Flexible display apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374228-A1
Application number	US-201514981653-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Jun 19, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flexible display apparatus has a small thickness which makes it easy to wind or unwind a flexible display module. The flexible display apparatus includes a frame module, into or from which a flexible display module is wound or unwound, and a panel elevating module configured to vertically move the flexible display module via folding or unfolding of at least one retractable unit. The retractable unit includes joint members provided at ends of first and second links intersecting each other, and elastic members installed to the respective joint members and supported by the ends of the first and second links.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flexible display apparatus comprising:
a flexible display module; a frame module connected to a lower side of the flexible display module, the flexible display module being configured to be wound onto the frame module or unwound from the frame module; and a panel elevating module connected to an upper side of the flexible display module, the panel elevating module including at least one retractable unit configured to elevate the flexible display module via unfolding of the at least one retractable unit, wherein the retractable unit includes:
a plurality of first links;
a plurality of second links intersecting respective ones of the first links;
a hinge member provided at each intersection between the first and second links;
a joint member provided at adjoining ends of each of the first and second links; and
an elastic member provided at each joint member and supported by the ends of the first and second links.

2 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is compressed when the flexible display module is moved downward; and
wherein the elastic member provides the respective first and second links with a restoration force when the flexible display module is moved upward.

3 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the panel elevating module further includes:
an upper frame coupled to the upper side of the flexible display module to support an upper side of the retractable unit; a lower frame coupled to the frame module to support a lower side of the retractable unit; and a link elevating unit coupled to the lower frame to fold and unfold the retractable unit.

4 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the link elevating unit includes a cylinder member having an elevating shaft connected to the hinge member located adjacent to the lower frame.

5 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one retractable unit comprises a pair of retractable units installed in parallel with each other between the upper frame and the lower frame, and
wherein the link elevating unit includes:
an elevating plate connected between the pair of retractable units; and
a gear assembly configured to elevate the elevating plate, the gear assembly including a plurality of gears and a rotation motor for driving the gears.

6 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the link elevating unit further includes:
a pair of support brackets coupled to the lower frame to support lowermost hinge members of the respective retractable units; and an elevating guide member coupled to the lower frame to guide vertical movement of the elevating plate, and wherein the elevating plate is connected to hinge members of the respective retractable units adjacent to the lowermost hinge members.

7 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes:
a coil portion configured to surround the joint member; a first elastic arm extending from one end of the coil portion and connected to the first link; and a second elastic arm extending from the other end of the coil portion and connected to the second link.

8 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each second link extends through the corresponding first link.

9 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes:
a first torsion spring supported by first ends of the first and second links and surrounding the joint member at the first ends of the first and second links; and a second torsion spring supported by the second ends of the first and second links and surrounding the joint member at the second ends of the first and second links.

10 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first link includes:
a first link plate; a second link plate extending parallel to the first link plate with a gap space interposed between the first link plate and the second link plate; a first stopper provided at a top side of the first link plate to fix a first end of the first torsion spring; and a second stopper provided at a bottom side of the first link plate to fix a first end of the second torsion spring.

11 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second link includes:
a third link plate; a fourth link plate extending parallel to the third link plate, the third and fourth link plates being rotatable between the first and second link plates about the hinge member serving as a rotation axis; a third stopper provided at a bottom side of the fourth link plate to fix a second end of the first torsion spring; and a fourth stopper provided at a top side of the fourth link plate to fix a second end of the second torsion spring.

12 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second link further includes a reinforcement member connected between the third and fourth link plates.

13 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a metal material having a smaller strength than that of the respective third and fourth link plates.

14 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame module includes:
first and second support frames configured to support the panel elevating module; and a panel roller connected between the first and second support frames, the flexible display module being configured to be wound around the panel roller or unwound from the panel roller.

15 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the flexible display module includes:
a flexible display panel; and a module connection member connected to a lower side of the flexible display panel and coupled to the panel roller.

16 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the flexible display module further includes a flexible rear cover coupled to each of the upper side of the flexible display panel and the upper side of the retractable unit to selectively support a rear surface of the flexible display panel, and
wherein the frame module includes a cover roller connected between the first and second support frames, the flexible rear cover being wound around the cover roller or unwound from the cover roller via vertical movement of the panel elevating module.

17 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the flexible rear cover includes a plurality of support bars rotatably connected to one another.

18 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the flexible rear cover includes:
a plurality of first support bars having a first length; a plurality of second support bars having a second length shorter than the first length, the second support bars being rotatably connected between the respective first support bars; and side surface protective covers provided respectively at both sides of the first support bars protruding in a lateral direction of the second support bars.

19 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the flexible display module further includes a panel attachment member configured to selectively attach a portion of the flexible rear cover to the rear surface of the flexible display panel using magnetic force.

20 . The flexible display apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the flexible display module further includes a rear curtain coupled to

Assignees

• Lg Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Chang Yoon
• Kang Choun Sung
• Lee Yong Seok
• Park Sang Dae

Classifications

• G09F15/0062

  collapsible · CPC title

• H05K7/1417

  having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards (H05K7/1461 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G09F9/301 Primary

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

• H05K7/16 Primary

  on hinges or pivots · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title