Foldable display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10768667-B2
Application number	US-201916548818-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2019
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A foldable display device includes a central connector, a first support structure, a second support structure, a cable, and a display panel. The central connector has an abutment post. The first support structure is pivoted to the central connector and includes a first recess, a first plate, a first support element, and plural first flexible elements. The second support structure is pivoted to the central connector and has a second recess, a second plate, a second support element, and plural second flexible elements. Two ends of the cable are respectively connected to one end of the first support element and one end of the second support element, and the cable abuts beneath the abutment post. A portion of the display panel is movably disposed over the first support structure, and another portion of the display panel is fixed on the second support structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable display device, comprising:
a central connector having an abutment post;
a first support structure pivoted to the central connector, and comprising:
a first recess located in the central connector;
a first plate disposed in the first recess;
a first support element movably located over the first plate; and
a plurality of first flexible elements, one of the first flexible elements located between a first end of the first support element and a sidewall of the first recess, and the remaining first flexible elements located between the first plate and a bottom surface of the first recess;

a second support structure pivoted to the central connector, and the second and first support structures respectively located at two opposite sides of the central connector, and the second support structure comprising:
a second recess located in the central connector;
a second plate disposed in the second recess;
a second support element movably located over the second plate; and
a plurality of second flexible elements, one of the second flexible elements located between a first end of the second support element and a sidewall of the second recess, and the remaining second flexible elements located between the second plate and a bottom surface of the second recess;

a cable having two ends respectively connected to the first end of the first support element and the first end of the second support element, and the cable abutting beneath the abutment post; and
a display panel, a portion of the display panel movably disposed over the first support structure, and another portion of the display panel fixed on the second support structure.

2. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the first support structure further comprises at least one protruding component, and the display panel comprises a display region and a non-display region, and the non-display region comprises at least one hole, and the protruding component is disposed in the hole.

3. The foldable display device of claim 2 , wherein the protruding component is a gear or a metal post.

4. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the first support element and a second end of the second support element respectively have a convex surface and a concave surface coupled to each other.

5. The foldable display device of claim 1 , further comprising a frame disposed over the display panel, wherein the frame comprises a first frame, a second frame, a first hinge, and a second hinge, and the first hinge has a first terminal end and a second terminal end pivoted to the first frame and the second frame, respectively, and the second hinge has a third terminal end and a fourth terminal end pivoted to the first frame and the second frame, respectively.

6. The foldable display device of claim 5 , wherein each of the first hinge and the second hinge comprises a plurality of hinge units, and each of the hinge units comprises a hinge body and a roller, and the roller is disposed in the hinge body and in contact with the display panel.

7. The foldable display device of claim 5 , wherein the first frame is in contact with an upper surface of a non-display region of the display panel.

8. The foldable display device of claim 5 , wherein the first frame has a side portion, and the side portion comprises a first round wheel in contact with an upper surface of a non-display region of the display panel.

9. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the first support structure has a side portion, and the side portion comprises a second round wheel in contact with a lower surface of a non-display region of the display panel.

10. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the display panel further comprises a first electrode, and at least one of the first support element and the second support element comprises a second electrode, and the first electrode is overlapped with the second electrode.

11. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the display panel is in contact with an upper surface of the first support structure.

12. The foldable display device of claim 1 , further comprising a first axle assembly disposed in the first recess, the first axle assembly comprising a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel coaxial with the second wheel, and a radius of the first wheel greater than a radius of the second wheel, wherein the cable comprises a first portion and a second portion adjacent to each other, and the first portion of the cable connects a terminal end of the first support element and winds the first wheel, and the second portion of the cable winds the second wheel.

13. The foldable display device of claim 12 , further comprising a second axle assembly disposed in the second recess, the second axle assembly comprising a third wheel and a fourth wheel, the third wheel coaxial with the fourth wheel, and a radius of the third wheel greater than a radius of the fourth wheel, wherein the cable further comprises a third portion adjacent to the second portion, and the second portion surrounds and is fixed beneath the abutment post and winds the fourth wheel, and the third portion winds the third wheel and connects a terminal end of the second support element.

14. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the central connector further comprises a first sheet and a second sheet, and the abutment post connects the first sheet and the second sheet, and the first sheet has a first sliding slot and a second sliding slot, and the second sheet has a third sliding slot and a fourth sliding slot.

15. The foldable display device of claim 14 , wherein the first support structure has a pair of first protruding portions respectively disposed in the first sliding slot and the third sliding slot.

16. The foldable display device of claim 14 , wherein the second support structure has a pair of second protruding portions respectively disposed in the second sliding slot and the fourth sliding slot.

Assignees

• E Ink Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Lin Yi-Sheng
• Yeh Chia-Chun
• Wang Hsing-Kai

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

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

• G09F9/301

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

• G06F1/1681 Primary

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

• G06F1/1641 Primary

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