IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,296,211
Granted Patent B2
US 10,296,211 · App. 15/419,139 · Granted May 21, 2019

Foldable electronic device

Inventor: Jianyu Chen (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
G06F3/04883G06F1/1616G06F1/1618G06F1/1641G06F1/1652G06F1/1662G06F3/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,296,211
App. No.
15/419,139
Granted
May 21, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for a foldable electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a foldable display module for an electronic computing device. The foldable display module includes a left display module portion that is foldable relative to a right display module portion. The apparatus further includes a foldable input module for the electronic computing device. The foldable input module includes a left input portion that is foldable relative to a right input portion. The apparatus further includes a connector that pivotally connects the foldable display module to the foldable input module such that the foldable display module is capable of pivotally opening and closing relative to the foldable input module.

Claims (37)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a display module for an electronic computing device, comprising a left display portion that is foldable along a line of intersection with a right display portion, wherein the display module comprises a flexible display;

an input module for the electronic computing device, comprising a left input portion that is foldable relative to a right input portion; and

a connector that pivotally connects the display module to the input module such that the display module is capable of being folded together against the input module,

wherein, with the display module folded against the input module, the display module and the input module are configured to further fold together along the line of intersection with the left and right display portion positioned between the left and right input portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is capable of holding the display module at a predetermined angle relative to the input module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined angle is within a range selected from 0°-5°, 60°-120°, and 175°-180°.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is bendable at a position between the left input portion and the right input portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a first connector portion that is separable from a second connector portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a first connector portion spaced at a distance from a second connector portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a junction of the left input portion and the right input portion comprises an elastic material that enables the left input portion to fold relative to the right input portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the elastic material is selected from leather, rubber, silicone, fabric, and combinations thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the display module may be disposed in one of a closed position and an opened position relative to the input module and wherein the left display module portion and the left input portion are foldable relative to the right display module portion and the right input portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input module is non-detachably connected to the foldable display module.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a detachable connector that is capable of detachably connecting the display module to the input module.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the detachable connector is capable of magnetically connecting the input module to the display module.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a first body for an electronic device; and

a second body, that is connected to the first body, and that is capable of moving relative to the first body,

wherein the first body comprises a first part and a second part; the second body comprises a third part and a fourth part; and an entirety of the first part and third part are capable of moving relative to the second part and the fourth part,

wherein, with the first body folded against the second body, the first body and the second body are configured to further fold together along a line of intersection with the first part and the second part positioned between the third part and fourth part, and wherein the first body comprises a flexible display.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first body and the second body are connected via a first connecting component, wherein

the second body can rotate, relative to the first body, along the first connecting component.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first part of the first body and the second part of the first body intersect at a first position and the third part of the second body and the fourth part of the second body intersect at a second position,

wherein:

the first part is foldable relative to the second part, along the first position; the third part is foldable relative to the fourth part, along the second position; and

the relative positions of the first part and the third part remain unchanged.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first body comprises a flexible display, wherein:

a part of the flexible display is located in the first part and another part of the flexible display is located in the second part; and

when the entirety of the first part and third part moves relative to the second part and the fourth part, dimensions of the flexible display remain unchanged, and the dimensions of the second body change accordingly.

17. A method comprising:

providing a display module for an electronic device, the foldable display module comprising a left display portion that is foldable along a line of intersection with a right display portion;

providing an input module of an electronic device, the input module comprising a left input portion that is foldable relative to a right input portion; and

connecting the foldable display module to the foldable input module using a connector that enables the foldable display module to pivotally open and close relative to the foldable input module,

wherein, with the display module folded against the input module, the display module and the input module are configured to further fold together along the line of intersection with the left and right display portion positioned between the left and right input portion,

wherein the display module comprises a non-elastic flexible display and the input module comprises an elastic material such that the left display module portion and the left input portion is folded relative to the right display module portion and the right input portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the connector that connects the display module to the input module is selected from a flexible connector and a split connector.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2017
From: CHEN, JIANYU
To: LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042205/0031 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 2016 1 0067214 · Jan 29, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170220072A1 · Aug 3, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,699,422