Flexible mobile computing devices

• US 8,958,201 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Leung, Kwok Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Haughton, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US13/087,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.09, 361/679.21, 361/679.22, 361/679.26, 361/679.27, 36167955-67958, 361/749, 4555751-5754, 345/173, 349 58- 60, 37943311-43313, 248917-924
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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

Abstract

A flexible mobile computing device includes a flexible display having a first display portion, a second display portion, and a third display portion positioned, along a longitudinal axis of the device, between the first and second display portions. The device also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) portion positioned behind the first display portion. Additionally, the device includes a battery portion positioned behind the second display portion. The device also includes a flexible connector positioned behind the third display portion, extending along a latitudinal axis of the device, and connecting the PCB portion to the battery portion. The flexible connector is configured to permit the first display portion to twist relative to the second display portion about an axis of the device other than the latitudinal axis. In addition, the flexible connector is configured to permit inward and outward bending of the device.

Claims

1. A flexible mobile computing device, comprising:

a flexible display having a first display portion, a second display portion, and a third display portion positioned, along a longitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device, between the first and second display portions;

a printed circuit board (PCB) portion positioned behind the first display portion;

a battery portion positioned behind the second display portion; and

a flexible connector positioned behind the third display portion, extending along a latitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device, and connecting the PCB portion to the battery portion, the flexible connector consisting essentially of an elastomeric material and being configured to permit the first display portion to twist relative to the second display portion about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device.

2. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the flexible connector is configured to permit the first display portion to twist relative to the second display portion such that a maximum twisting angle of the first display portion relative to the second display portion is in a range of approximately 1°

to approximately 45°

.

3. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the maximum twisting angle is approximately 30°

.

4. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the PCB portion includes a PCB;

the battery portion includes a battery; and

the flexible connector directly connects the PCB to the battery.

5. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 4, comprising:

a flexible rear housing positioned behind the PCB portion, the battery portion, and the flexible connector; and

a flexible front housing positioned so as to separate the display from the PCB portion, the battery portion, and the flexible connector.

6. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the PCB portion includes a rigid PCB housing and a PCB;

the battery portion includes a rigid battery housing and a battery; and

the flexible connector indirectly connects the PCB to the battery via the rigid PCB housing and the rigid battery housing.

7. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 6, comprising a flexible front housing positioned so as to separate the display from the PCB portion, the battery portion, and the flexible connector.

8. A flexible mobile computing device, comprising:

a flexible display having a first display portion, a second display portion, and a third display portion positioned between the first and second display portions;

a printed circuit board (PCB) portion positioned behind the first display portion;

a battery portion positioned behind the second display portion; and

a flexible connector positioned behind the third display portion and connecting the PCB portion to the battery portion, the flexible connector being configured to permit inward and outward bending of the flexible mobile computing device such that;

a maximum inward bending angle formable between the first display portion and the second display portion is in a range of approximately 1°

to approximately 60°

; and

a maximum outward bending angle formable between the first display portion and the second display portion is in a range of approximately 1°

to approximately 45°

, and

wherein the flexible connector consists essentially of an elastomeric material and is configured to permit the first display portion to twist relative to the second display portion about an axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device.

9. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the maximum inward bending angle is in a range of approximately 5°

to approximately 50°

.

10. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the maximum inward bending angle is approximately 45°

.

11. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the maximum outward bending angle is in a range of approximately 5°

to approximately 35°

.

12. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein the maximum outward bending angle is approximately 30°

.

13. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein:

the PCB portion includes a PCB;

the battery portion includes a battery; and

the flexible connector directly connects the PCB to the battery.

14. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 13, comprising:

a flexible rear housing positioned behind the PCB portion, the battery portion, and the flexible connector; and

a flexible front housing positioned so as to separate the display from the PCB portion, the battery portion, and the flexible connector.

15. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein:

the PCB portion includes a rigid PCB housing and a PCB;

the battery portion includes a rigid battery housing and a battery; and

the flexible connector indirectly connects the PCB to the battery via the rigid PCB housing and the rigid battery housing.

16. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 15, comprising a flexible front housing positioned so as to separate the display from the PCB portion, the battery portion, and the flexible connector.

17. The flexible mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein:

the third display portion is positioned, along the longitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device, between the first and second display portions; and

the flexible connector extends along a latitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device.

18. A flexible mobile computing device, comprising:

a flexible display having a first display portion, a second display portion, and a third display portion positioned, along a longitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device, between the first and second display portions;

a printed circuit board (PCB) portion positioned behind the first display portion, and including a PCB;

a battery portion positioned behind the second display portion, and including a battery that is electrically connected to the PCB via a cable; and

a flexible connector separate from the cable, positioned behind the third display portion, extending along a latitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device, and connecting the PCB portion to the battery portion, the flexible connector consisting essentially of an elastomeric material and being configured to;

permit the first display portion to twist relative to the second display portion about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible mobile computing device; and

permit inward and outward bending of the flexible mobile computing device.