Mobile electronic device enabling screen size variation
View Patent ↗A mobile electronic device includes a flexible display having a front display surface and a back non-display surface; and a folding mechanism configured such that the display is folded with back non-display surfaces facing each other. The folding mechanism may include at least one rounded radius about which the display is folded, and may be configured such that the display is folded a plurality of times. The mobile electronic device may take the form of a display accessory including a docking mechanism for receiving a primary mobile electronic device.
1. A mobile electronic device comprising a housing coupled to a foldable display supported by a plurality of flat backing surfaces and a plurality of curved backing surfaces, wherein the foldable display comprises a first bend segment and a second bend segment and is configured for respective ones of the first bend segment and the second bend segment to fold about opposite sides of the housing so as to overlap at a backside of the housing; the plurality of curved backing surfaces comprising a first curved backing surface and a second curved backing surface coupled to the housing; wherein in a folded state, the first bend segment and the second bend segment are in contact with respective ones of the first curved backing surface and the second curved backing surface; and in an unfolded state, the first bend segment and the second bend segment have reduced contact with respective ones of the first curved backing surface and the second curved backing surface; wherein, apart from the first bend segment of the display and the second bend segment of the display, a position of the display relative to the plurality of flat backing surfaces is not shifted between the folded state and the unfolded state.
2. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flat backing surfaces comprising first and second flat backing surfaces coupled to the housing, configured to support portions of the foldable display that overlap at the backside of the housing.
3. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second flat backing surfaces are thin relative to the housing.
4. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second flat backing surfaces are not housings that enclose printed circuit boards that fill a bulk of the housings.