Display apparatus including a central support assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12575046-B2
Application number	US-202318198561-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2023
Priority date	May 18, 2022
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a flexible display panel, a central support assembly supporting a central portion of the display panel and coupled to a rear surface of the display panel two edge support assemblies respectively supporting opposing sides of the display panel, the two edge support assemblies being coupled to the rear surface of the display panel, and a main body supporting the central support assembly and the two edge support assemblies, the main body including an opening in a central portion of the main body. The central support assembly moves in a first direction along the opening of the main body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A display apparatus comprising:
a flexible display panel; a central support assembly supporting a central portion of the flexible display panel and directly coupled to a rear surface of the flexible display panel; two edge support assemblies respectively supporting opposing sides of the flexible display panel, the two edge support assemblies being coupled to the rear surface of the flexible display panel; and a main body supporting the central support assembly and the two edge support assemblies, the main body including an opening in a central portion of the main body, wherein the central support assembly is configured to move along the opening of the main body, wherein the central support assembly has a greater thickness at a first end contacting the main body than a second end located away from the main body, and wherein the central support assembly is configured to contact the flexible display panel at both the first end contacting the main body and the second end located away from the main body.

2 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two edge support assemblies rotate in opposite directions to each other as the central support assembly moves.

3 . The display apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the two edge support assemblies rotate and move in a horizontal direction at the same time as the central support assembly moves.

4 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the central support assembly includes:
a central support frame configured to accommodate a timing controller of the flexible display panel; and a central support bar having a first side coupled to the central support frame and a second side coupled to the rear surface of the flexible display panel.

5 . The display apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the central support frame includes a protrusion extending toward the flexible display panel,
wherein the first side of the central support bar is coupled to the protrusion of the central support frame.

6 . The display apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first side of the central support bar is slidably coupled to the protrusion of the central support frame, and
wherein the central support bar is configured to slide with respect to the protrusion of the central support frame to change a length of the central support assembly.

7 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main body further includes a linear driver coupled to a lower portion of the central support assembly, and
wherein the linear driver is configured to move the central support assembly.

8 . The display apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the linear driver includes:
a lead screw extending along the opening of the main body; a motor configured to rotate the lead screw; and a nut bracket movably coupled to the lead screw, and wherein the nut bracket is coupled to the lower portion of the central support assembly.

9 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the two edge support assemblies includes:
an edge support frame attached to the rear surface of the flexible display panel, the edge support frame including a receiving groove; a rigid bar positioned in the receiving groove of the edge support frame and fixed to the main body; a ring member positioned in the receiving groove of the edge support frame and fitted around the rigid bar; and a cap member covering a top of the rigid bar.

10 . The display apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ring member includes a through-hole having a length greater than a diameter of the rigid bar.

11 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the two edge support assemblies includes:
an edge support frame attached to the rear surface of the flexible display panel; a rigid bar positioned in a receiving groove of the edge support frame and rotatably connected to the main body; a ring assembly positioned in the receiving groove of the edge support frame and fitted around the rigid bar; and a cap member positioned in the receiving groove of the edge support frame, wherein the cap member covers a top of the rigid bar, and wherein rotation of the rigid bar causes the ring assembly to move vertically, such that a length of each of the two edge support assemblies is changed.

12 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the ring assembly includes:
an outer ring member having a first through-hole; and an inner ring member positioned in the first through-hole of the outer ring member, and wherein the inner ring member is movable within the first through-hole of the outer ring member.

13 . The display apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the inner ring member includes:
a nut; and a protrusion disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the nut, wherein the outer ring member further includes a second through-hole, and wherein the protrusion of the inner ring member is positioned in the second through-hole of the outer ring member.

14 . The display apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the main body further includes:
a gear box connected to the rigid bar; and a motor connected to the gear box, the motor being configured to rotate of the gear box to cause rotation of the rigid bar.

15 . A display apparatus comprising:
a flexible display panel; a central support assembly supporting a central portion of the flexible display panel and directly coupled to a rear surface of the flexible display panel; and a main body including:
a linear driver coupled to a lower portion of the central support assembly; and
an opening defined in a central position of the main body,
wherein the linear driver is configured to move the central support assembly and the central portion of the flexible display panel along the opening in a first direction of the main body to cause the flexible display panel to bend, wherein the central support assembly has a greater thickness at a first end contacting the main body than a second end located away from the main body, and wherein the central support assembly is configured to contact the flexible display panel at both the first end contacting the main body and the second end located away from the main body.

16 . The display apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the display apparatus further comprises two edge support assemblies respectively supporting opposing sides of the flexible display panel, the two edge support assemblies being coupled to the rear surface of the flexible display panel.

17 . The display apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the two edge support assemblies rotate in opposite directions to each other as the central support assembly moves in the first direction.

18 . The display apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the two edge support assemblies simultaneously rotate and move in a second direction intersecting with the first direction as the central support assembly moves in the first direction.

19 . The display apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a length of each of the central support assembly and the two edge support assemblies increases or decreases as the central support assembly moves in the first direction so as to change a height of the flexible display panel.

20 . A display apparatus comprising:
a main body having a curved shape; a display panel coupled to the main body and configured to move to alter its curvature; and a central support assembly including a central support bar directly coupled to a rear surface of the display panel and movable relative to remaining components of the central support assembly, wherein the display panel is movable in

Assignees

• Lg Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cha Youhong
• Park Sangyong
• Park Minhye

Classifications

• F16M11/048

  adapted to forward-backward translation movement · CPC title

• F16M11/08

  around a vertical axis {, e.g. panoramic heads (F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16M11/18 Primary

  with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• F16M2200/08

  Foot or support base · CPC title

• F16M11/22

  with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs (F16M11/42 takes precedence) · CPC title