FLEXIBLE DISPLAY FOLDABLE ASSEMBLY

• US 20120314399A1
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bohn, David D., O'Brien, Paul M.
• Application Number:
  US13/154,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20120314399A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/97.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

In embodiments of a flexible display foldable assembly, a foldable assembly includes first flanges integrated in a first housing part of a foldable electronic device. The foldable electronic device includes a flexible display, and the first housing part is integrated with a first section of the flexible display. The foldable assembly also includes second flanges integrated in a second housing part of the foldable electronic device, and the second housing part is integrated with a second section of the flexible display. The second flanges are implemented to fold-interlock with the first flanges to form a bend radius of the flexible display around the first and second flanges in a closed position of the foldable electronic device. The first and second flanges are also implemented to support the flexible display in the closed position of the foldable electronic device.

Claims

1. An interlocking foldable assembly, comprising:

first flanges integrated in 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; and

second flanges integrated in a second housing part of the foldable electronic device, the second housing part integrated with a second section of the flexible display, the second flanges configured to fold-interlock with the first flanges to form a bend radius of the flexible display around the first and second flanges in a closed position of the foldable electronic device.

2. An interlocking foldable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second flanges are configured to support the flexible display in the closed position of the foldable electronic device.

3. An interlocking foldable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the second section of the flexible display is slide-engaged in the second housing part of the foldable electronic device.

4. An interlocking foldable assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a keypad that is accessible in the closed position of the foldable electronic device when the flexible display slides back to expose the keypad.

5. An interlocking foldable assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hinge assembly configured to movably couple the first housing part and the second housing part of the foldable electronic device, wherein the flexible display is configured to bend around a pivot axis of the hinge assembly when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.

6. An interlocking foldable assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a detent mechanism configured to apply a first torque to hold the foldable electronic device in an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

), and further configured to apply a second torque to hold the foldable electronic device in the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°

).

7. A foldable electronic device, comprising:

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

a first housing part integrated with a first section of the flexible display, the first housing part including first flanges; and

a second housing part integrated with a second section of the flexible display, the second housing part including second flanges configured to fold-interlock with the first flanges to form a bend radius of the flexible display around the first and second flanges in the closed position of the foldable electronic device.

8. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second flanges are configured to support the flexible display in the closed position of the foldable electronic device.

9. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the second section of the flexible display is slide-engaged in the second housing part of the foldable electronic device.

10. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a keypad that is accessible in the closed position of the foldable electronic device when the flexible display slides back to expose the keypad; and

a third housing part integrated with a third section of the flexible display that is viewable proximate the keypad in the closed position of the foldable electronic device.

11. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 7, further comprising a hinge assembly configured to movably couple the first housing part and the second housing part of the foldable electronic device, wherein the flexible display is configured to bend around a pivot axis of the hinge assembly when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.

12. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a detent mechanism configured to apply a first torque to hold the foldable electronic device in an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

), and further configured to apply a second torque to hold the foldable electronic device in the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°

).

13. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the hinge assembly comprises an interconnection channel configured to route an electrical interconnection between the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device.

14. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a first backlight assembly integrated into the first housing part and configured to illuminate the first section of the flexible display; and

a second backlight assembly integrated into the second housing part and configured to illuminate the second section of the flexible display.

15. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 7, further comprising a flexible backlight configured to illuminate the flexible display, the flexible backlight further configured to bend under the flexible display and fold into the closed position of the foldable electronic device.

16. A method, comprising:

fold-interlocking first flanges that are integrated in a first housing part of a foldable electronic device with second flanges that are integrated in a second housing part of the foldable electronic device, the foldable electronic device including a flexible display that is integrated in the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device; and

forming a bend radius of the flexible display around the first and second flanges in a closed position of the foldable electronic device, the first and second flanges configured to support a folded section of the flexible display in the closed position.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising hinging the first and second flanges of the foldable electronic device with a hinge assembly that is operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising bending the flexible display around a pivot axis of the hinge assembly when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

applying a first torque with a detent mechanism that holds the foldable electronic device in an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

); and

applying a second torque with the detent mechanism that holds the foldable electronic device in the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°

).

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.