Foldable Display Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018150102-A1
Application number	US-201715827742-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2016
Publication date	May 31, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a foldable display device in which a display panel and a cover plate are combined within a case. when the display panel and the case are being folded in one direction, the cover plate is slidably transferred within the case so as to correspond to a deformed length of the case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A foldable display device comprising:
a display panel; a cover plate disposed so as to surround a non-display area of an upper surface of the display panel and at least parts of a side and lower surfaces of the display panel; and a case disposed so as to contact an outer surface of the cover plate, wherein, when the display panel and the case are being folded in one direction, the cover plate is slidably transferred within the case so as to correspond to a deformed length of the case.

2 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide member protruding from one of the outer side surface of the cover plate and an inner side surface of the case; and a guide rail provided on the other of the outer side surface of the cover plate and the inner side surface of the case so that the guide member is inserted into the guide rail.

3 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide member protruding from one of a bottom surface of the cover plate and an inner upper surface of the case; and a guide rail provided on the other of the bottom surface of the cover plate and the inner upper surface of the case so that the guide member is inserted into the guide rail.

4 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein one side of the cover plate is fixed to the case in a sliding direction of the cover plate, and another side of the cover plate is slidably transferred.

5 . The foldable display device according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a first magnetic material on the outer surface of the cover plate; and a second magnetic material on an inner surface of the case so as to be opposite to the first magnetic material.

6 . The foldable display device according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a first magnetic material on a bottom surface of the cover plate; and a second magnetic material on an inner upper surface of the case so as to be opposite to the first magnetic material.

7 . The foldable display device according to claim 6 , wherein the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material are at a first distance from each other when the display panel is folded, and are at a second distance to each other when the display panel is restored to an unfolded state, the second distance smaller than the first distance.

8 . The foldable display device according to claim 7 , wherein an attractive force is applied between the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material.

9 . The foldable display device according to claim 4 , further comprising at least one elastic spring provided with one end connected to the cover plate and with another end connected to an inner surface of the case so as to restore the slidably transferred cover plate on the case.

10 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein the case includes a finishing member interposed between an upper surface of the cover plate and the case.

11 . A foldable display device comprising:
a display panel; a cover plate disposed so as to surround a non-display area of an upper surface of the display panel and at least parts of a side and lower surfaces of the display panel; a case disposed so as to contact an outer surface of the cover plate; and a restoring unit interposed between the cover plate and the case and applying tensile force between the cover plate and the case to pull the cover plate towards the case.

12 . The foldable display device according to claim 11 , wherein one side of the cover plate is fixed to the case in a sliding direction of the cover plate, and another side of the cover plate is slidably transferred.

13 . The foldable display device according to claim 12 , wherein the restoring unit includes:
a first magnetic material provided on the outer surface of the cover plate; and a second magnetic material provided on an inner surface of the case so as to be opposite to the first magnetic material.

14 . The foldable display device according to claim 12 , wherein the restoring unit includes:
a first magnetic material provided on a bottom surface of the cover plate; and a second magnetic material provided on an inner upper surface of the case so as to be opposite to the first magnetic material.

15 . The foldable display device according to claim 12 , wherein the restoring unit includes at least one elastic spring provided with one end connected to the cover plate and with another end connected to an inner surface of the case so as to restore the slidably transferred cover plate on the case.

16 . The foldable display device according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a guide member protruding from one of the outer side surface of the cover plate and an inner side surface of the case; and a guide rail provided on the other of the outer side surface of the cover plate and the inner side surface of the case so that the guide member is inserted into the guide rail.

17 . The foldable display device according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a guide member protruding from one of a bottom surface of the cover plate and an inner upper surface of the case; and a guide rail provided on the other of the bottom surface of the cover plate and the inner upper surface of the case so that the guide member is inserted into the guide rail.

18 . The foldable display device according to claim 11 , wherein the case includes a finishing member interposed between an upper surface of the cover plate and the case.

19 . A foldable display device comprising:
a display panel bendable along a bending line; and a cover plate disposed so as to surround a non-display area of an upper surface of the display panel and at least parts of a side and lower surfaces of the display panel; wherein the cover plate is at a first distance from the bending line when the foldable display device is folded at a first angle, and wherein the cover plate is at a second distance from the bending line when the foldable display device is folded at a second angle larger than the first angle, the second distance smaller than the first distance.

20 . The foldable display device of claim 19 , further comprising:
a guide member protruding from an outer side surface of the cover plate; and a guide rail provided on an inner side surface of a case so that the guide member is inserted into the guide rail, wherein the guide member is at the first distance from the bending line when the foldable display device is folded at the first angle, and wherein the guide member is at the second distance from the bending line when the foldable display device is folded at the second angle.

Assignees

• Lg Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Dai-Yun
• Jeon Seung-O
• Yun Young-Joon
• Lee Shin-Suk

Classifications

• G06F1/1675

  Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F3/1423

  controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display · 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