Foldable display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10368452-B2
Application number	US-201715855931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2017
Priority date	Dec 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A foldable display device that reduces a transfer or distortion phenomenon of a folding part, prevents a display panel from sagging, and exhibits excellent folding characteristics. The foldable display device includes a display panel including a folding part and a non-folding part, a plurality of middle frames disposed at the lower surface of the display panel, and a bottom case for receiving the display panel and the middle frames. Each of the middle frames includes a frame folding part located at a region corresponding to the folding part of the display panel and a plurality of plates located at a region corresponding to the non-folding part of the display panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable display device comprising:
a display panel comprising at least one folding part and at least two non-folding parts, the at least one folding part between the at least two non-folding parts;
a plurality of middle frames disposed at a lower surface of the display panel; and
a bottom case for receiving the display panel and the plurality of middle frames,
wherein each of the plurality of middle frames comprises at least two flat parts and a frame folding part between the two flat parts, wherein each of the at least two flat parts of each middle frame overlaps a corresponding one of the at least two non-folding parts of the display panel, and wherein the frame folding part of the middle frame overlaps the at least one folding part of the display panel, and wherein one of the plurality of middle frames has a different length than other middle frames from the plurality of middle frames.

2. The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame folding part comprises a folding pattern comprising a plurality of bars arranged in parallel to a folding axis, about which the display panel is folded, and an opening pattern comprising a plurality of slits alternating with the bars of the folding pattern, and
the flat part comprises a plurality of plates provided at opposite sides of the folding pattern.

3. The foldable display device according to claim 2 , wherein the opening patterns provided at one of the middle frames are misaligned with the opening patterns provided at another one of the middle frames.

4. The foldable display device according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of middle frames comprise:
a main frame laminated to the lower surface of the display panel via a first adhesive layer; and
at least one sub frame provided between the main frame and a bottom surface of the bottom case.

5. The foldable display device according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one sub frame comprises a support layer disposed at one surface of the frame folding part and one surface of each of the plates for supporting the frame folding part and the plates.

6. The foldable display device according to claim 5 , wherein each of the display panel and the main frame comprises an extension extending from one side thereof further than the at least one sub frame.

7. The foldable display device according to claim 6 , wherein the bottom case comprises a protrusion protruding toward and supporting the extension of each of the display panel and the main frame.

8. The foldable display device according to claim 7 , wherein:
the main frame comprises a first plate comprising the extension and a second plate located opposite the first plate with the frame folding part disposed between the first plate and the second plate, and
the extension of the main frame is laminated to the protrusion via a second adhesive layer.

9. The foldable display device according to claim 8 , wherein the frame folding part of the at least one sub frame and the plate of the at least one sub frame overlapping the first plate independently slip relative to an adjacent one of the middle frames when the foldable display device is folded along the folding axis.

10. The foldable display device according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one sub frame comprises a first sub frame that contacts the main frame, wherein the first sub frame comprises a third plate overlapping the first plate and a fourth plate overlapping the second plate, wherein the fourth plate is laminated to the second plate via a third adhesive layer.

11. The foldable display device according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one sub frame further comprises at least one second sub frame provided between the first sub frame and the bottom surface of the bottom case.

12. The foldable display device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one second sub frame comprises a fifth plate overlapping the first plate and a sixth plate overlapping the second plate, wherein the sixth plate is laminated to a plate of an adjacent one of the middle frames via a fourth adhesive layer.

13. The foldable display device according to claim 12 , wherein the sixth plate is laminated to an adjacent one of the middle frames via a fifth adhesive layer.

14. The foldable display device according to claim 12 , wherein the sixth plate is laminated to the bottom surface of the bottom case via a fifth adhesive layer.

15. The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame folding part is arranged in parallel with a folding axis of the foldable display device.

16. A foldable display device comprising:
a display panel including a first folding part, a first non-folding part and a second non-folding part, the first non-folding part extending in a first direction from the first folding part and the second non-folding part extending in a second direction from the first folding part opposite the first direction, the display panel configured to be folded along a folding axis within the first folding part;
a main frame attached to a lower surface of the display panel, the main frame including a second folding part, a first non-folding plate and a second non-folding plate, the first non-folding plate extending in the first direction from the second folding part and the second non-folding plate extending in the second direction from the second folding part;
a first sub-frame under the main frame and including a third folding part, a third non-folding plate and a fourth non-folding plate, the third non-folding plate extending in the first direction from the third folding part and the fourth non-folding plate extending in the second direction from the third folding part; and
a bottom case for receiving the display panel, the main frame, and the first sub-frame, wherein:
the display panel and the first non-folding plate of the main frame extend longer in the first direction than the third non-folding plate of the first sub-frame;
the fourth non-folding plate of the first sub-frame is attached to the second non-folding plate of the main frame;
the third folding part of the first sub-frame is not attached to the second folding part of the main frame; and
the third non-folding plate of the first sub-frame is not attached to the first non-folding plate of the main frame.

17. The foldable display device according to claim 16 , wherein the bottom case comprises a protrusion protruding toward and supporting an extension part of the first non-folding plate of the main frame extending longer in the first direction than the third non-folding plate of the first sub-frame.

18. The foldable display device according to claim 17 , wherein the extension part of the first non-folding plate of the main frame is attached to the protrusion of the bottom case.

19. The foldable display device according to claim 16 , wherein the third folding part and the third non-folding plate of the first sub-frame slip in the first direction relative to the main frame when the foldable display device is folded along the folding axis.

20. The foldable display device according to claim 16 , wherein:
the second folding part of the main frame includes a plurality of first bars arranged along the folding axis and a plurality of first slits alternating with the first bars;
the third folding part of the first sub-frame includes a plurality of second bars arranged along the folding axis and a plurality of second slits alternating with the second bars; and
the first bars of the main frame are misaligned with the second ba

Assignees

• Lg Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yun Young-Joon
• Lee Dai-Yun
• Jeon Seung-O
• Lee Shin-Suk

Classifications

• H05K5/0017 Primary

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

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

• G09F9/301 Primary

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

• Y02E10/549

  Organic PV cells · CPC title