An apparatus and method of providing an apparatus comprising a bendable portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016299532-A1
Application number	US-201415100760-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2013
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises: a substrate wherein the substrate is configured to support a flexible display and the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration and wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rigid members; and a bendable cover portion configured to cover at least the bendable portion of the substrate wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a plurality of foldable portions configured to be folded between the rigid members such that the foldable portions enable the bendable cover portion to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

First claim

1 - 32 . (canceled)

33 . An apparatus comprising:
a substrate wherein the substrate is configured to support a flexible display and the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration and wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rigid members; and a bendable cover portion configured to cover at least the bendable portion of the substrate wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a plurality of foldable portions configured to be folded between the rigid members such that the foldable portions enable the bendable cover portion to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

34 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a plurality of fixed portions configured to be fixed to a plurality of the rigid members.

35 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the rigid members comprise projections configured to enable the fixed portions of the bendable cover portion to be fixed to the substrate.

36 . An apparatus as claimed claim 34 , wherein the foldable portions are provided between fixed portions.

37 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the foldable portions are configured to, at least partially, unfold as the apparatus is moved from an open to a closed position.

38 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the bendable cover portion is fixed to the substrate using an adhesive.

39 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the rigid members extend horizontally across the apparatus.

40 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the rigid members are coupled together by at least one linking member.

41 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the flexible display is continuous across the bendable portion.

42 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the apparatus is configured so that when the apparatus is in the closed configuration a first portion of the display and a second portion of the display are configured facing each other.

43 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the bendable cover portion forms at least part of the external casing of the apparatus.

44 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the bendable cover portion is configured to protect electronic components within the apparatus.

45 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the substrate comprises rigid portions and the apparatus comprises rigid cover portions configured to cover at least part of the rigid portions of the substrate.

46 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a rear face configured to cover at least a portion of a rear face of the substrate and the bendable cover portion also comprises at least one side face configured to cover at least one side face of the substrate.

47 . A bendable cover portion configured to cover at least a bendable portion of an apparatus wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a plurality of foldable portions configured to be folded between rigid members of the apparatus such that the foldable portions enable the bendable cover portion to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

48 . A bendable cover portion as claimed in claim 47 wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a plurality of fixed portions configured to be fixed to a plurality of the rigid members.

49 . A bendable cover portion as claimed in claim 47 , wherein the foldable portions are configured to be provided between fixed portions.

50 . A bendable cover portion as claimed in claim 47 , wherein the foldable portions are configured to, at least partially, unfold as the bendable cover portion is moved from an open to a closed position.

51 . A method comprising:
providing a substrate wherein the substrate is configured to support a flexible display and the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration and wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rigid members; and providing a bendable cover portion configured to cover at least the bendable portion of the substrate wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a plurality of foldable portions configured to be folded between the rigid members such that the foldable portions enable the bendable cover portion to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

52 . A method as claimed in claim 51 , wherein the bendable cover portion comprises a plurality of fixed portions configured to be fixed to a plurality of the rigid members, wherein the rigid members comprise projections configured to enable the fixed portions of the bendable cover portion to be fixed to the substrate, further comprising providing the foldable portions between the fixed portions.

Assignees

• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Gheorghiu Catalin
• Määttä Esa-Sakari
• Kauhaniemi Ilpo

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• E05D11/0054

  Covers, e.g. for protection · CPC title

• H04B1/3888

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · 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