Apparatuses and methods for a flexible display on a mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9294597-B2
Application number	US-201414163317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2014
Priority date	Jan 25, 2013
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for mobile phones, and similar sized electronics devices, with flexible displays, which allow suitable viewing sizes for different applications. The embodiment devices combine, into one compact package, the benefits of a small carry size with those of a large display. An embodiment mobile phone with a flexible display includes a first part having a first surface and a first edge, and a second part having a second surface and a second edge. A rotatable hinge couples the first edge of the first part is coupled to the second edge of the second part. The flexible display of the mobile phone is a continuous flexible display which has a back surface disposed on the first surface of the first part and on the second surface of the second part. The viewing surface of the flexible display is opposite to the back surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile phone comprising:
a first part having a first surface and a first edge;
a second part having a second surface and a second edge;
a rotatable hinge coupling the first edge of the first part to the second edge of the second part, the rotatable hinge rotating in accordance with a cam mechanical mechanism, the rotatable hinge comprising a spring holder fixed to the first part, a hinge head fixed to the first part and comprising a protrusion with a plurality of first teeth around a circumference of the protrusion, a rotatable part between the hinge head and the spring holder, the rotatable part comprising a socket with a plurality of second teeth around a circumference of the socket, and a spring, in the spring holder, coupled to spring holder and the rotatable part, wherein the protrusion of the hinge head extends into the socket of the rotatable part such that the plurality of first teeth around the circumference of the protrusion engage with the plurality of second teeth around the circumference of the socket to form the cam mechanical mechanism; and
a continuous flexible display having a back surface disposed on the first surface of the first part and on the second surface of the second part, and having a viewing surface opposite the back surface.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1 further comprising a shaft coupled to the first edge and the second edge, and comprising the rotatable hinge and a second rotatable hinge similar to the rotatable hinge, wherein the rotatable hinge and the second rotatable hinge are positioned at opposing ends of the shaft.

3. The mobile phone of claim 2 further comprising a flexible protective cover molded to and coupling the first surface and the second surface, and placed on the shaft between the first part and the second part, wherein the continuous flexible display is disposed on the first surface, the second surface, and the flexible protective cover between the first surface and the second surface.

4. The mobile phone of claim 3 further comprising two strip springs embedded in the flexible protective cover or between the shaft and the protective flexible cover, wherein the strip springs are positioned at opposing ends of the flexible protective cover.

5. The mobile phone of claim 1 further comprising a fastener coupled to a third edge of the second part opposite to the first edge, wherein the fastener allows fastening and releasing the first part with the first part.

6. The mobile phone of claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises electronics components and a battery.

7. The mobile phone of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable hinge is rotatable in a range from about 0 degree to more than at least 270 degrees.

8. A mobile phone comprising:
a first part having a first surface and a first edge;
a second part having a second surface and a second edge;
a link hinge expandable from second edge of the second part, and pluggable into the first edge of the first part; and
a continuous flexible display having a back surface disposed on the first surface of the first part and on the second surface of the second part, and having a viewing surface opposite the back surface,
wherein the link hinge comprises a first hinge part extendible from the second part and pluggable into the first part, a second hinge part translatable inside and outside the second part, and a rod linking the first hinge part to the second hinge part,
wherein the second hinge part comprises a series of holes along the second hinge part, a spring coupled to the second hinge part and the second part, and a latch mechanism for locking and releasing the second hinge part, the series of holes being completely encircled by material of the second hinge part, and
wherein the rod is translatable through the series of holes.

9. The mobile phone of claim 8 further comprising a second link hinge similar to the link hinge, expandable from the second edge of the second part and pluggable into the first edge of the first part, wherein the link hinge and the second link hinge are positioned at opposing ends of the first edge and the second edge.

10. The mobile phone of claim 8 further comprising a flexible protective cover molded to and coupling the first surface and the second surface, wherein the continuous flexible display is disposed on the first surface, the second surface, and the flexible protective cover between the first surface and the second surface.

11. The mobile phone of claim 8 further comprising a fastener coupled to a third edge of the second part opposite to the first edge, wherein the fastener allows fastening and releasing the first part with the first part.

12. The mobile phone of claim 8 , wherein the first part comprises electronics components and a battery.

13. The mobile phone of claim 8 , wherein the link hinge is rotatable in a range from about 0 degree to more than at least 270 degrees.

14. A method of manufacturing a mobile phone, the method comprising:
forming a first body section having a first main surface and a first edge;
forming a second body section having a second main surface and a second edge;
coupling the first edge of the first body section to the second edge of the second body section with a rotatable hinge, the rotatable hinge rotating in accordance with a cam mechanical mechanism, the rotatable hinge comprising a spring holder fixed to the first body section, a hinge head fixed to the first body section and comprising a protrusion with a plurality of first teeth around a circumference of the protrusion, a rotatable part between the hinge head and the spring holder, the rotatable part comprising a socket with a plurality of second teeth around a circumference of the socket, and a spring, in the spring holder, coupled to spring holder and the rotatable part, wherein the protrusion of the hinge head extends into the socket of the rotatable part such that the plurality of first teeth around the circumference of the protrusion engage with the plurality of second teeth around the circumference of the socket to form the cam mechanical mechanism or a link hinge; and
attaching a back surface of a continuous flexible display to the first main surface of the first body section and to the second main surface of the second body section, wherein the continuous flexible display has a viewing surface opposite the back surface.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
affixing a flexible protective cover to the first main surface and the second main surface, the flexible protective cover molded to the first main surface and the second main surface, wherein the continuous flexible display is disposed on the first main surface, the second main surface, and the flexible protective cover between the first main surface and the second main surface.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
coupling a fastener to a third edge of the second body section opposite to the first edge, wherein the fastener allows fastening and releasing the first body section with the first body section.

17. A method of manufacturing a mobile phone, the method comprising:
forming a first body section having a first main surface and a first edge;
forming a second body section having a second main surface and a second edge;
coupling the first edge of the first body section to the second edge of the second body section with a link hinge; and
attaching a back surface of a continuous flexible display to the first main surface of the first body section and to the second main surface of the second body section, wherein the continuous flexible display

Assignees

• Futurewei Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Tan Hui
• Vanjani Kiran
• Sanchez Jorge Fabrega

Classifications

• H04M1/0268 Primary

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

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

• G06F1/1677

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · 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

• H04M1/0216

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