Expandable mobile device

1. An expandable mobile device, comprising:

first and second housing parts configured to slide-engage relative to each other to extend and retract the expandable mobile device;

a flexible display configured to extend from an interior of the expandable mobile device as the second housing part slides out from the first housing part, the flexible display further configured to retract into the interior of the expandable mobile device as the second housing part slides into the first housing part;

rollers integrated in the first housing part and configured to bend the flexible display around a fixed radius to position a first section of the flexible display approximately parallel to a second section of the flexible display in a retracted position of the expandable mobile device;

first and second support plates configured to support the flexible display; and

carrier tracks configured to gear-engage the rollers and position the first support plate adjacent the second support plate in an extended position of the expandable mobile device, wherein the first support plate engages the second support plate to position the first support plate over the second support plate in the retracted position of the expandable mobile device.

2. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second section of the flexible display is configured to roll through the fixed radius over the rollers and extend from the first housing part in an extended position of the expandable mobile device.

3. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rollers bend the flexible display through a one-hundred and eighty degree (180°) bend that positions the first section of the flexible display approximately parallel to the second section of the flexible display.

4. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second support plate is configured for actuation to position the second support plate under the second section of the flexible display in the extended position of the expandable mobile device.

5. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a bistable mechanism configured to bias the first and second housing parts when the expandable mobile device is extended and retracted.

6. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second housing parts are transparent, and the second section of the flexible display is viewable in the interior of the expandable mobile device in the retracted position of the expandable mobile device.

7. A method, comprising:

slide-engaging first and second housing parts of an expandable mobile device relative to each other to extend and retract the expandable mobile device;

retracting a flexible display into an interior of the expandable mobile device when the second housing part slides into the first housing part;

bending the flexible display around a fixed radius to position a first section of the flexible display approximately parallel to a second section of the flexible display in a retracted position of the expandable mobile device;

supporting the flexible display with first and second support plates; and

positioning the first support plate adjacent the second support plate in an extended position of the expandable mobile device.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising extending the second section of the flexible display from the interior of the expandable mobile device when the second housing part slides out from the first housing part.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising rolling the second section of the flexible display through the fixed radius to said extend the second section of the flexible display from the interior of the expandable mobile device.

10. A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising bending the flexible display through a one-hundred and eighty degree (180°) bend that positions the first section of the flexible display approximately parallel to the second section of the flexible display.

11. A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising positioning the first support plate over the second support plate when the first support plate engages the second support plate in the retracted position of the expandable mobile device.

12. A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising actuating to position the second support plate under the second section of the flexible display in the extended position of the expandable mobile device when the first support plate is positioned adjacent the second support plate.

13. A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising biasing the first and second housing parts with a bistable mechanism when the expandable mobile device is extended and retracted.

14. An expandable mobile device, comprising:

a flexible display configured to extend from an interior of the expandable mobile device as housing parts slide-extend relative to each other, the flexible display further configured to retract into the interior of the expandable mobile device as the housing parts slide-retract relative to each other;

rollers configured to bend the flexible display around a fixed radius to position a first section of the flexible display approximately parallel to a second section of the flexible display in the interior of the expandable mobile device in a retracted position of the expandable mobile device;

first and second support plates configured to support the flexible display; and

carrier tracks configured to gear-engage the rollers and position the first support plate adjacent the second support plate in an extended position of the expandable mobile device, wherein the first support plate engages the second support plate to position the first support plate over the second support plate in the retracted position of the expandable mobile device.

15. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the rollers bend the flexible display through a one-hundred and eighty degree (180°) bend that positions the first section of the flexible display approximately parallel to the second section of the flexible display.

16. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the second support plate is configurable for actuation to position the second support plate under the second section of the flexible display in the extended position of the expandable mobile device when the first support plate is positioned adjacent the second support plate.

17. An expandable mobile device as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:

a take-up film that is affixed to a trailing edge of the flexible display and to ends of the carrier tracks; and

a take-up roller configured to spool the take-up film as the expandable mobile device is closed to the retracted position.