as infrared photodetectors that can detect when external objects are within a predetermined distance); optical sensors such as visual odometry sensors that use images captured by a digital image sensor in a camera to capture position and / or orientation information; gaze tracking sensors; visible light and / or infrared cameras with digital image sensors configured to capture image data; optical sensors for measuring ultraviolet light; and / or other optical sensor components (e.g., photosensors and, if desired, light sources); photodetectors coupled to light guides; associated light emitters; and / or other optical components (one or more light emitting devices, one or more light detecting devices, etc.).

[0060] The input-output device 34 may also include an audio component. The audio component may include one or more microphones for sensing sound (e.g., an audio sensor in the sensor 36 for sensing audio signals), and may include a sound-generating component, such as an audio generator and one or more speakers. Figure 2 As shown, for example, input-output devices 34 may include speaker 38. The speaker may be used to support speakerphone operation and / or may be used as an earpiece speaker when device 10 is held to a user's ear for a telephone call, to listen to voicemail messages, or to listen to other audio output.

[0061] In addition to the sensor 36, the display 14, and the speaker 38, the input-output device 34 may also include a user input device such as a button and other devices 40. The device 40 may include, for example, an optical component for providing a visual output to the user, such as a light output device in addition to the display 14. The light output device may include one or more light emitting diodes, one or more lasers, lamps, electroluminescent devices, and / or other light emitting components. The light output device may form a status indicator light. If desired, the light output device may include an illuminated icon (e.g., a backlit symbol associated with a power indicator, a battery charge indicator, a radio signal strength indicator, a notification icon, etc.).

[0062] Device 40 may include an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, a structure formed of a magnetic material (e.g., an iron rod or other ferromagnetic member that is attracted to a magnet such as an electromagnet and / or a permanent magnet), a battery, etc. Device 40 may also include power transmission and / or reception circuitry configured to transmit and / or receive wired and / or wireless power signals, and output components such as a tactile output device and other output components (e.g., an electromagnetic actuator or other actuator that can vibrate to provide a user with a tactile alert and / or tactile feedback associated with the operation of a touch sensor or other input device).

[0063] exist Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view of the device 10 is shown. Figure 3 As shown, housing 12 may have one or more portions, such as sidewall portions 12W, a front portion 12F on the front face F of device 10, and a rear portion 12R on the rear face R of device 10. These portions may be formed from metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel, or other metals), or may be formed from polymers, glass, ceramics, and / or other materials.

[0064] Display 14 may be visible on front face F of device 10 and / or other portions of device 10. For example, Figure 3An observer who is viewing device 10 in the -Z direction of the display 14 (e.g., a user viewing device 10 from the front) can view pixels of display 14 that face the user in the +Z direction on the front side F. Display 14 may be overlapped by a transparent portion of housing 12, may have a portion supported on the outermost surface of housing 12, and / or may have a portion protruding from housing 12. In some configurations, a rigid protective transparent material may form a display cover layer that protects display 14. Display 14 may also be protected by attaching a protective film to the outermost surface of display 14, and / or by incorporating the protective film into display 14. For example, a transparent polymer film may overlap pixels of display 14 to help protect the circuitry of the pixels from damage, and / or a thin film organic layer and / or inorganic layer may be incorporated into display 14 to help protect display 14. In some arrangements, display 14 may include a flexible protective material (e.g., a bendable polymer film, a bendable inorganic thin film layer, etc.). The transparent material that may overlap display 14 (e.g., for protecting display 14) may be formed from sapphire or other crystalline materials, glass, polymers, transparent ceramics, inorganic dielectric materials (such as transparent metal oxide films and / or other inorganic materials), and / or other transparent materials and / or other flexible and / or rigid transparent materials.

[0065] The walls of housing 12 may separate an interior region 44 of device 10 from an exterior region 50 surrounding device 10. Interior region 44 may include electronic components such as components 46. Components 46 may include integrated circuits, discrete components, batteries, wireless circuit components such as a wireless power coil, and / or other components (see, e.g., Figure 2 Components 46 may be interconnected using signal paths, such as paths formed by traces on a printed circuit (see, for example, printed circuit 48).

[0066] To accommodate the sometimes competing demands for compact device size and large screen size, device 10 is adjustable between a first state in which display 14 is not deployed and a second state in which display 14 is deployed and therefore larger than when not deployed.

[0067] In one exemplary arrangement, device 10 accommodates display flexure. Display 14 may, for example, be folded inwardly so that left and right halves of display 14 face each other (e.g., when display 14 is formed in a Figure 4 The display 14 may also be folded outwardly so that the left and right halves of the display 14 face away from each other (e.g., when the display 14 is formed on the surface 62 of the housing 12). Figure 4 If desired, device 10 may support both inward folding and outward folding.

[0068] Arrangements in which device 10 allows display 14 to change size using a sliding motion may also be used. Figure 5 As shown, device 10 is adjustable so that structures in device 10 and display 14 slide (in direction 52 or other suitable direction) between a first (undeployed) configuration in which only display area 14' is visible and a second (deployed) configuration in which both display area 14' and display area 14" are visible.

[0069] Figure 6 1 is a side view of device 10 in an exemplary configuration in which display 14 is flexible enough to be rolled. This allows display 14 to be moved in and out of housing 12. When in the undeployed configuration, display 14 is rolled up and stored in the housing. Figure 6 In the expanded configuration, the display 14 is enlarged by spreading the display 14 in the direction 52 and extending the display 14 out of the housing 12. Other arrangements that allow the display 14 to change size and / or shape may also be used and / or these arrangements and / or Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 A combination of arrangements.

[0070] If desired, display 14 may have an array of light-emitting pixels P. Figure 7 This type of arrangement is shown in Figure 7 In the example of FIG. 1 , display 14 includes display layer 14L. Display layer 14L may be flexible and may sometimes be referred to as a flexible display or a flexible pixel array. Figure 7 As shown, the display layer 14L may include a substrate 71A, a pixel layer forming a pixel array 71B, and a cover layer 71C.

[0071] Substrate 71A may be formed from a polyimide sheet or other flexible polymer layer, or may be formed from a dielectric material layer (e.g., flexible glass or rigid glass in a configuration where substrate 71A or a portion of substrate 71A includes a rigid substrate material). Substrate 71A may be covered by a thin film layer that forms pixels P and other thin film circuits. Pixels P may include thin film transistors 78, thin film capacitors, thin film light emitting diodes 76 (such as organic light emitting diodes), and / or other thin film circuits. If desired, the array of pixels P of display 14 may be formed from micro light emitting diodes (sometimes referred to as micro LEDs) formed from crystalline semiconductor dies. These dies may be mounted on a dielectric substrate such as a flexible dielectric substrate. One or more encapsulation layers such as layer 71C may be used to protect and environmentally seal pixels P. One or more layers 71C may include organic and / or inorganic dielectric layers (e.g., thin film layers).

[0072] Display 14 may include additional layers, such as one or more support layers (see, e.g., backing layer 70) on the rear of display layer 14L and / or one or more outwardly facing layers (see, e.g., layer 72) on the outwardly facing side of display layer 14L. These layers may be attached above and below display layer 14L using adhesive layers, using other coupling structures, by forming thin film layers directly on display 14, and / or by incorporating other layers overlapped by pixels P into display 14. Backing layers such as layer 70 may be formed of metal (e.g., a thin, flexible metal that can withstand repeated bending and unbending), may be formed of polymers, may be formed of other materials, and / or may be formed of combinations of these materials. During bending, layers such as layer 70 may help protect display 14 from wrinkling or other potentially damaging deformations. One or more additional layers 72 may include polarizing layers, wave plates, filters, protective cover layers, privacy films, and / or other display layers.

[0073] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with a display that can be unfolded using a folding motion. Figure 8 In the example of FIG. 1 , when device 10, housing 12, and display 14 are bent about bending axis 58, display 14 is located on the outer surface of housing 12. If desired, device 10, housing 12, and display 14 can support inward bending. The position of bending axis 58 need not be fixed and can change dynamically as device 10 is folded. For example, when the bending motion begins with a very large curvature (e.g., a large bending radius), bending axis 58 can be away from device 10, and when the bending motion is completed, bending axis 58 can be close to device 10.

[0074] Display 14 may be an integral flexible display (e.g., a flexible organic light emitting diode panel or micro-LED display with a flexible substrate), or display 14 may have rigid portions and flexible portions, such as a Figure 8 The flexible substrate for display 14 may be stretchable if desired. The flexible portion of display 14 (e.g., portion 14F) may be aligned with bending axis 58 (which is at Figure 8 1 and 12 - 2 overlap (extending into the page in the example shown), thereby allowing display 14 to bend about bending axis 58 as housing portions 12 - 1 and 12 - 2 move toward each other in direction 80.

[0075] Fig. 9 A cross-sectional side view of an exemplary display such as a flexible display is shown in FIG. Fig. 9As shown, display 14 may have multiple layers stacked on top of each other. The layers of display 14 may be attached to each other using a coupling structure such as adhesive layer 84 (as an example). Adhesive layer 84 may be formed from a solid sheet of adhesive (e.g., a polymer adhesive) and / or may be formed from an adhesive that is patterned to form a grid, islands (e.g., adhesive columns), adhesive strips, etc.

[0076] Support backing layer 70 may be used to provide support for the layers of display 14. Layer 70 may be formed of a polymer, a metal (e.g., a flexible metal such as a spring metal), and / or other materials. For example, layer 82 may be a metal backing film that helps prevent wrinkles or other undesirable deformations from forming in display 14 when display 14 is bent. Layer 70 may be attached to the inner surface of display layer 14L via one of adhesive layers 84. Additional layer 72 may be coupled to the outer surface of display layer 14L via another of adhesive layers 84. Additional layer 72 may include, for example, a polarizer such as circular polarizer 88 to suppress ambient light reflections from display layer 14L and protective layer 90. One of adhesive layers 84 may be used to couple layers 90 and 88.

[0077] Layer 90 may be formed from a single glass layer (e.g., a glass layer having a thickness of 30-100 microns, at least 10 microns, at least 20 microns, at least 40 microns, at least 50 microns, at least 100 microns, at least 200 microns, at least 300 microns, less than 250 microns, less than 150 microns, less than 75 microns, less than 40 microns, less than 15 microns, or other sufficiently low values ​​to allow layer 90 to flex), a flexible polymer layer, a transparent layer formed from other materials, and / or a composite layer formed from multiple layers of materials. Fig.10 In the example of FIG. 8 , layer 90 is formed of an upper polymer layer (such as upper layer 94) and a lower glass layer (such as layer 92). Adhesive layer 84 may be used to couple layers 92 and 94 together. Fig.11 As shown in the exemplary top view of patterned adhesive layer 84 of , adhesive layer 84 can be patterned so that adhesive 84 appears only in isolated islands (columns) surrounded by gaps 96 filled with gas or liquid fluid 96 (e.g., adhesive columns can be separated by air gaps or gaps filled with other gases or liquids). The adhesive islands in patterned adhesive layer 84 can have lateral dimensions of 10-100 microns, greater than 20 microns, less than 500 microns, or other suitable sizes. Solid and / or patterned adhesive layer 84 can be soft to allow the layers of display 14 to shift relative to each other (exhibit shear motion) during display bending, thereby reducing stress. For example, the adhesive material used to form adhesive layer 84 can have a modulus of 10 kPa or less.

[0078] To help reduce stress accumulation and damage to display 14 during bending, one or more of the layers of display 14 may be attached using a structure that couples the layers to each other in the vertical (Z) dimension (layer-to-layer coupling) while allowing shear movement along a dimension perpendicular to bending axis 58 (e.g., along the Y dimension). Fig.12 and Fig.13 An exemplary structure that allows shear movement while coupling adjacent layers in display 14 to each other is shown in FIG. Fig.12 In the example of FIG. 1 , the display includes an upper layer 104 and a lower layer 106. Generally, layers 104 and 106 may include Fig. 9 Any layer of the type shown and / or other covering and / or supporting display layers. For example, layer 104 may include an organic light emitting diode panel, and layer 106 may include one or more supporting layers. Fig.12 As shown, layer 104 may be coupled to layer 100, and layer 106 may be coupled to layer 102. Layers 100 and 102 form a shear attachment layer (layer 98) that allows movement along the Y dimension when display 14 is bent about a bending axis extending parallel to the X dimension. Raised portions 100' of layer 100 may have a shape that engages with surrounding portions 102' of layer 102, thereby helping to retain layer 100 to layer 102 in the Z dimension. Layers 100 and 102 may be formed of a flexible polymer and may have a lubricant coating and / or may be formed of a slippery material (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene) to prevent layers 100 and 102 from sticking. If desired, other interlocking profiles may be used in the structure of layer 98 (e.g., layer 106 may have a raised portion in addition to or in lieu of providing raised portions 100' in layer 100). Fig.13 100" can be interlocked with an upward protrusion such as structure 102". The remainder of layer 98 can be filled with a fluid (liquid or gas) and / or a lubricant (e.g., oil, lubricating particles, etc.). If desired, a conductive material (e.g., a metal layer, etc.) can be used to form Fig.12 and Fig.13 The device 10 is a device that is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive. The device 10 is electrically conductive and electrically conductive.

[0079] To prevent excessive stress in display 14 when the device is folded, device 10 may be provided with a hinge structure that prevents kinks and other undesirable features from forming in display 14 when portions of device 10 are rotated about bend axis 58. Fig.14and Fig.15 As shown in Fig.14 As shown in the exemplary folding device 10BD of FIG. 5 , the device housing portion 12BD can be folded around the hinge axis 58BD to allow the display 14BD to be folded back onto itself on the outer surface of the device housing portion 12BD. However, when a device of this type is unfolded, there is a risk that the display 14BD may be deformed in the area 110 overlapping the hinge axis 58BD.

[0080] To avoid this problem, the folding device 10 may be provided with a hinge structure that does not apply excessive display stress during the folding and unfolding operations. For example, consider Fig.16 An exemplary device configuration of Fig.16 As shown, device 10 may have a first housing portion 12L and a second housing portion 12R. Portions 12L and 12R may form a first housing structure and a second housing structure (e.g., a left housing member and a corresponding right housing member, an upper housing half and a lower housing half, etc.), and may have a hollow interior that encloses a battery, control circuitry, input-output devices, and other device components, if desired. Hinge structure 12H may include a plurality of hinge couplings 112 and may be used to couple portions 12L and 12R together. Display 14 may be supported on an outer surface or an inner surface of housing portions 12L and 12R and may overlap bending axis 58. Fig.17 Hinge structure 12H is shown as how hinge structure 12H may support flexible display 14 and help prevent kinks and other undesirable wrinkle features from forming in display 14 when device 10 is folded about bend axis 58 .

[0081] To help reduce stress during folding and unfolding, hinge structure 12H may be constructed to ensure that stress is minimized within the thin film structure of display 14. Fig.18 As shown, for example, device 10 may be configured such that display 14 has an inner portion of display 14 (e.g., with Figure 7 The stress-reducing plane 114 (e.g., a plane of intermediate stress or a plane of approximately intermediate stress) is aligned with the pixel array 71B in the display layer 14L of the display 14L, or with other fragile display layers such as an encapsulation layer in the display layer 14L or a display cover layer for the display 14. Fig.18 The display 14 is as follows Fig.19 When bent about bend axis 58 as shown, upper portion 14TP of display 14 may experience tensile stress as indicated by arrow 116, and lower portion 14BP of display 14 may experience compressive stress as indicated by arrow 118. However, due to the positioning of stress-reducing plane 114 within pixel array 71B, layer 14L and pixel array 71B will experience a relatively small amount of stress during bending.

[0082] Fig. 20 An illustrative hinge structure that may be used in device 10 to help position stress-reducing plane 114 within display 14 (e.g., within display layer 14L and pixel array 71B) is shown in FIG. Fig. 20 In the example of , hinge structure 12H is a virtual pivoting roller hinge having hinge members that rotate relative to each other when device 10 is folded.

[0083] like Fig. 20 As shown, hinge structure 12H may have a series of connectors 120 coupled by corresponding rods 122. Rod 122 may have a portion extending below the connector, thereby keeping the rod in place. For example, rod BA has an upper portion above connector LA and a lower portion below connector LA. The column portion 126 of rod BA couples the upper and lower portions of rod BA together. Column portion 126 moves within the opening in connector LA. When display 14 is flat (for example, when device 10 is in its unfolded, unfolded state), column portion 126 does not contact the side of the opening. When display 14 and device 10 are bent around bending axis 58, the left side of column portion 126 may contact a stop surface such as stop surface 124, thereby preventing further bending of 124L, and the right side of column portion 126 may contact right stop surface 124R. Stop surface 128 of connector LA and stop surface 130 of the lower portion of rod BA may also contact each other. When the stop surfaces contact each other in this manner, additional bending is prevented (eg, preventing the hinge structure 12H from bending too far forward and preventing it from bending backward).

[0084] The curved lower surface of the upper portion of the rod 122, such as the lower rod bearing surface 132, has a profile (arc profile) that forms a portion of a circle and bears against an opposite upwardly curved surface of the connector 120 (see, for example, the opposite circularly curved upper connector bearing surface 134). The lower rod bearing surface 136 also has a circular curved shape and bears against an opposite curved lower bearing surface 138 of the connector A. The arc formed by the cross-sectional profiles of these bearing surfaces allows the connector 120 and the rod 122 to rotate relative to each other about a pivot point (such as the exemplary pivot point 140 of the connector LA and the associated rod BA). Specifically, when the connector LA moves in the direction 150 relative to the rod BA, the curved shape of the bearing surfaces allows the connector LA to rotate about a rotation axis aligned with the pivot point 140. During rotation, the connector LA is not blocked by the connector LB, which is located Fig. 20 ) outside the page (e.g., outside the plane relative to the connector LA).

[0085] Pivot points such as pivot point 140 may sometimes be referred to as virtual pivot points because they are not located within the body of rod 122 (as would be the case if link 120 formed a chain link and rod 122 was formed from a solid rod forming an axis for the chain link). This allows pivot points such as pivot point 140 and associated stress-reduced plane 114 to be located within display 14 (e.g., within layer 14L and aligned with pixel 71B or other fragile display layer or otherwise stress-sensitive display layer, such as in conjunction with Fig.18 and Fig.19 By positioning pivot point 140 and stress-reducing plane 114 in alignment with pixel 71B or other fragile display layer in display 14, stress on pixel 71B or other fragile display layer may be reduced.

[0086] like Fig. 20 As shown, display 14 may rest on upper surface 142 of coupling 120 and upper surface of rod 122. Surface 144 (and, if desired, surface 142) may have a curved (e.g., slightly convex) cross-sectional profile so that display 14 is smoothly and evenly supported when display 14 is in its curved configuration.

[0087] Fig.21 , Fig. 22 and Fig.23 Perspective views of hinge structure 12H in an unbent configuration, a partially bent configuration, and a fully bent configuration, respectively. Fig.21 , Fig. 22 and Fig.23 The display 14 is not shown in the figure to allow the hinge structure 12H to be observed. Fig.21 As shown, the rod 122 has an elongated shape extending parallel to the bending axis 58. Fig.21 In the example of FIG. 1 , the hinge structure 12H has four rods 122. If desired, a hinge structure with fewer rods 122 or more rods 122 may be used. Fig.21 As shown, the portions CP (eg, link structures) of the hinge structures 12H that couple adjacent hinge structures may be staggered relative to each other. Fig.21 The two connecting parts CP of the first rod and the second rod, the coupling Fig.21 The three offset connecting parts CP of the second rod and the third rod, etc.

[0088] Fig.24, which shows how housing portions 12-1 and 12-2 may be joined using a flexible hinge structure 12H. To prevent undesirable stress on display 14, it may be desirable to synchronize the movement of one half of housing 12 with the other half. For example, it may be desirable to construct hinge structure 12H so that movement of first housing portion 12-1 through angle A will cause second housing portion 12-2 to move through an equal angle A, such as Fig.24 shown.

[0089] One way to synchronize the movement of housings 12-1 and 12-2 is to provide meshing gears in components of hinge structure 12H. Fig.25 In the example of , the hinge structure 12H includes chain-type linking members 152 having gear teeth at opposite ends. Each member 152 has a pair of associated pins 154 that help hold two other chain-type linking members together. With this arrangement, movement of a chain-type linking member on one end of the chain-type hinge structure 12H will result in synchronous movement of the chain-type linking member at the opposite end of the chain-type hinge structure 12H.

[0090] For example, consider a situation where the position of member LM2 remains fixed and the top end TP of member LM4 moves in direction 156. The gear tooth TH1 of member LM4 engages the gear tooth TH2 of member LM2, so the movement of member LM4 in direction 156 causes the angle AN between LM2 and LM4 to decrease. This causes the position of pin PP1 to move in direction 158 to the position shown by pin PP2. As a result of this movement, member LM3 rotates in direction 160. The tooth TH3 of member LM3 engages the tooth TH4 of member LM1, so the rotation of member LM3 in direction 160 causes member LM1 to rotate in direction 162. As shown in this example, the counterclockwise rotation of member LM4 in direction 156 produces a corresponding synchronized clockwise rotation of member LM1. Synchronizing the behavior of couplings 152 in this manner helps to constrain the relative motion of each coupling to the next coupling and ensure that display 14 bends smoothly and evenly during folding. If desired, Fig.25 Gear engagement structures of the type shown in can be used with hinged joints such as Fig. 20 The connecting piece 120 is used together.

[0091] It may also be desirable to make the hinge structure such as Fig. 20 The movement of the rod 122 is synchronized. Using an exemplary arrangement, the belt structure such as Fig.26Belts B1 and B2 may be used to synchronize the rotation of bars such as bars BA and BB. Rollers (pulleys, etc.) such as roller R1 may be used to guide belts B1 and B2 to opposite edges of bars BA and BB. With this arrangement, for example, rotation of bar BA in direction 166 will cause edge 168 of bar BA to move upward in direction 170, thereby pulling belt B1 upward. Roller R1 causes portion 172 of belt B1 to pull downward in direction 174 on edge 176 of bar BB, thereby rotating bar BB in direction 178. Belt B2 may similarly be used to synchronize the rotation of bars BA and BB as bar BA rotates in direction 180.

[0092] In some configurations, friction can be created between portions of the hinge structure 12H (e.g., to control the amount of force used to open and close the hinge structure 12H). Fig. 27 As shown, rod B' may have a cavity, such as cavity 182. A biasing member 184 (e.g., compressible foam, spring, etc.) may push friction member 186 upward against a lower surface 188 of link L', thereby applying friction between link L' and rod B' (e.g., member 184) when hinge structure 12H is folded. Fig.28 1 shows how a stopper structure may be formed between moving components (e.g., rods and links) in a hinge structure 12H. Fig.28 In the example of , member 190 (e.g., a coupling) has a protrusion 192 that engages with a recess 194 in member 196 (e.g., a rod). When sufficient rotational force is applied, protrusion 192 will disengage recess 194 (overcoming biasing pressure 198 from hinge structure 200), thereby allowing member 190 to rotate relative to member 196.

[0093] If desired, spring metal sheets or other flexible material sheets may be used to control the movement of housing structures 12-1 and 12-2 and the curvature of device 10 in the curved portion of display 14. As an example, consider Fig.29 Device 10. Fig.29 As shown, device 10 may include first housing portion 12-1 and second housing portion 12-2. Hinge structure 12H may be used to couple portions 12-1 and 12-2 to enable folding motion about bending axis 58 (e.g., so that device 10 can be placed in a position such as Fig.30 , Fig.31 and Fig.3214). Flexible sheet 202 (e.g., a sheet of resilient metal or other flexible material (such as a flexible polymer), a flexible sheet of other material, and / or a stack of laminated sheets of one or more materials, etc.) can overlap hinge structure 12H and, if desired, can overlap some or all of housing portions 12-1 and 12-2. When device 10 is bent about bending axis 58, flexible sheet 202 will bend about axis 58 while resisting sharp kinks or other features that might cause display 14 to wrinkle. Sheet 202 can serve as backing layer 70 ( Figure 7 ) or may be used as an additional supporting layer for display 14.

[0094] To facilitate folding and unfolding (e.g., to prevent excessive stress in the folded or unfolded state), some or all of sheet 202 may be prestressed. For example, sheet 202 or portions of sheet 202 may be prestressed to help overcome the spring force of a flexible display attempting to open device 10 (e.g., to make the device easier to close). If desired, sheet 202 may be used to help enforce a constant curvature in display 14 as display 14 is bent. The incorporation of sheet 202 may also help synchronize the movement of the couplings in hinge 12H. Fig.33 It is shown how openings 202H may be formed at one or more locations in the sheet 202, such as locations overlapping the bending axis 58. By including the openings 202H, the flexibility of the sheet 202 may be enhanced.

[0095] In some configurations, the device 10 may have a movable hinge pin support member, such as a sliding hinge pin support plate. Fig.34 A side view of an exemplary hinge pin support plate is shown in FIG. Fig.34 As shown, the hinge pin support plate 204 may have a planar portion 204F and a protruding portion 204P. The hinge pin 206 may be supported in a hole in the protruding portion 204P.

[0096] Fig.35 2 is a side view of an exemplary folding device including a sliding hinge pin support plate 204. Fig.35 As shown, hinge pin support plate 204 can be coupled to housing portion 12-1 and can slide relative to housing 12 when device 10 is folded and unfolded. Specifically, when device 10 is folded in direction 210, housing portion 12-1 can move in direction 208. This causes hinge pin support plate 204 to move to position 204' along direction 208. As a result, hinge pin 206 moves to position 206'. The dynamic movement of the position of hinge pin 206 during folding helps ensure that the structure of housing portion 12-1 can smoothly wrap around curved surface 212 of portion 12-1, thereby helping to smoothly bend display 14.

[0097] Fig.36 It is shown in Fig.35 A perspective view of an exemplary device 10 is shown. Fig.36 In the arrangement of FIG. 1 , the device 10 is in a partially folded state. Fig.36 As shown, the outer surfaces of the housing portions 12-1 and 12-2 may be covered with a flexible display 14 (and, if desired, may include a flexible support structure such as Fig.29 Flexible sheet 202).

[0098] Housing portion 12-2 is configured to accommodate the opposite ends of hinge pin 206 so that housing portion 12-1 rotates relative to housing portion 12-2 about hinge axis 58. During folding of device 10, portion 12-1 moves in direction 210, which causes hinge pin support plate 204 to move along direction 208 within a track formed from a portion of portion 12-1 that overlaps a protruding lip portion (such as lip 204L) of plate 208. Connector 212 is joined to an adjacent connector 212 in the hinge structure of device 10 using a coupling joint 214 so that connector 212 forms a bendable hinge structure. Connector 212 has a protruding portion, such as protrusion 212P that overlaps lip 204L, thereby preventing plate 204 and connector 212 from separating. The surface of connector 212 facing display 14 can be attached to display 14 (and / or can be attached to an associated support structure, such as flexible sheet 202). Fig.37 It is shown how the connector 212 smoothly wraps around the surface 218 of the housing portion 12-2 during folding of the housing portions 12-1 and 12-2 together due to the sliding movement of the plate 204 and the hinge pin 206, which surrounds (at least partially surrounds) the hinge pin 206. Fig.36 The configuration can be used to align the bending axis 58 with the display 14, thereby helping to place a stress-reduced plane (e.g., a plane of middle stress or a plane approximately middle stress) within the display 14 (e.g., within a stress-sensitive portion of the display 14, such as a thin-film pixel structure layer, an encapsulation layer formed of a brittle dielectric material, a glass layer or other stress-sensitive layer used as a display cover layer, etc.).

[0099] Device 10 may operate in a system that uses personally identifiable information. As is well known, the use of personally identifiable information should be subject to privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized to meet or exceed industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. Specifically, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly stated to the user.

[0100] According to one embodiment, a foldable electronic device is provided, which includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled by a hinge structure, the hinge structure including a first member and a second member respectively constructed to rotate relative to each other around respective pivot points; and a flexible display overlapping the first housing portion, the hinge structure and the second housing portion, the pivot point being located within the flexible display.

[0101] According to another embodiment, a flexible display includes an organic light emitting diode display having a pixel layer, and the pivot point defines a stress-reduced plane within the flexible display.

[0102] According to another embodiment, a foldable electronic device is provided that includes a flexible metal sheet between a flexible display and a hinge structure.

[0103] According to another embodiment, the first member and the second member include a coupling and a rod, respectively, having a stop surface.

[0104] According to another embodiment, the first members include gear teeth configured to synchronize movement between the first members.

[0105] According to another embodiment, the hinge structure includes a belt configured to synchronize movement between the second members.

[0106] According to another embodiment, the first member and the second member have respective curved load-bearing surfaces.

[0107] According to another embodiment, the first member has a convex surface facing the flexible display.

[0108] According to one embodiment, a foldable electronic device is provided, which includes: a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled at a hinge structure, the hinge structure including a sliding hinge pin support plate, which is constructed to slide relative to the first housing portion when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are folded together; and a flexible display overlapping the first housing portion, the hinge structure, and the second housing portion.

[0109] According to another embodiment, the second portion is configured to receive a hinge pin supported by a sliding hinge pin support plate, and when the first portion and the second portion are folded together, sliding movement of the sliding hinge pin support plate moves the hinge pin relative to the first housing portion.

[0110] According to another embodiment, the first housing portion has a curved surface surrounding the hinge pin, and the hinge structure further includes a coupling member configured to wrap around the curved surface when the foldable electronic device is folded.

[0111] According to another embodiment, the sliding hinge pin support plate has a lip configured to slide within a track formed from the first housing portion.

[0112] According to another embodiment, the coupling has a protrusion overlapping the lip.

[0113] According to one embodiment, a foldable electronic device is provided, which includes: a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled at a hinge structure, the hinge structure including a plurality of connectors and a plurality of rods, the connectors and the rods having relative curved bearing surfaces, and the rods having a convex outer surface; and a flexible display overlapping the first housing portion, the convex outer surface of the rods in the hinge structure, and the second housing portion.

[0114] According to another embodiment, each link is configured to rotate relative to an associated one of the rods about a pivot point, and the pivot point defines a stress-reducing plane within the flexible display.

[0115] According to another embodiment, a flexible display includes an array of organic light emitting diode pixels, and the stress-reduced plane is located within the flexible display.

[0116] According to another embodiment, each rod has a stop surface and each coupling has an opposing stop surface.

[0117] According to another embodiment, when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are folded together, the display folds outwardly, and a bent portion of the display is supported on an outwardly facing surface of the hinge structure.

[0118] According to another embodiment, each rod has a first portion and a second portion joined by a post, and each coupling has an opening through which the post projects.

[0119] According to another embodiment, the cylindrical portion has a stop surface configured to contact a corresponding side surface of the opening to prevent bending of the hinge structure when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are folded together.

[0120] The foregoing is exemplary and various modifications may be made to the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, comprising: a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled with a hinge structure, wherein the hinge structure includes a chain link member coupled at gear teeth, the gear teeth being configured to move synchronously between the chain link members; as well as A flexible display overlaps the first housing portion, the hinge structure, and the second housing portion.

2. A foldable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible display comprises an organic light emitting diode display having a pixel layer, and wherein the chain link members are configured to rotate relative to each other about a pivot point, wherein the pivot point defines a stress-reduced plane located within the flexible display.

3. The foldable electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising a flexible metal sheet between the flexible display and the hinge structure. 4 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge structure further comprises a pin coupling the chain link member. 5 . The foldable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein each of the pins is configured to hold two of the chain link members together. 6 . The foldable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the chain link member is configured to rotate about the pin.

7. A foldable electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the hinge structure has a first end and an opposite second end, a first chain link member of the chain link members is located at the first end, and a second chain link member of the chain link members is located at the second end.

8. The foldable electronic device of claim 7, wherein movement of the first of the chain link members in a first direction is configured to cause the second of the chain link members to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

9. The foldable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counterclockwise.

10. The foldable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the first direction is counterclockwise and the second direction is clockwise.

11. A foldable electronic device, comprising: a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled by a hinge structure, wherein the hinge structure includes a chain link member coupled at a gear tooth and a pin coupling the chain link member, the hinge structure having a first end and an opposite second end, a first of the chain link members being at the first end, a second of the chain link members being at the second end, and movement of the first of the chain link members in a first direction is configured to cause synchronous movement of the second of the chain link members in a second direction opposite to the first direction; as well as A flexible display overlaps the first housing portion, the hinge structure, and the second housing portion, the housing and the flexible display being movable between an unfolded state and a folded state.

12. The foldable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the flexible display is configured to bend smoothly and evenly when moving between the unfolded state and the folded state.

13. The foldable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the chain link members are configured to rotate relative to each other about respective pivot points located within the flexible display.

14. The foldable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the pivot point defines a plane of stress located midway within the flexible display.

15. A foldable electronic device, comprising: a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled with a hinge structure, wherein the hinge structure includes first and second members respectively configured to rotate relative to each other about respective pivot points, and wherein the hinge structure includes a belt configured to synchronize movement between the second members; as well as A flexible display overlaps the first housing portion, the hinge structure, and the second housing portion, wherein the pivot point is located within the flexible display.

16. A foldable electronic device, comprising: a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled at a hinge structure, wherein the hinge structure includes a sliding hinge pin support plate configured to slide relative to the first housing portion when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are folded together; as well as A flexible display overlaps the first housing portion, the hinge structure, and the second housing portion.

17. A foldable electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the second housing portion is configured to accommodate a hinge pin supported by the sliding hinge pin support plate, and wherein when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are folded together, sliding movement of the sliding hinge pin support plate causes the hinge pin to move relative to the first housing portion.

18. A foldable electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the first housing portion has a curved surface surrounding the hinge pin, and wherein the hinge structure further comprises a connector configured to wrap around the curved surface when the foldable electronic device is folded.

19. The foldable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the sliding hinge pin support plate has a lip configured to slide within a track formed from the first housing portion.

20. The foldable electronic device according to claim 19, wherein the coupling member has a protrusion overlapping the lip.

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