Flexible display overcenter assembly

• US 8,804,324 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• 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., O'Brien, Paul M., Fruhauf, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Assistant Examiner(s): RATHOD, ABHISHEK M
• Application Number:
  US13/153,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.27, 361/679.06, 361/679.55, 361/679.22, 455/575.4, 455/575.3, 345/1.1, 248/175
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• 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 overcenter assembly, an overcenter assembly includes a first flange integrated in a first housing part of a foldable electronic device. The device includes a flexible display, and the first housing part is integrated with a first section of the flexible display. The overcenter assembly also includes a second flange 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 first and second flanges are implemented to fold and form a radius that supports the flexible display in a closed position of the device. Hinge assemblies are implemented to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device, and the flexible display bends through a pivot axis of the hinge assemblies when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed.

Claims

1. An overcenter foldable assembly, comprising:

a first flange 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;

a second flange 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 first and second flanges being foldable to form a radius that supports the flexible display in a closed position of the foldable electronic device;

a flexure structure, the flexure structure comprising pivotable links, that supports the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device; and

hinge assemblies that moveably couple the first housing part and the second housing part of the foldable electronic device, the flexible display that bends through a pivot axis of the hinge assemblies when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.

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

3. An overcenter 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 overcenter foldable assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising extendable connecting links operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device, the extendable connecting link including first and second link sections that slide relative to each other to increase or decrease a length of the extendable connecting link.

5. An overcenter foldable assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the extendable connecting links and one or more cam-followers form 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°

).

6. An overcenter foldable assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the extendable connecting links include an interconnection channel configured to route an electrical interconnection between the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device.

7. An overcenter foldable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible display is illuminated with a flexible backlight that is configured to fold into the closed position of the foldable electronic device under the flexible display.

8. A foldable electronic device, comprising:

a flexible display that folds 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 a first flange;

a second housing part integrated with a second section of the flexible display, the second housing part including a second flange, the first and second flanges being foldable to form a radius that supports the flexible display in a closed position of the foldable electronic device;

a flexure structure, the flexure structure comprising pivotable links, that supports the flexible display in an open position of the foldable electronic device; and

hinge assemblies that movably couple the first housing part and the second housing part of the foldable electronic device, the flexible display further configured to bend through a pivot axis of the hinge assemblies when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.

9. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, 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 8, further comprising extendable connecting links operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device, an extendable connecting link comprising first and second link sections that slide relative to each other to increase or decrease a length of the extendable connecting link, the extendable connecting link including an interconnection channel configured to route an electrical interconnection between the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device.

11. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the extendable connecting links and one or more cam-followers form 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°

).

12. 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 with a first overcenter assembly that couples the first housing part to the second housing part and a second overcenter assembly that couples the first housing part to the third housing part.

13. A foldable electronic device as recited in claim 8, further comprising a flexible backlight configured to illuminate the flexible display, the flexible backlight further configured to fold into the closed position of the foldable electronic device under the flexible display.

14. A method, comprising:

folding a first flange that is integrated in a first housing part of a foldable electronic device with a second flange that is 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;

hinging the first and second flanges of the foldable electronic device with hinge assemblies that are operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device, the flexible display bending through a pivot axis of the hinge assemblies, the first and second flanges forming a radius that supports the flexible display, when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed; and

supporting the flexible display with a flexure structure of pivotable links capable of enabling the foldable electronic device to be placed in an open position.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising slide-engaging the second section of the flexible display in the second housing part of the foldable electronic device.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

applying a first torque with a cam-follower to an extendable connecting link to form 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 cam-follower to the extendable connecting link to form the detent mechanism that holds the foldable electronic device in the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°

).

17. A method as recited in claim 14, 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.