Wristwatch

Abstract

A wristwatch includes a flexible display having a planar center portion and a curved edge curved relative to the planar center portion, and a display cover layer overlapping the flexible display, the display cover layer having a corner with compound curvature and having a curved edge overlapping the curved edge of the flexible display.

Description

[0001] This patent application is a continuation of Chinese Patent Application No. 201980006055.4, titled “Electronic Device with Display with Extended Edges,” filed April 23, 2019, which is the Chinese national phase of International Application No. PCT / US2019 / 028769.

[0002] Related Cross-Reference

[0003] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 390,850, filed April 22, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 683,328, filed June 11, 2018, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and more specifically to electronic devices with displays. BACKGROUND

[0005] Electronic devices such as cellular telephones, tablets, and other electronic devices can include displays for presenting images to users.

[0006] Electronic devices with displays can not have a desired appearance or can not be satisfactorily used if not careful. For example, the display can be bulky and unattractive, or can not fit a desired electronic device shape. SUMMARY

[0007] A wristwatch is disclosed, comprising: a flexible display having a planar center portion and a curved edge curved relative to the planar center portion; and a display cover layer overlapping the flexible display, wherein the display cover layer has a corner with compound curvature and has a curved edge overlapping the curved edge of the flexible display.

[0008] A wristwatch is disclosed, comprising: a housing; a wristband coupled to the housing; a flexible display mounted to the housing, the flexible display having a first curved edge and a second curved edge separated by a gap, a display cover layer overlapping the flexible display, wherein the display cover layer has a corner overlapping the gap; and a structure that conceals the gap from view.

[0009] A wristwatch is disclosed that includes a housing, a flexible display mounted to the housing, where the flexible display has a planar central portion and curved edges that are curved relative to the planar central portion, and a display cover layer that has a central portion and has curved edges that respectively overlap the curved edges of the flexible display, the central portion having a non-rectangular contour.

[0010] An electronic device can be provided with a display. The display can have a flexible display layer covered by a protective display cover layer. The flexible display layer can be an organic light emitting diode display layer or other layer with a flexible substrate. The display cover layer can be formed of a layer of glass, transparent polymer, or other protective material.

[0011] The flexible display layer can have a central region with a circumferential edge. The central region can be rectangular, can be octagonal, or can have other shapes. A band-shaped protrusion can extend along each of the edges of the central region. The band-shaped protrusion can be curved downward so that the protrusion has a curved surface contour.

[0012] The display cover layer, which can be formed of a layer of glass, transparent polymer, or other protective material, can have a mat shape with edges that are bent outward to partially overlap the band-shaped protrusion. The display cover layer can have curved inner and outer surfaces and / or planar surfaces, can have rounded corners with compound curvature, can have edges with curved surface contours, and / or can have other configurations.

[0013] A housing structure can overlap the gap formed at the corners of the central region. The housing structure can be formed of an opaque material such as metal and can help to obscure the corners from view from the exterior of the electronic device.

[0014] Passive tails of the flexible display can extend from the band-shaped protrusion and can overlap each other on a rear portion of the display layer, with signal paths in the passive tails coupled to display driver circuitry. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a top view of an example electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a display and internal components in an example electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an example flexible display layer with curved edge protrusions according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary display cover according to an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary display cover according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 8 is a back perspective view of an exemplary flexible display according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 9 is a top view of a corner portion of an exemplary flexible display according to an embodiment.

[0023] Figure 10 is a top view of an exemplary flexible display with edge protrusions according to an embodiment.

[0024] Figure 11 is a top view of an exemplary display cover with a cushion shape according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 12 is a top view of an exemplary electronic device with a display cover of the type shown in Figure 11

[0026] Figure 13 and Figure 14 is a cross-sectional side view of an edge portion of an exemplary electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0027] Figure 15 is a top view of an exemplary flexible display with an octagonal center portion according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Electronic devices can be provided with displays. The displays can have curved surfaces. For example, the displays can have a rectangular shape with rounded corners and edges having a curved profile. Electronic device displays with curved surfaces can have an attractive appearance, can be viewed from a variety of different angles, and can have a desirable large area that can be used to display images.

[0029] Figure 1 A top view of an exemplary electronic device with a display is shown. As Figure 1 ​As shown, device 10 can have a display, such as display 14 mounted in housing 12. Housing 12, which can sometimes be referred to as a case or a box, can be formed of plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber composite, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, gold, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. Housing 12 can be formed with a monolithic configuration in which a portion or all of housing 12 is machined or molded as a single structure, or can be formed with multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures forming an outer housing surface, etc.).

[0030] If desired, a strap or other external structure, such as strap 30, can be coupled to housing 12 (e.g., using spring bars, magnets, threaded fasteners, clamps, or other coupling structures). Strap 30 can be a wristband having a clasp, such as clasp 32, configured to allow device 10 to be worn by a user. Strap 30 can be formed of metal, fabric, natural materials such as leather, polymers, or other materials. Clasp 32 can be a magnetic clasp, a mechanical clasp, or other suitable clasp. Device 10 can be a wristwatch or other wearable device worn on a user's wrist. If desired, device 10 can be a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a display device, or other suitable device including a display. Use of display 14 in a wearable portable device such as a wristwatch device is sometimes described herein as an example.

[0031] Display 14 can be a liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode display having an array of thin-film organic light-emitting diode picture elements on a flexible substrate, or a display based on other display technology (e.g., an electrophoretic display, a display having an array of crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes on a flexible substrate, etc.). Display 14 can be a touch screen display incorporating a layer of electrically conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor components (e.g., resistive touch sensor components, acoustic touch sensor components, force-based touch sensor components, light-based touch sensor components, etc.), or can be a non-touch-sensitive display.

[0032] Display 14 can include one or more layers of transparent protective material. For example, an outermost layer of display 14, which can sometimes be referred to as a display cover layer, can be formed of a hard transparent material such as glass, a rigid polymer, sapphire, or other crystalline material, or other transparent material, to help protect display 14 from damage.

[0033] Figure 1A schematic diagram of electronic device 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Device 10 can include control circuitry 20. Control circuitry 20 can include storage and processing circuitry to support operation of device 10. The storage and processing circuitry can include storage such as nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically programmable read only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random access memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry 20 can be used to gather input from sensors and other input devices, and can be used to control output devices. The processing circuitry can be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors and other wireless communication circuitry, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc.

[0034] To support communication between device 10 and external devices, control circuitry 20 can use communication circuitry 22 to communicate. Circuitry 22 can include antennas, wireless transceiver circuitry such as radio frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communication circuitry and / or wired communication circuitry. Circuitry 22, which can sometimes be referred to as control circuitry and / or control and communication circuitry, can support two-way wireless communication between device 10 and external devices through wireless links (e.g., circuitry 22 can include radio frequency transceiver circuitry, such as wireless local area network transceiver circuitry configured to support communication over a wireless local area network link, near field communication transceiver circuitry configured to support communication over a near field communication link, cellular transceiver circuitry configured to support voice and / or data communication over a cellular telephone link such as a cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, or transceiver circuitry configured to support communication over any other appropriate wired or wireless communication link) that can be used to support control circuitry. For example, wireless communication can be supported over a Bluetooth ® link, a WiFi ® link, a 60 GHz link or other millimeter wave link, a cellular telephone link that handles voice and / or data, or other wireless communication link. Device 10, if desired, can include power source circuitry to transmit and / or receive wired and / or wireless power, and can include a battery or other energy storage device. For example, device 10 can include a coil and rectifier to receive wireless power that is provided to circuitry in device 10.

[0035] Device 10 can include input-output devices such as devices 24. Input-output devices 24 can be used to gather user input, to gather information about a user's surroundings, and / or to provide output to a user. During operation, control circuitry 20 can use sensors and other input devices in devices 24 to gather input, and can control output devices in devices 24 to provide desired output.

[0036] Device 24 can include one or more displays, such as display 14. Display 14 can have an array of pixels configured to display images to a user. The display pixels can be formed on a substrate, such as a flexible substrate (e.g., display 14 can be formed from a flexible display panel). An array of conductive electrodes for a capacitive touch sensor in display 14 and / or an array of indium tin oxide electrodes or other transparent conductive electrodes that overlap display 14 can be used to form a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor for display 14 (e.g., display 14 can be a touch-sensitive display).

[0037] Sensors 16 in input-output device 24 can include force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, touch and / or proximity sensors such as capacitive sensors (e.g., a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor integrated into display 14, a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor that overlaps display 14, and / or a touch sensor that forms a button, trackpad, or other input device that is not associated with a display), and other sensors. If desired, sensors 16 can include optical sensors such as optical sensors that emit and detect light, ultrasonic sensors, optical touch sensors, optical proximity sensors, and / or other touch and / or proximity sensors, monochrome and color ambient light sensors, image sensors, fingerprint sensors, temperature sensors, sensors for measuring three-dimensional contactless gestures ("air gestures"), pressure sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation, and / or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors such as compass sensors, gyroscopes, and / or inertial measurement units containing some or all of these sensors), health sensors, radio frequency sensors, depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and / or depth sensors based on stereoscopic imaging devices), optical sensors such as self-mixing sensors and optical detection and ranging (lidar) sensors that acquire time-of-flight measurements, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, line-of-sight tracking sensors, and / or other sensors. In some arrangements, device 10 can use sensors 16 and / or other input-output devices to acquire user input (e.g., a button can be used to acquire button press input, a touch sensor that overlaps a display can be used to acquire user touch screen input, a trackpad can be used to acquire touch input, a microphone can be used to acquire audio input, an accelerometer can be used to monitor when a finger contacts an input surface and thus can be used to acquire finger press input, etc.).

[0038] If desired, electronic device 10 may include additional components (see, for example, other devices 18 in input-output device 24). Additional components may include tactile output devices, audio output devices such as speakers, light-generating output devices such as light-emitting diodes for status indicators, portions such as lighting housings, light sources for light-emitting diodes (e.g., crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes) in gaps and / or other display structures in a display, other optical output devices, and / or other circuitry for collecting inputs and / or providing outputs. Device 10 may also include batteries or other energy storage devices, wired communication for supporting auxiliary devices, connector ports for receiving wired power, and other circuitry.

[0039] Figure 3 The image shows a cross-sectional side view of the edge portion of an illustrative display and associated internal components in device 10. (See image for details.) Figure 3 As shown, the interior of device 10 may include one or more printed circuits, such as printed circuit 48 with electronic components 50. Components 50 may include integrated circuits (e.g., control circuit 20, communication circuit 22), input-output devices 24 such as sensors 16 and device 18, and other circuits.

[0040] like Figure 3 As illustrated in the exemplary configuration, the display 14 may be mounted on the front FR of the device 10, and the housing 12 may be formed on the opposite rear RR of the device 10. Portions of the housing 12 and / or the display 14 may form sidewall portions of the device 10, such as sidewall E.

[0041] Display 14 may include a flexible display layer such as flexible display layer 42, which has an array of pixels 44 on a flexible substrate (e.g., a polyimide substrate or other flexible polymer layer). Pixels 44 may be crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode pixels or thin-film organic light-emitting diode pixels and pixels formed from other thin-film circuits. Display layer 42 may be covered with a transparent protective layer such as display cover layer 40. Display cover layer 40 may be formed of glass, polymer, crystalline material such as sapphire, or other transparent materials and / or combinations of these materials. If desired, an adhesive (polymer) layer such as layer 46 may be used to attach display layer 42 to the inner surface of display cover layer 40. In some configurations, an internal frame structure may be provided to support some or all of display layer 42 (e.g., from below layer 42).

[0042] exist Figure 3 In the example, the display cover 40 has an inner surface and an outer surface with curved profiles. If desired, the surface of the display cover 42 may include planar portions (e.g., a flat area associated with the center of the front surface FR, a vertical sidewall portion on the sidewall E, etc.). Figure 3 The configuration is exemplary.

[0043] Display layer 42 can have any suitable shape. For one illustrative configuration, display layer 42 has a central portion with curved circumferential edge protrusions. This type of arrangement is shown in Figure 4 Figure 4 As shown, display layer 42 can have a central portion such as central portion 42C. Central portion 42C can be planar or can have a curved surface profile. The profile of central portion 42C (the footprint when viewed from above) can be rectangular or portion 42C can have other suitable shapes of profiles. In the example shown, central portion 42C is square and has four circumferential edges. Elongated band-shaped protrusions 42P can protrude from one or more of the four circumferential edges of portion 42C. For example, there can be protrusions 42P on opposite left and right sides of portion 42C, there can be protrusions 42P on opposite upper and lower edges of portion 42C, or there can be protrusions 42P on all four edges of portion 42C, as shown. Configurations in which there are other numbers of protrusions 42P (e.g., three protrusions, at least five protrusions, at least eight protrusions, etc.) can also be used. Figure 4 Figure 4 As shown, circumferential edge portions of layer 42 can be curved so that the surface of each protrusion 42P has a curved profile. When viewed from above in a downward direction 45 (-Z direction of

[0044] As shown, circumferential edge portions of layer 42 can be curved so that the surface of each protrusion 42P has a curved profile. When viewed from above in a downward direction 45 (-Z direction of Figure 4 Figure 4 As shown, circumferential edge portions of layer 42 can be curved so that the surface of each protrusion 42P has a curved profile. When viewed from above in a downward direction 45 (-Z direction of

[0045] Display 14 (and associated layers 40 and 42) can be rectangular (e.g., display 14 can have a rectangular shape with rounded corners), can be square (e.g., display 14 can have a square profile with rounded corners), can have a circular or elliptical profile, or can have other suitable shapes. Figure 5 A perspective view of display cover layer 40 in an illustrative configuration is shown in which display cover layer 40 is square. As shown, display cover layer 40 can have a central portion such as central portion 40C. Central portion 40C can be planar or can have a curved surface profile. The profile of central portion 40C (the footprint when viewed from above) can be rectangular or portion 40C can have other suitable shapes of profiles. In the example shown, central portion 40C is square and has four circumferential edges. Elongated band-shaped protrusions 40P can protrude from one or more of the four circumferential edges of portion 40C. For example, there can be protrusions 40P on opposite left and right sides of portion 40C, there can be protrusions 40P on opposite upper and lower edges of portion 40C, or there can be protrusions 40P on all four edges of portion 40C, as shown. Configurations in which there are other numbers of protrusions 40P (e.g., three protrusions, at least five protrusions, at least eight protrusions, etc.) can also be used. Figure 5 ​​​As shown, the display cover layer 40 can have a square profile with rounded corners when viewed from above in the direction 45. The display cover layer 40 can have a circumferential edge with four edge segments (e.g., a top circumferential edge, a bottom circumferential edge, a left circumferential edge, and a right circumferential edge), such as the circumferential edge 40E. The edges 40E, which can sometimes be referred to as sidewall structures, sidewall segments, or side portions of the display cover layer 40, can each have a curvilinear cross-sectional profile (e.g., the surfaces of the edges 40E can be curvilinear).

[0046] If desired, the device 10 (e.g., the display cover layer 40) can have an outer surface with a compound curvature. In the example of FIG. 4A, the device 10 has edge portions 40E with surfaces that are each curvilinear about a respective edge axis, such as the axis 53. These portions (and the corresponding protrusions 42P of the display layer 42 that are overlapped by the edge portions 40E) extend along straight edges of the device 10 and are characterized by curvilinear surfaces that can be unfolded into a plane without distortion (sometimes referred to as developable surfaces). At the corners of the device 10, the display cover layer 40 has curvilinear surface portions 40CC that have a compound curvature (e.g., surfaces that can only be unfolded into a plane with distortion, sometimes referred to as surfaces with Gaussian curvature). If desired, each of the four corners of the device 10 can have this arrangement. Figure 5 The central portion of the outer surface of the display cover layer 40 can be planar, as shown by the exemplary planar outer surface 40T of the display cover layer 40 in the cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4B. The opposing inner surface 40B of the display cover layer 40 can also have a planar profile in the center of the display cover layer, as shown by the exemplary planar inner surface 40B' of the display cover layer 40 in the cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4C. If desired, the thickness T of the layer 40 can be uniform across the surface of the layer 40. The edge portions of the layer 40 can have curvilinear profiles as described in connection with FIG. 4A.

[0047] Figure 6 The central portion of the outer surface of the display cover layer 40 can be planar, as shown by the exemplary planar outer surface 40T of the display cover layer 40 in the cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4B. The opposing inner surface 40B of the display cover layer 40 can also have a planar profile in the center of the display cover layer, as shown by the exemplary planar inner surface 40B' of the display cover layer 40 in the cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4C. If desired, the thickness T of the layer 40 can be uniform across the surface of the layer 40. The edge portions of the layer 40 can have curvilinear profiles as described in connection with FIG. 4A. Figure 6 Figure 5 The central portion of the outer surface of the display cover layer 40 can be planar, as shown by the exemplary planar outer surface 40T of the display cover layer 40 in the cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4B. The opposing inner surface 40B of the display cover layer 40 can also have a planar profile in the center of the display cover layer, as shown by the exemplary planar inner surface 40B' of the display cover layer 40 in the cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4C. If desired, the thickness T of the layer 40 can be uniform across the surface of the layer 40. The edge portions of the layer 40 can have curvilinear profiles as described in connection with FIG. 4A.

[0048] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the display cover layer 40 in an exemplary configuration in which the center of the outer surface 40T of the display cover layer 40 has a curvilinear profile. The center of the opposing inner surface 40B of the layer 40 can be curvilinear (e.g., the surface 40B can have a curvilinear surface profile that matches the curvilinear surface profile of the opposing outer surface 40T) or can have other shapes (see, e.g., the planar surface profile of the exemplary inner surface 40B' in the center of the layer 40).

[0049] Figure 8 ​​is a back perspective view of display layer 42 in an illustrative configuration in which layer 42 has curved, protruding passive tails. Center portion 42C of display layer 42 can have a square shape or other rectangular shape (as examples). Edge protrusion portions 42P can extend along four peripheral edges of the display and can have curved surface profiles, as described in connection with Figure 4 Center portion 42C of display layer 42 and protrusion portions 42P of display layer 42 can have picture elements configured to display images. Passive tails such as portions 42TL-1 and 42TL-2 can extend from one or more edges of display layer 42. These tails do not contain picture elements, but contain signal paths such as gate lines GL and data lines DL that are coupled to display driver circuitry such as display driver circuit 52 (e.g., one or more display driver integrated circuits, etc.). During operation, gate lines GL can be used to convey gate line signals (also sometimes referred to as gate signals, control signals, scan signals, emission control signals, etc.) onto control gates of transistors (e.g., thin film transistors) in the picture elements of display layer 42, while data lines DL convey corresponding data (picture element values) to the picture elements of display layer 42.

[0050] In the illustrative configuration of Figure 8 Tails 42TL-1 extend from a first one of protrusion portions 42P, and tails 42TL-2 extend from a second one of protrusion portions 42P. These tails can be folded under region 42C and coupled to printed circuit 54 at a back portion of display layer 42. Printed circuitry such as printed circuit 54 can be coupled to tails 42TL-1 and / or 42TL-2 using conductive adhesive, solder, or other conductive material. Display driver circuit 52, connectors (for coupling to display driver circuitry on additional printed circuitry), and / or other circuitry in device 10 can be mounted on and / or otherwise coupled to printed circuit 54 and / or display layer 42. Printed circuit 54 can be a rigid printed circuit (e.g., a printed circuit board formed of fiberglass-filled epoxy or other rigid printed circuit board material) or can be a flexible printed circuit. If desired, display driver circuit 52 can be mounted directly on a portion of display layer 42 (e.g., using conductive adhesive, solder, etc.).

[0051] The outermost border regions of layer 42 can form passive regions of display 14. As shown in the illustrative corner portions of display layer 42, Figure 9 As shown in the illustrative corner portions of display layer 42, layer 42 can have, for example, a border such as passive region IA that does not contain picture elements, but contains metal traces that form signal paths 64 for carrying power signals, control signals, and / or data signals for display 14. Curved axes of curvature 60 and 62 around which respective protrusion portions 42P are curved can be positioned away from corners 65 of the substrate of layer 42 and picture elements of layer 42 so that the curving occurs in portions of paths 64 that are able to withstand the bending stresses. As shown in the illustrative corner portions of display layer 42,Figure 9 As shown, for example, the bend axis 60 can be located to the right of the corner 65, so that the band-shaped protrusion extending along the right edge of the layer 42 experiences a bend only at a location further to the right than the corner 65, and the bend axis 62 can be located below the corner 65, so that the band-shaped protrusion extending along the lower edge of the layer 42 experiences a bend only at a location further below than the corner 65. In this way, the bending of the band-shaped protrusion is limited to regions of the layer 42 that will not produce compound curvature (spherically curved surfaces). If desired, the bend axis 60 can be located to the inside of the corner 65 (located slightly to the left of the corner 65), and the bend axis 62 can be located to the inside of the corner 65 (located slightly above the corner 65). Configurations such as those in which the bend axis of the band-shaped protrusion is located to the inside of a corner of the layer 42 can produce a small amount of compound curvature (spherical bending), but this can be acceptable in appropriate cases, provided that the circuitry located in the region of compound curvature is not overly sensitive to stress. Figure 9 Figure 9 Figure 9

[0052] Figure 10 is a top view of the display layer 42 in an illustrative configuration in which the central display layer region 42C is rectangular (e.g., square), and in which a band-shaped protrusion 42P extends along each of the four peripheral edges of the central region 42C. The portions 42C and 42P contain picture elements configured to display an image, such as an image containing illustrative image content 66 (e.g., a circular clock face, clock hands, numerals, other content of a clock face, and / or other content).

[0053] Passive tails of a layer, such as the tail 42TL, do not contain picture elements, and thus do not display any portion of the image content 66. Even if a corner portion of the display layer 42 is missing, content can be displayed, such as the illustrative image content 66 extending onto one or more of the protrusions 42P (in addition to the portion 42C). In some cases, such as when the displayed image, such as a visual element in the image content 66, is circular as shown, or when the content in the protrusions 42P includes dark background content that is easily visually blended with a missing corner of the layer 42 (e.g., content that is easily visually blended with the gap G in Figure 10 Figure 4 As shown, for example, the bend axis 60 can be located to the right of the corner 65, so that the band-shaped protrusion extending along the right edge of the layer 42 experiences a bend only at a location further to the right than the corner 65, and the bend axis 62 can be located below the corner 65, so that the band-shaped protrusion extending along the lower edge of the layer 42 experiences a bend only at a location further below than the corner 65. In this way, the bending of the band-shaped protrusion is limited to regions of the layer 42 that will not produce compound curvature (spherically curved surfaces). If desired, the bend axis 60 can be located to the inside of the corner 65 (located slightly to the left of the corner 65), and the bend axis 62 can be located to the inside of the corner 65 (located slightly above the corner 65). Configurations such as those in which the bend axis of the band-shaped protrusion is located to the inside of a corner of the layer 42 can produce a small amount of compound curvature (spherical bending), but this can be acceptable in appropriate cases, provided that the circuitry located in the region of compound curvature is not overly sensitive to stress.

[0054] ​​​​Accordingly, the content displayed on layer 42 can be configured to minimize the impact of the missing corner portions of layer 42. For example, control circuitry 20 can be configured to display text on the central portions of protrusions 42P without extending the text or other potentially important information onto the area of display 14 associated with the missing corners of layer 42. In some arrangements, icons, time information, date information, and / or other auxiliary information can be displayed on protrusions 42. Configurations that display background content (e.g., a solid color or pattern) in protrusions 42P can also be used.

[0055] If desired, display cover layer 40 can have a shape that minimizes the overlap with the missing corners of display layer 42. For example, consider Figure 11 exemplary display cover layer 40. In this example, display cover layer 40 has a dolly shape (sometimes referred to as a pillow shape or a barrel shape). If desired, corners 70 of display cover layer 40 can be aligned with corresponding corners of layer 42 (see, e.g., corners 65 of layer 42 of Figure 9 FIG. 1). As shown in Figure 11 the central portions of opposite upper and lower circumferential edges 72 of dolly-shaped layer 40 are bent outward from central portion 42C and partially overlap respective upper and lower protrusions 42P. The central portions of opposite left and right circumferential edges 72 of layer 40 are likewise bent outward from central portion 42C and partially overlap respective protrusions 42P on the left and right sides of display layer 42. In this way, some or all of the central portions of each protrusion 42P can be covered by the corresponding bent outward edge portions of display cover layer 40 (e.g., while few or no corners of the missing corners of display layer 42 are covered by layer 40). This helps to hide gap G while enhancing the area of display layer 42 that can be used to display image content.

[0056] As shown in Figure 12 a portion of the housing of device 10 (e.g., bezel 80 or other housing structure of Figure 12 FIG. 1, which can be formed of metal or other materials) can be formed around the circumferential edges of display cover layer 40, thereby helping to hide the missing corners of display layer 42 (gap G) from view.

[0057] If desired, display layer 42 can be sufficiently curved such that the passive tail of layer 42 is hidden from view from the front of device 10. For example, consider Figure 13 exemplary device 10 of FIG. 1. In Figure 13In the example of FIG. 1, display layer 42 has an active area containing picture elements 44, with passive tail 42TL extending downward from the active area into the interior of device 10. Display cover layer 40 can have a curved edge portion that is coupled to housing wall 82 using adhesive 84 or other mounting structure. If desired, housing wall 82 can be formed of an opaque material such as metal or a transparent material that is covered with an opaque ink or other opaque coating. Passive tail 42TL can be hidden from view from the exterior of device 10 by housing wall 82 when device 10 is viewed from the side. Tail 42TL can be partially or completely obscured from view by housing wall 82 and the outer surface of layer 40 along the vertically or nearly vertically arranged edge portion 40E when device 10 is viewed from above in direction 45.

[0058] Figure 14 Another illustrative configuration for device 10 is shown in FIG. 2. As in FIG. 1, display layer 42 has an active area containing picture elements 44, with passive tail 42TL extending downward from the active area into the interior of device 10. Display cover layer 40 can have a curved edge portion that is coupled to housing wall 82 using adhesive 84 or other mounting structure. If desired, housing wall 82 can be formed of an opaque material such as metal or a transparent material that is covered with an opaque ink or other opaque coating. Passive tail 42TL can be hidden from view from the exterior of device 10 by housing wall 82 when device 10 is viewed from the side. Tail 42TL can be partially or completely obscured from view by housing wall 82 and the outer surface of layer 40 along the vertically or nearly vertically arranged edge portion 40E when device 10 is viewed from above in direction 45. Figure 14 As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the housing of device 10 can have portions on the back and sides of device 10. For example, a housing wall such as back housing wall 82-2 can extend over some or all of the back of device 10, and a metal sidewall structure such as sidewall 82-1 in the housing of device 10 can extend over some or all of the edges of device 10. Housing structures such as walls 82-1 and 82-2 can be formed of an opaque material such as metal, an opaque polymer, etc., or can be formed of a transparent material that is covered with an opaque coating (as examples).

[0059] Adhesive or other material 84 can be used to couple display cover layer 40 to housing portion 82-1 and to couple housing wall portions 82-1 and 82-2 together. Display layer 42 can be configured so that the active portion of layer 42 is visible to viewer 43 in direction 45, with passive tail 42TL extending behind opaque structures in device 10 such as sidewall 82-1. Due to the curvature of display cover layer 40 and wall 82-1 near the edges of device 10, the active area of display 14 (e.g., the picture elements of display layer 42) can be seen in direction 45 through display cover layer 40, with passive tail 42TL obscured from view. If desired, the outermost circumferential edge portion of housing sidewall 82-1 can be configured to be nearly vertical to help maximize the width of the area of device 10 that displays an image (e.g., area 88) relative to the width of the passive boundary area of device 10 that does not display an image (e.g., area 86).

[0060] If desired, device 10, display cover layer 40, and display layer 42 can have a non-rectangular profile. For example, device 10, display cover layer 40, and display layer 42 can have an octagonal profile or other profile with fewer than four edges or more than four edges (and / or with any number of edges including straight and / or curved segments). In the example of FIG. 2, display layer 42 has an active area containing picture elements 44, with passive tail 42TL extending downward from the active area into the interior of device 10. Display cover layer 40 can have a curved edge portion that is coupled to housing wall 82 using adhesive 84 or other mounting structure. If desired, housing wall 82 can be formed of an opaque material such as metal or a transparent material that is covered with an opaque ink or other opaque coating. Passive tail 42TL can be hidden from view from the exterior of device 10 by housing wall 82 when device 10 is viewed from the side. Tail 42TL can be partially or completely obscured from view by housing wall 82 and the outer surface of layer 40 along the vertically or nearly vertically arranged edge portion 40E when device 10 is viewed from above in direction 45. Figure 15In a top view of the display layer 42, the display layer 42 has an illustrative octagonal layout with eight band-shaped protrusions 42P, each extending along a corresponding one of eight straight segments of a circumferential edge of an octagonal center portion 42C of the display layer 42. The protrusions 42P can flex out of the plane of the center portion 42C of the layer 42 and can have a curved surface profile. A passive tail 42TL can extend outward from one or more of the protrusions 42P and can contain a signal path coupled to a display drive circuit, as described in connection with Figure 8 Although Figure 15 Examples described herein involve the use of eight edges, but the display layer 42 can have any suitable number of edges. For example, the display layer 42 can have more than eight edges (e.g., at least nine edges, at least ten edges, at least 12 edges, at least 16 edges, fewer than 32 edges, etc.). Arrangements with more edges can facilitate forming a display package closer to an ideal circular shape, but can potentially reduce the amount of effective area on the curved protrusions that can be used to display an image.

[0061] According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided, the electronic device comprising a flexible display having a center portion and band-shaped protrusions each extending along a respective circumferential edge of the center portion, each band-shaped protrusion being curved and having a curved surface profile; and a cushion-shaped display cover layer overlapping the flexible display, the cushion-shaped display cover layer having opposing first and second edges respectively bent outward from the center portion, and having opposing third and fourth edges respectively bent outward from the center portion.

[0062] According to another embodiment, the display cover layer comprises a glass display cover layer, and the flexible display comprises an organic light emitting diode flexible display layer, the electronic device comprising a metal housing coupled to the cushion-shaped display cover layer, a wristband coupled to the housing, and a wireless transceiver circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals.

[0063] According to another embodiment, the cushion-shaped display cover layer has an angular surface with a compound curvature.

[0064] According to another embodiment, the first, second, third, and fourth edges of the cushion-shaped display cover layer each have a respective outer surface with a curved surface profile.

[0065] According to another embodiment, the cushion-shaped display cover layer has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a planar region, the outer surface having opposing planar regions.

[0066] According to another embodiment, the cushion-shaped display cover layer has a center region with an inner surface having a curved profile.

[0067] According to another embodiment, the pad-shaped display cover layer has a central region with an inner surface having a planar profile.

[0068] According to another embodiment, the central portion of the flexible display is square-shaped, and the flexible display has four belt-shaped protrusions.

[0069] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a metal housing structure, there is a gap in the flexible display at a corner of the central portion, and the metal housing structure has a portion overlapping the gap.

[0070] According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided, the electronic device including a housing, a display cover layer coupled to the housing, and a flexible display layer overlapping the display cover layer, the flexible display layer having a rectangular central portion and four belt-shaped protrusions, the rectangular central portion having four peripheral edges, the four belt-shaped protrusions each extending along a respective one of the four peripheral edges of the central portion, and each of the belt-shaped protrusions being curved and having a curved surface profile.

[0071] According to another embodiment, the flexible display layer includes a first passive tail extending from a first one of the four peripheral edges and a second passive tail extending from a second one of the four peripheral edges.

[0072] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a gate line on the first passive tail and a data line on the second passive tail.

[0073] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a display driver circuit, the first passive tail and the second passive tail having signal lines coupled to the display driver circuit.

[0074] According to another embodiment, the flexible display layer includes a passive tail extending from one of the four peripheral edges.

[0075] According to another embodiment, the flexible display layer has picture elements in the rectangular central portion and in each of the four belt-shaped protrusions.

[0076] According to another embodiment, the housing includes a metal housing portion, the display cover layer has a curved inner surface, the picture elements are mounted against the curved inner surface of the display cover layer, and the passive tails extend along a portion of the metal housing portion and are obscured from view by the metal housing portion.

[0077] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a control circuit and a wireless transceiver circuit, the control circuit configured to display image content on the picture elements in the rectangular central portion and on the picture elements of each of the four belt-shaped protrusions.

[0078] According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes a housing, a display cover coupled to the housing, and a flexible display layer overlapping the display cover, the flexible display layer including a center portion having a first circumferential edge, a second circumferential edge, a third circumferential edge, and a fourth circumferential edge, and including a curved first band-shaped protrusion, a curved second band-shaped protrusion, a curved third band-shaped protrusion, and a curved fourth band-shaped protrusion extending along the first circumferential edge, the second circumferential edge, the third circumferential edge, and the fourth circumferential edge, respectively.

[0079] According to another embodiment, the center portion has a fifth circumferential edge, a sixth circumferential edge, a seventh circumferential edge, and an eighth circumferential edge, and the flexible display includes a curved fifth band-shaped protrusion, a curved sixth band-shaped protrusion, a curved seventh band-shaped protrusion, and a curved eighth band-shaped protrusion extending along the fifth circumferential edge, the sixth circumferential edge, the seventh circumferential edge, and the eighth circumferential edge, respectively.

[0080] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a wristband, the housing includes a metal housing, the wristband is coupled to the metal housing, the display cover includes a square glass layer having an angular surface of compound curvature and an edge surface having a curved cross-sectional profile, and the flexible display layer includes an organic light emitting diode display layer.

[0081] According to another embodiment, a gap is present in the flexible display layer at a corner of the center portion, and a portion of the metal housing overlaps the gap.

[0082] The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments can be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. A wristwatch, comprising: a flexible display having a planar center portion and a curved edge curved relative to the planar center portion; and a display cover layer overlapping the flexible display, wherein the display cover layer has a corner with compound curvature and has a curved edge overlapping the curved edge of the flexible display. the display cover layer comprises glass, and wherein the flexible display has three additional curved edges curved relative to the planar center portion.

2. The wristwatch of claim 1, wherein, the display cover layer has three additional curved edges respectively overlapping the three additional curved edges.

3. The wristwatch of claim 2, wherein, the flexible display comprises an organic light emitting diode flexible display layer, the wristwatch further comprising:

4. The wristwatch of claim 1, wherein, a metal case coupled to the display cover layer; a wristband coupled to the metal case; and a wireless transceiver circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. the flexible display has an additional curved edge, and wherein the curved edge and the additional curved edge are separated by a gap.

5. The wristwatch of claim 1, wherein, the flexible display comprises picture elements on the curved edge and the additional curved edge.

6. The wristwatch of claim 5, wherein, the structure is selected from the group consisting of ink, light emitting diode, and case structure.

7. The wristwatch of claim 6, further comprising a structure that conceals the gap so that the gap is not visible, wherein, the corner overlaps the gap.

8. The wristwatch of claim 6, wherein, the display cover layer has a pad shape.

9. The wristwatch of claim 1, wherein, the planar center portion has a non-rectangular shape.

10. The wristwatch of claim 1, wherein, 11. A wristwatch, comprising: a case; a wristband coupled to the case; a flexible display mounted to the case, the flexible display having a first curved edge and a second curved edge separated by a gap, a display cover layer overlapping the flexible display, wherein the display cover layer has a corner overlapping the gap; and a structure that conceals the gap from view. the flexible display has picture elements on the first curved edge and second curved edge.

12. The wristwatch of claim 11, wherein, the structure is selected from the group consisting of ink, light emitting diode, and case structure.

13. The wristwatch of claim 11, wherein, the display cover layer comprises glass, the glass having a planar center portion and a first curved edge and a second curved edge respectively overlapping the first curved edge and second curved edge of the flexible display.

14. The wristwatch of claim 11, wherein, the planar center portion has a non-rectangular shape.

15. The wristwatch of claim 14, wherein, 16. A wristwatch, comprising: a case; a flexible display mounted to the case, wherein the flexible display has a planar center portion and a curved edge curved relative to the planar center portion; and a display cover layer having a center portion and having a curved edge respectively overlapping the curved edge of the flexible display, the center portion having a non-rectangular outline, wherein the display cover layer comprises glass and has a corner with compound curvature. the non-rectangular outline is an octagonal outline.

17. The wristwatch of claim 16, wherein, the flexible display has a gap between the curved edge, and wherein the corner overlaps one of the gaps.

18. The wristwatch of claim 16, wherein, the flexible display has picture elements extending from the planar center portion onto the curved edge.

19. The wristwatch of claim 18, wherein, the flexible display has a gap between the curved edge, and wherein the corner overlaps one of the gaps. the flexible display has picture elements extending from the planar center portion onto the curved edge.

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