Apparatus and method of providing an apparatus comprising a bendable portion

Abstract

According to various, but not necessarily all examples of the disclosure, there may be provided an apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises: a substrate configured to support a bendable display wherein the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rod members and the rod members comprise interlocking portions wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a substrate configured to support a bendable display, the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration; 
 and an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the bendable display; 
 wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of the apparatus; 
 wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rod members and the rod members comprise interlocking portions; 
 wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration; 
 wherein the substrate is configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration; 
 wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the interlocking portions are configured to prevent a radius of curvature of the bendable portion exceeding a threshold. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rod members extend horizontally across the apparatus. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rod members are coupled together by a flexible layer. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the flexible layer comprises metal. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a support structure configured to restrict movement of the substrate, and wherein the support structure comprises at least one frictional component wherein the frictional component is configured to oppose movement of the substrate. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the support structure is coupled to the substrate. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the support structure is configured to pass through holes in the rod members. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the bendable display coupled to the bendable portion. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the apparatus is in the closed configuration, a first portion of the bendable display and a second portion of the bendable display are configured facing each other. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a magnet for holding the apparatus in an open configuration. 
     
     
       12. A device comprising:
 a display; 
 a substrate configured to enable at least a portion of the display to be bendable, the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration; 
 an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the display; 
 wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of the device; 
 wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rod members and the rod members comprise interlocking portions; 
 wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection from one rod member configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration; 
 wherein the substrate is configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration; 
 wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members. 
 
     
     
       13. A device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the display is coupled to the substrate via a flexible sheet. 
     
     
       14. A device as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the flexible sheet is adhered to the substrate. 
     
     
       15. A device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the display comprises at least another portion that is substantially straight or not bendable. 
     
     
       16. A devise device as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the display is continuous across the at least the bendable portion and the at least another portion that is substantially straight or not bendable. 
     
     
       17. A device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the substrate is in the open configuration indicates that a radius of curvature of the bendable portion exceeds a first threshold, the substrate is in the closed configuration indicates that the radius of curvature of the bendable portion is below a second threshold, and the first threshold and the second threshold may or may not be the same. 
     
     
       18. A method comprising:
 providing a substrate configured to support a bendable display, the substrate comprises at least one bendable portion configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration; 
 providing an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the bendable display; 
 wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of an apparatus; 
 providing a plurality of rod members within the at least one bendable portion; 
 wherein the rod members comprise interlocking portions; 
 wherein the interlocking portions comprise a projection configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration; 
 wherein the substrate is configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration; 
 wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus comprising:
 a substrate comprising a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first portion and the second portion configured to support respective substantially rigid portions of a display; and   at least one bendable portion coupling the first portion and the second portion and configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration;   wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of adjacently-positioned elongated rod members, each of the rod members having interlocking portions, the interlocking portions comprising at least one projection integrally formed with and extending from the rod members and at least one recess formed in the rod members;   wherein adjacently-positioned rod members, when the substrate is in the open configuration, abut against each other to prevent the at least one bendable portion from being bent into a reflex angle;   wherein the projections are configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration; and   wherein the first and second portions of the substrate are configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the display on at least one of the first portion and the second portion, wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of the apparatus, wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members, and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the interlocking portions are configured to prevent a radius of curvature of the bendable portion exceeding a threshold. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rod members extend horizontally across the apparatus. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rod members are positioned adjacent to each other to provide a flat or substantially flat surface for the at least one bendable portion. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rod members are coupled together by a flexible layer. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a support structure configured to restrict movement of the first portion relative to the second portion, and wherein the support structure comprises at least one frictional component wherein the frictional component is configured to oppose movement of the first portion relative to the second portion. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the support structure is coupled to at least one of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the support structure is configured to pass through holes in the rod members. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein when the apparatus is in the closed configuration, the first portion and the second portion are configured facing each other. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a magnet for holding the apparatus in an open configuration. 
     
     
       30. A device comprising:
 a first substrate,   a second substrate;   at least one bendable portion coupling the first substrate and the second substrate, the at least one bendable portion configured to enable the first substrate and the second substrate to be moved between an open configuration in which the first substrate and the second substrate are coplanar or substantially coplanar and a closed configuration in which the first substrate and the second substrate are interfacially positioned or substantially interfacially positioned; and   respective portions of a substantially rigid display located on the first substrate and the second substrate;   wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of rod members and the rod members comprise interlocking portions, and wherein the interlocking portions each comprise a projection individually formed with and extending from one rod member and configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the first substrate and the second substrate are in the closed configuration, wherein adjacently-positioned rod members, when the first substrate and the second substrate are in the open configuration, abut against each other to prevent the at least one bendable portion from being bent into a reflex angle.   
     
     
       31. The device of claim 30, wherein the rod members are positioned adjacent to each other to provide a flat or substantially flat surface for the at least one bendable portion. 
     
     
       32. The device of claim 30, further comprising an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the display, wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of the device, wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members, and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members. 
     
     
       33. The device of claim 30, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate in the open configuration indicates that a radius of curvature of the bendable portion exceeds a first threshold, and the first substrate and the second substrate in the closed configuration indicates that the radius of curvature of the bendable portion is below a second threshold, and the first threshold and the second threshold may or may not be the same. 
     
     
       34. A method comprising:
 providing a substrate comprising a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first portion and the second portion configured to support a respective portion of a substantially rigid display, and at least one bendable portion coupling the first portion and the second portion and configured to enable the substrate to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration;   wherein the at least one bendable portion comprises a plurality of adjacently-positioned elongated rod members, each of the rod members having interlocking portions, the interlocking portions comprising at least one projection integrally formed with and extending from the rod members and at least one recess formed in the rod members;   wherein adjacently-positioned rod members, when the substrate is in the open configuration, abut against each other to prevent the at least one bendable portion from being bent into a reflex angle;   wherein the projections are configured to fit into a corresponding recess on an adjacent rod member so as to restrict relative movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the closed configuration; and   wherein the substrate is configured to restrict movement of the rod members when the substrate is in the open configuration.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing an additional support substrate configured to provide further support for at least a portion of the display on at least one of the first portion and the second portion, wherein the additional support substrate is provided at a side of the apparatus, and wherein the additional support substrate is coupled to the rod members and wherein the additional support substrate comprises a plurality of projections for interlocking with a plurality of recesses on the plurality of rod members. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one bendable portion is provided at a midpoint of the substrate.