Flexible display apparatus and method of driving the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10497306-B2
Application number	US-201715702516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2017
Priority date	Sep 20, 2016
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A flexible display apparatus comprises: a display panel having first and second bending areas bendable at first and second angles along a bending line, first and second display areas extending from the first and second bending areas; a first sensor unit which generates a first sensing signal by measuring the degree of deformation of at least one of the first and second bending areas; a second sensor unit which generates a second sensing signal by measuring the first angle; a third sensor unit which generates a third sensing signal by measuring the second angle; and a controller which receives the first through third sensing signals, determines one of the first and second display areas to be a main viewing area based on the first through third sensing signals, and adjusts a display state of the main viewing area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible display apparatus comprising:
a display panel which comprises a first bending area bendable at a first angle along a bending line, a second bending area bendable at a second angle along the bending line, a first display area extending from the first bending area, and a second display area extending from the second bending area;
a first sensor unit which is configured to generate a first sensing signal by measuring the degree of deformation of at least one of the first and second bending areas;
a second sensor unit which is configured to generate a second sensing signal by measuring the first angle;
a third sensor unit which is configured to generate a third sensing signal by measuring the second angle; and
a controller which is configured to receive the first, second, and third sensing signals, determine one of the first and second display areas to be a main viewing area based on the first, second, and third sensing signals, and adjust a display state of the main viewing area, wherein the first sensor unit is configured to measure a resistance change of at least one of the first and second bending areas and generate the first sensing signal based on the measured resistance change.

2. The flexible display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to correct at least one of luminance and color of the main viewing area based on at least one of the first, second, and third sensing signals.

3. The flexible display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a start signal to at least one of the second and third sensor units when the measured resistance change exceeds a preset value.

4. The flexible display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a display area not determined to be the main viewing area among the first display area and the second display area is configured to display black.

5. The flexible display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the second and third sensor units comprises a gyro sensor.

6. The flexible display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor unit is located in at least one of the first bending area and the second bending area, the second sensor unit is located in the first display area, and the third sensor unit is located in the second display area.

7. A flexible display apparatus comprising:
a display panel which comprises a first bending area bendable at a first angle along a bending line, a second bending area bendable at a second angle along the bending line, a first display area extending from the first bending area, and a second display area extending from the second bending area;
a first sensor unit which is configured to generate a first sensing signal by measuring the degree of deformation of at least one of the first and second bending areas;
a second sensor unit which is configured to generate a second sensing signal by measuring the first angle;
a third sensor unit which is configured to generate a third sensing signal by measuring the second angle;
a controller which is configured to receive the first, second, and third sensing signals, determine one of the first and second display areas to be a main viewing area based on the first, second, and third sensing signals, and adjust a display state of the main viewing area; and
a data driver which is configured to receive image data, generate a plurality of data signals based on the image data, and provide the generated data signals to the display panel, wherein the controller is configured to correct the image data based on at least one of the first, second, and third sensing signals.

8. A flexible display apparatus comprising:
a display panel which comprises a first bending area bendable at a first angle along a bending line, a second bending area bendable at a second angle along the bending line, a first display area extending from the first bending area, and a second display area extending from the second bending area;
a first sensor unit which is configured to generate a first sensing signal by measuring the degree of deformation of at least one of the first and second bending areas;
a second sensor unit which is configured to generate a second sensing signal by measuring the first angle;
a third sensor unit which is configured to generate a third sensing signal by measuring the second angle; and
a controller which is configured to receive the first, second, and third sensing signals, determine one of the first and second display areas to be a main viewing area based on the first, second, and third sensing signals, and adjust a display state of the main viewing area,
wherein the first display area comprises a first pixel which is configured to receive a first driving voltage, and the second display area comprises a second pixel which is configured to receive a second driving voltage, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a level of at least one of the first driving voltage and the second driving voltage based on at least one of the first, second, and third sensing signals.

9. A flexible display apparatus comprising:
a display panel which comprises a first bending area bendable at a first angle along a bending line, a second bending area bendable at a second angle along the bending line, a first display area extending from the first bending area, and a second display area extending from the second bending area;
a first sensor unit which is configured to generate a first sensing signal by measuring the degree of deformation of at least one of the first and second bending areas;
a second sensor unit which is configured to generate a second sensing signal by measuring the first angle;
a third sensor unit which is configured to generate a third sensing signal by measuring the second angle; and
a controller which is configured to receive the first, second, and third sensing signals, determine one of the first and second display areas to be a main viewing area based on the first, second, and third sensing signals, and adjust a display state of the main viewing area,
wherein the controller is configured to adjust the first and second display areas to have the same luminance when the first angle and the second angle are equal.

10. A flexible display apparatus comprising:
a display panel which comprises a first bending area bendable at a first angle along a bending line, a second bending area bendable at a second angle along the bending line, a first display area extending from the first bending area, and a second display area extending from the second bending area;
a first sensor unit which is configured to generate a first sensing signal by measuring the degree of deformation of at least one of the first and second bending areas;
a second sensor unit which is configured to generate a second sensing signal by measuring the first angle;
a third sensor unit which is configured to generate a third sensing signal by measuring the second angle; and
a controller which is configured to receive the first, second, and third sensing signals, determine one of the first and second display areas to be a main viewing area based on the first, second, and third sensing signals, and adjust a display state of the main viewing area,
wherein the controller is configured to reduce the luminance of a display area not determined to be the main viewing area among the first display area and the second display area.

11. A flexible display apparatus comprising:
a display panel which comprises a first bending area bendable at a first angle along a bending line, a second bending area bendable at a second angle along the bending line, a first display area extending from the first bending area, and a second display area extending from

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Hyo Jin

Classifications

• G09G2300/0866

  by means of changes in the pixel supply voltage · CPC title

• G09G2300/0842

  forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor · CPC title

• G09G2320/0233

  Improving the luminance or brightness uniformity across the screen · CPC title

• G09G2320/0626

  for control of overall brightness · CPC title

• G09G3/3233

  with pixel circuitry controlling the current through the light-emitting element · CPC title