Deformable surface apparatus, electronic device, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10327346-B2
Application number	US-201715476756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include at least two rotation shafts arranged substantially parallel to one another. The apparatus may include at least two fixing members. At least one fixing member of the at least two fixing members may be disposed at each side of the at least two rotating shafts. The apparatus may include at least two sliding members. A least one sliding member of the at least two sliding members may connect at least one rotating shaft to at least one fixing member. Each of the at least two sliding members may be disposed on opposite sides of the at least two rotating shafts. In response to the at least two rotation shafts rotating, a distance between the two or more rotating shafts and the at least two fixing members changes in a lengthwise direction. An electronic device and method are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
at least two rotation shafts arranged substantially parallel to one another;
at least two fixing members, wherein at least one fixing member is disposed at each side of the at least two rotating shafts; and
at least two sliding members,
wherein:
at least one sliding member of the at least two sliding members connects at least one rotating shaft to at least one fixing member,
a fixing member of the at least two fixing members includes an elastic member, the elastic member being engaged with at least one of the at least two sliding members to apply a compression force to the at least one sliding member upon the at least one sliding member being slid to reconfigure the apparatus from an open configuration to a closed configuration,
each of the at least two sliding members are disposed on opposite sides of the at least two rotating shafts, and
in response to the at least two rotation shafts rotating, a distance between the at least two rotating shafts and the at least two fixing members changes in a lengthwise direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a sliding member of the at least two sliding members is connected to the rotating shaft located at the outermost side of the at least two rotating shafts.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein, a first end of the sliding member is fixedly connected to the rotation shaft, and a second end is slidably connected to the fixing member, wherein in response to the at least two rotation shafts rotating, the sliding member moves in relation to the fixing member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fixing member comprising an elastic member, wherein the elastic member comprises a first end connected to the sliding member and a second end connected to the fixing member.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the sliding member comprises a stop, and the fixing member comprises a surface, wherein the stop is configured to engage with the surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate, wherein the cover plate is disposed on the at least two rotating shafts and is configured to bend with the rotating shaft set, and wherein the at least two rotating shafts are configured to be movable on a surface of the cover plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the cover plate is connected to the at least two fixing members.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, at least one sliding member of the at least two sliding members is disposed on a first side of the at least two rotating shafts and at least one sliding member of the at least two sliding members is disposed on a second side of the at least two rotating shafts.

9. An electronic device comprising:
a deformable surface apparatus comprising,
at least two rotation shafts arranged substantially parallel to one another;
at least two fixing members, wherein at least one fixing member is disposed at each side of the at least two rotating shafts;
at least two sliding members; and
a flexible screen,
wherein:
at least one sliding member connects at least one rotating shaft to at least one fixing member,
the at least one fixing member includes an elastic member, the elastic member being engaged with at least one of the at least two sliding members to apply a compression force to the at least one sliding member the at least one sliding member being slid to reconfigure the apparatus from an open configuration to a closed configuration,
each of the at least two sliding members are disposed on opposite sides of the at least two rotating shafts,
in response to the at least two rotation shafts rotating, a distance between the two or more rotating shafts and the at least two fixing members changes in a lengthwise direction, and
the flexible screen is disposed on a surface of the at least two rotation shafts.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein, a cover plate is disposed between the flexible screen and the at least two rotation shafts.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the flexible screen is disposed on a surface of the at least two fixing members.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein a sliding member of the at least two sliding members is connected to the rotating shaft located at an outermost side of the at least two rotating shafts.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein, a first end of the sliding member is fixedly connected to the rotation shaft, and a second end is slidably connected to the fixing member, wherein in response to the at least two rotation shafts rotating, the sliding member moves in relation to the fixing member.

14. A method comprising:
providing at least two rotation shafts;
providing at least two fixing members, wherein at least one fixing member is disposed at each side of the at least two rotating shafts;
providing at least two sliding members;
rotating the at least two rotation shafts; and
in response to rotating the at least two rotation shafts, maintaining constant a length of the at least two rotation shafts, the at least two fixing members, and the at least two sliding members,
wherein:
at least one sliding member connects at least one rotating shaft to at least one fixing member,
the at least one fixing member includes an elastic member, the elastic member being engaged with the at least one of the at least two sliding members to apply a compression force to the at least one sliding member upon the at least one sliding member being slid to reconfigure the apparatus from an open position to a closed position, and
each of the at least two sliding members are disposed on opposite sides of the at least two rotating shafts.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein rotating the at least two rotation shafts comprises rotating the at least two rotation shafts into an arc shape.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein comprises rotating the at least two rotation shafts the two sliding members moving into the at least two fixing members.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein maintaining constant the length of the at least two rotation shafts, at least two fixing members, and at least two sliding members comprises moving the at least two sliding members into the at least two fixing members a length substantially equal to an increase in length of the at least two rotation shafts from a tangential straight line to a tangential arc.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein rotating the at least two rotation shafts comprises rotating the at least two rotation shafts into a substantially flat plane.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein rotating the at least two rotation shafts comprises the two sliding members moving away from the at least two fixing members.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein maintaining constant the length of the at least two rotation shafts, at least two fixing members, and at least two sliding members comprises moving the at least two sliding members away from the at least two fixing members a length substantially equal to a decrease in length of the at least two rotation shafts from a tangential arc to a tangential straight line.

Assignees

• Lenovo Beijing Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Ran

Classifications

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• H05K5/0226 Primary

  Hinges · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1652 Primary

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title