Smart watch with flexible display panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12066796-B2
Application number	US-202017043651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2020
Priority date	Feb 12, 2019
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A smart watch includes a watch strap and a flexible display panel. The first end of the flexible display panel is attached to the watch strap, and the second end of the flexible display panel is a free end. The flexible display panel has a bent state and a flattened state. When the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the flexible display panel and the watch strap are bent together and the flexible display panel is located on and in contact with an outer surface of the watch strap. When the flexible display panel is in the flattened state, the second end of the flexible display panel is out of contact with the outer surface of the watch strap and the flexible display panel is flattened in the same plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart watch, comprising a watch strap and a flexible display panel, wherein the first end of the flexible display panel is attached to the watch strap, the second end of the flexible display panel is a free end, the flexible display panel has a bent state and a flattened state, when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the flexible display panel and the watch strap are bent together and the flexible display panel is located on and in contact with an outer surface of the watch strap, when the flexible display panel is in the flattened state, the second end of the flexible display panel is out of contact with the outer surface of the watch strap and the flexible display panel is flattened in the same plane;
wherein the watch strap has two ends which are separated from each other, with a notch formed between the two ends of the watch strap, the watch strap is provided with a first engaging member, the flexible display panel is provided with a second engaging member corresponding to the first engaging member, the second engaging member is provided at the second end of the flexible display panel; when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the flexible display panel spans the notch, and the first engaging member and the second engaging member are engaged with each other.

2. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel extends in the same direction as the watch strap.

3. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel is an OLED display.

4. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the flexible display panel is attached to one end of the watch strap adjacent to the notch, the first engaging member is provided on the other end of the watch strap adjacent to the notch.

5. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member and the second engaging member are magnetic members, when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the flexible display panel is attracted to the watch strap.

6. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member and the second engaging member are locking members, when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the flexible display panel is locked to the watch strap.

7. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel has an elasticity to return to the flattened state after bending, when the engagement between the flexible display panel and the watch strap is released, the flexible display panel is automatically returned from the bent state to the flattened state under its own elasticity.

8. The smart watch of claim 7 , wherein the first end of the flexible display panel is fixedly and immovably attached to the watch strap, when the flexible display panel is switched from the flattened state to the bent state, the flexible display panel is caused to be deformed and curved towards the watch strap until the first engaging member and the second engaging member are engaged with each other.

9. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the flexible display panel is detachably connected to the watch strap, contacts used for transmitting signals and providing power are provided on the watch strap and the flexible display panel.

10. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein one end of the watch strap is provided with a self-photographing camera, and the other end of the watch strap is provided with a main camera.

11. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel comprises a first display area and a second display area, when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, only the first display area is turned on and the second display area is turned off, when the flexible display panel is in the flattened state, the first display area and the second display area are simultaneously used for full screen display, wherein the first display area and the second display area are two different areas of a single flexible display panel.

12. The smart watch of claim 11 , wherein a controller is disposed within the watch strap, and the flexible display panel is electrically and signally connected to the controller.

13. The smart watch of claim 12 , wherein the smart watch further comprises a sensor used for generating a control signal when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the controller controls the second display area of the flexible display panel to be turned off according to the control signal.

14. The smart watch of claim 13 , wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor, a light sensor, or a pressure sensor.

15. The smart watch of claim 11 , wherein a third display area is further provided at a lateral side of the flexible display panel, and the third display area is pivotally connected to the lateral side of the flexible display panel, the third display area is able to be folded toward a back side of the first display area and the second display area, when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the third display area is folded to the back side of the first display area and the second display area, when the flexible display panel is in the flattened state, the third display area is able to be unfolded so that the first display area, the second display area and the third display area are all located in the same plane.

16. The smart watch of claim 15 , wherein a recess is provided on a back surface of the flexible display panel, and the third display area is embedded in the recess after folding.

17. The smart watch of claim 11 , wherein when the flexible display panel is in the bent state, the flexible display panel is stacked on the watch strap, with both the first display area and the second display area of the flexible display panel being exposed on the watch strap.

18. The smart watch of claim 1 , wherein a rechargeable battery is disposed within the watch strap, and the battery is bendable.

19. The smart watch of claim 18 , wherein a micro power generating device is disposed within the watch strap, and the micro power generation device is connected to the battery for charging the battery.

Assignees

• Geely Holding Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Li Shufu

Classifications

• G04G21/04

  using radio waves (radio-controlled time-pieces G04R) · CPC title

• G04G21/02

  Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature · CPC title

• G04G19/10

  Arrangements for supplying back-up power · CPC title

• G04G17/045 Primary

  Mounting of the display · CPC title

• A44C5/0053

  Flexible straps · CPC title