# US 11,907,018 B2 · Electronic devices with sliding device housings and translating flexible displays and corresponding methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,018 B2 - Document ID: US11907018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/459,774 - Filed: 2021-08-27 - Published: 2023-03-02 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-27 - Assignees: Motorola Mobility LLC - Applicants: Motorola Mobility LLC - Inventors: Alberto R. Cavallaro; Yong-Ho Lim; Daniel P. Groebe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907018B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1624: {with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display} - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - H04M 1/0237: {Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom} - G06F 1/1679: {for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence)} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract An electronic device includes a flexible display and a device housing that defines a translation surface for the flexible display. A support layer is positioned between a portion of the flexible display and the translation surface. A rotor positioned within a curvilinear section of the flexible display causes a linear translation of the support layer across the translation surface by drawing the flexible substrate around the rotor. A flexible support structure can be positioned between the support layer and the flexible display, with the flexible support structure defining a plurality of engagement teeth with ends extending under one or more housing rails to prevent pillowing of the flexible display. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a flexible display; a device housing comprising a translation surface for the flexible display; a support layer positioned between a portion of the flexible display and the translation surface; and a rotor positioned within a curvilinear section of the flexible display and causing a linear translation of the support layer across the translation surface by drawing the flexible display around the rotor when the rotor rotates. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support layer is fixedly coupled to the portion of the flexible display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the support layer is a rigid, substantially planar support layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising a flexible support structure positioned between the flexible display and the translation surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic device of claim 4, the flexible support structure defining a first section extending from the flexible display to the translation surface and a second section extending from the flexible display to the support layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, the first section defining a plurality of engagement teeth, with some engagement teeth abutting the translation surface and some other engagement teeth abutting the rotor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the second section is devoid of engagement teeth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the support layer is fixedly coupled to the second section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of engagement teeth are wider than the flexible display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, the device housing further comprising one or more housing rails positioned at sides of the flexible display, wherein the some engagement teeth are positioned between the housing rails and the translation surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, the device housing further comprising one or more housing rails positioned at sides of the flexible display, the one or more housing rails retaining the some engagement teeth against the translation surface as the rotor rotates. ### Claim 12 A method in an electronic device, the method comprising: actuating a rotor, thereby causing translation of a flexible display linearly along a translation surface of a device housing and around the rotor; maintaining a predefined distance between the flexible display and the translation surface while the rotor is actuated; and positioning one or more engagement teeth that are wider than the flexible display between a first portion of the flexible display and the translation surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, the positioning the one or more engagement teeth that are wider than the flexible display between the first portion of the flexible display and the translation surface causing ends extending distally away from sides of the flexible display to be positioned beneath one or more housing rails positioned at the sides of the flexible display to maintain the predefined distance between the flexible display and the translation surface when the rotor rotates. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning a support layer between a second portion of the flexible display and the translation surface such that the support layer translates across the translation surface when the rotor rotates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more engagement teeth are coupled to a flexible support structure having an extension portion devoid of engagement teeth positioned between the support layer and the second portion of the flexible display. ### Claim 16 An electronic device, comprising: a flexible display; a device housing defining a translation surface; a flexible support structure coupled to the flexible display between the flexible display and the translation surface and defining a plurality of engagement teeth along a first portion of the flexible support structure that extend beyond sides of the flexible display with ends of the engagement teeth extending under one or more housing rails positioned at the sides of the flexible display that retain central portions of the engagement teeth against the translation surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a rotor engaging the first portion of the flexible support structure, wherein positioning the ends of the engagement teeth under the one or more housing rails prevent the flexible display from pillowing when the rotor rotates, thereby causing translation of the flexible display along the translation surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electronic device of claim 17, further comprising a rigid support layer coupled to a second portion of the flexible support structure between the flexible support structure and the translation surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic device of claim 18, wherein a cross section of the flexible display defines a J-shape with a curved portion of the J-shape wrapped around the rotor and an upper portion of the J-shape passing across the translation surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electronic device of claim 18, further comprising another device housing coupled to the flexible display that translates into the device housing when the rotor draws a section of the flexible display coupled to the rigid support layer toward the rotor.