Display apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10025347-B2
Application number	US-201615052425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Jan 2, 2014
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a display panel to display an image, and a variable member to vary a shape of the display panel such that the display panel transforms from at least a first state to a second state, the display panel is bent in the second state. At least one portion of the display panel has a different curvature than another portion of the display panel in the second state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display apparatus comprising: a display module comprising a display panel to display an image, wherein the display module having at least a first state and a second state being more bent than the first state, and the display module is bent in a cross section perpendicular to a first direction in the second state; and a variable member fixed to a rear surface of the display module and applying a first force and a second force to both edge portions of the display module respectively; the first and second forces are in opposite directions along a second direction perpendicular the first direction in the cross section to transform a shape of the display module from the first state to the second state, wherein, if an area including a center of the display module and extending in the first direction is a first column, and a curvature of the display module in the second direction in the second state is, at both edge portions of the first column in the first direction, different from that at a center portion of the first column located between the both edge portions of the first column, wherein the variable member includes: a first variable member extending lengthwise in the second direction crossing one of the both edge portions of the first column; and a second variable member extending lengthwise in the second direction crossing the other of the both edge portions of the first column.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction corresponds to a vertical height direction of the display module and the second direction corresponds to a horizontal direction of the display module.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curvature of the display module in the second state is, at the both edge portions of the first column, greater than that at the center portion of the first column.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curvature of the display module in the second state is gradually increased with increasing distance in the first direction from the center portion of the first column or decreasing distance in the first direction to the both edge portions of the first column.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, if an area including the center of the display module and extending in the second direction is a first row, and
if, in the second state, a difference of curvatures in the second direction between a center portion and an edge portion of the display module in the first row in the second direction is a first difference, and a difference of curvatures in the second direction between a center portion and an edge portion of the display module in the first column in the first direction is a second difference,
the first difference is greater than the second difference.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive unit disposed on the center portion in the second direction of the rear surface of the display module.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the variable member comprises a first part and a second part spaced apart from each other while interposing the drive unit,
wherein a first end of the first part is connected to one side of the drive unit, and
wherein a first end of the second part is connected to the other side of the drive unit.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a second end of the first part opposite to the first end of the first part and proximate to one of the both edge portions is secured to the display module, and
wherein a second end of the second part opposite to the first end of the second part and proximate to the other of the both edge portions of the display module is secured to the display module.

9. The display apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein each of the second ends of the first part and the second part is immovably secured to the display module.

10. The display apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein each of the second ends of the first part and the second part is secured to the display module using a fastening member.

11. The display apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the fastening member comprises at least one of a PEM nut, a screw, and a bolt.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a guide member provided on each of the first and second parts, the guide member serving to movably secure the first and second parts to the display module.

13. The display apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the display module further comprises a support member provided on a rear surface of the display panel between the display panel and the variable member to support the display panel.

14. The display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curvature of the display module in the second state is less, at both edge portions of the display module in the second direction, than that at a center portion of the display module in the second direction.

15. The display apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the curvature of the display module in the second state is gradually reduced with increasing distance in the second direction from the center portion of the display module or decreasing distance in the second direction to each of the both edge portions of the display module.

16. The display apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the both edge portions in the second direction are flat.

17. The display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, if each of areas including each of the both edge portions of the first column and extending in the second direction are both second rows, and
the first variable member is disposed along one of the both second rows, and
the second variable member is disposed along the other of the both second rows.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Hyuncheol
• Lee Kyueung
• Choi Inwan
• Kim Jinsu

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G09F19/02

  incorporating moving display members · CPC title

• H04N5/64

  Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers (furniture aspects {of television cabinets} A47B81/06) · CPC title

• G09F15/0025

  display surface tensioning means · CPC title

• H04N5/655

  Construction or mounting of chassis, e.g. for varying the elevation of the tube · CPC title