Multi-orientation display device

Abstract

A computing device includes a flexible display screen, a housing to house at least one processor device and at least one memory element, and a first wing to support a side portion of the display screen. The front face of the housing includes a center portion of the display screen. The first wing is connected to the housing by a hinge, the first wing configured to swivel about an axis defined by the hinge. The hinge is configured to lock the first wing in at least two wing positions, a first of the wing positions supports the side portion of the display screen in a first orientation, a second of the wing positions supports the side portion of the display screen in a second orientation, and the side portion of the display screen is active in the first orientation and hidden in the second orientation.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A tri-fold foldable phone comprising:
 a center portion;   a left portion rotatably coupled to the center portion via a left hinge;   a right portion rotatably coupled to the center portion via a right hinge; and   flexible display screen which traverses one side of each of the center portion, left portion, and right portion;   wherein the tri-fold foldable phone is configured to operate:
 in a first mode, wherein the left portion is operable to swivel about a left axis defined by the left hinge and the right portion is operable to swivel about a right axis defined by the right hinge, each of the left, right, and center portions are substantially parallel to one another; and 
 in a second mode, wherein the left, right, and center portions are configured to be substantially coplanar so as to provide a flat surface for the flexible display screen. 
   
     
     
         22 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 21 , wherein the first mode defines a first display surface area and the second mode defines a larger, second display surface area. 
     
     
         23 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 22 , wherein the second display surface area comprises the center, left, and right portions of the flexible display screen, and at least the right portion of the flexible display screen is excluded from the first display surface area. 
     
     
         24 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 23 , wherein the left portion is folded adjacent to the right portion in the first mode, wherein the left portion of the flexible display screen is also excluded from the second display surface area. 
     
     
         25 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 21  further comprising a controller. 
     
     
         26 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 25 , wherein the left and right portions are disabled by the controller in the first mode. 
     
     
         27 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 26 , wherein the left and right portions of the flexible display screen are reenabled by the controller in the second mode. 
     
     
         28 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 23 , wherein the second display surface area corresponds to a graphical display representation of a tablet computer and the first display surface area corresponds to a graphical display representation of a smartphone. 
     
     
         29 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 21  further comprising one or more sensors to identify whether the left and right portions are positioned to define the first mode or the second mode. 
     
     
         30 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 29 , wherein a graphical user interface to be presented on the flexible display screen is to be adapted based on whether the first orientation or the second orientation is sensed by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         31 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 21 , wherein the flexible display screen comprises a touchscreen. 
     
     
         32 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 21  further comprising a camera disposed on one side of the right portion opposite to the flexible screen. 
     
     
         33 . A tri-fold foldable phone comprising:
 a foldable frame to support a flexible display screen of the tri-fold foldable, wherein the frame comprises:
 a housing to enclose one or more processor devices, wherein a center portion of the flexible display screen is to be supported by a front face of the housing; 
 a left wing extending from a first side of the housing and connected to the housing by a first hinge, wherein a left side portion of the flexible display screen is supported by the left wing; 
 a right wing extending from a second side of the housing and connected to the housing by a second hinge, wherein a right side portion of the flexible display screen is supported by the right wing; 
   wherein, the first and second hinges comprise a hinge pin and a plurality of hinge segments which are coupled to the hinge pin.   
     
     
         34 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of hinge segments are parallel. 
     
     
         35 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of hinge segments are parallel hinge segments are at least partially enclosed in a flexible covering. 
     
     
         36 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 35 , wherein the flexible covering has slidable notches. 
     
     
         37 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of hinge segments are interlinked. 
     
     
         38 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 33 , wherein the tri-fold foldable phone is configure in a first orientation in which the left portion is operable to swivel about a left axis defined by the left hinge and the right portion is operable to swivel about a right axis defined by the right hinge, each of the left, right, and center portions are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         39 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 38 , wherein the tri-fold foldable phone is configured in a second orientation in which the left, right, and center portions are configured to be substantially coplanar so as to provide a flat surface for the flexible display screen. 
     
     
         40 . The tri-fold foldable phone according to  claim 39 , wherein the first orientation corresponds to a graphical display representation of a smartphone and the second orientation corresponds to a graphical display representation of a tablet computer.