Foldable display device and holding structure thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028395-B2
Application number	US-201715712157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2017
Priority date	Nov 24, 2016
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A foldable display device includes a holding structure and a flexible display panel. The holding structure includes a housing, a first supporting stage, a second supporting stage, a supporting element, and a first flexible element. A third portion of the housing is pivotally connected to a first portion and a second portion of the housing. The third portion of the housing has an accommodating space. The first supporting stage is located on the first portion of the housing. The second supporting stage is located on the second portion of the housing. A gap is formed between the portion of the second supporting stage and the portion of the first supporting stage. The supporting element is located in the accommodating space. Two ends of the first flexible element are respectively connected to the supporting element and the third portion of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable display device, comprising:
a holding structure, comprising:
a housing having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein the third portion is pivotally connected to the first portion and the second portion, and the third portion has an accommodating space;
a first supporting stage located on the first portion of the housing, wherein a portion of the first supporting stage protrudes from the first portion of the housing;
a second supporting stage located on the second portion of the housing, wherein a portion of the second supporting stage protrudes from the second portion of the housing, and a gap is formed between the portion of the second supporting stage and the portion of the first supporting stage;
a supporting element located in the accommodating space; and
a first flexible element, wherein two ends of the first flexible element are respectively connected to the supporting element and the third portion of the housing, and an axial direction of the first flexible element is perpendicular to the third portion of the housing; and
a flexible display panel which is located on the first supporting stage and the second supporting stage and covers the gap;
wherein the supporting element comprises: a main body connected to an end of the first flexible element; and a protruding portion located on a surface of the main body facing away from the first flexible element.

2. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the main body is substantially the same as a width of the accommodating space.

3. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein a position of the protruding portion corresponds to a position of the gap.

4. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the protruding portion is substantially the same as a width of the gap.

5. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the main body is abutted against the first supporting stage and the second supporting stage.

6. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion is coupled with the gap and is abutted against the flexible display panel.

7. The foldable display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second flexible element, wherein two ends of the second flexible element are respectively connected to the first portion of the housing and an edge of the first supporting stage facing away from the supporting element.

8. The foldable display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second flexible element, wherein two ends of the second flexible element are respectively connected to the second portion of the housing, and an edge of the second supporting stage facing away from the supporting element.

9. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible element is a spring or a rubber pillar.

10. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel is an electrophoretic display panel or an organic light-emitting diode display panel.

11. A holding structure, comprising:
a housing having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein the third portion is pivotally connected to the first portion and the second portion, and the third portion has an accommodating space;
a first supporting stage located on the first portion of the housing, wherein a portion of the first supporting stage protrudes from the first portion of the housing;
a second supporting stage located on the second portion of the housing, wherein a portion of the second supporting stage protrudes from the second portion of the housing, and a gap is formed between the portion of the second supporting stage and the portion of the first supporting stage;
a supporting element located in the accommodating space; and
a first flexible element, wherein two ends of the first flexible element are respectively connected to the supporting element and the third portion of the housing, and an axial direction of the first flexible element is perpendicular to the third portion of the housing;
wherein the supporting element comprises: a main body connected to an end of the first flexible element; and a protruding portion located on a surface of the main body facing away from the first flexible element.

12. The holding structure of claim 11 , wherein a width of the main body is substantially the same as a width of the accommodating space.

13. The holding structure of claim 11 , wherein a position of the protruding portion corresponds to a position of the gap.

14. The holding structure of claim 11 , wherein a width of the protruding portion is substantially the same as a width of the gap.

15. The holding structure of claim 11 , wherein the main body is abutted against the first supporting stage and the second supporting stage.

16. The holding structure of claim 11 , further comprising: a second flexible element, wherein two ends of the second flexible element are respectively connected to the first portion of the housing and an edge of the first supporting stage facing away from the supporting element.

17. The holding structure of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second flexible element, wherein two ends of the second flexible element are respectively connected to the second portion of the housing and an edge of the second supporting stage facing away from the supporting element.

18. The holding structure of claim 11 , wherein the first flexible element is a spring or a rubber pillar.

Assignees

• E Ink Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Chen Yu-Wen
• Cheng Kuo-Hsing
• Lu Chun-Yu
• Hung Yu-Chieh

Classifications

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G02F1/133308

  Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title