WO2007000719A1

WO2007000719A1 - Foldable electronic display devices having flexible and / or rollable screens

Info

Publication number: WO2007000719A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/052102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolaas W. Schellingerhout; Manfred Nitsch; Neil Gridley; Kenny Darmadji
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV; Polymer Vision BV; US Philips Corp
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV; Polymer Vision BV; US Philips Corp
Priority date: 2005-06-29
Filing date: 2006-06-26
Publication date: 2007-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-29
Also published as: TW200717420A

Abstract

A foldable display device (electronic book) (10) , comprises cover members (11a, 11b) and a flexible display screen (20) . In one design the screen is unrolled from a rolling mechanism (30, 31) on opening and rolled up again on closing. A fixed attachment (31) ('screen guide') of the free end of the screen to a cover member opposite to that to which the rolling mechanism is attached, ensures that the rolling of the screen is automatic. A generalisation to more than two cover members is also described. In a second design (12) , the rolling means is dispensed with: the flexible screen (20) is permanently fixed to both cover members irrespective of the device being open or closed. The part of the screen above the hinge (16) in the open position is bent and accommodated into a recess (escape) groove (15a) ('loop seat') on closing to avoid kinking the screen.

Description

POLDABLE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY DEVICES HAVING FLEXIBLE AND / OR ROLLABLE SCREENS

The present invention generally relates to flexible display screens. The present invention specifically relates to a folding and an unfolding of foldable devices incorporating 5 flexible display screens.

A device using a flexible display screen (e.g., a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a smart phone, an organizer, an E-book, etc.) can be designed such that are only two primary structural configurations. The first primary structural configuration is a non-viewing position involving a rolling of a flexible display screen within a housing unit of the device in a

10 projection screen manner for storing the flexible display screen therein. The second primary structural configuration is a viewing position involving an unrolling of flexible display screen from within the housing unit of the device in a projection screen manner for visibly exposing the flexible display screen. An example of such a device is shown and described in Japanese Patent Abstract 10-399866.

15 One drawback to this type of device is the flexible display screen is unprotected when in the viewing position. A second drawback to this type of device is the flexible display screen needs to be held taut by the user to be readable when in the viewing position. To this end, the present invention provides foldable devices incorporating flexible display screens where the foldable devices are designed with new and unique primary structural 0 configurations that address these drawbacks.

In one form of the present invention, the foldable device employs a book, a flexible display screen, and a rolling mechanism structurally configurable between an open position and a closed position. The book is operable to be unfolded to define the open position and the rolling mechanism is operable to unroll the flexible display screen in response to the book 5 being unfolded whereby an operating view of the flexible display screen is unenclosed by the book. Conversely, the book is operable to be folded to define the closed position and the rolling mechanism is operable to roll the flexible display screen within the book in response to the book being folded whereby the operating view of the flexible display screen is enclosed, partially or entirely, by the book. 0 In a second form of the present invention, the foldable device employs a book and a flexible display screen structurally configurable between an open position and a closed position. The book is operable to be folded to define the closed position and the flexible display screen is operable to be folded and seated within a loop seat of the book in response to the book being folded. To this end, the book includes a plurality of cover segments whereby the loop seat is at least partially formed by the plurality of cover segments whereby the operating view of the flexible display screen is enclosed, partially or entirely, by the book. Conversely, the book is operable to be unfolded to define the open position and the flexible display screen is operable to be unfolded and unseated from the loop seat of the book in response to the book being unfolded whereby an operating view of the flexible display screen is unenclosed by the book.

The foregoing forms and other forms of the present invention as well as various features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting, the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. FIGS. IA and IB respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of an open structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C illustrates a bottom view of a closed structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 A and 2B respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of an open structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C illustrates a bottom view of a closed structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 A and 3B respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of an open structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3C illustrates a bottom view of a closed structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 4 A and 4B respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of an open structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4C illustrates a bottom view of a closed structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 A and 5B respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of an open structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5C illustrates a bottom view of a closed structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of an open structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6C illustrates a bottom view of a closed structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 A and 7B respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of an open structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7C illustrates a bottom view of a closed structural configuration of a foldable device having a flexible display screen in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is premised on a foldable device incorporating a book and a flexible display screen that are designed to at least two primary structural configurations. The first primary structural configuration being an unfolding of the book to define an open position whereby an operating view of the flexible display screen is unenclosed by the book. The second primary structural configuration being a folding of the book to define a closed position whereby the operating view of the flexible display screen is enclosed, partially or entirely, by the book. - A -

One inventive principle of the present invention is to further incorporate a rolling mechanism in the foldable device that unrolls the flexible display screen in response to the book being unfolded and conversely rolls the flexible display screen in response to the book being folded. A second inventive principle of the present invention is utilize cover members of the book to form, partially or entirely, a loop seat within the book for seating a folded flexible display screen therein in response to the book being folded and for unseating an unfolded flexible display screen therefrom in response to the book being unfolded.

In practice, the present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions as to the manner by which the book, the flexible display screen and the rolling mechanism (if employed) are operably coupled to design the open and closed structural configurations of a foldable device in accordance with the present invention. Thus, the following description of exemplary foldable devices in accordance with the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1- 7 does not limit nor restrict the scope of the primary structural configurations of a foldable device in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 1 A-IC illustrate a folding device of the present invention incorporating a book

10a, a flexible display screen 20 and a rolling mechanism, which includes a retractable cylinder 30 and a screen guide 31. Book 10a includes a cover member 11a and a cover member 1 Ib operably hinged (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unfolding of book 10a as shown in FIGS. IA and IB, and to facilitate a folding of book 10a as shown in FIG. 1C. Retractable cylinder 30 is operably coupled to cover member 1 Ib and screen 20 (not shown), and screen guide 31 is operably coupled to cover member 11a and screen 20 (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unrolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1C as book 10a is being unfolded, and to facilitate a rolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. IB as book 10a is being folded. As shown in FIGS. IA and IB, an operating view 21 of screen 20 is unenclosed by an unfolding of book 10a. As shown in FIG. 1C, operating view 21 of screen 20 is enclosed by book 10a by a folding of book 10a.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a folding device of the present invention incorporating a book 10b, flexible display screen 20 and rolling mechanism, which includes retractable cylinder 30 screen guide 31, and a non-retractable cylinder 32. Book 10b includes a cover member l ie and a cover member 1 Id operably hinged (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unfolding of book 10b as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and to facilitate a folding of book 10b as shown in FIG. 2C. Retractable cylinder 30 is operably coupled to book 10b adjacent the hinging of cover member l ie and cover member 1 Id (not shown), screen guide 31 is operably coupled to cover member 1 Id (not shown), and non-retractable cylinder 32 is operably coupled to cover member 1 Ic (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unrolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2C as book 10b is being unfolded, and to facilitate a rolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2B as book 10b is being folded. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, an operating view 21 of screen 20 is unenclosed by an unfolding of book 10b. As shown in FIG. 2C, operating view 21 of screen 20 is enclosed by book 10b by a folding of book 10b.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a folding device of the present invention incorporating a book 10c, a flexible display screen 20 and a rolling mechanism, which includes retractable cylinder 30 and screen guide 31. Book 10c includes a cover member l ie and a cover member 1 If operably hinged (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unfolding of book 10c as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and to facilitate a folding of book 10c as shown in FIG. 3C. Retractable cylinder 30 is operably coupled to cover member 1 If and screen 20 (not shown), and screen guide 31 is operably coupled to cover member l ie and screen 20 (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unrolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3C as book 10c is being unfolded, and to facilitate a rolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3B as book 10c is being folded. As shown in FIGS. 3 A and 3B, an operating view 21 of screen 20 is unenclosed by an unfolding of book 10c. As shown in FIG. 3C, operating view 21 of screen 20 is enclosed by book 10c by a folding of book 10c.

FIGS.4A-4C illustrate a folding device of the present invention incorporating a book 1Od, a flexible display screen 20 and a rolling mechanism, which includes retractable cylinder 30 and screen guide 31. Book 1Od includes a cover member 1 Ig and a cover member 1 Ih operably hinged (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unfolding of book 1Od as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and to facilitate a folding of book 1Od as shown in FIG. 4C. Retractable cylinder 30 is operably coupled to cover member 1 Ig and screen 20 (not shown), and screen guide 31 is operably coupled to cover member 1 Ih and screen 20 (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unrolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4C as book 1Od is being unfolded, and to facilitate a rolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4B as book 1Od is being folded. As shown in FIGS. 4 A and 4B, an operating view 21 of screen 20 is unenclosed by an unfolding of book 1Od. As shown in FIG. 4C, operating view 21 of screen 20 is enclosed by book 1Od by a folding of book 1Od.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate a folding device of the present invention incorporating a book 1Oe, a flexible display screen 20 and a rolling mechanism, which includes retractable cylinder 30 and screen guide 31. Book 1Oe includes cover members 1 Ii-111 operably hinged (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unfolding of book 1Oe as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, and to facilitate a folding of book 1Oe as shown in FIG. 5C. Retractable cylinder 30 is operably coupled to cover member 1 Ii and screen 20 (not shown), and screen guide 31 is operably coupled to cover member 111 and screen 20 (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unrolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5C as book 1Oe is being unfolded, and to facilitate a rolling of screen 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5B as book 1Oe is being folded. As shown in FIGS. 5 A and 5B, an operating view 21 of screen 20 is unenclosed by an unfolding of book 1Oe. As shown in FIG. 5C, operating view 21 of screen 20 is enclosed by book 1Oe by a folding of book 1Oe.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a folding device of the present invention incorporating a book 12a and flexible display screen 20. Book 12a includes a cover member 13a and a cover member 14a operably hinged by a hinging mechanism 16 as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unfolding of book 12a as shown in FIGS. 6 A and 6B, and to facilitate a folding of book 12a as shown in FIG. 6C. Hinging mechanism 16 serves to primarily form a loop seat 15a while a portion of cover member 13a and a portion of cover member 14a adjacent hinging mechanism 16 are shaped to secondarily form loop seat 15a as best shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Screen 20 is operably coupled to cover member 13a and cover member 14a (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unseating of an unfolding screen 20 from within loop seat 15a as book 12a is being unfolded as shown in FIG. 6B, and to facilitate a seating of a folding screen 20 within loop seat 15a as book 12a is being folded as shown in FIG. 6C. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, an operating view 21 of screen 20 is unenclosed by an unfolding of book 12a. As shown in FIG. 6C, operating view 21 of screen 20 is enclosed by book 12a by a folding book 12a.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a folding device of the present invention incorporating a book 12b and flexible display screen 20. Book 12b includes a cover member 13b and a cover member 14b operably hinged (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unfolding of book 12b as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and to facilitate a folding of book 12b as shown in FIG. 1C. A portion of cover member 13b and a portion of cover member 14b adjacent hinging mechanism 16 are shaped to primarily form a loop seat 15b as book 12b is being folded as best shown in FIG. 7C, and to separate loop seat 15b into two portions as book 12b is being unfolded as best shown in FIG. 7B. Screen 20 is operably coupled to cover member 13b and cover member 14b (not shown) as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate an unseating of an unfolded screen 20 from within loop seat 15b as book 12b is being unfolding as shown in FIG. 7B, and to facilitate a seating of a folded screen 20 within loop seat 15b as book 12b is being folding as shown in FIG. 7C. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, an operating view 21 of screen 20 is unenclosed by an unfolding of book 12b. As shown in FIG. 7C, operating view 21 of screen 20 is enclosed by book 12b by a folding book 12b.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, in practice, the present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions as to the manner by which a driving electronics (not shown) is connected to flexible display screen 20. In one embodiment, a driving electronics can be connected to screen 20 by a freely rotating connector adjacent screen guide 31.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the relative coupling positions of the various components of the rolling mechanism to the book as well as the size and shape of such components can affect the size and shape of the book, particularly the thickness of the cover members, and the size and shape of the flexible display screen, particularly the total unrolled length of the flexible display screen. Similarly, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the relative coupling positions of the opposing ends of the flexible display screen to the cover members of the book as well the size and shape of the flexible display screen can affect the size and shape of the book, particularly the thickness of the cover members and radius of a hinging mechanism if employed. Thus, as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, each fabrication of a foldable device of the present invention can involve a tradeoff between a total space consumed by the foldable device and a total cost of the foldable device. Of course, this tradeoff can be affected itself by any additional functionality added to the foldable device. Referring again to FIGS. 1-7, those having ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate that the relative dimensions of each cover member of a book can affect whether an operating view of a rolled flexible display screen shown in FIGS. 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C and 5C or an operating view of a folded flexible display screen shown in FIGS. 6C and 7C is entirely enclosed by a folded book as shown in these figures or is partially enclosed by a folded book in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Further, a window may be designed in a cover member to visibly expose a portion of an operating view of a rolled flexible display screen entirely enclosed by a folded book as shown in FIGS. 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C and 5C, and to visibly expose a portion of another operating view of a folded display screen entirely enclosed by a folded book as shown in FIGS. 6C and 7C if such a screen is double-sided. Still referring to FIGS. 1 -7, those having ordinary skills in the art will appreciate numerous advantages of the present invention including, but not limited to, addressing the drawbacks of the background art previously described herein.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above by way of example only, and it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Further, in the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The term "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The terms "a" or " an" does not exclude a plurality. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that measures are recited in mutually different independent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A foldable device, comprising: a book (10), a flexible display screen (20) and a rolling mechanism (30, 31) structurally configurable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the book (10) is operable to be unfolded to define the open position and the rolling mechanism (30, 31) is operable to unroll the flexible display screen (20) in response to the book (10) being unfolded whereby an operating view (21) of the flexible display screen (20) is unenclosed by the book (10), and wherein the book (10) is operable to be folded to define the closed position and the rolling mechanism (30, 31) is operable to roll the flexible display screen (20) within the book (10) in response to the book (10) being folded whereby the operating view (21) of the flexible display screen (20) is at least partially enclosed by the book (10).

2. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the rolling mechanism (30, 31) includes a retractable cylinder (30) operably coupled to the book (10) and the flexible display screen (20).

3. The foldable device of claim 2, wherein the book (10) includes a plurality of cover members (11), each cover member being operatively hinged to at least one other cover member.

4. The foldable device of claim 3, wherein the retractable cylinder (30) is operably coupled to a first cover member of the plurality of cover members (11).

5. The foldable device of claim 4, wherein the rolling mechanism (30, 31) further includes a screen guide (31) operably coupled to the flexible display screen (20) and a second cover member of the plurality of cover members (11).

6. The foldable device of claim 5, wherein at least a third cover member of the plurality of cover members (11) is between the first cover member and the second cover member.

7. The foldable device of claim 2, wherein the book (10) includes a plurality of cover members (11), each cover member being operably hinged to at least one other cover member; and wherein the retractable cylinder (30) is adjacent an operable hinging of a first cover member and a second cover member of the plurality of cover members (11).

8. The foldable device of claim 7, wherein the rolling mechanism (30, 31) further includes a screen guide (31) operably coupled to the flexible display screen (20) and the first cover member.

9. The foldable device of claim 7, wherein the rolling mechanism (30, 31) further includes a non-retractable cylinder (32) operably coupled to the flexible display screen (20) and the second cover member.

10. The foldable device of claim 7, wherein the rolling mechanism (30, 31) further includes: a screen guide (31) operably coupled to the flexible display screen (20) and the first cover member; and a non-retractable cylinder (32) operably coupled to the flexible display screen (20) and the second cover member.

11. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the foldable device functions as at least one of a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a smart phone, an organizer and an E-book.

12. A foldable device, comprising: a book (10) operable to be unfolded to define an open position and to be folded to define a closed position; a flexible display screen (20); means (30, 31) for unrolling the flexible display screen (20) in response to the book (10) being unfolded wherein an operating view (21) of the flexible display screen (20) is unenclosed by the book (10), and means for rolling the flexible display screen (20) in response to the book (10) being folded wherein the operating view (21) of the flexible display screen (20) is at least partially enclosed by the book (10).

13. The foldable device of claim 12, wherein the foldable device functions as at least one of a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a smart phone, an organizer and an E-book.

14. A device, comprising: a book (12) and a flexible display screen (20) structurally configurable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the book (12) is operable to be folded to define the closed position and the flexible display screen (20) is operable to be seated within a loop seat (15) of the book (12) in response to the book (12) being folded whereby an operating view (21) of the flexible display screen (20) is at least partially enclosed by the book (11), and wherein the book (12) includes a first cover member (13) and a second cover member (14) operably hinged to at least partially form the loop seat (15) in response to the book (12) being folded.

15. The foldable device of claim 14, wherein the book (12) is operable to be unfolded to define the open position and the flexible display screen (20) is operable to unseated from within the loop seat (15) of the book (12) in response to the book (12) being unfolded.

16. The foldable device of claim 15, wherein the book (12) includes a first cover member (13) and a second cover member (14) operably hinged to at least partially separate at least two portions of the loop seat (15) in response to the book (12) being unfolded.

17. The foldable device of claim 14, wherein the book (12) further includes a hinging mechanism (16) operably hinging the first cover member (13) and the second cover member (14); and wherein the first cover member (13), the second cover member (14) and the hinging mechanism (16) at least partially form the loop seat (15) in response to the book (12) being folded.

18. The foldable device of claim 15, wherein the book (12) further includes a hinging mechanism (16) operably hinging the first cover member (13) and the second cover member (14); wherein the first cover member (13), the second cover member (14) and the hinging mechanism (16) at least partially form the loop seat (15) in response to the book (12) being folded; and wherein the first cover member (13), the second cover member (14) and the hinging mechanism (16) at least partially form the loop seat (15) in response to the book (12) being unfolded.

19. The foldable device of claim 14, wherein the foldable device functions as at least one of a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a smart phone, an organizer and an E-book.