Display element, portable equipment and imaging device

• US 8,009,421 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Misawa, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): THAKER, NIDHI VIVEK
• Application Number:
  US12/002,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-67945, 36167955-67959, 361724-727, 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/169, 345/905
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/54 Arrangements for reducing warping-twist
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/02 the display elements being secured to rotating members, e.g. drums, spindles
• 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: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A flexible display element capable of being rolled up and unfurled, comprises a back plate covering a back side of the display element, wherein the back plate comes into contact with the back side of the display element when the display element is rolled up, and at least a central portion of the back plate is separated from the display element to support the display element in a flat shape when the display element is unfurled. Thus, the display element and the back plate can be rolled up and carried with a simple configuration of the display element and the back plate, and the display element can be supported in a flat shape when unfurled. Therefore, it is possible to provide a flexible display element having high portability, ease of rolling, and retention of flatness during periods of use.

Claims

1. A flexible display capable of being rolled up and unfurled, comprising:

a flexible display element; and

a back plate covering a back side of the flexible display element,

wherein the back plate comes into contact with the back side of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, and at least a central portion of the back plate is separated from the flexible display element to support the flexible display element in a flat shape when the flexible display element is unfurled, and

wherein the back plate has a ridge member to have a shape with a plurality of ridges formed by a plurality of bent portions separate from the flexible display element, so as to form a space surrounded by the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled.

2. The flexible display according to claim 1,

wherein the back plate comes into contact with the back side of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, and is bent in a manner that at least a central portion of the back plate is separated from the back side of the flexible display element due to a bend when the flexible display element is unfurled, and

wherein flatness of the flexible display element is kept by a structure made up of the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled.

3. The flexible display according to claim 1, wherein the back plate is V-shaped in cross section with the central portion separated from the flexible display element due to a bend when the flexible display element is unfurled.

4. The flexible display according to claim 1, wherein the back plate has one end fixed on the back side of the flexible display element.

5. The flexible display according to claim 1,

wherein the back plate reduces a resistance to a rolling movement by removing a lateral pressure in a planar direction of the flexible display element to decrease shape retention of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, and applies a lateral pressure to the flexible display element to keep the shape of the flexible display element flat when the flexible display element is unfurled.

6. The flexible display according to claim 5, wherein the back plate is V-shaped in cross section with the central portion separated from the flexible display element due to a bend when the flexible display element is unfurled.

7. The flexible display according to claim 5, wherein the back plate has one end fixed on the back side of the flexible display element.

8. The flexible display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reflective surface which is placed on a side of the flexible display element of the back plate; and

light emitting elements which are placed between the reflective surface and the flexible display element.

9. The flexible display according to claim 8,

wherein the light emitting elements are provided on an intermediate position of the flexible display element and the reflective surface by an elastic member, and the light emitting elements can be rolled in contact with the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up.

10. The flexible display according to claim 9, wherein the elastic member comprises a flexible printed board having an interconnection of the light emitting elements.

11. The flexible display according to claim 8,

wherein the back plate comes into contact with the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, and the back plate is ridged to have a plurality of bent portions separate from the flexible display element due to bends when the flexible display element is unfurled.

12. The flexible display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main body substantially shaped like one of a cylinder and a polygon, the main body which stores the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled;

a roll-up shaft for rolling up the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled, the roll-up shaft being included in the main body; and

a pull-out slot through which the flexible display element and the back plate are taken in and out from the main body.

13. The flexible display according to claim 12,

wherein the pull-out slot is formed to have a shape which is flattened by a predetermined amount from a cross-sectional shape of the unrolled back plate, and to have a clearance formed on a portion facing a surface of the flexible display element.

14. The flexible display according to claim 12,

wherein the pull-out slot is formed to have a shape which is flatter than a cross-sectional shape of the unrolled back plate, and to have a clearance formed on a portion facing a surface of the flexible display element.

15. The flexible display according to claim 12,

wherein the pull-out slot is formed to have a shape which is substantially identical shape to a cross-sectional shape of the unrolled back plate, and to have a clearance expanding toward a center, which is formed on a portion facing a surface of the flexible display element.

16. An imaging device including:

a taking lens and a shooting part; and

the flexible display according to claim 12,

wherein the back plate keeps a predetermined positional relationship and shape relative to the main body by applying a restraining force to the pulled out flexible display element, and releases the restraining force when the flexible display element is stored in the main body.

17. The imaging device according to claim 16, further comprising a detecting device which detects a movement of the flexible display element,

wherein operation modes are switched in synchronization with the movement of the flexible display element from a first position to a second position.

18. The imaging device according to claim 16, further comprising

convex portions provided on portions of the back plate, which are folded to both ends of a display screen.

19. The imaging device according to claim 16, further comprising

a rolling detecting switch disposed on a position making contact with a portion outside a display range of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, on the roll-up shaft of the flexible display element stored in the main body,

wherein the rolling detecting switch turns off at least a part of display on a display part when the flexible display element is rolled up.

20. The imaging device according to claim 16, wherein the taking lens and the shooting part are placed on the main body.

21. A flexible display capable of being rolled up and unfurled, comprising:

a flexible display element;

a back plate covering a back side of the flexible display element;

a main body substantially shaped like one of a cylinder and a polygon, the main body storing the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled;

a roll-up shaft for rolling up the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled, the roll-up shaft being included in the main body; and

a pull-out slot through which the flexible display element and the back plate are taken in and out from the main body,

wherein the back plate comes into contact with the back side of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, and at least a central portion of the back plate is separated from the flexible display element to support the flexible display element in a flat shape when the flexible display element is unfurled, and

wherein the pull-out slot is formed to have a shape which is substantially identical to a cross-sectional shape of the unrolled back plate, and to have a clearance formed on a portion facing a surface of the flexible display element.

22. The flexible display according to claim 21, further comprising

a detecting device which detects a movement of the flexible display element,

wherein operation modes are switched in synchronization with the movement of the flexible display element from a first position to a second position.

23. The flexible display according to claim 22, further comprising:

a taking lens; and

a shooting part.

24. The flexible display according to claim 21, further comprising

a rolling detecting switch disposed on a position making contact with a portion outside a display range of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, on the roll-up shaft of the flexible display element stored in the main body,

wherein the rolling detecting switch turns off at least a part of display on a display part when the flexible display element is rolled up.

25. The flexible display according to claim 24, further comprising:

a taking lens; and

a shooting part.

26. A flexible display capable of being rolled up and unfurled, comprising:

a flexible display element;

a back plate covering a back side of the flexible display element;

a main body substantially shaped like one of a cylinder and a polygon, the main body storing the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled;

a roll-up shaft for rolling up the flexible display element and the back plate when the flexible display element is unfurled, the roll-up shaft being included in the main body; and

a pull-out slot through which the flexible display element and the back plate are taken in and out from the main body,

wherein the back plate comes into contact with the back side of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, and at least a central portion of the back plate is separated from the flexible display element to support the flexible display element in a flat shape when the flexible display element is unfurled, and

wherein the pull-out slot is formed to have a shape which is substantially identical shape to a cross-sectional shape of the unrolled back plate, and to have a clearance expanding toward a center, which is formed on a portion facing a surface of the flexible display element.

27. The flexible display according to claim 26, further comprising

a detecting device which detects a movement of the flexible display element,

wherein operation modes are switched in synchronization with the movement of the flexible display element from a first position to a second position.

28. The flexible display according to claim 27, further comprising:

a taking lens; and

a shooting part.

29. The flexible display according to claim 26, further comprising

a rolling detecting switch disposed on a position making contact with a portion outside a display range of the flexible display element when the flexible display element is rolled up, on the roll-up shaft of the flexible display element stored in the main body,

wherein the rolling detecting switch turns off at least a part of display on a display part when the flexible display element is rolled up.

30. The flexible display according to claim 29, further comprising:

a taking lens; and

a shooting part.