Waterdrop-type hinge module for foldable laptop, and foldable laptop using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a waterdrop-type hinge module for a foldable laptop, and a foldable laptop using same, and, specifically, to a waterdrop-type hinge module for a foldable laptop, and a foldable laptop using same, the module having a folded portion of a flexible display that is folded into a waterdrop shape when an unfolded foldable laptop is folded, thereby preventing the flexible display from being damaged. In the foldable laptop of the present invention, one swing bar and a swing plate rotate more than 90 degrees in a horizontal state while rotating together at the same angle, a slide block slides by being pulled out from a slide lever while rotating together with the swing plate, and the slide lever and the slide block rotate at an angle smaller than that of the swing bar and the swing plate so that, in a state in which the laptop is closed, the swing plate forms the folded portion of the flexible display of the laptop into a waterdrop shape with a narrow top and wide bottom.

Description

Waterdrop-type hinge module for foldable laptops and foldable laptops using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop and a foldable laptop using the same, and more particularly, to a water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop and a foldable laptop using the same, which prevents the flexible display from being damaged by forming the folding portion of the flexible display in a water drop shape when the unfolded foldable laptop is folded.

[0002] In general, a flexible display panel is a display panel that can be bent to a certain curvature.

[0003] Since these flexible display panels use plastic substrates rather than the commonly used glass substrates, they primarily use low-temperature manufacturing processes rather than conventional manufacturing processes to prevent damage to the substrate.

[0004] These flexible display panels are being manufactured as touchscreens capable of, for example, capacitive or pressure-sensitive touch inputs, so that they can receive user commands by touch.

[0005] Meanwhile, conventional portable foldable display devices, i.e., foldable laptops, have flexible display panels that can be input via touch as described above.

[0006] In a conventional foldable laptop like this, a pair of bodies supporting a flexible display panel are hinged together to form a predetermined space where the folded portion of the flexible display panel can be bent into a curved shape.

[0007] Various hinge modules for opening and closing flexible displays like the one above are currently being developed.

[0008] However, most hinge modules have a complex structure, a large number of parts, are thick at the folded part, and have a large gap at the folded part when the flexible display is folded, which poses a risk of foreign substances entering the part and damage due to impact.

[0009] In particular, the foldable center of the flexible display must form a teardrop shape with a narrow top and a wide bottom to prevent damage and concentration of load when folded, but conventional hinge modules have had limitations in perfectly implementing this shape.

[0010] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a teardrop-type hinge module for a foldable laptop, which can stably fold a center portion of a flexible display into a teardrop shape when the foldable laptop is folded using a relatively simple structure and a small number of parts, and a foldable laptop using the same.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop, comprising: a base body; a pair of swing bars arranged on both sides of the base body, one end of which is rotatably connected to the base body in an up-and-down direction; a swing plate fixedly connected to the other end of the swing bars and configured to deform a flexible display of the laptop; a slide lever having one end rotatably connected to the base body in an up-and-down direction; a synchronization member connecting a pair of the slide levers spaced apart from each other to synchronize rotational motion; A laptop is characterized in that it comprises a slide block having an upper end rotatably hinged to the swing plate and having a slide lever slidably coupled therein, wherein when the laptop is closed, one of the swing bar and the swing plate rotates together at the same angle and rotates more than 90 degrees from a horizontal state, and the slide block is pulled out from the slide lever and slides while rotating together with the swing plate, and the slide lever is rotated with respect to the base body by the rotation of the slide block, and the slide block rotates less than the hinged swing plate, and the slide lever and the slide block rotate at a smaller angle than the swing bar and the swing plate, so that when the laptop is closed, the swing plate forms a folding portion of the flexible display of the laptop in a teardrop shape having a narrow upper portion and a wide lower portion.

[0012] It further comprises a first plate spring that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of one end of a pair of mutually spaced swing bars, wherein the outer peripheral surface of one end of the swing bar is formed in an arc shape and a first insertion groove and a second insertion groove that are mutually spaced are formed, and a semi-cylindrical cam protrusion is formed at each end of the first plate spring, and when the cam protrusion is positioned adjacent to the first insertion groove or the second insertion groove by the rotation of the swing bar, the cam protrusion is inserted into the first insertion groove or the second insertion groove by the elastic force of the cam protrusion, thereby adding torque so that the swing bar rotates further.

[0013] A first shaft having a cylindrical shape rotatably mounted on the base body is formed at one end of the slide lever, and a second plate spring in contact with the outer surfaces of a pair of the first shafts that are spaced apart from each other; wherein a first stop surface and a second stop surface are chamfered and formed on the outer surface of the first shaft, and an arc-shaped shaft curved surface portion in contact with the second plate spring is formed between the first stop surface and the second stop surface that are spaced apart from each other, and the first stop surface and the second stop surface are arranged at an angle of less than 90 degrees to each other, and when the laptop is unfolded in a horizontal direction, the first stop surface and the second plate spring are arranged to face each other in a spaced-apart state, and the second plate spring applies a torque to the slide lever in the rotational direction in which the laptop is unfolded, and when the laptop is folded, the second stop surface and the second plate spring are arranged to face each other in a spaced-apart state, and the The second plate spring applies torque to the slide lever in the rotational direction in which the laptop is folded.

[0014] It further comprises a third plate spring connecting the first shafts that are spaced apart from each other, wherein both ends of the third plate spring surround the outer surface of the first shafts arranged on both sides to generate frictional force with the outer surface of the first shaft, and the slide lever is maintained in a state of being rotated at a certain angle by the frictional force.

[0015]

[0016] In addition, in order to achieve the above purpose, the foldable laptop of the present invention comprises a first body, a second body, a hinge module connecting the first body and the second body, and a flexible display, wherein the hinge module is formed of the above-described hinge module, and the first body and the second body are fixedly connected to slide blocks on both sides constituting the hinge module, respectively.

[0017] According to the water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop of the present invention as described above and the foldable laptop using the same, the following effects are achieved.

[0018] The present invention can fold a foldable laptop so that the center of the flexible display folds stably to form a water drop shape when the foldable laptop is folded.

[0019] In particular, the foldable center of the flexible display perfectly forms a water droplet shape, thereby preventing the flexible display from being broken or subjected to a large load when folded, thereby improving durability.

[0020] In addition, the structure of the hinge module is relatively simple and consists of a small number of parts, which can improve productivity, assembly, and workability.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a one-way perspective view of a hinge module for a foldable laptop according to an embodiment of the present invention in an unfolded state;

[0022] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hinge module for a foldable laptop according to an embodiment of the present invention in an unfolded state.

[0023] Figure 3 is a one-way exploded perspective view of a hinge module for a foldable laptop according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the upper body of the base body in Figure 1 with the body removed.

[0025] Figure 5 is an assembly drawing of a swing bar and a first plate spring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 is an assembly drawing of a slide lever and a second plate spring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the slider in Figure 6.

[0028] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a slide lever according to an embodiment of the present invention rotated 45 degrees.

[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hinge module for a foldable laptop according to an embodiment of the present invention rotated by about 45 degrees;

[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hinge module for a foldable laptop according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed state;

[0031] FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the unfolding process of a hinge module for a foldable laptop according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of a laptop equipped with a hinge module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a laptop equipped with a hinge module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The water drop type hinge module (130) for a foldable laptop of the present invention comprises a base body (10), a swing bar (20), a swing plate (30), a slide lever (40), a synchronization member (50), a slide block (60), etc., as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0035] The above base body (10) is formed in the shape of a long rod.

[0036] In this embodiment, the base body (10) is composed of an upper body (11) and a lower body (12) that are laminated and joined to each other.

[0037] If the above base body (10) is long, it is preferable to manufacture it by separating it into several pieces as shown in the drawing of this embodiment and then joining them together.

[0038] The above swing bars (20) are formed as a pair and are spaced apart from each other on both sides of the base body (10).

[0039] The above swing bar (20) is connected to the base body (10) so that one end can rotate up and down.

[0040] Specifically, one end of the swing bar (20) is inserted and placed between the upper body (11) and the lower body (12).

[0041] The above swing plate (30) is fixedly connected to the other end of the swing bar (20) and rotates together when the swing bar (20) rotates.

[0042] A flexible display (140) of a laptop is placed on the upper surface of the above swing plate (30).

[0043] This swing plate (30) transforms the folding portion of the laptop's flexible display (140) into a teardrop shape with a narrow upper portion and a wide lower portion when the laptop is closed.

[0044] The above slide levers (40) are arranged spaced apart from each other on both sides of the base body (10) and are formed as a pair.

[0045] The above slide lever (40) is connected to the base body (10) so that one end can rotate up and down.

[0046] Specifically, one end of the slide lever (40) is inserted and placed between the upper body (11) and the lower body (12).

[0047] The above-mentioned synchronization member (50) connects a pair of the above-mentioned slide levers (40) that are spaced apart from each other to synchronize the rotational movement.

[0048] Specifically, a cylindrical first shaft (41) that is rotatably mounted on the base body (10) is formed at one end of the slide lever (40), as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 to 8.

[0049] A first gear (42) is formed on the outer surface of the first shaft (41).

[0050] The above-mentioned synchronization member (50) is composed of a second gear that connects the first gear (42) formed on the first shaft (41) to each other.

[0051] By this structure, when one swing bar (20) rotates, the remaining swing bars (20) also rotate in synchronization by the first gear (42) and the synchronization member (50), and a pair of swing bars (20) rotate in a direction that brings them closer to each other or moves them away from each other.

[0052] The upper part of the above slide block (60) is hinged so as to be rotatable to the swing plate (30), and the slide lever (40) is slidably connected therein.

[0053] Figure 6 clearly shows the structure in which the slide block (60) is slidably mounted on the slide lever (40).

[0054] The first rotation center point of one end of the above swing bar (20) is located above the second rotation center point of one end of the above slide lever (40).

[0055] And, the second rotation center point of one end of the slide lever (40) is located further away from the center of the base body (10) than the first rotation center point of one end of the swing bar (20).

[0056] By the above configuration and structure, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, when the hinge module (130) and the laptop are closed in the unfolded state, that is, when the swing plates (30) on both sides rotate in a direction in which they come closer to each other, one of the swing bars (20) and the swing plate (30) rotates together at the same angle and rotates more than 90 degrees from the horizontal state.

[0057] And, the slide block (60) hinged to the swing plate (30) rotates together with the swing plate (30) and is pulled out from the slide lever (40) and slides, and the slide lever (40) rotates with respect to the base body (10) by the rotation of the slide block (60).

[0058] At this time, the slide block (60) rotates less than the hinge-coupled swing plate (30).

[0059] The above slide lever (40) and slide block (60) rotate at a smaller angle than the above swing bar (20) and swing plate (30).

[0060] That is, as shown in Fig. 11, when the laptop is closed, one of the swing bars (20) and the swing plate (30) rotates more than 90 degrees from the horizontal state, and the rotating slide lever (40) comes into contact with a stopper formed on the base body (10) and stops rotating, and the slide lever (40) and the slide block (60) rotate at a smaller angle than the swing bar (20) and the swing plate (30).

[0061] Preferably, when the laptop is closed from the unfolded state, the swing bar (20) and the swing plate (30) rotate 100 degrees, and the slide lever (40) and the slide block (60) rotate 90 degrees.

[0062] By the above configuration and operation, as shown in Fig. 13 when the laptop is closed, the swing plate (30) can form the folding portion of the flexible display (140) of the laptop into a teardrop shape with a narrow upper portion and a wide lower portion.

[0063] The present invention can be further comprised of a first plate spring (70), a second plate spring (80), a third plate spring (90), etc.

[0064] The first plate spring (70) is mounted on the base body (10) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and comes into contact with one outer surface of one end of a pair of mutually spaced swing bars (20).

[0065] That is, the first plate spring (70) contacts one end of each of the pair of swing bars (20) arranged with their ends spaced apart from each other.

[0066] One end of the outer surface of the above swing bar (20) is formed in an arc shape, and a first insertion groove (21) and a second insertion groove (22) are formed that are spaced apart from each other.

[0067] In addition, a semi-cylindrical cam protrusion (71) is formed at each end of the first plate spring (70).

[0068] When the cam protrusion (71) is positioned adjacent to the first insertion groove (21) or the second insertion groove (22) by the rotation of the swing bar (20), the cam protrusion (71) is inserted into the first insertion groove (21) or the second insertion groove (22) by the elastic force of the cam protrusion (71), thereby adding torque so that the swing bar (20) rotates further.

[0069] More specifically, when the laptop is unfolded horizontally, the cam protrusion (71) is inserted into the first insertion groove (21), and when the laptop is folded and closed, the cam protrusion (71) is inserted into the second insertion groove (22).

[0070] By the above configuration, when the cam protrusion (71) is positioned adjacent to the first insertion groove (21), the cam protrusion (71) is inserted into the first insertion groove (21) by the elastic force of the first plate spring (70), thereby rotating the swing bar (20) and applying torque in the direction of opening to the laptop.

[0071] And, when the cam protrusion (71) is positioned adjacent to the second insertion groove (22), the cam protrusion (71) is inserted into the second insertion groove (22) by the elastic force of the first plate spring (70) and rotates the swing bar (20) to apply torque in the closing direction to the laptop.

[0072] Due to this, the laptop can be opened or closed more quickly and strongly due to the preload applied by the first plate spring (70) during the unfolding or closing process.

[0073] The second plate spring (80) is arranged at the lower portion of the first shaft (41) formed at one end of a pair of mutually spaced slide levers (40), as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 to 8.

[0074] The above second plate spring (80) is in contact with the outer surface of the above first shaft (41).

[0075] As shown in Fig. 7, a first stop surface (43) and a second stop surface (44) are formed by chamfering on the outer surface of the first shaft (41).

[0076] Between the first stopping surface (43) and the second stopping surface (44) which are spaced apart from each other, an arc-shaped shaft curved surface (45) that comes into contact with the second plate spring (80) is formed.

[0077] And, the first stopping surface (43) and the second stopping surface (44) are arranged at an angle of less than 90 degrees to each other.

[0078] When the laptop is deployed horizontally, the first stop surface (43) and the second plate spring (80) are positioned facing each other in a spaced-apart manner, and the second plate spring (80) applies torque to the slide lever (40) in the rotational direction in which the laptop is deployed.

[0079] And, when the laptop is folded, the second stop surface (44) and the second plate spring (80) are placed facing each other in a spaced-apart state, and the second plate spring (80) applies torque to the slide lever (40) in the rotational direction in which the laptop is folded.

[0080] Due to this, the laptop can be opened or closed more quickly and strongly due to the preload applied by the second plate spring (80) during the unfolding or closing process.

[0081] The third plate spring (90) connects the first shafts (41) that are spaced apart from each other, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 8.

[0082] The two ends of the third plate spring (90) are mounted so as to surround the outer surface of the first shaft (41) arranged on both sides and generate frictional force with the outer surface of the first shaft (41).

[0083] By the frictional force between the two ends of the third plate spring (90) and the outer surface of the first shaft (41), a free stop can be easily implemented so that the slide lever (40) remains rotated at a certain angle when the first shaft (41) rotates.

[0084]

[0085] Meanwhile, the foldable laptop of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13, comprises a first body (110), a second body (120), a hinge module (130) connecting the first body (110) and the second body (120), and a flexible display (140).

[0086] The above hinge module (130) is composed of the hinge module of the present invention described above.

[0087] The first body (110) and the second body (120) are each fixedly connected to the slide blocks (60) on both sides that constitute the hinge module (130).

[0088] When the first body (110) and second body (120) are rotated in opposite directions and the laptop is unfolded, the flexible display (140) unfolds flat.

[0089] In this state, when the first body (110) and the second body (120) are rotated in a direction that brings them closer together so that the laptop is closed, the swing bar (20) and the swing plate (30) are rotated 100 degrees as described above, and the slide lever (40) and the slide block (60) are rotated 90 degrees, so that the first body (110) and the second body (120) coupled to the slide block (60) are also rotated 90 degrees.

[0090] Due to this, the swing plate (30) rotates to form the center of the flexible display (140), i.e. the folding part, into a teardrop shape with a narrow upper part and a wide lower part, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0091] The present invention can be applied to notebook computers, laptop computers, tablet PCs, etc.

[0092]

[0093] The water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop and the foldable laptop using the same according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented by making various modifications within the scope permitted by the technical concept of the present invention.

[0094] The present invention can be applied to a hinge module for a foldable laptop and a foldable laptop, and thus has industrial applicability.

Claims

1. Base body and; A pair of swing bars arranged on both sides of the base body and having one end rotatably connected to the base body in the up-and-down direction; A swing plate fixedly connected to the other end of the above swing bar and configured to deform the flexible display of the laptop; First, a slide lever is connected to the base body so as to be rotatable in the up-and-down direction; A synchronizing member for synchronizing the rotational motion of a pair of the above-mentioned slide levers by connecting them to each other; It comprises a slide block, the upper part of which is rotatably hinged to the swing plate and the slide lever is slidably coupled therein; When the laptop is closed, One of the above swing bars and the swing plate rotate together at the same angle and rotate more than 90 degrees from the horizontal, The above slide block is pulled out from the slide lever and slides while rotating together with the swing plate, and the slide lever is rotated with respect to the base body by the rotation of the slide block, and the slide block rotates less than the hinge-coupled swing plate. The above slide lever and slide block are rotated at a smaller angle than the above swing bar and swing plate. A water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop, characterized in that when the laptop is closed, the swing plate forms the folding part of the flexible display of the laptop in a water drop shape with a narrow upper part and a wide lower part.

2. In claim 1, It further comprises a first plate spring contacting one outer surface of one end of a pair of mutually spaced above swing bars; The outer surface of the above swing bar is formed in an arc shape, and a first insertion groove and a second insertion groove are formed that are spaced apart from each other. A semi-cylindrical cam protrusion is formed at each end of the first plate spring. A water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop, characterized in that when the cam protrusion is positioned adjacent to the first insertion groove or the second insertion groove by the rotation of the swing bar, the cam protrusion is inserted into the first insertion groove or the second insertion groove by the elasticity of the cam protrusion, thereby adding torque to further rotate the swing bar.

3. In claim 1, A first shaft having a cylindrical shape and rotatably mounted on the base body is formed at one end of the above slide lever, It further comprises a second plate spring in contact with the outer surface of a pair of the first shafts spaced apart from each other; On the outer surface of the first shaft, a first stop surface and a second stop surface are formed by chamfering, Between the first and second stop surfaces, which are spaced apart from each other, an arc-shaped shaft curved surface that comes into contact with the second plate spring is formed. The first and second stopping surfaces are positioned at an angle of less than 90 degrees to each other, In a state where the laptop is deployed horizontally, the first stop surface and the second plate spring are positioned facing each other in a spaced state, and the second plate spring applies torque to the slide lever in the rotational direction in which the laptop is deployed. A water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop, characterized in that when the laptop is folded, the second stop surface and the second plate spring are arranged to face each other in a spaced apart state, and the second plate spring applies torque to the slide lever in the rotational direction in which the laptop is folded.

4. In claim 3, It further comprises a third plate spring connecting the first shafts which are spaced apart from each other; A water drop type hinge module for a foldable laptop, characterized in that the two ends of the third plate spring wrap around the outer surface of the first shaft arranged on both sides to generate frictional force with the outer surface of the first shaft, and the slide lever is maintained in a state of being rotated at a certain angle by the frictional force.

5. A foldable laptop comprising a first body, a second body, a hinge module connecting the first body and the second body, and a flexible display. The above hinge module is composed of a hinge module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A foldable laptop, characterized in that the first body and the second body are each fixedly connected to the slide blocks on both sides constituting the hinge module.

Images