HK1178634B - Expandable mobile device - Google Patents

Description

Deployable mobile device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to mobile devices, and more particularly, to a deployable mobile device.

Background

Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, media players and tablet computers are becoming more common. These types of devices typically include integrated display devices, and many include dual displays. For example, the mobile device may be hinged (hinge) to open two display devices side by side to form one larger display. Users typically want as small a device as possible to be carried in a pocket or bag, but also want devices with larger display surfaces for easier viewing. Display manufacturers are developing flexible displays that can be used to provide a larger display surface than displays that are typically integrated into smaller portable electronic devices. However, flexible displays are prone to damage when coiled or wound in an extendable device, or folded in a hinged device.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary introduces simplified concepts to a deployable mobile device, and is described in the detailed description below and/or illustrated in the drawings. This summary should not be considered to describe essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor should it be used to determine or limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

An expandable mobile device is described. In various embodiments, the deployable mobile device includes housing components that slide-engage relative to one another to extend and retract the device. The deployable mobile device includes a flexible display that extends from the interior of the device when one housing part is slid out of the other housing part. The flexible display also retracts into the interior of the deployable mobile device when the housing parts are slid together.

A roller (roller) is integrated into the device and bends the flexible display about a fixed radius to position a first, viewable portion of the flexible display substantially parallel to a second, retracted portion of the flexible display in a retracted position of the expandable mobile device. The roller also bends the flexible display through a 180 degree (180) bend that positions the first portion of the flexible display substantially parallel to the second portion of the flexible display. In the extended position of the deployable mobile device, the second portion of the flexible display rolls over the roller through the fixed radius and extends from the housing member.

In other embodiments, the deployable mobile device includes a support plate that supports the flexible display in both the retracted and extended positions of the device. Further, the carrier rail gear-engaging roller in the extended position of the expandable mobile device positions the first support plate adjacent the second support plate. The first support plate may also be positioned above the second support plate in the retracted position of the deployable mobile device when the first support plate engages the second support plate. When the first support plate is positioned adjacent to the second support plate, the second support plate may also cause the second support plate to be positioned under the second portion of the flexible display in the extended position of the device. The device may also include a bi-stable mechanism to bias the housing components as the expandable mobile device is extended and retracted.

Drawings

Embodiments of an expandable mobile device are described with reference to the following figures. The same numbers may be used throughout to reference features and components like those shown in the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an expandable mobile device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Fig. 2 further illustrates an example of a deployable mobile device as described with reference to fig. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Fig. 3 illustrates another example of an expandable mobile device as described with reference to fig. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method of an expandable mobile device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates components of an example electronic device in which embodiments of an expandable mobile device can be implemented.

Detailed Description

An expandable mobile device (such as a mobile phone or tablet computer) is described that includes a flexible display and can be expanded to approximately double the display area for viewing, or retracted to maintain a typical handheld device form factor. Notably, the flexible display does not wrap or coil when in the retracted position. Instead, the flexible display is bent through a fixed radius over a roller that provides the minimum bend radius allowed by the TFT (thin film transistor) array of the AMOLED flexible display. In the retracted position of the deployable mobile device, a portion of the flexible display is bent over the roller through a 180 degree (180 °) bend, which positions the viewable portion of the flexible display substantially parallel to the retracted portion of the flexible display that is retracted inside the device.

Furthermore, the deployable mobile device comprises a support plate providing a rigid support when the flexible display is extended as the device is deployed, and in particular a rigid support surface for touch screen interaction. A first support plate may be fixed to the main portion of the flexible display and configured to be located adjacent to a second support plate in the extended position of the expandable mobile device to support the flexible display. In the retracted position of the device, the first support plate is also configured to be positioned above the second support plate. The first and second support plates are slidably engaged and when the first support plate is seated over the second support plate, the second support plate is pushed downward where it is held in place under the first support plate.

In implementations, the flexible display may be a display stack of layers, such as having a touch sensor layer laminated over an AMOLED layer, along with a laminated cover film or hardcoat over the touch sensor layer. In the retracted position of the deployable mobile device, the second support plate provides a rigid support surface for the extended flexible display stack. An actuation mechanism (such as a spring or other tension mechanism) is implemented to position and maintain the second support plate, pushing it upward from inside the deployable mobile device to support the flexible display stack. The actuating mechanism is released when the device is retracted and the first and second support plates are slidably engaged, pushing the second support plate downwardly as the first support plate rides over the second support plate, where it is held in place under the first support plate.

While the features and concepts of the deployable mobile device can be implemented in any number of different devices, systems, and/or various configurations, embodiments of the deployable mobile device are described in the context of the following example devices, systems, and methods.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example 100 of an expandable mobile device 102 in accordance with embodiments described herein. The expandable mobile device comprises a flexible display 104, such as a flexible OLED display or a flexible AMOLED (active matrix organic light emitting diode) display that is self-emissive without an integrated backlight. Alternatively, the flexible display may be implemented as a flexible LCD display illuminated with a flexible backlight.

The expandable mobile device 102 is shown in a closed or retracted position 106, and is also shown in an open or extended position 108 that approximately doubles the display area of the flexible display 104. The deployable mobile device includes a first housing member 110 and a second housing member 112 that are operable to slide-engage relative to one another to extend and retract the device. In this example, the second housing part is realized to slide out and into the first housing part. In alternative embodiments, the expandable mobile device may be configured with additional housing portions, such as a three-part telescoping device with multiple stages extending to expand the device and the flexible display.

The expandable mobile device 102 may be implemented in any form of consumer, computer, media playback, communication, navigation, gaming, and/or electronic device configured to be expanded with a flexible display. For example, the deployable mobile device may be implemented as a mobile phone device, wherein a portion of the flexible display is always visible when the device is in the closed, retracted position shown at 114. The user may now slide open the device to an extended position, which approximately doubles the display area of the flexible display, as shown in rotated positions at 116 and at 118. The expandable mobile device 102 may be implemented with any combination of components as further described with reference to the example electronic device shown in fig. 5. Further, the deployable mobile device may include any combination of software, firmware, hardware, and processing components for orientation detection and operability.

Fig. 2 further illustrates an example 200 of an expandable mobile device 102 having an integrated flexible display 104 as described with reference to fig. 1. The device is shown in a closed, retracted position at 202 and an open, extended position at 204. The apparatus is also shown in top view at 206. The deployable mobile device includes a roller 208 integrated in the first housing part 110, and a carrier rail 210 implemented as a gear-engaging the roller. In this example, the vehicle track is implemented as a track-type track that rolls around a fixed radius roller 208 and is geared (gear) to the roller 208, the roller 208 being coupled by a connecting axle 212. In an implementation, the flexible display 104 is secured to the carrier rail 210 along both sides of the flexible display.

The flexible display 104 is implemented to extend from the interior 214 of the deployable mobile device 102 when the second housing member 112 is slid out of the first housing member 110. The flexible display is further implemented to retract into the interior of the expandable mobile device when the second housing part is slid to the first housing part. The carrier track 210 rolls around a fixed radius roller 208 integrated in the first housing part of the device, and when the carrier track is bent, the flexible display rolls around a fixed radius 216 to position a first, viewable portion 218 of the flexible display substantially parallel to a second, retracted portion 220 of the flexible display in the retracted position 202 of the deployable mobile device. The roller also bends the flexible display through a 180 degree (180) bend at 222, which bend positions the viewable portion of the flexible display substantially parallel to the retracted portion of the flexible display in the retracted position of the device.

In the extended position 204 of the expandable mobile device, the second portion 220 of the flexible display 104 is bent over the roller 208 through the fixed radius 216 and extends from the first housing member 110. The roller provides a minimum bend radius allowed by bend-sensitive (bend-sensitive) parameters of a flexible display stack (e.g., a TFT (thin film transistor) array) of an AMOLED flexible display. As noted above, the flexible display 104 may be a display stack of layers, such as having a touch sensor layer laminated over an AMOLED layer, along with a laminated cover film or hardcoat over the touch sensor layer.

The carrier track 210 and flexible display stack are not wound on a fixed radius roller 208. Instead, the carrier rail is attached to a tensioning membrane 224 (e.g., a thin sheet of material) that extends to a tensioning roller 226, the tensioning roller 226 being spring-loaded and integrated in the first housing part on the opposite side of the fixed radius roller. The tensioning membrane 224 is attached to the trailing edge of the flexible display 104 and also to the end of the carrier track 210. When the deployable mobile device is closed, the tensioning membrane 224 is wound onto the tensioning roller 226 as the device transitions to the retracted position. The take-up roller 224 is pre-tensioned, such as by the action of a spring-loaded tensioner, while the positioning roller 228 is implemented to ensure that the take-up film 224 maintains an aligned orientation as the diameter of the roller increases as the apparatus transitions to the retracted position.

A benefit of having the tensioning membrane 224 attached to the trailing edge of the flexible display stack is that this minimizes the amount of display material (e.g., OLED, AMOLED) needed beyond the portion displayed in the open, extended position 204 of the expandable mobile device. Furthermore, the optional tensioning membrane 224 allows for retraction of the flexible display through the action of a spring-loaded tensioner and positioning roller and bi-stable action of a slider mechanism, thereby avoiding any tendency for the flexible display to wrinkle or buckle when the deployable mobile device is closed to the retracted position. In alternative implementations, the flexible display may be tensioned with other mechanisms besides the optional tensioning membrane and tensioner reel, such as with a spring acting on a lever connected to the carrier rail. Alternatively, the flexible display may not be tensioned depending on the rigidity and/or stiffness of the flexible display stack. In this implementation, the flexible display remains rigid between the vehicle rails and is urged into a retracted position by the action of the bi-stable slide mechanism spring.

In various embodiments, the expandable mobile device 102 includes a support plate that supports the flexible display. The first support plate 230 supports the first portion 218 of the flexible display 104 in both the retracted position 202 and the extended position 204 of the device. The flexible display 104 and the first support plate are attached to the first housing member 110 at 232 and the flexible display is attached to the top of the carrier rail 210. When the second portion 220 of the flexible display extends from the interior 214 of the device, the second support plate 234 supports the second portion of the flexible display in the extended position of the device. The second support plate is configured for actuation to raise the second support plate in an extended position of the deployable mobile device and to rigidly position the second support plate under a second portion of the flexible display.

In an implementation, an actuation mechanism 236 (such as a spring or other tension mechanism) is implemented to position and maintain the second support plate 234, pushing it upward from the interior 214 of the deployable mobile device 102 to support the flexible display 104. The actuating mechanism may be released by applying a closing force to the locking mechanism release when the device is retracted, with the first and second support plates slidably engaged at 238, pushing the second support plate down as the first support plate 230 rides over the second support plate 234, where it is held in place under the first support plate. In the retracted position 202 of the expandable mobile device, the first support plate engages the second support plate to position the first support plate over the second support plate. In the extended position 204 of the deployable mobile device 102, the carrier track 210 is implemented as a gear-engaging roller 208 and positions the first support plate 230 adjacent to the second support plate 234.

The deployable mobile device 102 may also include a bi-stable mechanism 240, such as a spring assembly, that is implemented to bias the first and second housing components as the deployable mobile device is extended and retracted when a user initiates opening and closing of the device. In implementations, the first and second housing parts of the device may be transparent, while the second portion 220 of the flexible display 104 is bottom viewable through the first and second housing parts of the expandable mobile device in the retracted position 202 of the device.

Fig. 3 further illustrates another example 300 of the deployable mobile device 102 described with reference to fig. 1. The device is shown in a closed, retracted position at 302 and an open, extended position at 304. In this example, the expandable mobile device includes a flexible display stack 306 that is implemented with an air gap 308 (e.g., or other type of cover film) between a flexible display 310 and a touch sensor 312. In this embodiment, the touch sensor is not laminated to the flexible display, but rather the touch sensor is bonded 314 to the flexible display only at the fixed end of the device.

The flexible display 310 is secured to the carrier rails 316 along both sides of the flexible display. In such a display stack configuration with an air gap between the flexible display 310 and the touch sensor 312, the touch sensor is movable relative to the flexible display throughout the range of the device being extended and retracted, while the flexible display stack flexes to retract inside the deployable mobile device. In addition, a touch sensor bonded to the flexible display at a fixed end of the device maintains the touch sensor in a taut position over the flexible display throughout the range of the device that is extended and retracted because opposite ends of the touch sensor are attached to the taut film and the tensioner reel.

As described with reference to the deployable mobile device 102 of fig. 2, the device includes a roller 318 integrated in the first housing part 110, while the carrier track 316 is implemented as a gear-engaging roller. In this example, the vehicle track is implemented as a track-type track that rolls around a fixed radius roller 318 and is geared to roller 318, with roller 318 coupled by a connecting axle.

The flexible display stack 306 is implemented to extend from the interior 320 of the deployable mobile device 102 when the second housing part 112 is slid out of the first housing part 110. The flexible display stack is further implemented to retract into the interior of the expandable mobile device when the second housing part is slid to the first housing part. The carrier track 316 rolls around a fixed radius roller 318 integrated in the first housing part of the device and when the pitch track is bent, the flexible display stack rolls around a fixed radius 322 to position a first, viewable portion 324 of the flexible display stack substantially parallel to a second, retracted portion 326 of the flexible display stack in the retracted position 302 of the deployable mobile device.

The roller also bends the flexible display stack through a 180 degree (180) bend at 328, which bend positions the viewable portion of the flexible display stack substantially parallel to the retracted portion of the flexible display in the retracted position of the device. In the extended position 304 of the expandable mobile device, the second portion 326 of the flexible display stack 306 is bent over the roller 318 through the fixed radius 322 and extends from the first housing part 110. The rollers provide a minimum bend radius allowed by bend sensitive parameters of the flexible display stack.

The ends of the touch sensor 312 are attached to a take-up film 330 (e.g., a sheet of thin material) that extends to a take-up roller 332 that is spring-loaded and integrated into the first housing part on the opposite side of the fixed radius roller. When the deployable mobile device is closed, the tensioning membrane 330 is wound onto the tensioning roller as the device transitions to the retracted position. The take-up roller can also be pre-tensioned, such as by the action of a spring-loaded tensioner, while the positioning roller 334 is implemented to ensure that the take-up film maintains an aligned orientation as the winding parameters increase as the apparatus transitions to the retracted position. In this example implementation, a take-up roller is used to stretch the touch sensors 312 of the flexible display 310 that are not laminated to the flexible display stack 306. Alternatively, the display stack configuration may include a protective cover film attached to the tensioning film similar to that described herein with reference to the touch sensor. In this configuration, the touch sensor is laminated to the flexible display, or to a portion of the flexible display.

In embodiments, the expandable mobile device 102 includes a support plate that supports the flexible display stack. In both the retracted position 202 and the extended position 204 of the device, the first support plate 336 supports the first portion 324 of the flexible display stack. The flexible display stack and first support plate are attached to the first housing member 110 at 338 and the flexible display stack is attached to the top of the carrier rail 316. When the second portion of the flexible display stack extends from the interior 320 of the device, the second support plate 340 supports the second portion 326 of the flexible display stack in the extended position of the device. The second support plate is configured for actuation to raise the second support plate in an extended position of the deployable mobile device and to rigidly position the second support plate under a second portion of the flexible display stack.

In an implementation, an actuation mechanism 342 (such as a spring or other tension mechanism) is implemented to position and maintain the second support plate 340, pushing it upward from the interior of the deployable mobile device 102 to support the flexible display stack. The actuating mechanism may be released by applying a closing force to the locking mechanism release when the device is retracted, and the first and second support plates slidably engage at 344 when the first support plate 336 is seated over the second support plate 340, pushing the second support plate downward where it is held in place under the first support plate. In the retracted position 302 of the expandable mobile device, the first support plate engages the second support plate to position the first support plate over the second support plate.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example method 400 of an expandable mobile device. The order in which the method blocks are described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to implement the method, or an alternate method.

At block 402, housing components of an expandable mobile device are slidably engaged with respect to one another to extend and retract the device. For example, the deployable mobile device 102 (fig. 1) includes a first housing member 110 and a second housing member 112 that slide-engage relative to one another to extend and retract the device. At block 404, the flexible display extends from an interior of the device when one housing part slides out of the other housing part. For example, the expandable mobile device 102 includes a flexible display 104 that extends from an interior 214 (fig. 2) of the device when the second housing member 112 is slid out of the first housing member 110. In the extended position 204 of the expandable mobile device, the flexible display curves through a fixed radius 216 above the roller 208 and extends from the first housing part 110.

At block 406, the flexible display is retracted into the interior of the device when one housing part is slid into the other housing part. For example, when the second housing member 112 is slid into the first housing member 110, the flexible display 104 is retracted into the interior of the expandable mobile device 102. At block 408, the flexible display is bent around a fixed radius to position the first portion of the flexible display substantially parallel to the second portion of the flexible display in the retracted position of the device. For example, the flexible display 104 is bent around a fixed radius 216 to position a first, viewable portion 218 of the flexible display substantially parallel to a second, retracted portion 220 of the flexible display in the retracted position 202 of the deployable mobile device.

At block 410, the flexible display is bent through a 180 degree (180) bend that positions a first portion of the flexible display substantially parallel to a second portion of the flexible display. For example, the roller 208 bends the flexible display 104 through a 180 degree (180) bend at 222, which bends the first, viewable portion 218 of the flexible display to be positioned substantially parallel to the second, retracted portion 220 of the flexible display.

At block 412, the flexible display is supported with a support plate in both the extended and retracted positions of the device. For example, the expandable mobile device 102 includes a first support plate 230, the first support plate 230 supporting the first portion 218 of the flexible display 104 in both the retracted position 202 and the extended position 204 of the device. The expandable mobile device further comprises a second support plate 234, the second support plate 234 supporting the second portion 220 of the flexible display in the extended position of the device when the second portion of the flexible display is extended from the interior 214 of the device. The second support plate is configured to actuate to position the second support plate under a second portion of the flexible display in the extended position of the expandable mobile device.

At block 414, the first support plate is positioned adjacent the second support plate in the extended position of the apparatus. For example, in the extended position 204 of the deployable mobile device 102, the first support plate 230 is positioned adjacent to the second support plate 234. At block 416, the first support plate is positioned above the second support plate in the retracted position of the apparatus. For example, the first and second support plates are slidably engaged at 238, with the first support plate 230 riding over the second support plate 234, thereby pushing the upwardly spring-loaded second support plate downward where it is held in place under the first support plate.

At block 418, a bi-stable mechanism is used to bias the housing components as the deployable mobile device is extended and retracted. For example, the deployable mobile device 102 includes a bi-stable mechanism 240, such as a spring assembly, that is implemented to bias the first and second housing components as the deployable mobile device is extended and retracted when a user initiates opening and closing of the device.

Fig. 5 illustrates various components of an example device 500 that may be implemented as any of the deployable mobile devices described with reference to previous fig. 1-4. In embodiments, this may be implemented in any form of consumer device, computer device, portable device, user device, communication device, telephone device, navigation device, television device, appliance device, gaming device, media playback device, and/or electronic device. The device may also be associated with a user (i.e., a person) and/or an entity that operates the device such that a device describes logical devices that include users, software, firmware, hardware, and/or a combination of devices.

Device 500 includes communication devices 502 that enable wired and/or wireless communication of device data 504 (such as received data, data that is being received, data scheduled for broadcast, data packets of the data, and so forth). The device data or other device content may include configuration settings of the device, media content stored on the device, and/or information associated with a user of the device. Media content stored on the device may include any type of audio, video, and/or image data. The device includes one or more data inputs 506 via which any type of data, media content, and/or inputs can be received, such as user-selectable inputs as well as any other type of audio, video, and/or image data received from any content and/or data source.

The device 500 also includes communication interfaces 508, such as any one or more of a serial, parallel, network, or wireless interface. The communication interfaces provide a connection and/or communication links between the device and a communication network by which other electronic, computing, and communication devices communicate data with the device.

The device 500 includes one or more processors 510 (e.g., any of microprocessors, controllers, and the like) which process various computer-executable instructions to control the operation of the device. Alternatively or in addition, the device can be implemented with any one or combination of software, hardware, firmware, or fixed logic circuitry (generally identified at 512) that is implemented in connection with processing and control circuits. Although not shown, the device may include a system bus or data transfer system that couples the various components within the device. A system bus can include any one or combination of different bus structures, such as a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a universal serial bus, and/or a processor or local bus that utilizes any of a variety of bus architectures.

Device 500 also includes one or more memory devices 514 (e.g., computer-readable storage media) that allow data storage, such as Random Access Memory (RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.), and disk storage. A disk storage device can be implemented as any type of magnetic or optical storage device, such as a hard disk drive, a recordable and/or rewriteable disk, and the like. The device may also include a mass storage media device.

Computer readable media can be any available medium or media that can be accessed by a computing device. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise storage media and communication media. Storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by a computer.

Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communication media also includes any information delivery media. A modulated data signal has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

The memory device 514 provides data storage mechanisms to store the device data 504, other types of information and/or data, and various device applications 516. For example, an operating system 518 may be maintained as a software application with a memory device and executed on processors. The device applications can also include a device manager, such as any form of a control application, software application, signal processing and control module, code that is native to a particular device, a hardware abstraction layer for a particular device, and so forth.

The device 500 also includes an audio and/or video processing system 520 that generates audio data for an audio system 522 and/or generates display data for a display system 524, such as an integrated flexible display. The audio system and/or the display system may include any devices that process, display, and/or otherwise render audio, video, display, and/or image data. The display data and audio signals may be transmitted to the audio device and/or the display device via an RF (radio frequency) link, S-video link, composite video link, component video link, DVI (digital video interface), analog audio connection, or other similar communication link. In implementations, the audio system and/or the display system are integrated components of the example device. Alternatively, the audio system and/or the display system are external components of the device.

Although embodiments of the deployable mobile device have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, the subject of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as example implementations of an expandable mobile device.

Claims (7)

1. A method (300) of operating an expandable mobile device, comprising:

slidably-engaging (302) first (110) and second (112) housing components of a deployable mobile device (102) relative to each other to extend and retract the deployable mobile device;

retracting (306) a flexible display (104) into an interior (214) of the expandable mobile device when the second housing part is slid into the first housing part;

bending the flexible display 180 degrees around a fixed radius (216) to position a first portion (218) of the flexible display substantially parallel to a second portion of the flexible display in a retracted position (202) of the deployable mobile device;

supporting the flexible display with first and second support plates; and

positioning the first support plate adjacent the second support plate in an extended position of the expandable mobile device, the second support plate being positioned below the second portion of the flexible display when an end of the first support plate is adjacent an end of the second support plate to provide a rigid support surface for the extended flexible display.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising extending the second portion of the flexible display from an interior of the deployable mobile device when the second housing member is slid out of the first housing member.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising rolling the second portion of the flexible display through the fixed radius to extend the second portion of the flexible display from an interior of the deployable mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the first support plate above the second support plate when the first support plate engages the second support plate in a retracted position of the deployable mobile device.

5. An expandable mobile device (102), comprising:

a flexible display (104) configured to extend from an interior (214) of the deployable mobile device when the housing parts (110, 112) are slide-extended relative to each other, the flexible display further configured to retract into the interior of the deployable mobile device when the housing parts are slide-retracted relative to each other;

a roller (208) configured to bend the flexible display 180 degrees around a fixed radius (216) to position a first portion (218) of the flexible display substantially parallel to a second portion (220) of the flexible display in a retracted position (202) of the deployable mobile device;

first and second support plates configured to support the flexible display; and

an actuation mechanism configured to place the second support plate under the second portion of the flexible display when an end of the first support plate abuts an end of the second support plate to provide a rigid support surface for the extended flexible display.

6. The deployable mobile device of claim 5, further comprising a carrier track configured to gear-engage the roller and position the first support plate adjacent to the second support plate in an extended position of the deployable mobile device, wherein the first support plate engages the second support plate to position the first support plate above the second support plate in a retracted position of the deployable mobile device.

7. The deployable mobile device of claim 6, further comprising:

a tensioning film fixed to a trailing edge of the flexible display and fixed to a distal end of the carrier track; and

a take-up roller configured to wrap around the take-up film when the deployable mobile device is closed to the retracted position.