Apparatus and method of providing an apparatus comprising a bendable portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9506279-B2
Application number	US-201414539063-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

According to various, but not necessarily all examples of the disclosure, there may be provided an apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises: a substrate configured to support a bendable display wherein 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 rod members and the rod members comprise interlocking portions wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a substrate configured to support a bendable display, 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 an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the bendable display;
wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of the apparatus;
wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rod members and the rod members comprise interlocking portions;
wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration;
wherein the substrate is configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration;
wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interlocking portions are configured to prevent a radius of curvature of the bendable portion exceeding a threshold.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rod members extend horizontally across the apparatus.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rod members are coupled together by a flexible layer.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flexible layer comprises metal.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a support structure configured to restrict movement of the substrate, and wherein the support structure comprises at least one frictional component wherein the frictional component is configured to oppose movement of the substrate.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the support structure is coupled to the substrate.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the support structure is configured to pass through holes in the rod members.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the bendable display coupled to the bendable portion.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the apparatus is in the closed configuration, a first portion of the bendable display and a second portion of the bendable display are configured facing each other.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a magnet for holding the apparatus in an open configuration.

12. A device comprising:
a display;
a substrate configured to enable at least a portion of the display to be bendable, the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the display;
wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of the device;
wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rod members and the rod members comprise interlocking portions;
wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection from one rod member configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration;
wherein the substrate is configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration;
wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the display is coupled to the substrate via a flexible sheet.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the flexible sheet is adhered to the substrate.

15. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the display comprises at least another portion that is substantially straight or not bendable.

16. A devise device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the display is continuous across the at least the bendable portion and the at least another portion that is substantially straight or not bendable.

17. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the substrate is in the open configuration indicates that a radius of curvature of the bendable portion exceeds a first threshold, the substrate is in the closed configuration indicates that the radius of curvature of the bendable portion is below a second threshold, and the first threshold and the second threshold may or may not be the same.

18. A method comprising:
providing a substrate configured to support a bendable display, the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
providing an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the bendable display;
wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of an apparatus;
providing a plurality of rod members within the at least one bendable portion;
wherein the rod members comprise interlocking portions;
wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration;
wherein the substrate is configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration;
wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members.

Assignees

• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Kauhaniemi Ilpo
• Kontkanen Mikael
• Maatta Esa-Sakari
• Salo Kalevi
• Nevalainen Vesa

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G02F1/133305

  Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film · 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

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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