Flexible display flexure assembly

A foldable electronic device, comprising:

• a flexible display having an outwardly-facing display surface, the flexible display being configured to fold into a closed position of the foldable electronic device in which portions of the outwardly-facing display surface face away from one another;
• a first housing part integrated with a first section of the flexible display;
• a second housing part integrated with a second section of the flexible display;
• and
• a structure of pivotable links that couples the first and second housing parts of the foldable electronic device along a first axis, the pivotable links bendably movable between a curved position corresponding to the closed position and a generally linear position corresponding to an open position, the pivotable links contained between the flexible display and the first and second housing parts when the pivotable links are in the curved position, each pivotable link having a cross-section generally perpendicular to the first axis with a length extending along a long axis generally perpendicular to the display surface and a width extending along a short axis generally parallel to the display surface, the width being shorter than the length.

A method, comprising:

• providing collapsible pivotable links of a structure that are collapsible relative to each other to form a bend radius of a flexible display that has a viewable display surface, the structure of the pivotable links coupling first and second housing parts of a foldable electronic device along a first axis, each pivotable link having a cross-section generally perpendicular to the first axis with a length extending along a long axis generally perpendicular to the display surface and a width extending along a short axis generally parallel to the display surface, the width being tapered so as to be widest at a point closest to the display surface and narrowest at a point furthest from the display surface;
• the foldable electronic device being configured to permit:
• bending the flexible display around the pivotable links to fold the flexible display into a closed position of the foldable electronic device when the first and second housing parts are closed relative to each other, the viewable display surface being viewable from opposite sides of the foldable electronic device when in the closed position;
• supporting the flexible display with the structure of the pivotable links in the closed position of the foldable electronic device;
• and
• supporting the flexible display with the structure of the pivotable links in an open position of the foldable electronic device.