Flexible device and folding unit thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9823699-B2
Application number	US-201514741688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2015
Priority date	Jun 24, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A flexible device in which a display is folded is provided. The flexible device includes a main body, a flexible display fixed to a first surface of the main body, and a cover coupled to the main body to face a second surface of the main body, wherein the second surface of the main body is opposite to the first surface of the main body, such that when the main body is curved or folded, the cover moves with respect to the second surface of the main body to compensate for a difference in elongation, which is generated when the main body is curved or folded.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible device comprising:
a main body;
a flexible display fixed to a first surface of the main body;
a folding unit disposed on the main body; and
a holding unit, configured to:
attach to, and detach from, the main body, and
cooperate with the folding unit to hold the main body in a curved or folded position,

wherein a second surface of the main body is opposite to the first surface of the main body, such that, when the main body is curved or folded, a cover moves with respect to the second surface of the main body to compensate for a difference in elongation, which is generated when the main body is curved or folded,
wherein the cover is slidable along a longitudinal direction of the main body while maintaining the cover facing the second surface of the main body,
wherein the cover is configured to, when the main body is unfolded, completely cover the second surface of the main body,
wherein the cover is further configured to, when the main body is curved or folded, slide along the longitudinal direction so as to uncover one end of the second surface along the longitudinal direction of the main body and an opposite end of the second surface along the longitudinal direction of the main body,
wherein the holding unit is disposed and further configured to wrap at least a part of the folding unit,
wherein the holding unit is further configured to generate a frictional force that holds the main body in a curved or folded position through friction with the folding unit,
wherein the folding unit includes at least a part of a folding member that slides within the main body,
wherein the folding unit further includes:
a flexible material part exposed to an outside of the flexible device; and
a plurality of ribs arranged at regular intervals on the flexible material part and integrally fixed to the flexible material part to be folded,
wherein the folding member includes opposite ends, which move when the main body is curved or folded, and
wherein the folding member is disposed to be concealed within the main body.

2. The flexible device of claim 1 , wherein the holding unit includes a holding member disposed and further configured to be in contact with the opposite ends of the folding member so as to generate a force for holding the main body in a curved or folded position by friction with the opposite ends.

3. The flexible device of claim 2 , wherein each of the opposite ends is configured to act as a guide.

4. The flexible device of claim 2 ,
wherein the holding member is formed as a fallen U shape in cross-section including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a connection portion that connects the upper and lower portions, and
wherein each of inner surfaces of the upper and lower portions and the connection portions is in contact with the opposite ends so as to generate a frictional force.

5. The flexible device of claim 1 , wherein each of the ribs is formed in one of a saw-tooth shape, or an isosceles trapezoidal shape in cross-section.

6. The flexible device of claim 1 ,
wherein each of the ribs is formed in one of a rectangular shape, or a square shape in cross-section, and wherein the ribs are further arranged to be in contact with each other.

7. The flexible device of claim 1 , wherein a number of the ribs to be formed is “n”, a thickness of a flexible material is “r”, a thickness of a rigid material is “R”, a maximum curved angle of the flexible device is “x”, and an angle included between equal sides “Θ” and lengths of top and bottom sides “a” and “b” of each of the ribs are designed using the following equations:
Θ=(180 °−x )/ n;

a= 2Π rΘ/ 360 n ; and

b= 2Π RΘ/ 360 n.

8. The flexible device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the main body, on which the folding unit is disposed, is formed to have a thickness which is the same as a thickness of another portion of the main body, on which the folding unit is not disposed.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ko Jae-Hun
• Kim Ji-Seon
• Kim Jung-Hyun

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

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

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• G06F1/1679

  for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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