IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,440,842
Granted Patent B2
US 10,440,842 · App. 15/923,692 · Granted Oct 8, 2019

Flexible electronic device

Inventors: Xiaoli Fan (Beijing, CN); Changlong Zuo (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
H05K5/0017G09F9/301H05K5/0217E05D3/06E05Y2900/606G06F1/1652
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,440,842
App. No.
15/923,692
Granted
Oct 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flexible electronic device includes a flexible shaft including a first side and a second side not parallel to each other, and a flexible screen coupled to the first side. The first side deforms with a rotation of the flexible shaft and the second side does not deform with the rotation of the flexible shaft. The flexible screen deforms in synchronism with a deformation of the first side.

Claims (60)

1. A flexible electronic device, comprising:

a flexible shaft including a first side and a second side not parallel to each other, wherein the first side deforms with a rotation of the flexible shaft, and the second side does not deform with the rotation of the flexible shaft;

a support member connected to the first side of the flexible shaft and including a connecting portion and a carrying portion; and

a flexible screen coupled to the first side and on a surface of the support member that includes a surface of the carrying portion, wherein the flexible screen deforms in synchronism with a deformation of the first side.

2. The flexible electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the flexible screen and the flexible shaft do not overlap in a direction of the second side.

3. The flexible electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

an overlap error between a neutral layer of the flexible screen and a neutral layer of the flexible shaft is smaller than a preset value when the flexible shaft is in a flat state,

a tensile stress and a compressive stress on the neutral layer of the flexible shaft is close to zero when the flexible shaft is in a bent state, and

a tensile stress and a compressive stress on the neutral layer of the flexible screen is close to zero when the flexible screen is in a bent state.

4. The flexible electronic device of claim 3 , wherein:

the preset value is about 0.1 mm.

5. The flexible electronic device of claim 3 , wherein:

the preset value is a first preset value, and

a distance between the neutral layer of the flexible shaft and the surface of the support member is greater than a second preset value when the flexible shaft and the support member are in the flat state.

6. The flexible electronic device of claim 3 , further comprising:

an adhesive layer between the surface of the support member and the flexible screen.

7. The flexible electronic device of claim 6 , wherein:

a thickness of the adhesive layer is smaller than or equal to a distance between the neutral layer of the flexible screen and the neutral layer of the flexible shaft.

8. The flexible electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

one end of the connecting portion is connected to the first side of the flexible shaft; and

another end of the connecting portion is connected to the carrying portion.

9. The flexible electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the carrying portion includes a plurality of rigid metal strip groups arranged in parallel; and

the plurality of rigid metal strip groups form the surface when the flexible shaft and the support member are in the flat state.

10. The flexible electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:

a longitudinal direction of one of the rigid metal strip groups is perpendicular to a direction of the first side,

one end of the one of the rigid metal strip groups is connected with a first type shaft of the flexible shaft through the connecting portion, and

a relative mounting position of the first type shaft is unchanged during the deformation of the flexible shaft.

11. The flexible electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:

the one of the rigid metal strip groups includes two rigid metal strips,

a longitudinal direction of one of the rigid metal strips is perpendicular to the direction of the first side,

one end of the one of the rigid metal strips is connected with the first type shaft of the flexible shaft through the connecting portion, and

the rigid metal strips of the rigid metal strip groups form the surface of the support member when the flexible shaft and the support member are in the flat state.

12. The flexible electronic device of claim 11 , wherein:

the connecting portion includes a hollow structure, and

the first type shaft is fitted in the hollow structure.

13. The flexible electronic device of claim 12 , wherein:

the connecting portion of a first one of the rigid metal strips of the one of the rigid metal strip groups includes a hollow circular member,

the connection portion of a second one of the rigid metal strips of the one of the rigid metal strip groups includes a hollow semicircular member, and

a radius of the hollow circular member is smaller than a radius of the hollow semicircular member.

14. The flexible electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:

the hollow circular member protrudes from the first one of the rigid metal strips in a first direction,

the hollow semicircular member protrudes from the second one of the rigid metal strips in the first direction, and extends from the second one of the rigid metal strips in a second direction, and

the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction when the flexible shaft and the support member are in the flat state.

15. The flexible electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the flexible shaft is a first flexible shaft

the flexible electronic device further comprising:

a second flexible shaft,

wherein:

a first end in a longitudinal direction of the support member is connected to the first flexible shaft, and

a second end in the longitudinal direction of the support member is connected to the second flexible shaft.

16. The flexible electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a rigid housing,

wherein the rigid housing is connected to the second side.

17. The flexible electronic device of claim 16 , wherein:

the rigid housing encloses the second side, and

a portion of the flexible shaft is inside the rigid housing.

18. The flexible electronic device of claim 16 , further comprising:

electronic modules located inside the rigid housing, wherein the electronic module communicate with the flexible screen.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2018
From: FAN, XIAOLI; ZUO, CHANGLONG
To: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 045257/0104 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 2017 1 0161712 · Mar 17, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180270964A1 · Sep 20, 2018