FLEXIBLE DISPLAY DEVICES
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing having at least first and second housing portions;
a hinge that couples the first housing portion to the second housing portion so that the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other;
a flexible display mounted on the housing and overlapping the hinge; and
a tensioning structure that tensions at least one end of the flexible display to maintain the display in a planar configuration when at least part of the flexible display slides relative to the housing as the first and second portions of the housing are rotated relative to each other.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices may be provided that contain multiple housing portions. The housing portions may be coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures. Flexible displays may be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housing portions in a device are rotated relative to each other, the flexible display may bend. The hinge may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which an active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration. Engagement structures may be used to help the housing grip external objects and to hold the housing portions together. The hinges may be provided with rotational detents to help hold the flexible display in desired positions.
445 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing having at least first and second housing portions; a hinge that couples the first housing portion to the second housing portion so that the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other; a flexible display mounted on the housing and overlapping the hinge; and a tensioning structure that tensions at least one end of the flexible display to maintain the display in a planar configuration when at least part of the flexible display slides relative to the housing as the first and second portions of the housing are rotated relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; a flexible support structure mounted to the housing; and a flexible display mounted to the flexible support structure, wherein the flexible display and flexible support structure are movable to a planar position in which the flexible display has a planar shape and wherein the flexible support structure is configured to retain a bent configuration when the flexible display and flexible support structure are bent away from the planar position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic device, comprising:
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a first housing portion; a second housing portion; a hinge that couples the first housing portion to the second housing portion for rotational motion, wherein the first housing portion, the second housing portion, and the hinge form a four-bar linkage; and a flexible display mounted to the first and second housing portions, wherein the flexible display bends at the hinge when the first and second housing portions are rotated with respect to each other. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An electronic device, comprising:
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a first housing portion; a second housing portion; a hinge that couples the first housing portion to the second housing portion for rotational motion, wherein the hinge comprises at least one member that has first and second slots, wherein the member is coupled to the first housing with a first shaft that rotates and slides within the first slot and is coupled to the second housing with a second shaft that rotates and slides within the second slot; and a flexible display mounted to the first and second housing portions, wherein the flexible display bends at the hinge when the first and second housing portions are rotated with respect to each other. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing having first and second housing portions; a hinge that couples the first housing portion to the second housing portion for rotational motion, wherein the hinge comprises at least one flexible part of the housing; and a flexible display mounted to the first and second housing portions, wherein the flexible display bends at the hinge when the first and second housing portions are rotated with respect to each other. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification