Electronic Devices With Flexible Displays And Hinges
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsJiang Ai, Mitchell A. Heschke, Soyoung Kim, Stephen R. McClure
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic device may have a flexible display that overlaps an axis. The display may be supported by a housing. The housing may have first and second portions that rotate relative to each other about the axis. The housing may be placed in an unfolded configuration to support the display in a planar state. The housing may also be placed in a folded configuration by rotating the first and second portions relative to each other. A hinge mechanism may be used to ensure adequate separation between the first and second portions when the housing is bent. Movable flaps may be retracted when the housing is bent to create room for a bent portion of the display.
Claims20
An electronic device, comprising:
- a flexible display that bends about a bend axis and that has first and second portions on opposing sides of the bend axis;
- and
- a housing having:
- a first housing portion having a first plate to which the first portion of the flexible display is attached, a first inner member, and a first biasing structure that biases the first inner member away from the first plate to help flatten the flexible display when the flexible display is unfolded about the bend axis;
- and
- a second housing portion having a second plate to which the second portion of the flexible display is attached, a second inner member, and a second biasing structure that biases the second inner member away from the second plate to help flatten the flexible display when the flexible display is unfolded about the bend axis.
An electronic device, comprising:
- first and second housing members configured to fold relative to one another about a bend axis;
- a flexible display coupled to the first and second housing members and spanning across the bend axis;
- a strain sensor configured to detect a strain in the flexible display as the flexible display folds and unfolds;
- and
- an actuator configured to flatten the flexible display in response to the strain sensor detecting the strain in the flexible display.
An electronic device, comprising:
- a display that overlaps an axis;
- a housing with flaps to which portions of the display are attached;
- and
- coil springs that bias the flaps away from the display to flatten the display when the display is unfolded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.