Display module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9733744-B2
Application number	US-201514953875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A display module includes first, second and third parts. The first part includes a first display area. The second part includes a second display area. The third part is between the first and second parts and includes a folding axis. The third part moves from a first position to a second position when a force is applied. The first part folds over the second part along the folding axis to block the entire second display area when the third part is in the first position. The first part is offset relative to the second part to allow a portion of the second display area to be exposed to display an image when the third part is in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display module, comprising:
a first part in which a first display area is defined;
a second part in which a second display area is defined; and
a third part between the first and second parts and overlapping a folding axis in a plan view, wherein the folding axis extends in a first direction, the third part is to change from a first state to a second state when a force is applied, wherein:
the first part is folded over the second part along the folding axis to entirely cover the second display area when the third part is in the first position, and
the first part or the second part moves to allow a portion of the second display area to be exposed to display an image when the third part is in the second state, wherein the first and second parts are to move in a second direction when the force is applied, the second direction crossing the first direction.

2. The display module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part are to move in opposite directions.

3. The display module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the third part includes:
a first side coupled to the first part and in which a first axis of rotation is defined, wherein the first axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the folding axis; and
a second side coupled to the second part and in which a second axis of rotation is defined, wherein the second axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the folding axis, the third part is to rotate relative to at least one of the first axis of rotation or the second axis of rotation when the force is applied.

4. The display module as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first part is to move in a direction opposite to the second direction and the third part is to rotate relative to the second axis of rotation when the force is applied.

5. The display module as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second part is to move in the second direction and the third part is to rotate relative to the first axis of rotation when the force is applied.

6. The display module as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the third part includes:
a first release part coupled to the first part and having a width that is to change when the first part moves,
a second release part coupled to the second part and having a width that is to change when the second part moves, each of the widths of the first and the second release parts measured in the second direction; and
a connector to couple the first release part and the second release part, the connector overlapping the folding axis.

7. The display module as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the width of the first release part is to decrease when force is applied to the first part in a direction opposite to the second direction.

8. The display module as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the width of the second release part is to increase when force is applied to the second part in a direction opposite to the second direction.

9. A display module, comprising:
a display panel divided into a first display area, a folding area, and a second display area arranged in a plane defined by a first direction and a second direction; and
a housing coupled to the display panel, the housing to fold and unfold along a folding axis substantially parallel to the first direction, wherein the housing includes:
a first body part overlapping the first display area;
a second body part overlapping the second display area; and
a third body part overlapping the folding area and coupling the first body to the second body, the third body is to change from a first state to a second state when a force is applied to move the first body part over the second body part, a first portion of the second display area covered by the first body part and a second portion of the second display area uncovered by the first body part, the second portion of the second display area to display a first image when the first body part is over the second body part, wherein at least one of the first or second body parts is to move in the second direction by changing of the third body part when the force is applied, and wherein the changing of the third body part is rotating basis on the folding axis or changing shape.

10. The display module as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first body part and the second body part is to move in opposite directions.

11. The display module as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:
each of the first and second body parts includes a supporter to support the display panel and a coupler to couple the supporter to the third body part,
the third body part includes a first coupling hole including the coupler of the first body part to couple the first and third body parts, and a second coupling hole including the coupler of the second body part to couple the second and third body parts,
the first coupling hole at a first side of the third body part and the second coupling hole at a second side of the third body part, and
the third body part is rotate relative to at least one of the first or second coupling holes when the force is applied.

12. The display module as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
the first coupling hole is a sliding hole, and
the coupler of the first body part is to move along the sliding hole and the third body part is to rotate relative to the second coupling hole when the force is applied.

13. The display module as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the third body includes:
a center region overlapping the folding axis;
a first release part connected to the center region and coupled to the first body part; and
a second release part connected to the center region and coupled to the second body part, a width of at least one of the first or second release parts to change force when the force is applied.

14. The display module as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first release part is to receive a higher level of strain than the first body part when the force is applied.

15. The display module as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first release part has elasticity to deform in width in the first direction.

16. The display module as claimed in claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second release parts includes a plurality of rumples to move in the first direction and arranged in the second direction, an interval between the rumples to change when the force is applied.

17. The display module as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:
the first display area, the second display area, and the folding area are on substantially a same plane when the housing is unfolded, and
the first and second display areas are to face each other and the first body part is to cover the first and second portions of the second display area when the housing is folded.

18. The display module as claimed in claim 17 , wherein:
the display panel is to display a second image when the housing is unfolded,
the display panel is to display the first image different from the second image on the second portion of the second display area, the first display part to cover the first portion of the second display area and the second portion of the second display area exposed to display the first image when the force is applied.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Sangjo

Classifications

• 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

• H05K5/0252

  Labels, e.g. for identification, markings or configuration store · CPC title

• G06F1/1624

  with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display · CPC title

• G06F3/0412 Primary

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a 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