Foldable device
View Patent ↗An apparatus including: housing parts foldably connected to each other, the housing parts being configured to be movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; a display assembly pivotably connected to the housing parts, wherein the display assembly comprises a flexible display part; the flexible display part is configured to bend in response to a closing movement of the housing parts; and the display assembly is configured to be retracted inside a space defined by the housing parts in response to a closing movement of the housing parts.
1. An apparatus comprising:
housing parts foldably connected to each other at a folding point, the housing parts being configured to be movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
a display assembly pivotably connected to the housing parts, wherein
the display assembly comprises a flexible display part;
the flexible display part is configured to bend in response to a closing movement of the housing parts; and
the display assembly is configured to be retracted inside a space, that is defined by the housing parts and that is behind a planar surface of the flexible display part in the open configuration of the housing parts, in response to a closing movement of the housing parts,
wherein the display assembly further comprises frame parts,
wherein each frame part is fixedly and pivotably connected to a respective housing part at a respective pivot point near an end of the respective housing part opposite the folding point such that each frame part is configured to rotate within the space about the respective pivot point in a direction opposite a direction of rotation about the folding point of the respective housing part to which the frame part is connected as the housing parts are moved between the open and closed configurations, and
wherein the flexible display part is assembled on the frame parts.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a force applied to the apparatus to move the housing parts towards the closed configuration is configured to cause retraction of the display assembly inside the space defined by the housing parts.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display part extends over a surface of each housing part.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is configured to be moved outward in the space defined by the housing parts in response to an opening movement of the housing parts.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame parts are configured to meet inner wall of the housing parts in the closed configuration.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
in the closed configuration the housing parts are folded against each other and the flexible display part is hidden in a bent position inside a space defined by the housing parts.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
in the open configuration the housing parts are folded away from each other and the flexible display part is exposed.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the display assembly into a certain position in dependence of the configuration of the housing parts.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the display assembly into at least one of the following positions in dependence of the configuration of the housing parts: an open position, a closed position and an intermediate position.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing parts are made of rigid material.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing parts comprises at least one resilient section.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing parts comprises at least partially resilient structure.
13. A method comprising
controlling a device comprising a foldable housing structure and a display assembly pivotably connected to the housing structure, the housing structure comprising housing parts foldably connected to each other at a folding point and the display assembly comprising a flexible display part,
bending the flexible display part and retracting the display assembly inside a space, that is defined by the housing structure and that is behind a planar surface of the flexible display part in an open configuration of the housing structure, in response to the device being folded towards a closed configuration,
wherein the display assembly further comprises frame parts,
wherein each frame part is fixedly and pivotably connected to a respective housing part at a respective pivot point near an end of the respective housing part opposite the folding point such that each frame part rotates within the space about the respective pivot point in a direction opposite a direction of rotation about the folding point of the respective housing part to which the frame part is connected as the device is being folded towards the closed configuration, and
wherein the flexible display part is assembled on the frame parts.
14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising causing retraction of the display assembly inside the housing structure in response to a force being applied to the device to fold the device towards the closed configuration.
15. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising moving the display assembly outward in response to an opening movement of the device.