Support structures for a flexible electronic component
First Claim
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1. An article, comprising:
- a flexible electronic component movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and
a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component, the support structure comprising a first substrate and a second substrate movably connected to the first substrate, a plurality of slots being formed in the first substrate and a plurality of projections being formed on the second substrate and movably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots configured to limit bending of the article and configured to limit torsion applied to the article to a range within a torsion tolerance of the flexible electronic component, wherein a bottom side of the first substrate at least partially vertically overlies a top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the flexible electronic component at least partially vertically overlies both the bottom side of the first substrate and the top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the first substrate has a first length extending horizontally when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the second substrate has a second length extending horizontally along the first length when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, and wherein the first substrate has a first thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position and the second substrate has a second thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, the first thickness being less than the first length and the second thickness being less than the second length.
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Abstract
A dynamically flexible article or device, such as a wristband, an armband, a rollable e-reader, or a belt, includes a flexible electronic component (e.g., a flexible display) and a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component. The support structure is configured to limit bending of the flexible electronic component to a range within a bending tolerance of the flexible electronic component.
300 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An article, comprising:
- a flexible electronic component movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and
a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component, the support structure comprising a first substrate and a second substrate movably connected to the first substrate, a plurality of slots being formed in the first substrate and a plurality of projections being formed on the second substrate and movably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots configured to limit bending of the article and configured to limit torsion applied to the article to a range within a torsion tolerance of the flexible electronic component, wherein a bottom side of the first substrate at least partially vertically overlies a top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the flexible electronic component at least partially vertically overlies both the bottom side of the first substrate and the top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the first substrate has a first length extending horizontally when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the second substrate has a second length extending horizontally along the first length when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, and wherein the first substrate has a first thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position and the second substrate has a second thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, the first thickness being less than the first length and the second thickness being less than the second length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a flexible electronic component movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and
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10. An article, comprising:
- a flexible electronic component movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and
a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component, the support structure comprising a first substrate and a second substrate movably connected to the first substrate, a plurality of slots being formed in the first substrate and a plurality of projections being formed on the second substrate and movably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots configured to limit bending of the article and configured to limit torsion applied to the article to a range within a torsion tolerance of the flexible electronic component, wherein a bottom side of the first substrate at least partially vertically overlies a top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the flexible electronic component at least partially vertically overlies both the bottom side of the first substrate and the top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, the flexible electronic component is substantially parallel to both the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate has a first length extending horizontally when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the second substrate has a second length extending horizontally along the first length when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, and wherein the first substrate has a first thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position and the second substrate has a second thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, the first thickness being less than the first length and the second thickness being less than the second length. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a flexible electronic component movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and
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18. An article, comprising:
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a flexible display movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and a support structure coupled to the flexible display, the support structure comprising a first substrate and a second substrate movably connected to the first substrate, a plurality of slots being formed in the first substrate and a plurality of projections being formed on the second substrate and movably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots configured to limit bending of the article and configured to limit torsion applied to the article to a range within a torsion tolerance of the flexible display, wherein a bottom side of the first substrate at least partially vertically overlies a top side of the second substrate when the flexible display is in the substantially flat position, wherein the flexible display at least partially vertically overlies both the bottom side of the first substrate and the top side of the second substrate when the flexible display is in the substantially flat position, wherein when the flexible display is in the substantially flat position, the flexible display is substantially parallel to both the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate has a first length extending horizontally when the flexible display is in the substantially flat position, and wherein the second substrate has a second length extending horizontally when the flexible display is in the substantially flat position, wherein the first substrate has a first thickness extending vertically when the flexible display is in the substantially flat position and the second substrate has a second thickness extending vertically when the flexible display is in the substantially flat position, the first thickness being less than the first length and the second thickness being less than the second length, and wherein the first substrate has a first length and the second substrate has a second length that is substantially equal to the first length.
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Specification