IP Library Granted Patent US 12,461,565
Granted Patent B2
US 12,461,565 · App. 18/772,737 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Electronic devices with flexible displays having fastened bent edges

Inventors: John Raff (Menlo Park, CA); Scott A. Myers (Saratoga, CA); Christopher Stringer (Woodside, CA)
G06F1/1652G06F1/00G06F1/1601G06F1/1637H04L1/00H10K77/111Y10T29/49002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,461,565
App. No.
18/772,737
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device may be provided with a display having a flexible substrate with fastened bent edges. The flexible substrate may have an active region that includes an array of light-emitting elements such as organic light-emitting diodes. The flexible substrate may also have inactive regions that lie outside of the active region. The bent edges may include portions of the inactive regions and portions of the active region. The bent edges may be wrapped to conform to the shape of an internal support structure. The bent edges may be fastened to the support structure with fastening members that attach a housing member or an internal clamp to the support structure. The bent edges may be secured between the housing member or the internal clamp and the support structure. The fastening members may be engaged in openings in the support structure and may pass through or alongside the bent edges.

Claims (31)

1 . An electronic device, comprising:

a flexible display having a curved portion and having an array of pixels that extends onto the curved portion;

a display cover layer overlapping the flexible display and having a curved edge that overlaps the curved portion of the flexible display;

a rear housing wall having an opening that passes through the rear housing wall; and

a curved sidewall coupled between the rear housing wall and the curved edge of the display cover layer.

2 . The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the curved sidewall comprises aluminum.

3 . The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the array of pixels is configured to display images through the curved edge of the display cover layer.

4 . The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the rear housing wall comprises glass.

5 . The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible display has a planar portion.

6 . The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the display cover layer comprises an additional planar portion overlapping the planar portion of the flexible display.

7 . The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display cover layer has a portion that forms a lens.

8 . The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the lens is configured to correct optical distortions in images that are displayed by the array of pixels.

9 . The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a support structure around which the flexible display is bent.

10 . The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the support structure comprises a rounded edge.

11 . An electronic device, comprising:

a cover glass having a first curved edge;

a rear housing wall having a second curved edge and having an opening;

a metal band extending between the first and second curved edges; and

a flexible display configured to display images through the first curved edge.

12 . The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the cover glass has a portion that forms a lens over the flexible display.

13 . The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the metal band comprises aluminum.

14 . The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the flexible display comprises a substrate with a bent edge and an array of pixels that extends onto the bent edge.

15 . The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the cover glass, the rear housing wall, and the flexible display each have a planar portion.

16 . An electronic device, comprising:

a display cover layer having a first curved edge;

a flexible display configured to display images through the first curved edge; and

a rear housing member having an opening that passes through the rear housing member and having a second curved edge coupled to the first curved edge.

17 . The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the display cover layer comprises glass.

18 . The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the rear housing member comprises aluminum.

19 . The electronic device defined in claim 16 further comprising a support structure around which the flexible display is bent.

20 . The electronic device defined in claim 19 wherein the support structure comprises a rounded edge and wherein the flexible display conforms to the rounded edge.

Continuity (8)
Continuation 17733576 · Apr 29, 2022
Continuation 16909864 · Jun 23, 2020
Continuation 16691293 · Nov 21, 2019
Continuation 15802318 · Nov 2, 2017
Continuation 15016772 · Feb 5, 2016
Continuation 14247124 · Apr 7, 2014
Continuation 13452061 · Apr 20, 2012
Related Publication 20240370059A1 · Nov 7, 2024
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