Display system with a flexible display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10154124-B2
Application number	US-201715608221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2017
Priority date	Aug 7, 2012
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A display system includes a continuous flexible display, two book halves, two main display supports, and a movement synchronizing coupling. The two book halves is connected to each other via a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism has two hinges, and each hinge is rotatable about respective axis. Each of the two main display supports connects to one of the two book halves and is configured to support the flexible display. The coupling is connected to the two main display supports and rotating about a rotation axis that is parallel to the axis of hinge to enable a synchronized movement of the two main display supports.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display system comprising:
a flexible display;
a first main display support and a second main display support that support the flexible display;
a hinge mechanism that rotatably connects the first main display support and the second main display support so that the flexible display is folded in a closed position and unfolded in an open position; and
an elastic member which is disposed between the first main display support and the second main display support and provides spring forces on the first main display support and the second main display support to keep the display system into the open position or the closed position,
wherein the elastic member comprises a first leg and a second leg, the first leg being connected to the first main display support and the second leg being connected to the second main display support.

2. The display system of claim 1 , wherein, when in the open position, the elastic member provides spring forces on both of the first main display support and the second main display support to pre-stretch the flexible display between respective portions of the flexible display supported by the first main display support and the second main display support.

3. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a first hinge and a second hinge to which the first main display support and the second main display support are rotatably connected, respectively.

4. The display system of claim 3 , wherein each of the first leg and second leg rotates about a rotation axis that is parallel to an axis of one of the first hinge and the second hinge.

5. The display system of claim 3 , wherein the elastic member comprises an elongated spring extending between ends of both of the two hinges.

6. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the display system further comprises:
a first gear disposed on the first main display support; and
a second gear disposed on the second main display support that engages with the first gear.

7. The display system of claim 6 ,
wherein the first gear comprises a first teethed segment formed on one end of the first main display support, and
wherein the second gear comprises a second teethed segment formed on one end of the second main display support.

8. The display system of claim 6 , wherein the display system further comprises an additional display support that is disposed between the first main display support and the second main display support and pivotably connected to the first and second main display supports, and supports a central segment of the flexible display in the open position.

9. The display system of claim 8 ,
wherein the additional display support comprises a first side support plate, a second side support plate and a central support plate disposed between the first side support plate and the second side support plate,
wherein the central support plate is pivotably connected to the first and second side support plates, and
wherein the first and second side support plates are pivotably connected to the first and second main display supports.

10. The display system of claim 9 ,
wherein both ends of the central support plate are pivotably connected to one ends of the first and second support plates, respectively, and
wherein the other ends of the first and second support plates are pivotably connected to the first and second main display supports, respectively.

11. The display system of claim 10 ,
wherein the first and second main display supports comprise a first slot and a second slot, and
wherein the first and second side support plates comprise a first pin and a second pin that are slid within the first and second slots according to a rotation of the first and second support plates.

12. The display system of claim 9 , wherein the central support plate moves in one direction toward the flexible display while the flexible display is unfolded, and moves in an opposite direction of the one direction while the flexible display is folded.

13. The display system of claim 9 , wherein the central support plate, the first side support plate and second side support plate are positioned to support the central display segment so that the central display segment is bent at a pre-defined curvature in the closed position.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mok Kwok Wah
• Grundlehner-Bos Noortje
• Verschoor Volker Barnhart
• Van Dijk Robert Sjang Josine
• Hamers Johannes Cornelis Adriaan

Classifications

• G09F9/301

  flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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