Support structures for a flexible electronic component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10834822-B2
Application number	US-201715794242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2017
Priority date	Dec 24, 2013
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A dynamically flexible article or device, such as a wristband, an armband, a rollable e-reader, or a belt, includes a flexible electronic component (e.g., a flexible display) and a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component. The support structure is configured to limit bending of the flexible electronic component to a range within a bending tolerance of the flexible electronic component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article, comprising: a flexible electronic component movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component, the support structure comprising a first substrate and a second substrate movably connected to the first substrate, a plurality of slots being formed in the first substrate and a plurality of projections being formed on the second substrate and movably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots configured to limit bending of the article and configured to limit torsion applied to the article to a range within a torsion tolerance of the flexible electronic component, wherein a bottom side of the first substrate at least partially vertically overlies a top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the flexible electronic component at least partially vertically overlies both the bottom side of the first substrate and the top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the first substrate has a first length extending horizontally when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the second substrate has a second length extending horizontally along the first length when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, and wherein the first substrate has a first thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position and the second substrate has a second thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, the first thickness being less than the first length and the second thickness being less than the second length.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots comprises a first subset of slots and a second subset of slots formed across from the first subset, each of the first subset of slots having a different length, and each of the second subset of slots having a different length, and wherein the plurality of projections comprises a first subset of projections and a second subset of projections formed across from the first subset, each of the first subset of projections having a different length, and each of the second subset of projections having a different length, the lengths defined such that the article has a desired shape.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are formed proximate to or in a perimeter edge of the first substrate, and wherein the plurality of projections are formed proximate to or in a perimeter edge of the second substrate.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first substrate is locally fixedly attached to a portion of the second substrate at a fixation point.

5. The article of claim 1 , wherein each slot defines a first stop surface and a second stop surface opposite the first stop surface, each first stop surface arranged to limit bending of the flexible electronic component when the article is in a first stable position, and each second stop surface arranged to limit bending of the flexible electronic component when the article is in a second stable position.

6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are formed between the bottom side of the first substrate and a top side of the first substrate opposite the bottom side of the first substrate.

7. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections extend outward, away from the top side of the second substrate.

8. The article of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of slots are formed between the bottom side of the first substrate and a top side of the first substrate opposite the bottom side of the first substrate.

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the bottom side of the first substrate substantially overlies the top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position.

10. An article, comprising: a flexible electronic component movable between a substantially flat position and a curved position; and a support structure coupled to the flexible electronic component, the support structure comprising a first substrate and a second substrate movably connected to the first substrate, a plurality of slots being formed in the first substrate and a plurality of projections being formed on the second substrate and movably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots configured to limit bending of the article and configured to limit torsion applied to the article to a range within a torsion tolerance of the flexible electronic component, wherein a bottom side of the first substrate at least partially vertically overlies a top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the flexible electronic component at least partially vertically overlies both the bottom side of the first substrate and the top side of the second substrate when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, the flexible electronic component is substantially parallel to both the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate has a first length extending horizontally when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, wherein the second substrate has a second length extending horizontally along the first length when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, and wherein the first substrate has a first thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position and the second substrate has a second thickness extending vertically when the flexible electronic component is in the substantially flat position, the first thickness being less than the first length and the second thickness being less than the second length.

11. The article of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of slots comprises a first subset of slots and a second subset of slots formed across from the first subset, each of the first subset of slots having a different length, and each of the second subset of slots having a different length, and wherein the plurality of projections comprises a first subset of projections and a second subset of projections formed across from the first subset, each of the first subset of projections having a different length, and each of the second subset of projections having a different length, the lengths defined such that the article has a desired shape.

12. The article of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of slots are formed proximate to or in a perimeter edge of the first substrate, and wherein the plurality of projections are formed proximate to or in a perimeter edge of the second substrate.

13. The article of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the first substrate is locally fixedly attached to a portion of the second substrate at a fixation point.

14. The article of claim 10 , wherein each slot defines a first stop surface and a second stop surface opposite the first stop surface, each first stop surface arranged to limit bending of the flexible electronic component when the article is in a first stable position, and each second stop surface arranged to limit bending of the flexible electronic component when the article is in a second stable position.

15. The article of claim 10 , wherein th

Assignees

• Flexterra Inc

Inventors

• Huitema Hjalmar Edzer Ayco
• Inagaki Philippe
• Mok Kwok Wah
• Hamers Johannes Cornelis Adriaan

Classifications

• H05K1/189 Primary

  characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits · CPC title

• G09F9/301 Primary

  flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED · CPC title

• A44C27/008

  having shape memory behavior · CPC title

• A44C5/0084

  Bracelets in the form of a ring, band or tube of rigid material (C-spring-type bracelets A44C5/12) · CPC title

• A44C5/0015

  providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars (identification bracelets G09F3/005) · CPC title