IP Library Granted Patent US 10,101,772
Granted Patent B2
US 10,101,772 · App. 14/494,966 · Granted Oct 16, 2018

Protective cover and display position detection for a flexible display screen

Inventors: Deeder M. Aurongzeb (Austin, TX); John Trevor Morrison (Round Rock, TX); Lawrence E. Knepper (Leander, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products, LP
G06F1/1652G06F1/1677
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,101,772
App. No.
14/494,966
Granted
Oct 16, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information handling system includes a flexible display screen, first and second display platforms, and a coating. The flexible display screen includes first and second surfaces, and has a first hardness level. The flexible display screen movably mounted to the first and second display platforms along the first surface. The coating is in physical communication with the second surface of the flexible display screen and includes a first region having a second hardness level greater than the first hardness level of the flexible display screen; and a second region having a third hardness level, the third hardness level being greater than the second harness level.

Claims (43)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a flexible display screen having first and second surfaces, and a first hardness level;

first and second display platforms, the flexible display screen movably mounted to the first and second display platforms along the second surface; and

a coating in physical communication with the first surface of the flexible display screen, the coating including:

a first region having a second hardness level greater than the first hardness level of the flexible display screen;

a second region having a third hardness level, the third hardness level being greater than the second hardness level; and

a cover in physical communication with a back surface of the first display platform opposite of the flexible display screen and a back surface of the second display platform opposite of the flexible display screen, the cover includes a third region having a fourth hardness level being greater than the first hardness level.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the second hardness level of the first region varies from the third hardness level of the second region based on a thickness of the coating on first region relative to the second region.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the cover further includes a fourth region having a fifth hardness level, the fifth hardness level being less than the fourth hardness level.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an orientation sensor located within the cover, the orientation sensor to detect flexing of the cover, and to provide a signal indicating an amount of flexing to the information handling system.

5. The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the orientation sensor is selected from a pressure sensor and a strain sensor.

6. The information handling system of claim 3 , further comprising:

a basic input/output system to communicate with the orientation sensor, the basic input/output system to receive the signal, and to determine, via a processor, an angle between the first and second display platforms based on the signal.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the first region is located proximate to a hinge connecting the first and second display platforms of the information handling system.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the first region includes:

a plurality of sub-regions, a hardness level of each of the plurality of sub-regions alternates from a high hardness level to a low hardness level.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the high hardness level sub-regions are approximately equal to the third hardness level.

10. An information handling system comprising:

a flexible display screen having first and second surfaces, and a first hardness level;

first and second display platforms, the flexible display screen movably mounted to the first and second display platforms along the second surface; and

a coating in physical communication with the first surface of the flexible display screen, the coating including:

a first region of the flexible display screen including a plurality of sub-regions, a hardness level of each of the plurality of sub-regions alternates from a high hardness level to a low hardness level, wherein the high hardness level and the low hardness level are both greater than the first hardness level of the flexible display screen; and

at least one sub-region having a third hardness level, the third hardness level being different than the high hardness level, low hardness level, and the first hardness level.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein the hardness level of each of the sub-regions varies based on a thickness of the sub-regions.

12. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein the hardness level of each of the sub-regions varies based on a material composition of the sub-regions.

13. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein a transition of one of the sub-regions to the next is undetectable by a human finger is based on a width of each of the sub-regions.

14. The information handling system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a cover in physical communication with an edge of the first display platform opposite of the flexible display screen and an edge of the second display platform opposite of the flexible display screen, the first region having a sub-region having a fourth hardness level, the fourth hardness level being greater than the first hardness level.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , further comprising:

an orientation sensor located within the cover, the orientation sensor to detect flexing of the cover, and to provide a signal indicating an amount of flexing to the information handling system.

16. The information handling system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a basic input/output system to communicate with the orientation sensor, the basic input/output system to receive the signal, and to determine, via a processor, an angle between the first and second display platforms based on the signal.

17. A method for providing a coating on a flexible display screen of an information handling system, the method comprising:

applying a first coating layer of a coating to a first surface of the flexible display screen, wherein the flexible display screen has a first hardness level and the first coating layer on the flexible display screen has a second hardness level greater than the first hardness level;

applying a mask on top of the first coating layer;

applying a second coating layer of the coating to the first coating layer, wherein the mask prevents the second coating layer from being applied to a masked region of the first coating layer where the mask is applied, wherein the second coating layer with the first coating layer in unmasked regions has a third hardness level greater than the second hardness level;

removing the mask from the coating;

movably mounting the flexible display screen to first and second display platforms along a second surface; and

operatively coupling a cover to a back surface of the first display platform and the second display platform opposite of the flexible display screen, the cover including a cover region having a fourth hardness level being greater than the first hardness level.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the mask further prevents the second coating layer from being applied to particular strips of the first coating layer within a region aligned with a hinge.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the wherein the mask prevents the second coating layer from being applied to a plurality of sub-regions of the first coating layer within a region aligned with a hinge.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cover region further includes a cover-subregion aligned with a hinge having a fifth hardness level, the fifth hardness level being less than the fourth hardness level.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 034590 FRAME 0731 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 040027/0070 →
RELEASE OF REEL 034591 FRAME 0391 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 040027/0719 →
RELEASE OF REEL 034590 FRAME 0696 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 040016/0964 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Dec 10, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034590/0696 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Dec 10, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034591/0391 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Dec 10, 2014
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034590/0731 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: AURONGZEB, DEEDER M.; MORRISON, JOHN TREVOR; KNEPPER, LAWRENCE E.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
Reel/Frame 033961/0224 →
Continuity (1)
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