US 12,114,451 B2
Electronic devices with folding displays having flexible area support structures
Que Anh S. Nguyen, San Jose, CA (US); and Matthew S. Rogers, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/538,701.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/166,555, filed on Mar. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/127,690, filed on Dec. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0201885 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. H05K 5/03 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); H05K 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC H05K 5/03 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1652 (2013.01); H05K 5/0017 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a foldable housing that is configured to bend about a bend axis;
a flexible display panel that overlaps the bend axis; and
a display cover layer that overlaps the flexible display panel, wherein the display cover layer has an inner surface that faces the flexible display panel and has an opposing outer surface and wherein the display cover layer has a groove extending along the bend axis that forms a locally thinned portion of the display cover layer;
polymer in the groove; and
stiffening structures comprising particles embedded in the polymer that enhance resistance of the outer surface over the locally thinned portion to inward deformation while allowing the display cover layer to bend about the bend axis.
 
17. An electronic device, comprising:
a foldable housing that is configured to bend about a bend axis;
a flexible display panel that overlaps the bend axis;
a glass display cover layer that overlaps the flexible display panel, wherein the glass display cover layer has an outer surface and has an inner surface facing the flexible display panel and wherein the glass display cover layer has a recess in the inner surface that extends along the bend axis and forms a locally thinned portion of the glass display cover layer; and
polymer in the recess that contains glass strips that stiffen the outer surface over the recess while allowing the glass display cover layer to bend about the bend axis, wherein the polymer is interposed between the glass strips and the glass display cover layer.
 
19. A foldable display, comprising:
a foldable display panel configured to fold about a bend axis; and
a display cover layer that overlaps the foldable display panel, wherein the display cover layer has a recess forming a locally thinned portion of the display cover layer that extends along the bend axis, the display cover layer comprising:
a first layer of glass that overlaps the foldable display panel;
a second layer of glass attached to an inner surface of the first layer of glass by a polymer layer, wherein the second layer of glass has first and second halves separated by a gap that forms the recess; and
polymer containing glass stiffening structures in the recess, wherein the polymer is interposed between the glass stiffening structures and the display cover layer.
 
24. An electronic device, comprising:
a foldable housing that is configured to bend about a bend axis;
a flexible display panel that overlaps the bend axis;
a display cover layer that overlaps the flexible display panel, wherein the display cover layer has an inner surface that faces the flexible display panel and has an opposing outer surface and wherein the display cover layer has a groove extending along the bend axis that forms a locally thinned portion of the display cover layer;
polymer in the groove; and
dielectric particles embedded in the polymer that enhance resistance of the outer surface over the locally thinned portion to inward deformation while allowing the display cover layer to bend about the bend axis, wherein the dielectric particles have a mean diameter between 0.01 microns and 50 microns and wherein the mean diameter varies as a function of distance through the polymer.