Electronic device including flexible display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11846992-B2
Application number	US-202217697209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2022
Priority date	Mar 24, 2021
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed, including a binder structure, connection cylinders detachable coupled to the binder structure and rotatable therein, a first electronic part disposed within a space formed by the connection cylinders, a display module detachably coupled to at least one cylinder and electrically connected to the electronic part, wherein the display module includes a first sheet, a second sheet, a connection unit connecting ends of the first and second sheets, a first flexible display supported by the first sheet, and second flexible display supported by the second sheet, and a sheet fixing member disposed in the internal space of the connection cylinder connecting other ends of the first and second sheets, wherein the first sheet and second sheet are configured to slip relative to one another, and both displays are electronically connected to the first electronic part through the sheet fixing member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a binder structure including a body and a pair of support units having a U-shape respectfully protruding from both ends of the body and having a plurality of through holes formed therein
a plurality of connection cylinders coupled with the pair of support units so as to be separable from the binder structure, and rotatable within the binder structure,
at least one first electronic part disposed in an internal space defined by the plurality of connection cylinders; and
at least one display module coupled with at least one connection cylinder of the plurality of connection cylinders so as to be separable from the at least one connection cylinder, and electrically connected to the at least one first electronic part,
wherein the at least one display module comprises:
a first sheet including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface opposite to the first surface;
a second sheet including a third surface coupled with the second surface, and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface;
a connection unit connecting one end of the first sheet and one end of the second sheet;
a first flexible display supported by the first sheet, at least partly visible to an exterior of the device from at least a part of the first surface of the first sheet;
a second flexible display supported by the second sheet, at least partly visible to an exterior of the device from at least a part of the fourth surface of the second sheet; and
a sheet fixing member fixing another end of the first sheet and another end of the second sheet, and disposed in the internal space of the connection cylinder so as to be attachable thereto and detachable therefrom,

wherein the first sheet is coupled to the second sheet so as to allow slippage therebetween in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, and
wherein the first flexible display and the second flexible display are electrically connected to the at least one first electronic part through the sheet fixing member.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one display module is deformable,
wherein the at least one display module is rollable into a rolled state through rolling of the connection cylinder, and rollable into a flat state via unfurling from the connection cylinder, and
wherein when the first sheet and the second sheet are connected via the connection unit and the sheet fixing member, and the second surface of the first sheet and the third surface of the second sheet contacts along an entirety of both the second and third surfaces, the first and second flexible displays are arranged on the at least one display module to be facing opposing directions.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first sheet includes at least one guide rib protruding from the second surface,
the second sheet includes a guide groove formed in the third surface to accommodate the at least one guide rib, and
the slippage between the first sheet and the second sheet is supported at least partially through coupling of the guide rib and the guide groove.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the second surface is coupled to the third surface including surface contact therebetween.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the connection unit includes a bendable material that accommodates shear slippage occurring during bending of the first sheet and the second sheet.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the connection unit includes at least one of rubber, silicon or urethane.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first flexible display is attached to the first surface of the first sheet through a first adhesive,
the second flexible display is attached to the fourth surface of the second sheet through a second adhesive,
the first and second adhesives are elastic to at least partially accommodate for slippage occurring along the second direction.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first sheet and/or the second sheet include a bendable polymer.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first sheet and/or the second sheet include a structure having a plurality of individual cells that are mutually coupled so as to be flowable relative to one another, and
wherein the structure includes at least one of polymer, metal or glass.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first sheet, the connection unit and the second sheet are integrally formed.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the connection cylinder includes a hinge shaft rotatably coupled with the pair of support units through the plurality of through holes.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising:
at least one second electronic part disposed in an internal space of the body and electrically connected to the first electronic part of the connection cylinder through at least one of the pair of support units.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first cover assembly movably coupled with one side of the body; and
a second cover assembly movably coupled with another side of the body, and disposed between the pair of support units,
wherein the plurality of connection cylinders is at least partially and selectively covered via the first cover assembly and the second cover assembly.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the first cover assembly includes a plurality of first unit covers each having an internal space, and connected together so as to be foldable through a plurality of hinge devices, and
the second cover assembly includes a plurality of second unit covers each having an internal space and connected together so as to be foldable through hinge devices.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising at least one third electronic part disposed in an internal space formed among at least some of the plurality of first unit covers,
wherein the at least one third electronic part is electrically connected to the at least one first electronic part and/or the at least one second electronic part through the binder structure.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the at least one first electronic part, the at least one second electronic part or the at least one third electronic part includes at least one of a substrate, a processor, a battery, a display driving circuit, a sensor module, a camera module or a memory.

17. An electronic device, comprising:
a binder structure including a body and a pair of support units having a U-shape respectfully protruding from both ends of the body and having a plurality of through holes formed therein;
a plurality of connection cylinders coupled with the pair of support units so as to be separable from the binder structure, and rotatable within the binder structure,
a plurality of connection cylinders coupled with the binder structure so as to be separable from the binder structure, and rotatable within the binder structure,
at least one first electronic part disposed in an internal space defined by the plurality of connection cylinders; and
at least one display module coupled with at least one cylinder of the plurality of connection cylinders so as to be separable from the at least one cylinder, and electrically connected to the at least one first electronic part,
wherein the at least one display module comprises:
a first sheet including a first surface facing a first direction, and a second surface opposite to the first surface;
a second sheet including a third surface c

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ivanov Igor
• Hwang Seonho
• Yeo Hyungsok
• Feygenson Oleg
• Yoo Minwoo
• Heo Changryong

Classifications

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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

• G06F1/1615

  with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function (constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206) · CPC title

• G06F1/1647

  including at least an additional display (G06F1/1692 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1675

  Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts · CPC title

• G06F1/16

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title