Foldable display apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10694623-B2
Application number	US-201615286363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2016
Priority date	Nov 16, 2015
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A foldable display apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a folding portion at a space between the first housing and the second housing to connect the first housing to the second housing so that the first and second housings are configured to be folded with respect to each other, a flexible display including a contraction surface supported by the first housing, the second housing, and the folding portion, and a tensile surface configured to display images, and a hinge holder configured to move between a first location for inhibiting folding of the folding portion, and a second location for enabling folding of the folding portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable display apparatus comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing;
a folding portion at a space between the first housing and the second housing to connect the first housing to the second housing so that the first and second housings are configured to be folded with respect to each other;
a flexible display comprising:
a contraction surface supported by the first housing, the second housing, and the folding portion; and
a tensile surface configured to display images; and
a hinge holder configured to be selectively inserted into, or withdrawn from, the folding portion, such that a portion of the hinge holder is configured to be inserted in a holding hole within the folding portion to be hidden between front and rear surfaces of the foldable display apparatus when the hinge holder is inserted into the holding hole within the folding portion,
wherein the front surface of the foldable display apparatus supports the flexible display, and
wherein the front and rear surfaces are the two largest surfaces of the display apparatus.

2. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the folding portion is configured to be covered by the first hinge cover and the second hinge cover.

3. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first housing further comprises:
a third hinge shaft away from the second housing; and
a first housing cover that is pivotally connected to the third hinge shaft, and that is configured to move according to rotation of the first hinge cover.

4. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second housing further comprises:
a fourth hinge shaft away from the first housing; and
a second housing cover that is pivotally connected to the fourth hinge shaft, and that is configured to pivot according to rotation of the second hinge cover.

5. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the folding portion comprises:
a plurality of multi-joint members that are successively arranged in a lengthwise direction of the flexible display;
a support plate configured to support the flexible display; and
an attaching layer connecting the plurality of multi-joint members to the support plate.

6. The foldable display apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of multi-joint members have elasticity.

7. The foldable display apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of multi-joint members comprise plastic or metal.

8. The foldable display apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the support plate comprises an Invar alloy.

9. The foldable display apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a first surface of the support plate contacts the first housing, the second housing, and the plurality of multi-joint members, and
wherein a second surface of the support plate contacts the contraction surface of the flexible display.

10. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contraction surface of the flexible display is configured to contract and fold, the tensile surface of the flexible display is configured to stretch and fold, and the contraction surface of the flexible display is configured to be located inside the tensile surface, when the folding portion is folded.

11. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinge holder is on the first housing or the second housing, and is configured to linearly move toward the folding portion.

12. The foldable display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the folding portion comprises:
a plurality of multi-joint members successively arranged in a lengthwise direction of the flexible display;
a support plate configured to support the flexible display; and
an attaching layer connecting the plurality of multi-joint members to the support plate,
wherein the plurality of multi-joint members collectively define the holding hole for accommodating the hinge holder.

13. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinge holder configured to be selectively inserted into, or withdrawn from, the folding portion, such that a portion of the hinge holder is configured to be inserted in a holding hole within the folding portion to be hidden between front and rear surfaces of the foldable display apparatus, and such that the hinge holder prevents folding of the folding portion when the hinge holder is inserted into the holding hole within the folding portion due to rigidity of the hinge holder.

14. A foldable display apparatus comprising:
a first housing and a second housing, the first housing comprising a first hinge cover that is pivotally connected to a first hinge shaft adjacent the second housing, and the second housing comprising a second hinge cover that is pivotally connected to a second hinge shaft adjacent the first housing, the first hinge cover and the second hinge cover being configured to overlap each other and to be rotated with respect to each other;
a flexible display;
a folding portion at a space between the first housing and the second housing to connect the first housing to the second housing so that the first and second housings are configured to be folded with respect to each other, the folding portion comprising a plurality of multi-joint members that are successively arranged in a lengthwise direction of the flexible display, the flexible display comprising:
a contraction surface supported by the first housing, the second housing, and the folding portion; and
a tensile surface configured to display images; and

a hinge holder configured to be selectively inserted into, or withdrawn from the folding portion.

15. The foldable display apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the front surface of the foldable display apparatus supports the flexible display.

16. The foldable display apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the front and rear surfaces are the two largest surfaces of the display apparatus.

17. The foldable display apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hinge holder is configured to be selectively inserted into, or withdrawn from, one or more holes defined by the multi-joint members of the folding portion.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Changmin

Classifications

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• H05K5/03

  Covers · 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

• G09F9/301 Primary

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

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title