US 12,282,360 B2
Electronic device with flexible display structures
Scott A. Myers, Saratoga, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/439,595.
Application 18/439,595 is a continuation of application No. 18/157,649, filed on Jan. 20, 2023, granted, now 11,971,753.
Application 18/157,649 is a continuation of application No. 17/322,762, filed on May 17, 2021, granted, now 11,586,251, issued on Feb. 21, 2023.
Application 17/322,762 is a continuation of application No. 16/797,424, filed on Feb. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,044,822, issued on Jun. 22, 2021.
Application 16/797,424 is a continuation of application No. 15/840,750, filed on Dec. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,602,623, issued on Mar. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/442,318, filed on Jan. 4, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0184335 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G09G 3/20 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01); H05K 1/18 (2006.01); H05K 5/00 (2006.01); H05K 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1652 (2013.01) [G06F 3/041 (2013.01); G09G 3/2096 (2013.01); H04M 1/0268 (2013.01); H05K 1/181 (2013.01); H05K 5/0017 (2013.01); H05K 5/0217 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04102 (2013.01); G09G 2354/00 (2013.01); G09G 2370/16 (2013.01); G09G 2380/02 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A foldable electronic device, comprising:
a first housing portion;
a second housing portion that is coupled to the first housing portion and that rotates relative to the first housing portion about a bend axis;
a flexible display that overlaps the first and second housing portions and that bends along the bend axis when the first and second housing portions rotate between an unfolded state and a folded state;
a plurality of support members configured to support the flexible display in the unfolded state and to allow the flexible display to fold in the folded state, wherein the plurality of support members comprises a first group of the support members in the first housing portion and a second group of the support members at the bend axis, the first group of the support members is configured to support the flexible display in the first housing portion in the unfolded state, and the second group of the support members is configured to support the flexible display at the bend axis in the unfolded state; and
a biasing member in the second housing portion that supports the flexible display in the unfolded state, wherein the biasing member is coupled to the second group of the support members.