Display system with a flexible display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696763-B2
Application number	US-201414586792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Aug 7, 2012
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A display system includes a continuous flexible display, two book halves, two main display supports, and a movement synchronizing coupling. The two book halves is connected to each other via a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism has two hinges, and each hinge is rotatable about respective axis. Each of the two main display supports connects to one of the two book halves and is configured to support the flexible display. The coupling is connected to the two main display supports and rotating about a rotation axis that is parallel to the axis of hinge to enable a synchronized movement of the two main display supports.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display system comprising:
a flexible display;
two book halves connected to each other via a hinge mechanism, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises two hinges, and each hinge is rotatable about a respective axis;
two main display supports, wherein each of the two main display supports connects to one of the two book halves and is configured to support the flexible display; and
a movement synchronizing coupling configured to be connected to both of the two main display supports and rotating about at least one rotation axis that is parallel to the axis of at least one of the two hinges,
wherein the movement synchronizing coupling enables a synchronized movement of the two main display supports, and
wherein the movement synchronizing coupling comprises a spring means which is disposed between the two main display supports and provides spring forces on both of the two main display supports to keep the display system into an open position or a closed position.

2. The display system of claim 1 ,
wherein the spring means comprises two legs connected to both of the two main display supports, and
wherein each of the two legs rotates about a rotation axis that is parallel to the axis of one of the two hinges.

3. The display system of claim 1 , wherein, when in the open position, the spring means provides spring forces on both of the two main display supports to pre-stretch the flexible display between respective portions of the flexible display supported by the two main display supports.

4. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the spring means comprises an elongated spring extending between ends of both of the two hinges of the hinge mechanism.

5. The display system of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of extensions protruding from the two book halves, wherein the elongated spring extends through a free end of each of the plurality of extensions.

6. The display system of claim 1 , wherein the movement synchronizing coupling comprises a first gear mechanism and a second gear mechanism, the first gear mechanism comprising teethed segments of the first of the two main display supports, the second gear mechanism comprising teethed segments of the second of the two main display supports, the teethed segments of both of the first and second gear mechanisms being engaged with each other.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mok Kwok Wah
• Grundlehner-Bos Noortje
• Verschoor Volker Barnhart
• Van Dijk Robert Sjang Josine
• Hamers Johannes Cornelis Adriaan

Classifications

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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

• G06F1/1681 Primary

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• G09F9/301

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

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title