Device including stretchable display and method of controlling the device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10950148-B2
Application number	US-201514826089-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

A device including a stretchable display and a method of controlling the device are disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a stretchable display including a display unit formed on a front side of the stretchable display and configured to display images in a display area. The device also includes a support attached to a rear surface of the stretchable display and including a battery and a controller. The device further includes a sensor formed on the support. The support further includes a folding portion along which the support and stretchable display are configured to be folded and a bending portion along which the support and stretchable display are configured to be bent. The sensor is formed at a position corresponding to the folding portion or the bending portion and the sensor is configured to sense when the device is bent or folded.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display device, comprising:
a stretchable display including a display unit formed on a front side of the stretchable display and configured to display images in a display area;
a support attached to a rear surface of the stretchable display and comprising a plurality of electronic components, wherein the stretchable display defines a surface area, and wherein the plurality of electronic components is overlapped with the surface area of the stretchable display; and
a sensor formed on the support, wherein the support further comprises: a plurality of folding portions along which the support and the stretchable display are foldable, the plurality of folding portions formed as a plurality of lines configured to form corresponding edges when the display device is folded, wherein the lines extend along the support in a first direction; and
a bending portion along which the support and the stretchable display are bendable in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the bending portion includes an area between the lines, when the display device is bent, the lines of the plurality of folding portions are arranged surrounding the second direction,
wherein the plurality of electronic components on the support comprises island shapes separated from each other, and the plurality of lines forming the folding portions, when the display device is folded, are formed between the separated electronic components, wherein the plurality of electronic components on the support are arranged in rows and columns, each of the columns being located between two folding portions and comprising at least two electronic components of the plurality of electronic components,
wherein the sensor is formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of folding portions or the bending portion, and
wherein the sensor is configured to sense when the display device is bent or folded;

wherein the support further comprises a pair of coupling portions at opposing ends of the support;
wherein each of the pair of coupling portions comprises a magnetic unit and wherein the pair of coupling portions are configured to couple the opposing ends of the support together; and
wherein the support further comprises a hinge formed on a side of the support, wherein the hinge is configured to: i) bend the stretchable display to a predetermined curvature and ii) couple the stretchable display at the predetermined curvature.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of coupling portions comprises a physical fixing unit and wherein the pair of coupling portions are configured to couple the opposing ends of the support together.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein when the sensor senses that the display device is bent or folded, a size of the display area of the stretchable display is reduced.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the bending portion is more resilient to stretching than remainder of the stretchable display.

5. A display device, comprising:
a stretchable display including a display unit formed on a front side of the stretchable display and configured to display images in a display area;
a support attached to a rear surface of the stretchable display and comprising a plurality of electronic components; and
a pair of coupling portions formed at opposing ends of the support, wherein the support further comprises:
a plurality of folding portions along which the support and the stretchable display are foldable, the plurality of folding portions formed as a plurality of lines configured to form corresponding edges when the display device is folded, wherein the lines extend along the support in a first direction; and
a bending portion along which the support and the stretchable display are bendable, wherein the bending portion includes an area between the lines, when the display device is bent, the lines of the plurality of folding portions are arranged surrounding a second direction,
wherein the plurality of electronic components on the support comprises island shapes separated from each other, and the plurality of lines forming the folding portions, when the display device is folded, are formed between the separated electronic components, wherein the plurality of electronic components on the support are arranged in rows and columns, each of the columns being located between two folding portions and comprising at least two electronic components of the plurality of electronic components,
wherein the pair of coupling portions are configured to be coupled and in direct physical contact with each other;
wherein each of the pair of coupling portions comprises a magnetic unit and wherein the pair of coupling portions are configured to couple the opposing ends of the support together; and
wherein the support further comprises a hinge formed on a side of the support, wherein the hinge is configured to: i) bend the stretchable display to a predetermined curvature and ii) couple the stretchable display at the predetermined curvature.

6. The display device of claim 5 , further comprising a sensor which senses folding or bending of the stretchable display.

7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein when the sensor senses that the stretchable display is bent or folded, a size of the display area of the display unit is reduced.

8. The display device of claim 5 , wherein when the pair of coupling portions are coupled to each other, a size of the display area of the display unit is reduced.

9. A method of controlling a display device, wherein the display device comprises:
a stretchable display including a display unit formed on a front side of the stretchable display and configured to display images in a display area;
a support attached to a rear surface of the stretchable display and comprising a plurality of electronic components, wherein the stretchable display defines a surface area, and wherein the plurality of electronic components is overlapped with the surface area of the stretchable display; and
a sensor formed on the support, wherein the support further comprises:
a plurality of folding portions along which the support and the stretchable display are foldable, the plurality of folding portions formed as a plurality of lines configured to form corresponding edges when the display device is folded, wherein the lines extend along the support in a first direction; and
a bending portion along which the support and the stretchable display are bendable in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the bending portion includes an area between the plurality of lines, when the display device is bent, the lines of the plurality of folding portions are arranged surrounding the second direction,

wherein the plurality of electronic components on the support comprises island shapes separated from each other, and the plurality of lines forming the folding portions, when the display device is folded, are formed between the separated electronic components, wherein the plurality of electronic components on the support are arranged in rows and columns, each of the columns being located between two folding portions and comprising at least two electronic components of the plurality of electronic components,
wherein the sensor is formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of folding portions or the bending portion,
wherein the sensor is configured to sense when the display device is bent or folded, and
wherein the method comprises:
the sensor sensing folding or bending of the plurality of folding portions or the bending portion; and
the display unit adjusting a size of the display area when the sensor senses the folding or bending;

wherein each of a pair of coupling p

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Jinwoo
• Mok Rangkyun
• Choi Wonil
• Lim Jaeik

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G09G3/035

  for flexible display surfaces · 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

• G04G21/08

  Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces · CPC title