Expandable mobile device
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorPaul M. O'Brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In embodiments of an expandable mobile device, the device includes first and second housing parts that slide-engage relative to each other to extend and retract the device. The expandable mobile device includes a flexible display that extends from an interior of the expandable mobile device as the second housing part slides out from the first housing part. The flexible display also retracts into the interior of the expandable mobile device as the second housing part slides into the first housing part. Rollers are integrated in the first housing part and bend the flexible display around a fixed radius to position a first section of the flexible display approximately parallel to a second section of the flexible display in a retracted position of the expandable mobile device.
Claims20
An expandable mobile device, comprising:
- first and second housing parts configured to slide-engage relative to each other to extend and retract the expandable mobile device;
- a flexible display configured to extend from an interior of the expandable mobile device as the second housing part slides out from the first housing part, the flexible display further configured to retract into the interior of the expandable mobile device as the second housing part slides into the first housing part;
- rollers integrated in the first housing part and configured to bend the flexible display around a fixed radius to position a first section of the flexible display proximate a second section of the flexible display in a retracted position of the expandable mobile device;
- and
- carrier tracks configured to gear-engage the rollers and position the second section of the flexible display adjacent the first section of the flexible display in an extended position of the expandable mobile device.
A method, comprising:
- slide-engaging first and second housing parts of an expandable mobile device relative to each other to extend and retract the expandable mobile device;
- retracting a flexible display into an interior of the expandable mobile device when the second housing part slides into the first housing part;
- and
- bending the flexible display around a fixed radius to position a first section of the flexible display proximate a second section of the flexible display in a retracted position of the expandable mobile device;
A display device, comprising:
- first and second housing parts configured to slide-engage relative to each other to extend and retract a flexible display, the flexible display configured to extend from an interior of the display device as the second housing part slides out from the first housing part, the flexible display configured to retract into the interior of the expandable mobile device as the second housing part slides into the first housing part;
- and
- rollers located in the first housing part and configured to bend the flexible display around a fixed radius to position a first section of the flexible display proximate a second section of the flexible display in a retracted position of the display device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.