Apple has filed a patent that describes a foldable iPhone with a flexible display. The patent is entitled, "Flexible display devices".
Apple notes that "it would be desirable to be able to use flexible display technology to provide improved electronic devices."
The described device may contain multiple housing portions. For example, there could be two housing portions that are coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures.
A flexible display would be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housings are rotated the display bends.
Hinges may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which the active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration in which the active portions of the display face away from each other. To avoid stretching the display, the display may be tensioned with tensioning structures and dispensed from a roller or an opening in a housing structure.
Apple also says that 'engagement structures' could be used to help the housing grip external objects and hold the housing in desired positions. The hinges could also have preset rotational detents to hold the display in desired positions.
Check out a few images below and hit the link for the full patent description.
Read More [via AI]
Apple notes that "it would be desirable to be able to use flexible display technology to provide improved electronic devices."
The described device may contain multiple housing portions. For example, there could be two housing portions that are coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures.
A flexible display would be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housings are rotated the display bends.
Hinges may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which the active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration in which the active portions of the display face away from each other. To avoid stretching the display, the display may be tensioned with tensioning structures and dispensed from a roller or an opening in a housing structure.
Apple also says that 'engagement structures' could be used to help the housing grip external objects and hold the housing in desired positions. The hinges could also have preset rotational detents to hold the display in desired positions.
Check out a few images below and hit the link for the full patent description.
Read More [via AI]