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EP-4738056-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH DISPLAYS

EP4738056A1EP 4738056 A1EP4738056 A1EP 4738056A1EP-4738056-A1

Abstract

An electronic device (10) may include a flexible display (14) having first and second display portions (14P-1, 14P-2) that rotate relative to one another about a bend axis (28). The flexible display (14) may be mounted to a foldable housing (12) having first and second housing portions (60) coupled by a hinge (30) that is aligned with the bend axis (28). The foldable housing (12) is operable in a flat state and a folded state. A translation assembly (306) may be configured to slide the display (14) relative to the housing (12) as the device (10) moves between flat and folded states. A compression assembly (42) may be used to apply compression to the flexible display (14) when the foldable housing (12) is in the folded state. A tension assembly (44) may be used to apply tension to the flexible display (14) when the foldable housing (12) is in the flat state. If desired, the translation (306), compression (42), and tension (44) assemblies may be combined into a module.

Inventors

  • STRYKER, JAMES A.
  • DERRY, Matthew
  • ROBINSON, KEVIN M.
  • PARK, DANIEL C.
  • GARELLI, ADAM T.
  • HAMEL, BRADLEY J.
  • CROOKS, Bradley S.
  • HENDREN, KEITH J.
  • CAO, ROBERT Y.
  • KRAHN, Scott J.

Assignees

  • Apple Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251024

Claims (15)

  1. An electronic device, comprising: a flexible display having first and second display portions that rotate relative to one another about a bend axis; a foldable housing having first and second housing portions coupled by a hinge that overlaps the bend axis, wherein the foldable housing is operable in a flat state and a folded state; a tension assembly that applies tension to the flexible display when the foldable housing is in the flat state; and a compression assembly that applies compression to the flexible display when the foldable housing is in the folded state.
  2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein each of the tension and compression assemblies comprises a spring and a slider that slides the flexible display relative to the foldable housing.
  3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tension assembly only applies the tension to the flexible display when an angle between the first and second housing portions is greater than a threshold angle.
  4. The electronic device defined in any preceding claim further comprising a translation assembly comprising: a strap that extends across the hinge, wherein the strap has a first end coupled to the first display portion and the first housing portion through a linkage and has a second opposing end coupled to the second housing portion, and wherein the linkage is configured to slide the first display portion relative to the first housing portion as the foldable housing moves between the flat state and the folded state.
  5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the linkage comprises a lever and wherein the lever is configured to rotate relative to the first housing portion about a first pivot point, the strap is coupled to the lever at a second pivot point, the first display portion is coupled to the lever at a third pivot point, and a distance between the first and second pivot points is less than a distance between the first and third pivot points.
  6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 further comprising an additional strap coupled to the lever at a fourth pivot point, wherein the strap and the additional strap are located at different offsets relative to a center of rotation of the hinge.
  7. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the linkage comprises a lever and wherein the strap and the lever are coupled to a slider that is coupled to the first display portion and that slides within a slot in the first housing portion.
  8. The electronic device defined in any of claims 4 to 7 further comprising a spring coupled to the first end of the strap.
  9. The electronic device defined in any preceding claim wherein tension and compression assemblies are configured to apply unequal loads to the first and second display portions such that movement of the flexible display relative to the foldable housing is asymmetric across the bend axis.
  10. The electronic device defined in any preceding claim wherein the tension and compression assemblies are actuator-driven.
  11. The electronic device defined in any of claims 1 to 3 further comprising: a strap that extends across the hinge, wherein the strap has a first end coupled to the first display portion and the first housing portion and has a second opposing end coupled to the second housing portion, and wherein the strap is configured to slide the first display portion relative to the first housing portion as the foldable housing moves between the flat state and the folded state.
  12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the first end of the strap is coupled to the first display portion and the first housing portion through a lever.
  13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the lever is configured to rotate about a first pivot point, the strap is coupled to the lever at a second pivot point, the first display portion is coupled to the lever at a third pivot point, and a distance between the first and second pivot points is less than a distance between the first and third pivot points.
  14. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the first end of the strap is coupled to the first display portion and the first housing portion through a Watts linkage.
  15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the Watts linkage applies compression to the flexible display when the foldable housing is in the folded state.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 19/326,570, filed September 11, 2025, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/713,996, filed October 30, 2024. Field This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices with displays. Background Electronic devices often have displays. Portability may be a concern for some devices, which tends to limit available real estate for displays. Summary An electronic device may include a flexible display having first and second display portions that rotate relative to one another about a bend axis. The flexible display may be mounted to a foldable housing having first and second housing portions coupled by a hinge that overlaps the bend axis. The foldable housing may be operable in a flat state and a folded state. The electronic device may include one or more translation assemblies for driving movement of the display relative to the housing. For example, a translation assembly may be used to slide the display relative to the housing as the housing moves between an open (flat) state and a closed (folded) state. The translation assembly may include straps, springs, and/or linkages to slide the display relative to the housing during opening and closing of the electronic device. A compression assembly may be used to apply compression to the flexible display when the foldable housing is in the folded state to push the flexible display into the hinge and thereby prevent tenting and lift-off of the display relative to the hinge. A tension assembly may be used to apply tension to the flexible display when the foldable housing is in the flat state to avoid wrinkles in the display. If desired, the tension and compression assemblies may be combined into a single module. The foldable housing may have a roller hinge or any other suitable type of hinge. In a roller type hinge (sometimes referred to as a constant length hinge), the hinge length between the first and second housing portions may remain constant as the device is folded and unfolded, which creates an offset between the bend axis of the display and the bend axis of the hinge. The translation modules may be used to apply loads to the display (e.g., to apply tension to the display in the flat state to avoid wrinkles) while also being used to facilitate the display translation required due to the offset between the hinge's bend axis and the display's bend axis. In other hinge arrangements such as a teardrop type hinge, the bend axis of the display and the bend axis of the hinge are already aligned, so the primary function of the translation modules may be to apply tension to the display in the flat state and to facilitate display translation that is needed due to tolerances and/or reliability over time. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with a display in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 3 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 4 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device having a foldable display with translation assemblies, tension assemblies, and compression assemblies in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 5 is a side view of the electronic device of FIG. 4 showing how a tension assembly may apply tension to a foldable display in a flat state to eliminate creases in the display in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 6 is a side view of the electronic device of FIGS. 4 and 5 showing how a compression assembly may apply compression to a foldable display in a folded state to press the display against a hinge in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 7 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device having a foldable housing and one or more sets of tension and compression assemblies on opposing sides of a hinge in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 8 is a top view of an illustrative tension and compression assembly in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 9 is a graph showing how compression and tension forces applied to a foldable display change as the display moves from a flat state to a folded state in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 10 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device having a foldable housing and translation assemblies that include a pair of straps to drive display motion and a linkage to amplify the display motion in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 11 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device having a foldable housing and translation assemblies that include a strap and a return spring to drive display motion and a linkage to amplify the display motion in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 12 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device having a foldable housing and having translation assemblies that include straps coupled to a lever and sliders that slide within slots as