Flexible structure, hinge, shutter, mobile communications apparatus and mobile telephone

[0001] The invention relates to a flexible structure and a hinge, a shutter and a flexible display arrangement comprising such flexible structure. Further, the invention relates to mobile communications apparatuses and mobile telephones comprising a hinge or a shutter structure according to the invention. In particular, the invention relates to a novel and inventive way of constructing a robust flexible structure by connecting a plurality of parallel bars together in an inventive manner. Such flexible structure is suitable for a variety of uses, especially in a mobile communications apparatus.

[0002] Reliable, simple and economical flexible structures are needed in a variety of industries for different purposes. E.g. hinges and many kinds of covers are examples of commonly used articles that can be realized with suitable flexible structures.

[0003] For instance, a mobile communications or telecommunications apparatus, such as a mobile telephone, may comprise multiple parts arranged together by a hinge. Such a hinge must be sufficiently robust in order to endure frequent and often quite rough use. At the same time a hinge of a mobile telecommunications apparatus should be as small and as light-weighted as possible. In telecommunications apparatuses and other electric apparatuses, which comprise more than one parts joined together by a hinge, it is often a problem to provide a reliable electric connection or data connection between the two or more parts. It is often preferable that a hinge provides some spring effect, i.e. that when opened, a hinge would have tendency to resist the movement. Such spring effect has been realized with for instance separate springs that make the structures more unreliable. Naturally, all of the aforesaid preferable qualities apply for hinges in many different applications.

[0004] Many kinds of apparatuses, for example mobile communications or telecommunications apparatuses, such as mobile telephones, may comprise parts or components that need periodic or intermittent covering. Sensitive elements such as lenses of digital cameras need simple but reliable protection, e.g. a shutter, when not used. In some applications a flexible shutter would be preferred.

[0005] There are a number of disadvantages in the prior art solutions comprising a flexible structure. Prior art hinges, coverings and shutters have many disadvantages, e.g. they often fail to be robust, light-weighted, user-friendly or economical. Present shutters and hinges often have a complicated structure. Several separate parts are normally needed in prior art to accomplish a hinge for a foldable mobile communications apparatus or the like. Separate parts need more transportation and storage capacity. It is difficult to accomplish reliable joints between many different parts and e.g. the cover of a mobile phone. Normal use of an electric apparatus, such as a mobile telephone causes such bending and distortion to the structure of the apparatus that easily results in loosening of the separate parts. Also changes in temperature conditions cause faults and leaks in the prior art solutions. Flexible displays are easily broken due to excessive distortion or bending.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to achieve a flexible structure, a hinge, a shutter and a flexible display arrangement comprising such flexible structure whereby the above described drawbacks of the prior art can be minimized.

[0007] Further, the object of the present invention is to achieve a mobile communications apparatus and mobile telephone comprising a hinge or a shutter structure according to the invention.

[0008] The object of the present invention is especially to achieve a mobile communications or telecommunications apparatus, a mobile telephone and a flexible display arrangement, which is robust, light-weighted and user-friendly as well as easy and economic to produce. A further object of the present invention is a reliable hinge and shutter construction on a mobile telecommunications apparatus or on a mobile phone.

[0009] A typical flexible structure according to the invention comprises a plurality of elongated bars having a length axis and being connected to each other, wherein:

• • [0010] the bars are arranged at least mainly parallel to each other,
  • [0011] each bar has a first end part, a second end part and a middle part between the end parts,
  • [0012] at least two neighboring parallel bars are connected to each other by a connector at their point of connection,
    at least some of the parallel bars are elastic in such a way that the first end part and the second end part of one bar are arranged rotatable in relation to each other around the length axis of the bar.

[0013] A typical hinge structure and a shutter structure according to the invention comprise the flexible structure according to the invention. A typical mobile communications apparatus and a typical mobile telephone according to the invention each comprise a hinge structure or a shutter structure according to the invention. Mobile communications apparatus could be e.g. a PDA, that is a personal digital assistant, or a portable computer or a GPS receiver.

[0014] With the help of the invention, many applications, e.g. portable electronic apparatuses and their hinges and shutters become simple, economic and reliable due to the simple and robust structure of the flexible structure according to the invention.

[0031] In the following the same reference numbers are used for corresponding details in different embodiments when suitable.

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a flexible structure 1 according to the invention. The flexible structure 1 comprises a plurality of elongated bars 2 substantially parallel to each other. Connectors 3 at the end parts of the bars 2 connect neighboring parallel bars to each other. At the first end part 4 of the flexible structure 1 connectors 3 on both end parts of the first four bars connect the bars together. Only one connector 3 is arranged between the fourth and the fifth bar. The same applies for the second end part 5 of the structure. Connectors 3 on both end parts of the last four bars connect the bars together. Between these two end parts of the structure, connectors 3 on two sides of one bar are situated on different end parts of the bar whereby the parallel bars 2 and the connectors between them define a zigzag structure.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the flexible structure 1 of FIG. 1 in a situation, where the first and second end parts 4 and 5 are bended approximately 180° in relation to each other. FIG. 2 clarifies a basic idea behind the invention: with the flexible structure 1 according to the invention one is able to bend a flat or plate-like object, i.e. the flexible structure 1, easily and without causing major stress on the structure. The structure of the invention divides the total rotation in the structure in between several torque bars. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the eight parallel bars 2 between the first and second end part 4 and 5 together form a bending part 6.

[0034] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the parallel bars 3 are made of an elastic material in such a way that the first end part 7 and the second end part 8 of one bar 2, see FIG. 2, are arranged rotatable in relation to each other around the length axis of the bar. The connectors 3 between two neighboring bars 2 are made at least mainly inflexible. This way relative rotation between the two connected bars on the point of connection is at least substantially prevented. With this kind of an arrangement, all the bending in the situation of FIG. 2 takes place as distortion in the eight bars 2 being part of the bending part 6 of the flexible structure 1. Each of these eight bars takes care of ⅛ of the total bending of approximately 180°, i.e. approximately 22.5°. In other words, if situations in FIGS. 1 and 2 are compared to each other, the first end part 7 and the second end part 8 of the bar 2 in FIG. 2 have been rotated approximately 22.5° in relation to each other.

[0035] Suitable materials for the elastic bars 2 are e.g. superelastic alloys, spring steel and some plastics. The bars 2 of the invention can naturally vary in size. If the flexible structure 1 is used for example as a hinge structure in a mobile communications apparatus a suitable thickness of the bar 2 could be between 0.5–4 1.5 mm. The connectors 3 can be arranged at the points of connection in many different ways. The neighboring bars could be attached to each other e.g. by welding or the two bars cold be molded together in one piece. It is also possible to arrange a separate connector part between the two bars. Further, the connectors 3 can be made of the same material as the bars 2. One or more of the connectors 3 and bars 2 can even be made as one single piece of one single material.

[0036] Due to the elasticity of the bars 2 the flexible structure 1 acts to some extent as a spring. This spring effect gives a nice, firm and secure feeling to a user bending or straightening the flexible structure 1. The spring effect can be used e.g. to automatically close a hinge, or to resist too much opening of a hinge.

[0037] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a flexible structure 1 of the present invention, comprising a layer 9 of soft material, in this case silicon. Silicon has been molded on both sides of the parallel bars 2 and connectors 3 visible in FIGS. 1 and 2. Other materials would be suitable as well. The silicon ties the free end parts of the bars together. With free end parts is meant neighboring end parts of bars, which do not have a connector between them. The silicon keeps the bars parallel to each other and prohibits movement of the neighboring bars in relation to each other. Soft silicon layer around the flexible structure 1 protects the structure against mechanical damage. Silicon or other similar materials also act as a damper on the spring of the structure, thereby facilitating smooth bending of the flexible structure. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the silicon coverings on the first and second end parts of the flexible structure are presented with different colour than the silicon covering on the bending part 6 of the flexible structure. Possible electronic and data transfer connections are suitably arranged inside the soft layer 9. The flexible structure of FIGS. 3 and 4 could be used e.g. as a hinge structure according to the invention.

[0038] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a mobile communications apparatus 10 comprising two main parts 11, 12 and a hinge structure 13 according to the invention between these main parts. The hinge structure can be of the type shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The first and second end parts 4 and 5 of the structure (see FIGS. 3 and 4) are situated firmly in the main parts 11 and 12 of the mobile communications apparatus 10. The two main parts 11 and 12 both have electronic functions. Both electronic and data transfer connections have to be established between these parts 11 and 12.

[0039] The hinge structure 13 according to the invention provides a reliable and safe way to lead the connections needed. The flexible structure of the invention is bendable, but it is easy to dimension the bars and connectors in such a way that the maximum bending angle is suitable for each need. FIG. 6 shows a situation where part 12, for instance a display is opened to its normal maximal opening angle. The hinge structure is dimensioned in such a way, that the lid part 12 stop at the position shown FIG. 6.

[0040] FIGS. 7–10 show a part of an electronic apparatus 14, e.g. a mobile phone or some other mobile communications apparatus. The electronic apparatus 14 comprises a digital camera, lens 15 of which can be seen in the FIGS. 7–10. A shutter structure 16 according to the invention is arranged to cover or to reveal the lens 15 when desired. The shutter structure 16 comprises the flexible structure 1 of the invention. The sides 17 and 18 of the shutter are arranged to be slid in guide elements arranged at least substantially parallel to the sides 17 and 18 of the slidable shutter. The guide elements are not shown in the FIGS. 7–10, but they can be formed for example as simple rails supporting the sides 17 and 18 of the shutter 16. FIGS. 7 and 8 show views where one clearly sees how the lens 15 can be covered (FIG. 7) or revealed (FIG. 8). FIGS. 9 and 10 show the same situations in side views. FIGS. 7–10 are very schematical. The flexible structure of the invention with its parallel bars 2 and connectors 3 is clearly seen.

[0041] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a mobile communications apparatus 19, which comprises a display 20 and a flexible shutter 21. Shutter 21 comprises the flexible structure of the invention with the zigzag structure comprising parallel, elastic bars 2 and connectors 3 between them. The apparatus 19 has parallel, longitudinal recesses 22 on two sides of the display 20. Recesses 22 are arranged to receive and support the sides 23 and 24 of the flexible shutter 21. The shutter 21 can be slid to cover the display 20 or it can be slid to reveal the display 20. In FIG. 11 it is shown how the flexible shutter 21 can be slid into a space 25 formed under the display 20, inside the mobile communications apparatus 19. The flexible shutters according to the invention can be operated e.g. manually or with the help of an electric motor.

[0042] FIGS. 13 and 14 show two more embodiments of the flexible shutter structure 1 of the invention. In these embodiments the elastic bars and the connectors are of one and the same piece of material. FIG. 13 presents a zigzag structure 1 made of a single metal wire. The same wire structure 1 is shown unbent and bent. FIG. 14 shows a zigzag structure cut or pressed from a sheet or plate of metal. In FIGS. 1–15 all points of connection and the connectors 3 connecting two neighboring bars 2 are situated on the end parts of the bars 2. In some embodiments of the invention one or more of the points of connection and the connectors connecting two neighboring bars can be arranged on the middle parts of the parallel bars.

[0043] FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of the invention. Here it is very schematically presented a flexible structure 1 according to the invention arranged as a part of a of a flexible display arrangement. The structure 1 is attached on the backside of a flexible display 26. Here the flexible elastic structure 1 is used as a support structure for a relatively thin and flexible display sheet 26. It is possible to design the flexible structure 1 of the invention to have a certain minimum bending radius, depending on the materials used and the dimensions of for example the elastic bars and the connectors. Because many flexible apparatuses, e.g. the flexible display 26 have a certain minimum bending radius, the flexible structure 1 of the invention can be used as a limiter. One embodiment of this kind of a support structure and bending limiter is shown in FIG. 15.

[0044] For a person skilled in the art, it is obvious that the invention is not restricted to the above-described examples only, but it may vary within the scope of the claims set forth below. The flexible structure of the invention can be designed for various different purposes. The invention can be used in many kinds of apparatuses. The flexible structure can vary in size.