Folding electronic device with continuous display

• US 7,787,917 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Woodruff, Allison G., Aoki, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D
• Application Number:
  US11/646,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.3, 455/575.1, 455/566, 455/90.3, 455/575.4
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• 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 1/1641 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: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus that includes two panels pivotally connected together. The panels can pivot from an open arrangement where the two panels lay side by side to a closed arrangement where the two panels lay one on top of another. The apparatus also includes a flexible display connected to the two panels and having a portion that is mechanically free from the two panels. The apparatus further includes a cavity to receive at least a portion of the free portion of the display when the panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

panels pivotally connected together, wherein the panels can pivot from an open arrangement where the panels lay side by side to a closed arrangement where the panels lay one on top of another;

a flexible display connected to the panels in such a fashion that a portion of the flexible display is mechanically free from the panels and the flexible display is located internal to the panels in the closed arrangement; and

a cavity to receive at least a portion of the free portion of the flexible display when the panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement to prevent the flexible display from being mechanically folded at a damagingly small radius of curvature at or around pivot point.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity is formed between the panels.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hinge connected to the panels.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hinge provides electrical signals and power between the panels.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the display is connected to portions of the panels opposite the hinge and is free from portions of the panels having the hinge attached, and wherein the cavity is formed in the hinge and in the portions of the panels having the hinge attached.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity is formed within one of the panels and the display enters the one panel when the panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cavity includes a roller for wrapping the display around when the display enters the cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one panel includes an expanded portion for housing the cavity and the roller.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cavity is formed laterally along length of the one panel and includes rollers to laterally guide the display into the one panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tensioner to guide the free portion of display into the cavity.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further including tabs to prevent the free portion of display from flexing out of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the panels provides only mechanical functions relating to protecting and opening the apparatus.

13. An apparatus comprising

curved panels pivotally connected together, wherein the curved panels can pivot from an open arrangement where the curved panels lay side by side to a closed arrangement where the curved panels lay one on top of another;

a flexible display connected to opposite sides of the curved panels, wherein portion of the flexible display between the opposite sides is mechanically free from the curved panels, and wherein the flexible display is shorter than surface area of the curved panels; and

a cavity, formed in space between the flexible display and the curved panels, to receive at least a portion of the free portion of the flexible display when the curved panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement.

14. An electronic device comprising

panels pivotally connected together, wherein the panels can pivot from an open arrangement where the panels lay side by side to a closed arrangement where the panels lay one on top of another;

a flexible display connected to surfaces of the panels that will pivot together in the closed arrangement, wherein the display includes a portion that is mechanically free from the panels;

a cavity to receive at least a portion of the free portion of the display when the panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement, wherein the cavity enables the display to avoid being mechanically folded at a damagingly small radius of curvature when the panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement;

a processor to control the electronic device; and

a battery to provide power to the device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the cavity is formed between the panels.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the cavity is formed within one of the panels and includes a roller for wrapping the display around when the display enters the cavity.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the cavity is formed within one of the panels and includes a roller to guide the display laterally along the one panel when the display enters the cavity.

18. The device of claim 14, further comprising a user interface.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising an antenna to communicate.