Display device and electronic device including the same

• US 10,323,626 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, June-Suk, Lee, Won-Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US15/483,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20170292503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 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 Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 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

Abstract

A display device and/or an electronic device including the same includes a flexible display panel, a driving device having a shape memory alloy member and a temperature control device adapted to control a temperature of the shape memory alloy member, and a link part, one end of which is connected to at least one end portion of the flexible display panel and another end of which is connected to the driving device, in which the driving device changes a curvature of the flexible display panel by controlling the temperature of the shape memory alloy member using the temperature control device, so that a force generated by shape memory alloy member when assuming a predetermined shape drives the link part to move the at least one end portion of the flexible display panel. The display device and/or the electronic device including the same may be implemented variously depending on embodiments.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a flexible display panel;

at least one driving device having a shape memory alloy member and a temperature control device adapted to control a temperature of the shape memory alloy member; and

a-link parts wherein one of the link parts, connects to one end portion of the flexible display panel to the at least one driving device and another of the link parts connects another end portion of the flexible display panel to the at least one driving device,

wherein the at least one driving device is configured to change a curvature of the flexible display panel such that the temperature control device controls the temperature of the shape memory alloy member, so that a shape of the shape memory alloy member is changed into a predetermined shape and the shape memory alloy member generates a force driving the link parts to move the one end or the another end portion of the flexible display panel, wherein each of the link parts comprises;

a fixing member provided in one of the one end and the another end of the flexible display panel;

a link member extending from the fixing member; and

a driving pin coupled to at least one end portion of the link member, wherein the driving pin is adapted to be linearly moved by the at least one driving device, wherein the at least one driving device comprises;

a base member having a first inner wall and a second inner wall facing each other and adapted to support the driving pin to allow linear movement of the driving pin;

a support member fixed on the driving pin and disposed between the first inner wall and the second inner wall of the base member;

a first gear linked to the support member;

a second gear selectively engaged with the first gear, when teeth of the second gear is engaged with teeth of the first gear, linear movement of the support member is restricted, and an elastic member disposed between the first inner wall and the support member to provide an elastic force in a direction urging the support member away from the first inner wall, wherein opposite ends of the shape memory alloy member are supported by the second inner wall and the support member, respectively.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the temperature control device comprises a circuit adapted to heat or transform the shape memory alloy member, and

the shape memory alloy member comprises a shape memory spring.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the circuit comprises a heating wire that forms a portion of the shape memory alloy member.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein the driving device further comprises a driving motor adapted to rotate the second gear, and

when the driving motor is in operation, the teeth of the second gear is disengaged from the teeth of the first gear.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a plurality of the driving device, each of the plurality of the driving device corresponds to one of the link parts.

6. The display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing adapted to receive at least a part of the flexible display panel;

at least one guide hole formed in a sidewall of the housing; and

a guide pin fixed to the flexible display panel and received in the guide hole,

wherein when each of the link parts is driven by the force generated by shape memory alloy member, the guide pin moves along a path set by the guide hole.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein each of the link parts comprises a first link member mounted to the housing, and

when the first link member pivots by the force generated by shape memory alloy member, the curvature of the flexible display panel is adjusted.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the driving device further comprises an elastic member adapted to provide an elastic force to the first link member, wherein the shape memory alloy member is disposed on one side of the first link member and the elastic member is disposed on another side of the first link member.

9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the driving device further comprises a stopper member adapted to interfere with the first link member to restrict the pivoting of the first link member.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the driving device further comprises a driving part adapted to rotate the stopper member so that the stopper member does not interfere with the first link member.

11. The display device of claim 7, wherein each of the link parts further comprises a second link member extending from an inner wall of the housing, and

one end portion of the first link member is pivotally coupled to one end portion of the second link member.

12. An electronic device comprising the display device of claim 1.