FLEXIBLE DISPLAY DEVICES

• US 20130010405A1
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Dabov, Teodor, Janis, Andrew J. M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,787,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• 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 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges

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.

Claims

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.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the tensioning structure comprises a spring that pulls on the end of the flexible display.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a roller structure over which the flexible display slides as the first and second portions of the housing are rotated relative to each other.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises ledges that overlap at least some edge portions of the flexible display to hold the flexible display against the housing while the at least part of the flexible display slides relative to the housing.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 further comprising a layer of material between the housing and the flexible display that reduces friction between the flexible display and the housing while the at least part of the flexible display slides relative to the housing.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible display comprises edges, the electronic device further comprising:

a rigid member that is attached to at least one of the edges, wherein the tensioning structure is coupled between the housing and the rigid member to tension the rigid member.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a protruding portion with an opening through which the flexible display passes.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the hinge comprises a three-bar linkage.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the hinge comprises at least one rotational detent.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the hinge comprises a ball detent mechanism and wherein the hinge comprises at least two rotational detents.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the hinge is configured so that the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other sufficiently to allow the display to be placed in a face-to-face configuration and a back-to-back configuration.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the first and second housing portions have engagement features that are configured to grip an external object when the housing portions are rotated relative to each other to place the display in the back-to-back configuration.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

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.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the flexible support structure comprises a sheet of flexible metal.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the sheet of flexible metal comprises nitinol.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 13 further comprising engagement structures coupled to the flexible support structure and the housing, wherein the engagement structures engage one another and hold the flexible support structure against the housing when the flexible support structure is bent away from the planar position.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the engagement structures comprise engagement structures selected from the group consisting of:

magnetic structures, mating hook and notch structures, and hook-and-loop fastener material.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

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.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 18 wherein the hinge includes at least a first member coupled to the first housing portion at a first rotational axis and a second member coupled to the second housing portion at a second rotational axis and wherein the first and second members are coupled at a third rotational axis.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 wherein the hinge is configured so that the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other sufficiently to allow the display to be placed in a face-to-face configuration and a back-to-back configuration.

21. An electronic device, comprising:

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.

22. The electronic device defined in claim 21 wherein the flexible display is attached to the first housing portion in a fixed configuration that does not allow the flexible display to slide relative to the first housing portion and wherein the flexible display is attached to the second housing portion in a fixed configuration that does not allow the flexible display to slide relative to the second housing portion.

23. The electronic device defined in claim 21 wherein the hinge is configured so that the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other sufficiently to allow the display to be placed in a face-to-face configuration and a back-to-back configuration.

24. An electronic device, comprising:

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.

25. The electronic device defined in claim 24 further comprising:

a first rigid structure associated with the first housing portion;

a second rigid portion associated with the second housing portion; and

electrical components mounted within the first and second rigid structures.

26. The electronic device defined in claim 25 further comprising a flexible communications path that conveys signals between the electrical components mounted within the first and second rigid structures past the hinge.

27. The electronic device defined in claim 24 wherein the hinge is configured so that the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other sufficiently to allow the display to be placed in a face-to-face configuration and a back-to-back configuration.