Rollable display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9911369-B2
Application number	US-201615167843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A rollable display device is provided. The rollable display device includes: a flexible screen display which is rolled or unrolled on both sides; at least one pair of rollable driving units where each side of the flexible screen display is rolled into or unrolled from one of the pair of rollable driving units; a link driving unit for supporting the rollable driving units to move the sides of the flexible screen display and to roll or unroll the flexible screen display; and a controller for controlling operations of the rollable driving units and the link driving unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rollable display device comprising:
a flexible screen display configured to be rolled or unrolled on both sides;
at least one rollable driving unit, each of the at least one rollable driving unit positioned at opposite sides of the flexible screen display and wherein each side of the flexible screen display is rolled into and unrolled from each of the at least one rollable driving unit associated therewith;
a link driving unit configured to support the at least one rollable driving unit to roll or unroll the sides of the flexible screen display; and
a controller configured to control operation of the at least one rollable driving unit and the link driving unit, wherein the link driving unit comprises:
a support vertically installed to the flexible screen display;
first and second links which are folded into and unfolded from both sides of the support; and
a driving motor attached to the support and producing a torque to fold or unfold the first and second links.

2. The rollable display device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second links are folded or unfolded with respect to hinges; and
wherein each of the first and second links comprises a fixed end affixed to a lower portion of the each of the at least one rollable driving unit, and a free end movably coupled to an upper portion of the each of the at least one rollable driving unit.

3. The rollable display device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second links are configured such that one end of each of the first and second links is fixed to a lower portion of the support and an other end of the each of the first and second links moves up and down along a screw bar attached to an upper portion of the support.

4. The rollable display device of claim 3 , wherein:
the driving motor is configured to rotate the screw bar in a forward or backward direction; and
the one end of the each of the first and second links moves up and down along the screw bar and the each of the first and second links is folded.

5. The rollable display device of claim 1 , wherein the each of the at least one rollable driving unit comprises a double cylindrical structure.

6. The rollable display device of claim 1 , wherein the each of the at least one rollable driving unit is configured to maintain a horizontal level and a screen flatness of the flexible screen display.

7. The rollable display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one rollable driving unit comprises a double cylindrical structure.

8. A rollable display device comprising:
a flexible screen display configured to be rolled or unrolled on both sides;
at least one rollable driving unit, each of the at least one rollable driving unit comprising a double cylindrical structure and positioned at opposite sides of the flexible screen display, and wherein each side of the flexible screen display is rolled into and unrolled from each of the at least one rollable driving unit associated therewith;
a link driving unit configured to support the at least one rollable driving unit to roll or unroll the sides of the flexible screen display; and
a controller configured to control operation of the at least one rollable driving unit and the link driving unit, wherein the each of the at least one rollable driving unit comprises:
a rolling motor;
an external cylindrical unit rotatably connected to the rolling motor and configured for rolling or unrolling the flexible screen display;
a pair of internal cylindrical units inserted into the external cylindrical unit and configured to hold ends of the sides of the flexible screen display; and
a vertical movement adjusting unit configured to move the external cylindrical unit and internal cylindrical units up and down at a constant interval and maintain the movement and the constant interval.

9. The rollable display device of claim 8 , wherein the vertical movement adjusting unit comprises:
a thread protrusion on which a helical structure is formed and configured to rotate according to a rotation of the external cylindrical unit; and
a second protrusion integrally formed at a lower portion of the each of the pair of internal cylindrical units; and
wherein the thread protrusion is coupled helically with the second protrusion.

10. The rollable display device of claim 8 , wherein the vertical movement adjusting unit comprises:
a protrusion formed at a lower portion of the each of the pair of internal cylindrical units; and
an elastic spring inserted into the protrusion.

11. The rollable display device of claim 8 , wherein the vertical movement adjusting unit comprises:
first and second electromagnets installed between the each of the pair of internal cylindrical units and the external cylindrical unit; and
a sensor configured to an interval between the external cylindrical unit and the each of the pair of internal cylindrical units according to a screen position change of the flexible screen display.

12. The rollable display device of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control, based on a detected signal from the sensor, the first and second electromagnets.

13. The rollable display device of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to change a pole of at least one of the first and second electromagnets based on the detected signal.

14. The rollable display device of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to control the interval between the external cylindrical unit and the each of the pair of internal cylindrical units based on the detected signal.

15. The rollable display device of claim 8 , wherein:
the vertical movement adjusting unit is configured to reduce a possibility of friction being created between a lower portion of the flexible screen display and the each of the at least one rollable driving unit when the flexible screen display is rolled into or unrolled from the each of the at least one rollable driving unit.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jinwook
• Hyun Sangmin

Classifications

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• G09F9/301 Primary

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

• G09F15/0025

  display surface tensioning means · CPC title

• H02P29/00

  Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors, appropriate for both AC and DC motors (arrangements for starting electric motors H02P1/00; arrangements for stopping or slowing electric motors H02P3/00; control of motors that can be connected to two or more different electric power supplies H02P4/00; regulating or controlling the speed or torque of two or more electric motors H02P5/00; vector control H02P21/00) · CPC title