Flexible display apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016209879-A1
Application number	US-201514973647-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Jan 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flexible display apparatuses includes a flexible display module configured to extend in a first direction, and including a front surface configured to display an image, and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a housing configured to house the flexible display module, a first roller inside the housing and configured to contact the front surface of the flexible display module to bend the front surface inward, and a second roller spaced from the first roller in the housing and configured to contact the rear surface of the flexible display module to bend the rear surface inward.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flexible display apparatus, comprising:
a flexible display module configured to extend in a first direction, and comprising a front surface configured to display an image, and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a housing configured to house the flexible display module; a first roller inside the housing and configured to contact the front surface of the flexible display module to bend the front surface inward; and a second roller spaced from the first roller in the housing and configured to contact the rear surface of the flexible display module to bend the rear surface inward.

2 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second rollers has a cylindrical shape and extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

3 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flexible display module has a first thickness, and
wherein a distance between the first roller and the second roller is greater than or equal to the first thickness.

4 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a length of the flexible display module in an unrolled state in the first direction is less than a sum of circumferences of the first and second rollers.

5 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 4 , wherein, when the flexible display module is inserted into the housing, the first roller is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction, and the second roller is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

6 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, when the flexible display module is drawn from the housing, the first roller is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and the second roller is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction.

7 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 6 , wherein rotational axes of the first and second rollers are in a same plane.

8 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third roller parallel to the first roller and the second roller, the second roller being between the third roller and the first roller, and the third roller being configured to contact the front surface of the flexible display module to bend the front surface inward.

9 . A flexible display apparatus, comprising:
a flexible display module comprising a front surface configured to display an image, and a rear surface opposite the front surface; first type rollers configured to contact the front surface of the flexible display module to bend the front surface inward; and second type rollers alternately arranged with the first type rollers, and configured to contact the rear surface of the flexible display module to bend the rear surface inward.

10 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a housing for accommodating the first and second type rollers,
wherein the flexible display module is configured to be inserted into, or drawn from, the housing.

11 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, when the flexible display module is inserted into the housing, the first type rollers rotate in a first direction, and the second type rollers rotate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

12 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, when the flexible display module is drawn from the housing, the second type rollers rotate in a first direction, and the first type rollers rotate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

13 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 10 , wherein rotational axes of adjacent ones of the first and second type rollers are in a same plane.

14 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the adjacent ones of the first and second type rollers are separated by a distance that is greater than or equal to a thickness of the flexible display module.

15 . The flexible display apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first type rollers and the second type rollers are collectively arranged in a loop shape.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ryu Ji-Hun
• Lee Sangjo

Classifications

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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

• G06F1/1601

  Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64) · CPC title

• G09F9/301 Primary

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

• G06F2200/1612

  Flat panel monitor · CPC title

• G09F11/325

  the display elements being stored in the form of rolls fixed in between transporting belts or chains · CPC title