Flexible display device and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017374751-A1
Application number	US-201415540435-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Dec 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flexible display device may include a display unit, and a support mechanism. The support mechanism may include multiple supporting units arranged at intervals in a direction of a side edge of the display unit and fixed to a second surface, and a movable unit. The supporting units respectively define holes that have openings facing toward each other and communicating with each other. The movable unit passes through the holes and is movable relative to the supporting units. The shape is changed by adjusting a position relationship between the movable unit and the supporting units.

First claim

1 . A flexible display device, comprising:
a display unit comprising a first surface for display and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a support mechanism comprising: a plurality of supporting units arranged at intervals in a direction of a side edge of the display unit and fixed to the second surface, the supporting units respectively defining holes that have openings facing toward each other and communicating with each other; and a movable unit passing through the holes and movable relative to the supporting units; wherein a shape of the display unit is changed by adjusting a position relationship between the movable unit and the supporting units.

2 . The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the movable unit comprises:
a flexible base made from an elastic material and arranged opposite to the display unit; and a plurality of rigid elements arranged at intervals along a direction parallel to the supporting units and fixedly connected to the flexible base, an interval between adjacent supporting units being smaller than a width of the rigid element in the interval direction.

3 . The flexible display device of claim 2 , wherein the movable unit further comprises:
a driving unit arranged at a distal end of the flexible base to pull the flexible base to move the rigid elements relative to the supporting units.

4 . The flexible display device of claim 2 , wherein when the rigid elements are respectively and correspondingly received in the holes, a bending degree of the flexible display device is changeable.

5 . The flexible display device of claim 4 , wherein an end of the movable unit is fixed to an end of the display unit, and another end of the movable unit is in a free state, the flexible base is elastically stretchable and shrinkable.

6 . The flexible display device of claim 4 , wherein both ends of the movable unit are in a free state.

7 . The flexible display device of claim 2 , wherein when two opposite sides of each of the rigid elements are received in the holes of two adjacent supporting units, a bending degree of the flexible display device remains unchanged.

8 . The flexible display device of claim 2 , wherein distances between two adjacent supporting units gradually increase from the middle to both ends of the display unit.

9 . The flexible display device of claim 8 , wherein the supporting units and the rigid elements are corresponding to each other, and the distance between two adjacent supporting units is the same as that between corresponding two adjacent rigid elements.

10 . The flexible display device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of supporting units at least comprises:
two first supporting blocks located at two opposite side edges of the display unit; and a second supporting block arranged between the two first supporting blocks and arranged in a middle position of a long side or a short side.

11 . The flexible display device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of supporting units further comprise at least one third supporting block arranged between the first supporting blocks and the second supporting block.

12 . The flexible display device of claim 11 , wherein a distance between the first supporting block and the third blocking block is smaller than that between the second supporting block and the third blocking block.

13 . An electronic device, comprising:
a housing; and a flexible display device, comprising: a display unit comprising a first surface for display and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a support mechanism comprising: a plurality of supporting units arranged at intervals in a direction of a side edge of the display unit and fixed to the second surface, the supporting units respectively defining holes that have openings facing toward each other and communicating with each other, and a movable unit passing through the holes and movable relative to the supporting units; wherein a shape of the display unit is changed by adjusting a position relationship between the movable unit and the supporting units; wherein, the housing is opposite to the display device.

14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a control means electrically coupled to the flexible display device; wherein the control means transmits a control signal generated by the control means to the flexible display device to change the shape of the flexible display device.

15 . The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising:
a sensor electrically coupled to the control means; wherein the sensor generates a sensing signal and transmits the sensing signal to the control means, and the control means transmits a corresponding control signal to the flexible display device based on the sensing signal.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a touch module or a shooting means.

17 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the movable unit comprises:
a flexible base made from an elastic material and arranged opposite to the display unit; and a plurality of rigid elements arranged at intervals along a direction parallel to the supporting units and fixedly connected to the flexible base, an interval between adjacent supporting units being smaller than a width of the rigid element in the interval direction.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the movable unit further comprises:
a driving unit arranged at a distal end of the flexible base to pull the flexible base to move the rigid elements relative to the supporting units.

19 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein when the rigid elements are respectively and correspondingly received in the holes, a bending degree of the flexible display device is changeable.

20 . The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein an end of the movable unit is fixed to an end of the display unit, and another end of the movable unit is in a free state, the flexible base is elastically stretchable and shrinkable.

Assignees

• Shenzhen Royole Technologies Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yang Songling
• Liu Zihong

Classifications

• H04M1/0268 Primary

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H05K5/0017 Primary

  with operator interface units · 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

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title