Electronic devices with flexible displays

Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays and internal components. An internal component may be positioned under the flexible display. The internal component may be an output device such as a speaker that transmits sound through the flexible display or an actuator that deforms the display in a way that is sensed by a user. The internal component may also be a microphone or pressure sensor that receives sound or pressure information through the flexible display. Structural components may be used to permanently or temporarily deform the flexible display to provide tactile feedback to a user of the device.

BACKGROUND

This relates generally to flexible displays, and more particularly, to electronic devices with flexible displays.

Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with rigid displays made from rigid display structures. For example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) may be formed from a stack of rigid display structures such as a thin-film transistor layer with display pixels for providing visual feedback to a user, a color filter layer for providing the display pixels with color, a touch screen panel for gathering touch input from a user, and a cover glass layer for protecting the display and internal components.

Conventional devices may also have input-output components such as buttons, microphones, speakers, and other components. Openings are commonly formed in the housing of a conventional device to accommodate operation of these input-output components. For example, openings may be formed in a device housing to accommodate speaker and microphone ports and openings may be formed in a display cover glass layer to accommodate a speaker port and menu button.

The inclusion of these openings to accommodate input-output components may not be desirable. For example, the presence of openings may be aesthetically unappealing, may raise the risk of damage from environmental exposure, and may reduce the amount of active display area that is available to display images for a user.

It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved electronic devices.

SUMMARY

Electronic devices may be provided with flexible displays. The flexible displays may be composed of one or more flexible layers and may be mounted on top of or under a cover layer. For example, a flexible display may be mounted on top of a rigid support member or may be mounted on the underside of a rigid cover layer.

Electronic devices may also be provided with user interface components (input-output components) such as buttons, microphones, speakers, piezoelectric actuators (for receiving electrical input from a user or tactile feedback to users), or other actuators such as vibrators, pressure sensors, and other components. These components may be mounted under portions of a flexible display.

During operation of the electronic device, the flexibility of the display may allow a user to interact with the component through the display. For example, sound waves from a speaker or localized vibrations from an actuator in an electronic device may pass through the flexible display. The flexible display may also allow an internal microphone, pressure sensor, or force sensor (or other internal components) to receive external input. For example, a user may deflect a flexible display using a finger or other external object, barometric pressure may be monitored through the flexible display, or sound waves may be received through the flexible display.

Components may receive input or may supply output through a physically deformed portion of the flexible display (e.g., a deformation that occurs when a user presses on the display to compress the component). In some configurations, a portion of the flexible display may serve as a membrane that forms part of a microphone, speaker, pressure sensor, or other electronic component.

The ability of a user to compress a component such as a button switch by deforming the flexible display may allow the area of a device available for visual display to be enlarged. For example, the active area of a flexible display may overlap a component such as a button or speaker.

If desired, a flexible display may be deformed by an internal component to provide audio or tactile feedback to a user. For example, structures inside an electronic device may be pressed against portions of a flexible display to temporarily create an outline for a virtual on-screen button or to temporarily create a grid of ridges that serve to delineate the locations of keys in a keyboard (keypad).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electronic device may be provided with a flexible display and user interface components. User interface components may include buttons, switches, microphones, actuators such as solenoids, motors, and piezoelectric actuators, connector ports, touch screens, proximity sensors and other components for accepting input from, or transmitting information to, a user or the surrounding environment.

Flexible displays may be formed from flexible layers such as a flexible display layer (e.g., a flexible organic light-emitting diode array), a flexible touch-sensitive layer (e.g., a sheet of polymer with an array of transparent capacitor electrodes for a capacitive touch sensor), a flexible substrate layer, etc. These flexible layers may, if desired, be covered by a flexible or rigid cover layer (sometimes referred to as a cover glass) or may be supported by a support structure (e.g., a rigid support structure on the underside of the flexible layers). In electronic devices with flexible displays that are covered by rigid cover layers, the cover layers may be provided with openings that provide access to the flexible layers of the display in the vicinity of a user interface device. For example, a cover glass layer may have an opening that allows a button member to move relative to the cover glass layer. As the button member moves within the opening, underlying portions of the flexible display may be deformed (e.g., to allow actuation of an associated switch).

To maximize the area of the portion of the flexible display that is available for displaying visual information to the user, user interface components may be positioned behind, abutted against or integrated into the flexible display. The deformable nature of the flexible display may allow a user to interact with the user interface components (input-output components) by moving the display into contact with the user interface components or by otherwise allowing the display to locally flex (e.g., to allow sound to pass through the flexible display or to allow a barometric pressure measurements of the exterior environment to be made by an internal pressure sensor). If desired, a portion of the flexible display may form a membrane portion of an electrical component. Components that may be provided with a membrane that is formed from a portion of a flexible display include microphones, laser microphones, pressure sensors, speakers, etc.

An illustrative electronic device of the type that may be provided with a flexible display is shown inFIG. 1. Electronic device10may be a portable electronic device or other suitable electronic device. For example, electronic device10may be a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a somewhat smaller device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellular telephone, a media player, etc.

Device10may include a housing such as housing12. Housing12, which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, parts of housing12may be formed from dielectric or other low-conductivity material. In other situations, housing12or at least some of the structures that make up housing12may be formed from metal elements.

Device10may have a flexible display such as flexible display14. Flexible display14may be formed from multiple layers of material. These layers may include a touch sensor layer such as a layer on which a pattern of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes or other suitable transparent electrodes have been deposited to form a capacitive touch sensor array. These layers may also include a layer that contains an array of display pixels. The touch sensor layer and the display layer may be formed using flexible sheets of polymer or other substrates having thicknesses of 10 microns to 0.5 mm or other suitable thicknesses (as an example).

The display pixel array may be, for example, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) array. Other types of flexible display pixel arrays may also be formed (e.g., electronic ink displays, etc.). The use of OLED technology to form flexible display14is sometimes described herein as an example. This is, however, merely illustrative. Flexible display14may be formed using any suitable flexible display technology. The use of flexible displays that are based on OLED technology is merely illustrative.

In addition to these functional display layers (i.e., the OLED array and the optional touch sensor array), display14may include one or more structural layers. For example, display14may be covered with a flexible or rigid cover layer and/or may be mounted on a support structure (e.g., a rigid support). Layers of adhesive may be used in attaching flexible display layers to each other and may be used in mounting flexible display layers to rigid and flexible structural layers.

In configurations for display14in which the cover layer for display14is flexible, input-output components that rely on the presence of flexible layers may be mounted at any suitable location under the display (e.g., along peripheral portions of the display, in a central portion of the display, etc.). In configurations for display14in which the flexible layers are covered by a rigid cover glass layer or other rigid cover layer, the rigid layer may be provided with one or more openings and the electronic components may be mounted under the openings. For example, a rigid cover layer may have openings such as a circular opening16for button17and a speaker port opening such as speaker port opening18(e.g., for an ear speaker for a user). Device10may also have other openings (e.g., openings in display14and/or housing12for accommodating volume buttons, ringer buttons, sleep buttons, and other buttons, openings for an audio jack, data port connectors, removable media slots, etc.).

In some embodiments, portions of flexible display14such as peripheral regions20I may be inactive and portions of display14such as rectangular central portion20A (bounded by dashed line20) may correspond to the active part of display14. In active display region20A, an array of image pixels may be used to present text and images to a user of device10. In active region20A, display14may include touch sensitive components for input and interaction with a user of device10. If desired, regions such as regions20I and20A inFIG. 1may both be provided with display pixels (i.e., all or substantially all of the entire front planar surface of a device such as device10may be covered with display pixels).

Device10may, if desired, have internal user interface components such as buttons17or speaker component19that occupy openings such as openings16and18respectively in an optional rigid cover layer of flexible display14. Buttons17may be based on dome switches or other switch circuitry. Buttons17may include button members that form push buttons (e.g., momentary buttons), slider switches, rocker switches, etc. Device10may include internal structural components such as structural component22that add a raised structure to a portion of flexible display14. Device10may include components such as interface components24and26that may be fully internal to device10, but that receive input from the user or from the surrounding environment through physical interaction with flexible display14. Interface components22,24, and26may be positioned in active region20A or inactive region20I of flexible display14. Interface components22,24, and26may be positioned separately from one another or may be commonly located to form a combined component with structural and internal features. Interface components24and26may be positioned underneath flexible display14so that flexible display14must be deformed in order to contact components24or26or, if desired may be positioned to remain in constant contact with flexible display14.

An exploded perspective view of an illustrative display is shown inFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, flexible display14may be formed by stacking multiple layers including flexible display layer14A, touch-sensitive layer14B, and cover layer14C. Flexible display14may also include other layers of material such as adhesive layers, optical films, or other suitable layers. Flexible display layer14A may include image pixels formed form light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), plasma cells, electronic ink elements, liquid crystal display (LCD) components, or other suitable image pixel structures compatible with flexible displays.

Touch-sensitive layer14B may incorporate capacitive touch electrodes such as horizontal transparent electrodes32and vertical transparent electrodes34. Touch-sensitive layer14B may, in general, be configured to detect the location of one or more touches or near touches on touch-sensitive layer14B based on capacitive, resistive, optical, acoustic, inductive, or mechanical measurements, or any phenomena that can be measured with respect to the occurrences of the one or more touches or near touches in proximity to touch sensitive layer14B.

Software and/or hardware may be used to process the measurements of the detected touches to identify and track one or more gestures. A gesture may correspond to stationary or non-stationary, single or multiple, touches or near touches on touch-sensitive layer14B. A gesture may be performed by moving one or more fingers or other objects in a particular manner on touch-sensitive layer14B such as tapping, pressing, rocking, scrubbing, twisting, changing orientation, pressing with varying pressure and the like at essentially the same time, contiguously, or consecutively. A gesture may be characterized by, but is not limited to a pinching, sliding, swiping, rotating, flexing, dragging, or tapping motion between or with any other finger or fingers. A single gesture may be performed with one or more hands, by one or more users, or any combination thereof.

Cover layer14C may be formed from plastic or glass (sometimes referred to as display cover glass) and may be flexible or rigid. If desired, the interior surface of peripheral inactive portions20I of cover layer14C may be provided with an opaque masking layer on such as black ink.

Touch-sensitive flexible display section14AB may be formed from display pixel array layer14A and optional touch sensor layer14B.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of flexible display14in the vicinity of internal user interface component24. Flexible display14may be deformed away from its natural shape under pressure. For example, flexible display14may be deflected by pressure exerted by a user or by other external forces in direction40. As shown inFIG. 3, pressure in direction40may cause flexible display40to deform as indicated by dashed lines44. Internal component24may be configured to receive input due to deformation of flexible display14. Internal component24may also provide a temporary return (restoring) pressure in direction42.

Pressure in direction42may cause flexible display14to temporarily deform outward of device10as indicated by dashed lines46. Pressure in direction42may, if desired, be formed by an internal actuator that deforms display14to provide a desired tactile sensation on the surface of display14to a user of device10. Flexible display14may have a natural resiliency that, following deformation as indicated by dashed lines44, causes flexible display to temporarily deform outward of device10as indicated by dashed lines46before returning to its natural shape. Internal component24may be a button, an actuator such as a motor, solenoid, vibrator, or piezoelectric actuator, a pressure sensor, an audio component such as a microphone or speaker, or other component. Because display14is flexible, these components may operate effectively, even when covered by display14. For example, audio components such as microphones and speakers may receive and transmit sound through flexible display14. A barometric pressure sensor or a force sensor may also receive input through flexible display14. Components such as actuators may be used to temporarily create raised ridges or other external features on the surface of the flexible display (e.g., to indicate to a user where an on-screen button or group of buttons is located). The portion of display14under which components24are mounted may be active (i.e., a portion of the display that contains OLED pixels or other display pixels) or inactive (i.e., a peripheral portion of the display outside of the active region).

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of button17of device10. As shown inFIG. 4, button17may have a button member such as button member52that reciprocates within opening16of cover layer14C. When a user presses the exterior of button member52in direction58, button member52may press against touch-sensitive flexible display section (layer)14AB. Touch-sensitive flexible display section14AB may be deformed to depress a dome switch such as dome switch56or other switch mechanism, thereby activating the switch (e.g., shorting internal switch terminals together to close the switch). Dome switches such as dome switch56may, if desired, be mounted to printed circuits such as printed circuit54. Dome switch56may have a dome-shaped biasing member that pushes touch-sensitive flexible display section14AB outward in direction60when the user releases pressure from button member52. Dome switch54and printed circuit54may be recessed in a support structure such as support structure50behind flexible display14. Other types of switches may used if desired, such as switches with spring-based biasing members or other biasing structures that bias button members such as button member52. The use of a dome switch with a dome-shaped biasing structure is merely illustrative.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of button17of device10. The illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 5differs from the illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 4in that cover layer14C of flexible display14is not a rigid cover layer, but a flexible cover layer. In an embodiment in which flexible display14contains a flexible cover layer14C, button17includes dome switch56and printed circuit54. In the embodiment ofFIG. 5, a user may press the exterior of flexible display14in direction58. Flexible display14may be deformed to depress dome switch56or other switch mechanism, thereby activating the switch. As inFIG. 4, dome switches such as dome switch56may, if desired, be mounted to printed circuits such as printed circuit54. Dome switch56may have a dome-shaped biasing member that pushes flexible display14outward in direction60when the user releases pressure from button member52. Dome switch54and printed circuit54may be mounted in support structures50behind flexible display14. Other types of switches may use spring-based biasing members or other biasing structures to bias button members such as button member52. The use of a dome switch with a dome-shaped biasing structure is merely illustrative.

Providing device10with flexible display14without the need for an opening in flexible display14to access button17allows flexible display14to extend over button17without disruption. In both theFIG. 4andFIG. 5configurations, the portion of the flexible display that overlaps the button may be an active display portion or an inactive display portion. When an active display portion is configured so as to overlap buttons and other components, there is generally more area available for the active display portion. The presence of flexible display14over button17(or other components) may also reduce the risk of moisture or dirt entering into the interior of device10.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of audio component19. Audio component19may be recessed in a chassis50behind flexible display14. Audio component19may be a speaker for providing sound to a user of device10or a microphone for receiving input from a user or the external environment. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6, sound may be transmitted through flexible display14to a microphone or from a speaker. The portion of flexible display14that overlaps audio component19may be active or inactive. Arrangements in which component19is covered with part of the active area of display14may allow the size of active region20A of flexible display14to be increased. The presence of flexible display14over audio component19may also reduce the risk of moisture or dirt entering into the interior of device10.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of another embodiment of audio component19. In the illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 7, audio component19may be a speaker or microphone that contains a diaphragm such as diaphragm70. Diaphragm70may be formed from a separate structure that is attached to the underside of flexible display14or may be formed from a part of flexible display14. As in the embodiment shown inFIG. 6, audio component19may be mounted within support structures50. Audio component19may include a magnet such as magnet74and a coil such as coil72in which current may flow. If audio component19is a speaker, current may be driven through coil72to induce motion in diaphragm70and thereby emit sound through flexible display14. If audio component19is a microphone, sound waves originating from the exterior of device10may induce vibrations in flexible display14which are transmitted to diaphragm70and ultimately to coil72in which current may be induced. The current produced in coil72may be used to transmit sound information to device10. Diaphragm70may be a separate member in contact with flexible display14or may be an integral part of flexible display14.

FIG. 8is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of another possible embodiment of audio component19. As shown inFIG. 8, audio component19may be a laser microphone which uses vibrations in flexible display14induced by sound originating external to device10to produce an signal to be transmitted to device10. As shown inFIG. 8, audio component19may be recessed in support structures50. Audio component19may include a light emitting component such as laser component80. Laser component80may emit a laser beam such as laser beam84in the direction of flexible display14. Laser beam84may reflect off of flexible display14and a reflected laser beam such as reflected laser beam86may be absorbed by a laser absorbing component82.

Laser beam84and reflected laser beam86may be used in combination with laser80and photosensitive element82to monitor variations in distance88from flexible display14to component80and component82. Sound waves originating external to device10may induce vibrations in flexible display14causing distance88to oscillate. The oscillations in distance88may be converted into sound-related information by device10.

FIG. 9is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of a component such as component22ofFIG. 1. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 9, component22may contain an actuator such as a piezoelectric (actuator90). Piezoelectric actuators such as piezoelectric actuator90may vary in shape (e.g., thickness) in response to applied control voltages and may produce an output voltage when compressed (i.e., the piezoelectric element in actuator90may serve as a force sensor in addition to serving as a controllable actuator). A user of device10may exert force on flexible display14in direction92. Flexible display14may be deformed to exert a mechanical pressure on piezoelectric element90or other force sensor, inducing a voltage which may be transmitted to device10. Conversely, piezoelectric actuator90may be used to provide tactile feedback to a user of device10. A voltage difference applied to the surfaces of piezoelectric actuator90may induce an expansion of piezoelectric actuator90. Piezoelectric actuator90may then deform flexible display90in direction94providing tactile feedback to a user of device10.

FIG. 10is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of structural component22of device10. Structural component22may cause a permanent deformation such as deformation102in flexible display14to indicate the location of portion101of touch-sensitive layer14B in display14to the user of device10. Portion101may be, for example, a letter key or other button in a virtual keypad (keyboard) displayed on flexible display14. A touch sensor array associated with display14may be used to gather user input (i.e., the touch sensor array may be used to determine when a user has pressed the virtual key associated with portion101). The location of portion101may also be indicated visually using associated display pixels in flexible display14. At times, a user may desire to be able to locate portion101without having to look at flexible display14. Deforming flexible display14in the vicinity of portion101using structural component22may allow a user to locate portion101without visual aid. Structural component22may be an isolated component indicating the location of a single portion101of touch-sensitive layer14B or may be one of an array of components22indicating the locations of an array of portions101(e.g., the array of letter, number, and symbol keys in a virtual keypad displayed on display14). Structural component10may be a separate component mounted to support structures50or may be an integral part of support structures50.

FIG. 11is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of a hybrid component such as component100. Component100may include both an internal interface component such as internal component24and a structural component such as structural component22. Structural component22may cause a permanent deformation such as deformation102in flexible display14in the vicinity of internal component24to indicate the location of internal component22to the user of device10. The presence of flexible display14between the user of device10and internal component24may obscure the location of internal interface component24. The location of interface component24may be indicated visually using display pixels in flexible display14. The deformation of flexible display14in the vicinity of interface component24using structural component22may also allow the user to locate interface component24without visual aid. Component100may be an isolated component indicating the location of a single interface component24of touch-sensitive layer14B or may be one of an array of components100indicating the locations of an array of interface components24.

FIG. 12is a perspective view of an embodiment of device10in which internal component24is a button such as button17. In the embodiment ofFIG. 12, as inFIG. 11, component100includes internal component24and structural component22(shown inFIG. 11). As shown inFIG. 12, a ridge or other deformation such as deformation102in flexible display14may be used to indicate the location of button17.

FIG. 13is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of another illustrative embodiment of a hybrid component such as component100which includes an internal interface component such as internal component24and a structural component such as structural component22mounted to an actuator such as actuator stage110. Component100may be recessed in chassis50. Actuator stage110may be electrically or mechanically raised in direction112to temporarily produce deformations such as deformations102in flexible display14. Deformations102in flexible display14may indicate the location of internal interface device24to a user of device10. Actuator stage110may be electrically or mechanically lowered in direction114to remove deformations102in flexible display14returning flexible display14to its original shape. Component100may be an isolated component indicating the location of a single interface component24of touch-sensitive layer14B or may be one of an array of components100indicating the locations of an array of respective interface components24.

FIG. 14is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of another illustrative embodiment of a component such as structural component22. In the arrangement ofFIG. 14, structural component22is mounted an actuator such as actuator stage110. Some modes of operating device10may require visual interaction with a user of device10(e.g., a mode involving the display of images or video). In these visual modes, the location of portion101of touch-sensitive layer14B of flexible display14may be indicated visually using display pixels in flexible display14.

In other modes of operation of device10, a user of device10may wish to determine the location of portion101without visual aid. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 14, component22may be recessed in support structures50. Actuator stage110may be electrically or mechanically raised in direction112to move structural component22into contact with flexible display14to temporarily produce deformations such as deformations102in flexible display14. Deformations102may indicate the location of portion101to a user of device10. When no longer needed for tactile interaction (e.g., upon switching to a video display mode), actuator110may be electrically or mechanically moved in direction114to lower structural component22and remove deformations102in flexible display14.

FIG. 15is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of device10in which device10includes housing12and cover member122. Cover member122may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. Cover member122may be a single structure or may include multiple cover structures. In order to facilitate lifting of cover122by a user of device10, structural component22may be coupled to an actuator130which may be used to lift structural component122in direction134. When lifted, structural component134may cause a deformation such as deformation102in flexible display14. Flexible display14may exert a pressure on cover member122, lifting cover member122in direction134allowing the user to grip cover member122in order to lift cover member122to an open position such as open position140. Actuator130may then be used to lower structural component22in direction132in order to allow flexible display14to return to its original shape. Actuator130may be activated in response to a control signal produced by the user using actuator switch124or by a control signal from other suitable control circuitry.

FIG. 16is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device10in the vicinity of another illustrative embodiment of internal interface component24. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 16, interface component24may be a pressure sensor that includes a pressure sensing module140. Pressure sensing module140may be coupled between a contact member such as contact member142(which is in contact with flexible display14) and electrical contacts144. Pressure may be exerted on flexible display14(e.g., by a user of device10or due to atmospheric pressure changes in the surrounding environment of device10). Pressure exerted on flexible display14may be transmitted to pressure sensing module140by contact member142. Pressure information may be transmitted to device10through electrical contacts144. Pressure sensing module140may sense pressure changes using piezoelectric, capacitive, inductive, resistive, optical or other mechanisms. Providing device10with flexible display14allows flexible display14to extend over interface component24, increasing the area of active region20A of flexible display14. The presence of flexible display14over interface component24may also reduce the risk of moisture or dirt entering into the interior of device10.