Electronic device including flexible display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12082357-B2
Application number	US-202217855115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2022
Priority date	Jul 1, 2021
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

An electronic device includes: a flexible display that is configured to be deformable to a first state, in which an exposed amount of a display area of the flexible display has a first size, and a second state, in which the exposed amount of the display area is expanded in a first direction; a deformable member including a liquid-state electrode, the deformable member configured to deform in a length direction based on the flexible display transitioning between the first state and the second state; a deformation sensing circuit configured to sense a resistance component of the liquid-state electrode, the resistance component corresponding to an exposure degree of the display area; a connector member electrically connecting the deformable member and the deformation sensing circuit; a rigid member coupled to the deformable member; and a fixed structure contacting a partial area of the rigid member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a flexible display that is configured to be deformable to a first state in which an exposed amount of a display area of the flexible display has a first size, and a second state in which the exposed amount of the display area is expanded in a first direction to have a second size that is larger than the first size;
a deformable member comprising a liquid-state electrode, the deformable member being configured to deform in a length direction of the deformable member based on the flexible display transitioning between the first state and the second state;
a deformation sensing circuit configured to sense a resistance component of the liquid-state electrode, the resistance component corresponding to an exposure degree of the display area;
a connector member electrically connecting the deformable member and the deformation sensing circuit;
a rigid member coupled to the deformable member and in which a portion of the connector member is disposed; and
a fixed structure contacting a partial area of the rigid member, the fixed structure being configured to press a portion of the deformable member, and configured to restrict movement of the rigid member in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid-state electrode comprises:
a first electrode area that extends in the second direction;
a second electrode area disposed in parallel to the first electrode area, and extending in the second direction; and
a third electrode area connecting the first electrode area and the second electrode area, and having a length in a third direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein a length of the third electrode area is smaller than a length of the first electrode area and a length of the second electrode area.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a circuit board in which the deformation sensing circuit is disposed,
wherein the liquid-state electrode further comprises:
a first contact area formed from a portion of the first electrode area toward the circuit board; and
a second contact area formed from a portion of the second electrode area toward the circuit board.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a side of the liquid-state electrode in the first direction is adjacent and electrically connected to the connector member, and the liquid-state electrode extends in the second direction and is deformable in the second direction, and
wherein the deformable member further comprises a deformable body having a first channel in which the liquid-state electrode is accommodated.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the deformable body is formed of a first mold and a second mold that are joined together and have different shapes from each other,
wherein the first mold is a flat mold, and
wherein the second mold has a groove corresponding to the first channel.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein a curing agent content of the second mold is higher than a curing agent content of the first mold.

8. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the fixed structure comprises:
a first fixed structure configured to press a first surface of the deformable member, the first surface facing the flexible display in a fourth direction; and
a second fixed structure configured to press a second surface of the deformable member, the second surface facing in a fifth direction that is opposite to the fourth direction, and
wherein the first fixed structure overlaps the second fixed structure and the deformable body is interposed between the first fixed structure and the second fixed structure.

9. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the rigid member surrounds a side surface of the deformable body, which faces in the first direction.

10. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the deformable body comprises:
a first fixing boss protruding in a forward direction towards the flexible display; and
a second fixing boss protruding in a rearward direction that is opposite to the forward direction.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the rigid member comprises:
a first stopper step engaged with and coupled to the first fixing boss; and
a second stopper step engaged with and coupled to the second fixing boss, and
wherein at least one of the first stopper step and the second stopper step contacts the fixed structure.

12. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the rigid member comprises:
a second channel connected to the first channel of the deformable body, and
wherein the first contact area and the second contact area are disposed at a portion of the second channel, and at least a portion of the connector member is disposed at another portion of the second channel.

13. The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a panel support part disposed on a rear surface of the flexible display,
wherein the deformable member is disposed between the circuit board and the panel support part.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid-state electrode comprises galinstan.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display driver configured to transmit a driving signal to the flexible display based on the exposure degree, which is determined by the electronic device based on the deformation sensing circuit sensing the resistance component.

16. An electronic device comprising:
a flexible display that is configured to be deformable to a first state in which an exposed amount of a display area of the flexible display has a first size, and a second state in which the exposed amount of the display area is expanded in a first direction to have a second size that is larger than the first size;
a liquid-state electrode configured to deform in a length direction of the liquid-state electrode based on the flexible display transitioning between the first state and the second state;
a deformable member comprising a deformable body accommodating the liquid-state electrode;
a deformation sensing circuit configured to sense a resistance component of the liquid-state electrode, the resistance component corresponding to an exposure degree of the display area;
a connector member electrically connecting the liquid-state electrode and the deformation sensing circuit; and
a fixed structure configured to press a partial area of the deformable body, which is adjacent to the connector member, in a forward direction towards the flexible display and a rearward direction that is opposite to the forward direction such that movement of the connector member with respect to the fixed structure is restricted.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a rigid member coupled to the deformable member,
wherein at least a partial area of the rigid member contacts the fixed structure, and a portion of the connector member is disposed in an interior of the rigid member.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the deformable body comprises:
a first fixing boss protruding in the forward direction towards the flexible display; and
a second fixing boss protruding in the rearward direction that is opposite to the forward direction.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the rigid member comprises:
a first stopper step engaged with and coupled to the first fixing boss; and
a second stopper step engaged with and coupled to the second fixing boss, an

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoo Hyeryun
• Kim Youngtae
• Lim Kiyul
• Kim Wooktae
• Lee Hyungjin

Classifications

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H01B1/02 Primary

  mainly consisting of metals or alloys · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• G09F9/301

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

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title