Flexible display device rollable between rolled-up and unrolled states

• US 7,710,370 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2003
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Polymer Vision Ltd. (Wistron Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Rens, Bas Jan Emile, Slikkerveer, Peter Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): MA, CALVIN
• Application Number:
  US10/535,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,381 Days
• Field of Search: 345/31, 345/32, 345/56, 345/85, 349/58, 361/681, 353/79
• US Class Current: 345/85
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/29 of a band other than endless
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/301 flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device assembly (1) comprising a flexible display device (2) being rollable around an axis (5), the flexible display (2) having a front side (3) and a back side (4), one of the sides (3,4) being provided with distance elements (7, 7′,80) for preventing a direct contact between the front side (3) and the back side (4). By preventing the front and back side to contact each other the amount of display damage is significantly reduced as compared to conventional roll-up displays. An advantageous embodiment comprises a display device assembly in which the spacer elements are shaped in the form of bars (7, 7′). In a further advantageous embodiment of the display assembly the distance elements comprise a protection foil (80).

Claims

1. A display device assembly comprising:

a flexible display being rollable around an axis, between a rolled-up and an unrolled state, the flexible display having a front side and a back side,

distance elements provided on one of the sides of the flexible display for preventing a direct contact between the front side and the back side of the flexible display, the distance elements comprising bars positioned to extend substantially parallel to the axis, and

a continuous layer of flexible material positioned between the bars and the back side of the flexible display, and wherein the continuous layer of flexible material is integrated with the flexible display to create hinges between adjacent ones of the bars such that, in the unrolled state of the flexible display, abutting sides of adjacent ones of the bars provide a stiffened support structure for the flexible display.

2. A display device assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bars are provided in the form of a piece of material having grooves oriented substantially parallel to the axis and that facilitate formation of the hinges between adjacent ones of the bars.

3. A display device assembly according to claim 1, wherein outer portions of the bars comprise spacers for creating a housing for the flexible display device in the rolled-up state.

4. A display device assembly according to claim 3, wherein the spacers are formed by spacer blocks that are positioned on a back side of the bars.

5. A display device assembly according to claim 4, wherein each spacer block has a display side that is provided with a notch for receiving the flexible display device.

6. A display device assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the bars is flexible.

7. A display device assembly comprising:

a flexible display being rollable around at least one axis between a rolled-up and an unrolled state, the flexible display having a front side and a back side, and

a distance element for preventing a direct contact between the front side and the back side of the flexible display in the rolled up state, and the distance element comprising a protection foil that is;

mechanically coupled to roll and unroll with the flexible display,

positioned against the flexible display in the rolled-up state, and

unconnected over a surface area to the flexible display, thereby allowing separate movement of the protection foil and the flexible display when not in the rolled-up state; and

the protection foil further having a soft surface that touches the front side of the flexible display in the rolled-up state.

8. A display device assembly according to claim 7 wherein the protection foil is connected to the back side of the display.

9. A display device assembly according to claim 7, wherein the display device assembly further comprises guiding means for guiding the protection foil when the assembly is being rolled into the unrolled state, such that the front side of the flexible display is not covered by the protection foil.

10. A display device assembly according to claim 9, wherein the protection foil is connected to a rim of the back side of the flexible display.

11. A display device assembly according to claim 9, wherein the display assembly is further provided with storing means for storing the protection foil, when the flexible display is in the unrolled state.

12. A flexible display device assembly according to claim 11, wherein the storing means comprise a cylindrical element for winding the protection foil around the cylindrical element.

13. A flexible display device assembly according to claim 11, wherein the storing means is arranged to enable a translational movement with respect to a housing.

14. A flexible display device assembly according to claim 9, wherein the flexible display device assembly is provided with a cylindrical element for winding the display around the cylindrical element, said cylindrical element being arranged to be translatable with respect to a housing.