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US 2026/0079533 A1Published application
Electronic device having a strengthened foldable cover
OwnerChristopher D. Jonesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strengthened foldable cover may include a cover member formed from a glass material. A hinge of the cover member defines a bend in the folded configuration of the foldable cover. One or more portions of the cover member that define the hinge may be strengthened differently than other portions of the cover member in order to facilitate bending of the cover member while providing damage resistance and minimizing distortion of graphical output from the display assembly.
Claims20
An electronic device comprising:
- a display assembly comprising a touch-sensitive layer;
- a housing at least partially enclosing the display assembly;
- and
- a cover coupled to the housing, positioned over the display assembly, and defining a first window, a second window, and a hinge structure positioned between the first and the second windows, the cover including a cover member formed from a glass material comprising lithium ions, the cover member comprising:
- a first portion at least partially defining the first window and comprising a first ion-exchanged layer having a first depth from an interior surface of the cover member and comprising sodium ions and potassium ions;
- a second portion at least partially defining the second window and comprising a second ion-exchanged layer having a second depth from the interior surface of the cover member and comprising sodium ions and potassium ions;
- and
- a third portion at least partially defining the hinge structure and comprising a third ion-exchanged layer differing in composition from each of the first ion-exchanged layer and the second ion-exchanged layer, the third ion-exchanged layer comprising potassium ions and having a third depth, less than each of the first depth and the second depth, from the interior surface of the cover member.
5 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a display assembly comprising a touch-sensitive layer;
- a camera;
- and
- a foldable cover positioned over the display assembly and the camera and including a cover member formed from a glass material comprising lithium ions, the cover member comprising:
- a first portion positioned over a first portion of the display assembly and having:
- a first thickness;
- and
- a first stress pattern comprising a first rear compressive region defining a first compressive stress profile and a first compressive region depth;
- a second portion positioned over a second portion of the display assembly and having:
- a second thickness;
- and
- a second stress pattern comprising a second rear compressive region defining a second compressive stress profile and a second compressive region depth;
- and
- a third portion positioned between the first and the second portions of the cover member and over a third portion of the display assembly, the third portion defining a bend in a folded configuration of the cover member and having:
- a third thickness;
- a third stress pattern comprising a third rear compressive region defining:
- a third compressive stress profile that is different from each of the first and the second compressive stress profiles;
- and
- a third compressive region depth that is less than each of the first and the second compressive region depths.
16 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
- a cover coupled to the housing and including a cover member formed from a glass material comprising lithium ions, the cover member comprising:
- a first portion having a first thickness and comprising a first rear ion-exchanged layer extending from a rear surface of the first portion to a first rear depth and having:
- a first maximum concentration of sodium ions;
- and
- a first maximum concentration of potassium ions;
- a second portion having a second thickness and comprising a second rear ion-exchanged layer extending from a rear surface of the second portion to a second rear depth and having:
- a second maximum concentration of sodium ions, and
- a second maximum concentration of potassium ions;
- and
- a third portion positioned between the first and the second portions, having a third thickness and comprising a third rear ion-exchanged layer extending from a rear surface of the third portion to a third rear depth that is less than each of the first rear depth and the second rear depth and having:
- a third maximum concentration of sodium ions that is less than each of the first and the second maximum concentrations of sodium ions;
- and
- a third maximum concentration of potassium ions;
- and
- a display assembly comprising a touch-sensitive layer, the display assembly coupled to the rear surfaces of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the cover member.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.