DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH A FLEXIBLE DISPLAY

• US 20140042293A1
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Polymer Vision B.V. (Wistron Corporation)
• Inventors: Verschoor, Volker Barnhart, van Dijk, Robert Sjang Josine, Hamers, Johannes Cornelis Adriaan, Mok, K.W., Grundlehner-Bos, Noortje
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/682
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 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 Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/301 flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel

Abstract

A display system includes a continuous flexible display, and two main display supports, hingeable with respect to each other and each structurally configured to support a respective portion of the flexible display. The two main display supports are rotatable in opposite directions connected to each other by a respective hinge of a hinge mechanism. The main display supports are rotatable between a configuration for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position. The two main display supports are coupled with each other by a movement synchronizing coupling enabling during movement between the closed and open position a mutual substantially synchronized rotating of the main display supports at substantially equal but opposite angles.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display; and

at least two frame parts each housing a main display support, said supports being hingeable with respect to each other and each structurally configured to support a respective portion of the flexible display;

wherein the two main display supports are rotatable in opposite directions connected to each other by a hinge mechanism comprising two hinges being mutually located at a distance, each of the hinges being configured for rotation of a respective one of the main display supports, the main display supports being rotatable between a configuration for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, and

wherein the two main display supports are coupled to each other by a movement synchronizing coupling, said coupling enabling during movement between the closed and open position a mutual substantially synchronized rotating of the main display supports at substantially equal but oppositely directed angles.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the movement synchronizing coupling comprises spring means providing spring forces on both main display supports to move the display system into the open or closed position respectively.

3. The display system of claim 2, wherein the spring means are part of an over center mechanism, arranged such that due to the spring force after movement to the open or closed position, the over center mechanism stably positions the display system in either position.

4. The display system of claim 2, wherein in the open position the spring means provide spring forces on both main display supports to pre-stretch the flexible display between the respective portions of the display supported by the main display supports.

5. The display system of claim 2, wherein the spring means comprise an elongated spring extending between the ends of both hinge mechanism.

6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the elongated spring extends through holes in extensions of the display supports.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the movement synchronizing coupling comprises a crank mechanism arranged between the hinge mechanism and each main display support.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the movement synchronizing coupling is arranged near both ends of the hinge mechanism.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the movement synchronizing coupling comprises at least one pair of wheels arranged near the hinge mechanism, each being connected with a display support, said wheels being mutually coupled for rotation in opposite directions.

10. The display system of claim 9, wherein the axis of each of the wheels coincides with a respective hinge axis.

11. The display system of claim 9, wherein each of both wheels is provided with a pulley engaging a belt coupling the wheels for rotation.

12. The display system of claim 9, wherein the wheels are mutually rotatable coupled by a connecting rod or belt.

13. The display system of claim 1, wherein the movement synchronizing coupling is coupled with at least one additional display support, configured to support substantially a segment of the flexible display located between said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position, said additional display support being movable by the coupling with the movement synchronizing coupling with respect to the display segment between a non-operational position and a support position when the two main display supports are moved between the storage position and the open position of the flexible display, such that in the open position substantially the whole surface of the display is supported by the respective display supports.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein an over center mechanism is coupled with the movement synchronizing coupling and the at least one additional display support enabling stable positions of the additional display support in either the open or closed position.

15. The display system of claim 13, wherein the movement synchronizing coupling is coupled with a central additional display support.

16. The display system of claim 15, wherein the movement synchronizing coupling is coupled with a central additional display support and with at least two side additional display supports, being located at opposite sides of the central support.

17. The display system of claim 16, wherein due to the movement synchronizing coupling between the non-operational position and the support position the central support makes a lifting movement and the at least two side additional display supports make a turning movement.