Flexible Display Devices

摘要

Electronic devices may be provided that contain multiple housing portions. The housing portions may be 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. Flexible displays may be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housing portions in a device are rotated relative to each other, the flexible display may bend. The hinge may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which an active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration. Engagement structures may be used to help the housing grip external objects and to hold the housing portions together. The hinges may be provided with rotational detents to help hold the flexible display in desired positions.

主权项

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having at least first and second housing portions; a hinge that couples the first housing portion to the second housing portion so that the first and second housing portions rotate relative to each other; a flexible display mounted on the housing and overlapping the hinge; and a tensioning structure that tensions at least one end of the flexible display to maintain the display in a planar configuration when at least part of the flexible display slides relative to the housing as the first and second portions of the housing are rotated relative to each other.