FLEXIBLE DISPLAY FLEXURE ASSEMBLY

• US 20120307423A1
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bohn, David D., Fleck, Rod G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,176,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel

Abstract

In embodiments of a flexible display flexure assembly, a flexure assembly includes a structure of pivotable links that couples first and second housing parts of a foldable electronic device. The first housing part of the foldable electronic device includes a flexible display, and the first housing part is integrated with a first section of the flexible display. The second housing part of the foldable electronic device is integrated with a second section of the flexible display. The pivotable links are implemented to collapse relative to each other to form a bend radius of the flexible display and support the flexible display in a closed position of the foldable electronic device. The structure of the pivotable links is also implemented to support the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device.

Claims

1. A flexure assembly, comprising:

a first housing part of a foldable electronic device that includes a flexible display, the first housing part integrated with a first section of the flexible display;

a second housing part of the foldable electronic device, the second housing part integrated with a second section of the flexible display; and

a structure of pivotable links that couples the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device, the pivotable links configured to collapse relative to each other to form a bend radius of the flexible display and support the flexible display in a closed position of the foldable electronic device.

2. A flexure assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the structure of the pivotable links is further configured to support the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device.

3. A flexure assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible display is configured to bend around the pivotable links when the pivotable links collapse to form the bend radius as the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.

4. A flexure assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the structure of the pivotable links includes stops to prevent overtravel of the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device.

5. A flexure assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivotable links are integrated in a structure material to form the structure of the pivotable links.

6. A flexure assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivotable links of the structure are individual links that are movably coupled together to form the structure of the pivotable links.

7. A flexure assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the structure of the pivotable links comprises one of a flexure with integrated links or a track of individual links that are movably coupled together.

8. A foldable electronic device, comprising:

a flexible display configured to fold into a closed position of the foldable electronic device;

a first housing part integrated with a first section of the flexible display;

a second housing part integrated with a second section of the flexible display; and

a structure of pivotable links that couples the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device, the pivotable links configured to collapse relative to each other to form a bend radius of the flexible display and support the flexible display in a closed position of the foldable electronic device.

9. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the structure of the pivotable links is further configured to support the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device.

10. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the flexible display is configured to bend around the pivotable links when the pivotable links collapse to form the bend radius as the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.

11. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the structure of the pivotable links includes stops to prevent overtravel of the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device.

12. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the pivotable links are integrated in a structure material to form the structure of the pivotable links.

13. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the pivotable links of the structure are individual links that are movably coupled together to form the structure of the pivotable links.

14. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, further comprising a third housing part integrated with a third section of the flexible display, wherein the foldable electronic device is tri-fold in the closed position as at least one of an overlapping tri-fold device or as a non-overlapping tri-fold device.

15. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a third housing part integrated with a third section of the flexible display;

an additional structure of pivotable links configured to collapse relative to each other to form a bend radius of the flexible display and support the flexible display in a closed position of the second housing part relative to the third housing part; and

wherein

the structure of the pivotable links is configured to collapse relative to each other to form the bend radius of the flexible display and support the flexible display in the closed position of the first housing part relative to the second housing part.

16. A method, comprising:

collapsing pivotable links of a structure relative to each other to form a bend radius of a flexible display, the structure of the pivotable links coupling first and second housing parts of a foldable electronic device;

bending the flexible display around the pivotable links to fold the flexible display into a closed position of the foldable electronic device when the first and second housing parts are closed relative to each other; and

supporting the flexible display with the structure of the pivotable links in the closed position of the foldable electronic device.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising supporting the flexible display with the structure of the pivotable links in an open position of the foldable electronic device.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising preventing overtravel of the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the structure of the pivotable links comprises one of a flexure with integrated links or a track of individual links that are movably coupled together.

20. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising illuminating the flexible display with a flexible backlight that bends under the flexible display and folds into the closed position of the foldable electronic device.