Folding computing device with bending display

• US 9,952,627 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Aurongzeb, Deeder M., Hong, Jung-Hwan, Morrison, John Trevor, Leonard, Brian H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US15/139,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20170315588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

An information handling system may be in the form of a tablet computer such as a tablet computer. The tablet computer has a bendable display and may be foldable about an axis to cause the display to be bended and form an outer surface of the folded tablet computer or portion thereof. When the tablet computer is folded, the bended display may be displaced relative to a portion of the housing of the tablet computer.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a foldable housing having first and second wings;

a flexible display positioned on the housing to span a portion of the first and second wings;

a sliding support plate slideably coupled to the foldable housing, the sliding support plate coupled to and supporting a portion of the flexible display spanning the portion of the second wing; and

a linear guide displaceably coupling the flexible display and the sliding support plate to the second wing, wherein when the housing is folded, the sliding support plate and flexible display are displaced relative to the second wing and the flexible display forms an outer surface of the information handling system.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the first and second wings are coupled in opposition by a hinged spine providing a folding axis.

3. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the linear guide comprises a guide rail and a respective carriage slide block mechanically engaged with the guide rail, wherein the carriage slide block is mechanically coupled to the sliding support plate and the guide rail is mechanically coupled to the second wing.

4. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising a motherboard computing apparatus coupled to the first wing, and a bus coupling the motherboard computing apparatus to the flexible display.

5. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising a fixed support plate fixedly coupled to the flexible display and fixedly coupled to the first wing to fixedly couple the flexible display to the first wing.

6. The information handling system of claim 2, further comprising a deformable display support supporting the flexible display in proximity to the folding axis.

7. A tablet computer comprising:

a foldable housing having first and second wings;

a flexible display positioned on the housing to span a portion of the first and second wings;

a sliding support plate slideably coupled to the foldable housing, the sliding support plate coupled to and supporting a portion of the flexible display spanning the portion of the second wing; and

a pair of linear guides arranged in parallel and displaceably coupling the sliding support plate and the flexible display to the second wing, wherein when the housing is folded, the sliding support plate and the flexible display are displaced relative to the second wing and the flexible display forms an outer surface of the tablet computer.

8. The tablet computer of claim 7, wherein the first and second wings are coupled in opposition by a hinged spine providing a folding axis.

9. The tablet computer of claim 7, wherein each linear guide of the pair of liner guides comprises a guide rail and a respective carriage slide block mechanically engaged with the guide rail, wherein the carriage slide block is mechanically coupled to the second wing and the guide rail is mechanically coupled to the sliding support plate.

10. The tablet computer of claim 7, further comprising a motherboard computing apparatus coupled to the first wing, and a bus coupling the motherboard computing apparatus to the flexible display.

11. The tablet computer of claim 7, further comprising a fixed support plate fixedly coupled to the flexible display and fixedly coupled to the first wing to fixedly couple the flexible display to the first wing.

12. The tablet computer of claim 7, wherein the flexible display is an OLED display.

13. A tablet computer comprising:

a foldable housing with first and second wings;

a flexible display positioned on the housing to span a portion of the first and second wings;

a first sliding support plate slideably coupled to the foldable housing, the sliding support plate coupled to and supporting a portion of the flexible display spanning the portion of the first wing;

a second sliding support plate slideably coupled to the foldable housing, the sliding support plate coupled to and supporting a portion of the flexible display spanning the portion of the second wing;

a first pair of linear guides arranged in parallel and displaceably coupling the first sliding support plate and the flexible display to the first wing, wherein when the housing is folded, the first sliding support plate and the flexible display are displaced relative to the first wing and the flexible display forms an outer surface of the foldable information handling system; and

a second pair of linear guides arranged in parallel and displaceably coupling the second sliding support plate and the flexible display to the second wing, wherein when the housing is folded, the second sliding support plate and the flexible display are displaced relative to the second wing and the flexible display forms an outer surface of the tablet computer.

14. The tablet computer of claim 13, wherein the first and second wings are coupled in opposition by a hinged spine providing a folding axis.

15. The tablet computer of claim 13, wherein each linear guide of the first and second pairs of liner guides comprises a guide rail and a respective carriage slide block mechanically engaged with the guide rail.

16. The tablet computer of claim 13, further comprising a motherboard computing apparatus coupled to the first wing, and a bus coupling the motherboard computing apparatus to the flexible display.