ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH FLEXIBLE DISPLAYS

• US 20120242592A1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Myers, Scott A., Lynch, Stephen Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,816,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays and internal components. An internal component may be positioned under the flexible display. The internal component may be an output device such as a speaker that transmits sound through the flexible display or an actuator that deforms the display in a way that is sensed by a user. The internal component may also be a microphone or pressure sensor that receives sound or pressure information through the flexible display. Structural components may be used to permanently or temporarily deform the flexible display to provide tactile feedback to a user of the device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a flexible display; and

an internal component, wherein the flexible display may be deformed by an action external to the device, and wherein deformation of the flexible display creates a response from the internal component.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible display comprises:

a flexible display layer; and

a touch-sensitive layer.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the flexible display layer of the flexible display includes an active display region, and wherein the internal component is covered with a portion of the active display region of the flexible display.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the internal component comprises a button, and wherein deformation of the flexible display compresses the button.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the flexible display further comprises a rigid cover layer having at least one opening.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the opening comprises a hole in the rigid cover layer, wherein the button further comprises a button member in the opening, wherein the button member moves within the hole in the rigid cover layer, and wherein the movement of the button member in the opening causes deformation of the flexible display.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the internal component comprises a pressure sensor, and wherein deformation of the flexible display exerts a mechanical pressure on the pressure sensor.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the pressure sensor comprises a piezoelectric actuator, and wherein the mechanical pressure induces a voltage on the piezoelectric actuator.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the internal component comprises a laser microphone for detecting a sound originating external to the electronic device, and wherein detecting the sound comprises with a laser, detecting deformation of the flexible display.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a flexible display; and

an audio component that transmits or receives sound through the flexible display.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 10 wherein the flexible display includes an active display region, and wherein the audio component is mounted behind the active display region of the flexible display.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the flexible display comprises:

a flexible display layer; and

a touch-sensitive layer.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the audio component comprises a diaphragm, and wherein the diaphragm is mounted in contact with the flexible display.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a flexible display mounted on the housing; and

a first internal component mounted under a portion of the flexible display, wherein the first internal component is configured to deform the portion of the flexible display.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the first internal component comprises a piezoelectric actuator, wherein a voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator causes an expansion of the piezoelectric actuator, and wherein the portion of the flexible display deforms in response to the expansion of the piezoelectric actuator.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the first internal component comprises a structural component, wherein the portion of the flexible display deforms in response to physical contact with the structural component, and wherein deformation of the portion of the flexible display causes the portion of the flexible display to conform to a surface of the structural component.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 further comprising a second internal component mounted under the portion of the flexible display, wherein the portion of the flexible display that conforms to the surface of the structural component indicates the location of the second internal component.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 wherein the second internal component comprises a button, wherein the portion of the flexible display is configured to be further deformed by an action external to the electronic device, and wherein further deformation of the portion of the flexible display compresses the button.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the first internal component further comprises an actuator, wherein the structural component is mounted on the actuator, wherein raising the actuator moves the structural component into contact with the portion of the flexible display, and wherein lowering the actuator moves the structural component out of contact with the flexible display.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 wherein the flexible display comprises a touch-sensitive layer and wherein deformation of the portion of the flexible display conforming to the surface of the structural component indicates the location of a portion of the touch-sensitive layer of the flexible display.

21. The electronic device defined in claim 19 further comprising a second internal component mounted on the actuator, and wherein deformation of the portion of the flexible display conforming to the surface of the structural component indicates the location of the second internal component.

22. The electronic device defined in claim 19 further comprising:

a cover member; and

an actuator switch coupled to the actuator, wherein deformation of the flexible display exerts a pressure on the cover member, and wherein the pressure on the cover member lifts the cover member.