Folding devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12101900-B2
Application number	US-202318449696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2023
Priority date	Dec 27, 2017
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

Folding devices are disclosed. An example folding device includes a first frame; a second frame; an actuator including a first end coupled to the first frame and a second end hingably coupled to the second frame; and a display coupled to the first and second frames, when the folding device is in a folded position, the display wraps around ends of the first and second frames to cover a joint between the first and second frames, when the folding device rotates from the folded position toward an unfolded position, the actuator urges the ends of the first and second frames away from one another to encourage the display to unwrap from around the ends.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a display;
a first frame having a first end;
a biasing element coupled to the first frame; and
a second frame having a second end, rotation of the second end about a pivot being configured to cause movement of the first end to thereby move the electronic device between a folded position and an unfolded position, and
the biasing element being configured to exert a force on the first frame as the second end is rotated, the force on the first frame being configured to cause rotation of the first end not to be about the pivot.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first end and the second end is configured to change in response to the rotation of the second end.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , further including a stop configured to prevent over-rotation of the second frame.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the display includes a flexible membrane overlaying at least a portion of the first frame and at least a portion of the second frame.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the flexible membrane covers a joint between the first frame and the second frame.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the flexible membrane has a substantially arc shape when the electronic device is in the folded position.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first frame and the second frame lie along a plane when the electronic device is in the unfolded position.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is configured to exert the force on the first frame throughout an entirety of the rotation of the second end about the pivot.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is coupled between the first frame and the second frame.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the first end is about a cam coupled between the first frame and the second frame.

Assignees

• Tahoe Res Ltd

Inventors

• Brand Jason M

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G09F9/301 Primary

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

• E05Y2999/00

  Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

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