US-12619283-B2 - Electronic devices with translating flexible display and corresponding methods

US12619283B2US 12619283 B2US12619283 B2US 12619283B2US-12619283-B2

Abstract

An electronic device includes a flexible display and a device housing that defines a translation surface for the flexible display. A blade assembly is positioned between the flexible display and the translation surface. A rotor is positioned within a curvilinear section of the blade assembly and flexible display. A translation mechanism translates the blade assembly and flexible display between an extended position, a retracted position, and a peek position revealing an image capture device.

Inventors

Jun Hee Lee
Wayne G Morrison
Daniel P Groebe
Nigil George Valikodath
Alberto R Cavallaro

Assignees

MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230301

Claims (20)

1 . An electronic device, comprising: a device housing; and a blade assembly comprising a blade substrate, carrying a blade, slidably coupled to the device housing, and wrapping around three exterior sides of the device housing; wherein the blade assembly is operable to slidably transition between: an extended position where the blade extends beyond an edge of the device housing; and a retracted position where a major surface of the blade abuts a major surface of the device housing without the blade extending beyond the edge of the device housing.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible display carried by the blade assembly.
3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , the blade substrate mechanically supporting the flexible display.
4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , the blade substrate defining a rigid header section and a rigid section.
5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , the blade substrate defining a flexible section separating the rigid header section and the rigid section.
6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising at least one rotor situated at an end of the device housing, wherein the flexible section extends around the at least one rotor.
7 . The electronic device of claim 5 , the flexible section defining one or more apertures.
8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , the one or more apertures etched in the flexible section.
9 . The electronic device of claim 7 , the one or more apertures configured as one or more partial ribs that extend distally across the flexible section.
10 . The electronic device of claim 7 , the one or more apertures configured in a mesh arrangement that spans the flexible section.
11 . The electronic device of claim 2 , the blade substrate defining one or more silicone border engagement apertures encircling outer edges of the blade substrate.
12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising a silicone border encircling the flexible display.
13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , the silicone border over-molded on the blade substrate with portions of the silicone border passing through the one or more silicone border engagement apertures.
14 . The electronic device of claim 2 , the flexible display comprising a flexible display layer and a flexible substrate supporting the flexible display layer.
15 . The electronic device of claim 14 , the flexible substrate extending beyond an image producing portion of the flexible display layer.
16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , the flexible substrate defining a T-shaped tongue extending beyond an image producing portion of the flexible display layer.
17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , further comprising electronic circuit components configured to operate the image producing portion of the flexible display layer coupled to the T-shaped tongue.
18 . An electronic device, comprising: a device housing defining front side and a rear side; and a blade assembly comprising a blade substrate supporting a flexible display; wherein the blade assembly is operable to slidably transition between: an extended position where a blade extends beyond an edge of the device housing; a retracted position where a major surface of the blade abuts a major surface on the front side of the device housing without extending beyond the edge of the device housing; the blade substrate defines a flexible section separating a rigid header section of the blade substrate and a rigid section of the blade substrate; and the flexible display is exposed along at least some of the front side and the rear side both when the blade assembly is in the extended position and when the blade assembly is in the retracted position.
19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising a silicone border encircling the flexible display, wherein the silicone border is over-molded on the blade substrate with portions of the silicone border passing through one or more silicone border engagement apertures defined by the blade substrate.
20 . An electronic device, comprising: a device housing; and a blade assembly comprising a blade substrate; wherein the blade assembly is operable to slidably transition symmetrically in opposite directions around two exterior major surfaces of the device housing between: an extended position where a blade extends beyond an edge of the device housing; a retracted position where a major surface of the blade abuts a major surface of the device housing; and the blade substrate defines one or more apertures chemically etched in a flexible section separating a rigid header section and a rigid section, the one or more apertures configured as one or more partial ribs that extend distally across the flexible section.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS This application claims priority and benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/416,925, filed Oct. 17, 2022, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND Technical Field This disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices having flexible displays. Background Art Portable electronic communication devices, especially smartphones, have become ubiquitous. People all over the world use such devices to stay connected. These devices have been designed in various mechanical configurations. A first configuration, known as a “candy bar,” is generally rectangular in shape, has a rigid form factor, and has a display disposed along a major face of the electronic device. By contrast, a “clamshell” device has a mechanical hinge that allows one housing to pivot relative to the other. A third type of electronic device is a “slider” where two different device housings slide, with one device housing sliding relative to the other. Some consumers prefer candy bar devices, while others prefer clamshell devices. Still others prefer sliders. The latter two types of devices are convenient in that they are smaller in a closed position than in an open position, thereby fitting more easily in a pocket. While clamshell and slider devices are relatively straight forward mechanically, they can tend to still be bulky when in the closed position due to the fact that two device housings are required. It would thus be desirable to have an improved electronic device that not only provides a compact geometric form factor but that allows for the use of a larger display surface area as well. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates one explanatory electronic device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates one explanatory electronic device having a translating display moved to a first sliding position where portions of the translating display extend distally away from the device housing of the electronic device. FIG. 3 illustrates the explanatory electronic device of FIG. 2 with the translating display moved to a second sliding position where the translating display wraps around, and abuts, the device housing of the electronic device. FIG. 4 illustrates the explanatory electronic device of FIG. 2 with the translating display moved to a third sliding position known as the “peek” position that exposes an image capture device positioned under the translating display when the translating display is in the first sliding position or second sliding position. FIG. 5 illustrates one or more explanatory physical sensors suitable for use, alone or in combination, in an electronic device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates one or more explanatory context sensors suitable for use, alone or in combination, in an electronic device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of one explanatory flexible display in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 8 illustrates one explanatory display assembly substrate in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates portions of one explanatory display assembly in an exploded view in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates portions of one explanatory display assembly in an exploded view in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates one explanatory display assembly in an exploded view in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 12 illustrates one explanatory display assembly in an undeformed state. FIG. 13 illustrates the explanatory display assembly of FIG. 12 in a deformed state. FIG. 14 illustrates the explanatory display assembly of FIG. 12 in another deformed state with an exploded view of a deformable portion of the display assembly shown in a magnified view. FIG. 15 illustrates one explanatory blade assembly in an exploded view in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 16 illustrates one explanatory perforation pattern for a substrate with a strain relief cutout for use in a blade assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 17 illustrates a portion of a blade assembly in a deformed state in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 18 illustrates a top, left, bottom perspective view of one explanatory electronic device with a blade assembly attached thereto with the blade assembly in a retracted position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 19 Illustrates a rear, right, bottom perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 18. FIG. 20 illustrates a top, left, bottom perspective view of one explanatory electronic device with a blade assembly attached thereto with the blade