Patent Application
20120314399
Portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, media players, and tablet computers are increasingly common. These types of devices typically include an integrated display device, and many include dual displays. For example, a mobile device can be hinged to open two display devices side-by-side to form one larger display. Users typically want the smallest possible devices to conveniently carry in a pocket or purse, but also want devices with larger display surfaces for easier viewing. Display manufacturers are beginning to develop flexible displays that may be used to provide a larger display surface than would be typically integrated in a smaller, portable electronic device. However, flexible displays are susceptible to damage from environmental factors and when folded, such as in a hinged mobile device that would typically integrate two display devices side-by-side to form the one larger display.
This Summary introduces simplified concepts of a flexible display foldable assembly, and the concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description and/or shown in the Figures. This Summary should not be considered to describe essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor used to determine or limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A flexible display foldable assembly is described. In embodiments, the foldable assembly includes first flanges integrated in a first housing part of a foldable electronic device. The foldable electronic device includes a flexible display, and the first housing part is integrated with a first section of the flexible display. The foldable assembly also includes second flanges 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 second flanges are implemented to fold-interlock with the first flanges to form a bend radius of the flexible display around the first and second flanges in a closed position of the foldable electronic device. The first and second flanges are also implemented to support the flexible display in the closed position of the foldable electronic device.
In other embodiments, the second section of the flexible display is slide-engaged in the second housing part of the foldable electronic device, and the section of the flexible display slides relative to the housing part of the device as the foldable electronic device is opened and closed. The foldable assembly also includes a hinge assembly that movably couples the first housing part and the second housing part of the foldable electronic device. The flexible display can bend around a pivot axis of the hinge assembly when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed. The hinge assembly can also include a detent mechanism that applies a first torque to hold the foldable electronic device in an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°), and applies a second torque to hold the foldable electronic device in the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°).
Embodiments of a flexible display foldable assembly are described with reference to the following Figures. The same numbers may be used throughout to reference like features and components that are shown in the Figures:
A flexible display foldable assembly is described, and embodiments can be implemented for use with a flexible display in an extendable and/or foldable electronic device. For example, a portable device, such as a mobile phone or tablet computer, may be implemented as an extendable and/or foldable electronic device that includes an integrated flexible display. A mobile phone with a flexible display can be used as a standard-size phone and then also extended or unfolded to increase the display viewing surface for a user to read emails, view a map, edit a document, and other tasks that are conveniently accomplished on a larger display.
While features and concepts of a flexible display foldable assembly can be implemented in any number of different devices, systems, and/or configurations, embodiments of a flexible display foldable assembly are described in the context of the following example devices, systems, and methods.
The first housing part 110 is movably coupled to the second housing part 112, and operable to open from the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°) to an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°). In a second view 114, the foldable electronic device 102 is shown in the open position, such as when the second housing part 112 is rotated around and up to position the first and second housing parts adjacent each other.
In a third view 116, the foldable electronic device 102 is also shown in the closed position, and the flexible display 104 bends and folds around the flexible display foldable assembly 106 into the closed position of the device. In a fourth view 118, the foldable electronic device is also shown in the open position. The first housing part 110 is integrated with first flanges 120 of the flexible display foldable assembly, and the second housing part 112 is integrated with second flanges 122 of the flexible display foldable assembly. The first and second flanges fold-interlock to form a bend radius 124 of the flexible display around the folded flanges in the closed position of the device, and the folded flanges support the flexible display in the closed position. The bend radius is approximately equal to a thickness of the device in the open position.
The foldable electronic device 102 also includes a hinge assembly 126 that is implemented to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the device. The hinge assembly can include a detent mechanism, such as a bi-stable spring, that applies a first torque to hold the foldable electronic device in the open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°), and applies a second torque to hold the foldable electronic device in the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°). In embodiments of the flexible display foldable assembly, the hinge assembly can be implemented to include an extendable connecting link as described with reference to
In this example, the flexible display 104 bends around a pivot axis of the hinge assembly 126 when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed. Additionally, the section of the flexible display that is integrated in the second housing part 112 of the device is slide-engaged in the second housing part with a track and slide mechanism 128 to extend the flexible display to the end of the second housing part when the device is opened.
The flexible display 104 may be implemented as a flexible LCD display that is illuminated with a backlight. A first backlight assembly 130 is integrated into the first housing part 110 to illuminate the first section of the flexible display, and a second backlight assembly 132 is integrated into the second housing part 112 to illuminate the second section of the flexible display. Alternatively or in addition, a flexible backlight assembly can be implemented to illuminate the flexible display as described with reference to
The extendable connecting link 300 can be attached in a foldable electronic device, such as a cell phone or portable computer device, that has a first housing part 310 and a second housing part 312 that is movably coupled to the first housing part. In embodiments, a hinge 314, such as a small barrel hinge (also commonly referred to as a piano hinge), along with the extendable connecting link is operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device. In this example, the housing parts of the foldable electronic device are movably coupled with the barrel hinge and the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link. As an alternative to a barrel hinge, the hinge 314 may be implemented as any flexible connection of various materials that movably couples the housing parts of the portable device.
The extendable connecting link 300 has a first link section 316 and a second link section 318. The first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link interlock and slide-engage relative to each other to increase or decrease a length 320 of the extendable connecting link. The first link section includes pins 322, 324 that are designed to attach in the first housing part 310 of the foldable electronic device. The second link section includes pins 326, 328 that are also designed to attach in the second housing part 312 of the foldable electronic device.
One of the pins 322 of the first link section 316 includes a first integrated cam 330. Similarly, one of the pins 326 of the second link section 318 includes a second integrated cam 332. The extendable connecting link shown extended at 304 illustrates that the first link section has a U-shaped notch that engages a pin of the second link section. Similarly, the second link section has a U-shaped notch that engages pin of the first link section. The first and second cams apply a torque to open and close the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device relative to each other. The first and second cams rotate to apply the torque as the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link rotate relative to the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device. The first and second cams also apply a first detent when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are opened relative to each other, and apply a second detent when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed relative to each other.
The first link section 316 and the second link section 318 of the extendable connecting link 300 can slide relative to each other to increase the length (e.g., shown extended at 304) of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of a foldable electronic device are opened from a closed position at zero degrees (0°) to ninety degrees (90°), and then when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed from an open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°) back to ninety degrees (90°). Additionally, the first and second link sections can slide relative to each other to decrease the length of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed from ninety degrees (90°) to the closed position at zero degrees (0°), and when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened from ninety degrees (90°) to the open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°).
The extendable connecting link 300 also includes an interconnection channel 334 that routes an electrical interconnection between the first housing part 310 and the second housing part 312 of the foldable electronic device. In this example, the interconnection channel is formed in the second link section 318 that slide-engages the first link section 316. An electrical interconnection may include any one or combination of a flexible printed circuit, an electrical cable, an optical fiber, a coaxial cable, an antenna coaxial cable, or the flexible printed circuit bundled with any of the cables routed between the first and second housing parts of a foldable electronic device.
In this example, the extendable connecting link 300 is shown extended, such as when the first and second housing parts of a foldable electronic device are positioned open at ninety degrees (90°). As described with reference to
As shown in the respective top views of the foldable electronic device in the closed position at 506 and in the open position at 510, the device includes a first cam-follower mechanism 512 with a spring to apply a force against the integrated cam 330 at the first link section 316 of the extendable connecting link. The foldable electronic device also includes a second cam-follower mechanism 514 with an additional spring to apply a force against the integrated cam 332 at the second link section 318 of the extendable connecting link. The integrated cams rotate as the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link rotate relative to the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device. The cam-follower mechanisms apply the force to the integrated cams to implement a first detent when the device is opened, and to implement a second end-of-travel detent when the device is closed. In embodiments, the integrated cams and cam-follower mechanisms can be implemented as radial or axial cam mechanisms, and/or may be implemented for overcenter bistable motion.
The first foldable assembly 606 includes a structure of integrated flanges 614, such as described with reference to the examples of a flexible display foldable assembly shown in
The first housing part 616 is integrated with a first section of the flexible display, the second housing part 618 is integrated with a second section of the flexible display, and the third housing part 622 is integrated with a third section of the flexible display. The flexible display 610 can bend around the first foldable assembly 606 as the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed. Similarly, the flexible display can bend around the second foldable assembly 608 as the first and third housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed. The first foldable assembly 606 and the second foldable assembly 608 also support the flexible display in the open position of the foldable electronic device 102, as shown in the view 612.
The section of the flexible display that is integrated in the second housing part 618 of the foldable electronic device 102 is slide-engaged in the second housing part with a track and slide mechanism 624 to extend the flexible display 610 to the end of the second housing part when the device is opened, as shown in the view 612. Additionally, the foldable electronic device includes a keypad 626 that is accessible when the device is in the closed position, and the flexible display slides back to expose the keypad, as shown in the view 604. The foldable electronic device is also shown in the closed position at 628 with the keypad 626 accessible and the section of the flexible display that is integrated with the third housing part 622 viewable proximate the keypad in the closed position of the device. The keypad may be implemented as any type of alphanumeric keypad that facilitates user-selectable data entry.
As described with reference to
At block 702, first flanges that are integrated in a first housing part of a foldable electronic device are fold-interlocked with second flanges that are integrated in a second housing part of the foldable electronic device. For example, the first housing part 110 of the foldable electronic device 102 (
At block 704, the first and second flanges of the foldable electronic device are hinged with a hinge assembly that is operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the device. For example, the foldable electronic device 102 includes the hinge assembly 126 that movably couples the first and second housing parts of the device.
At block 706, a bend radius of the flexible display is formed around the first and second flanges that support the flexible display in a closed position of the foldable electronic device. For example, the first and second flanges of the flexible display foldable assembly 106 fold-interlock to form the bend radius 124 of the flexible display around the folded flanges in the closed position of the device, and the folded flanges support the flexible display in the closed position.
At block 708, the flexible display bends around a pivot axis of the hinge assembly when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed. For example, the flexible display 104 bends around the pivot axis of the hinge assembly 126 when the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device are closed.
At block 710, a first torque is applied with a detent mechanism that holds the foldable electronic device in an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°). At block 712, a second torque is applied with the detent mechanism to hold the foldable electronic device in the closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°). For example, the hinge assembly 126 includes a detent mechanism that applies the first torque to hold the foldable electronic device 102 in the open position, and applies a second torque to hold the foldable electronic device in the closed position.
At block 714, the flexible display is illuminated with a flexible backlight that bends under the flexible display and folds into the closed position of the foldable electronic device. For example, a flexible backlight 204 (
The device 800 includes communication devices 802 that enable wired and/or wireless communication of device data 804, such as received data, data that is being received, data scheduled for broadcast, data packets of the data, etc. The device data or other device content can include configuration settings of the device, media content stored on the device, and/or information associated with a user of the device. Media content stored on the device can include any type of audio, video, and/or image data. The device includes one or more data inputs 806 via which any type of data, media content, and/or inputs can be received, such as user-selectable inputs and any other type of audio, video, and/or image data received from any content and/or data source.
The device 800 also includes communication interfaces 808, such as any one or more of a serial, parallel, network, or wireless interface. The communication interfaces provide a connection and/or communication links between the device and a communication network by which other electronic, computing, and communication devices communicate data with the device.
The device 800 includes one or more processors 810 (e.g., any of microprocessors, controllers, and the like) which process various computer-executable instructions to control the operation of the device. Alternatively or in addition, the device can be implemented with any one or combination of software, hardware, firmware, or fixed logic circuitry that is implemented in connection with processing and control circuits which are generally identified at 812. Although not shown, the device can include a system bus or data transfer system that couples the various components within the device. A system bus can include any one or combination of different bus structures, such as a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a universal serial bus, and/or a processor or local bus that utilizes any of a variety of bus architectures.
The device 800 also includes one or more memory devices 814 (e.g., computer-readable storage media) that enable data storage, such as random access memory (RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.), and a disk storage device. A disk storage device may be implemented as any type of magnetic or optical storage device, such as a hard disk drive, a recordable and/or rewriteable disc, and the like. The device may also include a mass storage media device.
Computer readable media can be any available medium or media that is accessed by a computing device. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise storage media and communication media. Storage media include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by a computer.
Communication media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communication media also include any information delivery media. A modulated data signal has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.
A memory device 814 provides data storage mechanisms to store the device data 804, other types of information and/or data, and various device applications 816. For example, an operating system 818 can be maintained as a software application with the memory device and executed on the processors. The device applications may also include a device manager, such as any form of a control application, software application, signal processing and control module, code that is native to a particular device, a hardware abstraction layer for a particular device, and so on.
The device 800 also includes an audio and/or video processing system 820 that generates audio data for an audio system 822 and/or generates display data for a display system 824, such as an integrated flexible display. The audio system and/or the display system may include any devices that process, display, and/or otherwise render audio, video, display, and/or image data. Display data and audio signals can be communicated to an audio device and/or to a display device via an RF (radio frequency) link, S-video link, composite video link, component video link, DVI (digital video interface), analog audio connection, or other similar communication link. In implementations, the audio system and/or the display system are integrated components of the example device. Alternatively, the audio system and/or the display system are external components to the device.
Although embodiments of a flexible display foldable assembly have been described in language specific to features and/or methods, the subject of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as example implementations of a flexible display foldable assembly.
