Display system having a continuous flexible display with display supports

• US 8,908,365 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creator Technology BV
• Inventors: Walters, Michael, Van Den Tillaar, Han, Verschoor, Volker Barnhart, Van Dijk, Robert Sjang Josine, Van Lieshout, Pieter
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/532,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223, 312/1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/319.2, 312/332.1, 312/330.1, 312/257.1, 312/172, 312/173, 312/236, 312/244, 312/216, 312/7.1, 312/7.2, 312/223.6, 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/179.1, 455/2.01, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 455/575.4, 248/221.11, 248/636, 248/224.8, 248/220.21, 248/309.1, 248/314, 248/220.22, 248/205.1, 248/276.1, 248/122.1, 248/558, 248/181.1, 248/310, 361/679.21, 361/679.22, 361/679.23, 361/679.24, 361/679.25, 361/679.26, 361/679.27, 361/679.31, 361/679.32, 361/679.33, 361/679.34, 361/679.35, 361/679.37, 361/679.38, 361/679.4, 361/679.43, 361/679.47, 361/679.56, 345/173, 345/174, 345/204, 345/690, 345/419, 345/168, 345/652, 345/520, 345/169, 345/236
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• 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 19/00 Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/301 flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/02 Flexible displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel

Abstract

A display system comprises a continuous flexible display and two main display supports being hingeably connected with respect to each other between a closed storage position and a planar open position for fixing the flexible display in an open position. Each of the supports is structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, a segment of the flexible display is located between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position. The display system comprises a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display;

a support frame comprising first and second main display supports, coupled by a hinge mechanism with at least one hinge axis and each structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, the two main display supports being hingeable 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, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position; and

a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position,

wherein the spring force biased mechanism comprises a slider element, the second portion of the flexible display is fixed to the slider element, which is slidably mounted on the second main display support,

wherein during movement of the display from the open to the storage position the movement of the slider element is limited by a first end stop.

2. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the flexible display is fixed to the first main display support, whereas the second portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the second main display support, allowing at the location of the mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the second portion of the flexible display with respect to the second main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in the coupling between the second portion of the flexible display and the second main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

3. The display system as recited in claim 2, wherein the spring means comprise at least one spring biasing in the respective position of the display the slider element away from the hinge axis.

4. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein during movement of the display from the storage to the open position the movement of the slider element is limited by a second end stop.

5. The display system as recited in claim 4, wherein the spring force biases the slider element against the second end stop.

6. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the spring force biases the slider element against the first end stop.

7. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said portions is slidably mounted on the respective main display support, allowing at the location of each mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the respective portion of the flexible display with respect to the main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in each coupling between the respective portion of the flexible display and the main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

8. The display system as recited in claim 7, wherein the segment of the flexible display is fixed to the support frame substantially in the middle between the first and the second portion of the flexible display.

9. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the portions of the flexible display comprises an elastic border part, being connected with the main display support, biasing the flexible display in the open position.

10. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a flexible hinge, which is part of the spring force biased mechanism and enables a freedom of movement of the hinge pin in a direction substantially parallel to the display surface in the open position.

11. The display system as recited in claim 10, wherein movement of the display supports from the closed to planar configuration enables movement of the hinge pin to a spring force biased position.

12. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a body, the first main display support being hingeably connected with the body, the two main display supports being hingeable between a wrapped configuration around the body for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, a third portion of the flexible display being coupled with the body, a second segment of the flexible display being located between the first and third portion of the flexible display,

wherein the third portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the body, and

wherein the display system comprises a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said second segment of the flexible display in the open position.

13. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the closed position is positioned with its curved end part at a distance from the hinge mechanism.

14. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the open position is stretched, keeping the display taut in the area of the hinge mechanism.

15. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display;

a body;

a support frame comprising first and second main display supports, coupled by a first hinge mechanism and each structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, the first main display support being coupled by a second hinge mechanism with the body, the two main display supports being hingeable between a wrapped configuration around the body for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, a first segment of the flexible display being located near the first hinge mechanism between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position, a third portion of the flexible display being coupled with the body, a second segment of the flexible display being located near the second hinge mechanism between the first and third portion of the flexible display; and

a spring force biased mechanism;

wherein the third portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the body, and wherein the spring force biased mechanism is operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said second segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

16. The display system as recited in claim 15, wherein the spring force biased mechanism comprises a sliding mounting of both the first and the third portion of the flexible display.

17. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display;

a support frame comprising first and second main display supports, coupled by a hinge mechanism with at least one hinge axis and each structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, the two main display supports being hingeable 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, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position; and

a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position,

wherein the spring force biased mechanism comprises a slider element, the second portion of the flexible display is fixed to the slider element, which is slidably mounted on the second main display support,

wherein during movement of the display from the storage to the open position the movement of the slider element is limited by an end stop.

18. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the first portion of the flexible display is fixed to the first main display support, whereas the second portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the second main display support, allowing at the location of the mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the second portion of the flexible display with respect to the second main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in the coupling between the second portion of the flexible display and the second main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

19. The display system as recited in claim 18, wherein the spring means comprise at least one spring biasing in the respective position of the display the slider element away from the hinge axis.

20. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the spring force biases the slider element against the end stop.

21. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein each of said portions is slidably mounted on the respective main display support, allowing at the location of each mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the respective portion of the flexible display with respect to the main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in each coupling between the respective portion of the flexible display and the main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

22. The display system as recited in claim 21, wherein the segment of the flexible display is fixed to the support frame substantially in the middle between the first and the second portion of the flexible display.

23. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein one of the portions of the flexible display comprises an elastic border part, being connected with the main display support, biasing the flexible display in the open position.

24. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a flexible hinge, which is part of the spring force biased mechanism and enables a freedom of movement of the hinge pin in a direction substantially parallel to the display surface in the open position.

25. The display system as recited in claim 24, wherein movement of the display supports from the closed to planar configuration enables movement of the hinge pin to a spring force biased position.

26. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the system further comprises:

a body, the first main display support being hingeably connected with the body, the two main display supports being hingeable between a wrapped configuration around the body for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, a third portion of the flexible display being coupled with the body, a second segment of the flexible display being located between the first and third portion of the flexible display,

wherein the third portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the body, and

wherein the display system comprises a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said second segment of the flexible display in the open position.

27. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the closed position is positioned with its curved end part at a distance from the hinge mechanism.

28. The display system as recited in claim 17, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the open position is stretched, keeping the display taut in the area of the hinge mechanism.

29. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display;

a support frame comprising first and second main display supports, coupled by a hinge mechanism with at least one hinge axis and each structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, the two main display supports being hingeable 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, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position; and

a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position,

wherein one of the portions of the flexible display comprises an elastic border part, being connected with the main display support, biasing the flexible display in the open position.

30. The display system as recited in claim 29, wherein the first portion of the flexible display is fixed to the first main display support, whereas the second portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the second main display support, allowing at the location of the mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the second portion of the flexible display with respect to the second main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in the coupling between the second portion of the flexible display and the second main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

31. The display system as recited in claim 30, wherein the spring means comprise at least one spring biasing in the respective position of the display the slider element away from the hinge axis.

32. The display system as recited in claim 29, wherein each of said portions is slidably mounted on the respective main display support, allowing at the location of each mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the respective portion of the flexible display with respect to the main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in each coupling between the respective portion of the flexible display and the main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

33. The display system as recited in claim 32, wherein the segment of the flexible display is fixed to the support frame substantially in the middle between the first and the second portion of the flexible display.

34. The display system as recited in claim 29, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a flexible hinge, which is part of the spring force biased mechanism and enables a freedom of movement of the hinge pin in a direction substantially parallel to the display surface in the open position.

35. The display system as recited in claim 34, wherein movement of the display supports from the closed to planar configuration enables movement of the hinge pin to a spring force biased position.

36. The display system as recited in claim 29, wherein the system further comprises:

a body, the first main display support being hingeably connected with the body, the two main display supports being hingeable between a wrapped configuration around the body for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, a third portion of the flexible display being coupled with the body, a second segment of the flexible display being located between the first and third portion of the flexible display,

wherein the third portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the body, and

wherein the display system comprises a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said second segment of the flexible display in the open position.

37. The display system as recited in claim 29, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the closed position is positioned with its curved end part at a distance from the hinge mechanism.

38. The display system as recited in claim 29, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the open position is stretched, keeping the display taut in the area of the hinge mechanism.

39. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display;

a support frame comprising first and second main display supports, coupled by a hinge mechanism with at least one hinge axis and each structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, the two main display supports being hingeable 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, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position; and

a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position,

wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a flexible hinge, which is part of the spring force biased mechanism and enables a freedom of movement of the hinge pin in a direction substantially parallel to the display surface in the open position.

40. The display system as recited in claim 39, wherein the first portion of the flexible display is fixed to the first main display support, whereas the second portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the second main display support, allowing at the location of the mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the second portion of the flexible display with respect to the second main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in the coupling between the second portion of the flexible display and the second main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

41. The display system as recited in claim 40, wherein the spring means comprise at least one spring biasing in the respective position of the display the slider element away from the hinge axis.

42. The display system as recited in claim 39, wherein each of said portions is slidably mounted on the respective main display support, allowing at the location of each mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the respective portion of the flexible display with respect to the main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in each coupling between the respective portion of the flexible display and the main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

43. The display system as recited in claim 42, wherein the segment of the flexible display is fixed to the support frame substantially in the middle between the first and the second portion of the flexible display.

44. The display system as recited in claim 39, wherein movement of the display supports from the closed to planar configuration enables movement of the hinge pin to a spring force biased position.

45. The display system as recited in claim 39, wherein the system further comprises:

a body, the first main display support being hingeably connected with the body, the two main display supports being hingeable between a wrapped configuration around the body for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, a third portion of the flexible display being coupled with the body, a second segment of the flexible display being located between the first and third portion of the flexible display,

wherein the third portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the body, and

wherein the display system comprises a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said second segment of the flexible display in the open position.

46. The display system as recited in claim 39, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the closed position is positioned with its curved end part at a distance from the hinge mechanism.

47. The display system as recited in claim 39, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the open position is stretched, keeping the display taut in the area of the hinge mechanism.

48. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display;

a support frame comprising first and second main display supports, coupled by a hinge mechanism with at least one hinge axis and each structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, the two main display supports being hingeable 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, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position; and

a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position,

a body, the first main display support being hingeably connected with the body, the two main display supports being hingeable between a wrapped configuration around the body for fixing the flexible display in a closed storage position and a planar configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, a third portion of the flexible display being coupled with the body, a second segment of the flexible display being located between the first and third portion of the flexible display,

wherein the third portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the body, and

wherein the display system comprises a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said second segment of the flexible display in the open position.

49. The display system as recited in claim 48, wherein the first portion of the flexible display is fixed to the first main display support, whereas the second portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the second main display support, allowing at the location of the mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the second portion of the flexible display with respect to the second main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in the coupling between the second portion of the flexible display and the second main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

50. The display system as recited in claim 49, wherein the spring means comprise at least one spring biasing in the respective position of the display the slider element away from the hinge axis.

51. The display system as recited in claim 48, wherein each of said portions is slidably mounted on the respective main display support, allowing at the location of each mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the respective portion of the flexible display with respect to the main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in each coupling between the respective portion of the flexible display and the main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

52. The display system as recited in claim 51, wherein the segment of the flexible display is fixed to the support frame substantially in the middle between the first and the second portion of the flexible display.

53. The display system as recited in claim 48, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the closed position is positioned with its curved end part at a distance from the hinge mechanism.

54. The display system as recited in claim 48, wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the open position is stretched, keeping the display taut in the area of the hinge mechanism.

55. A display system comprising:

a continuous flexible display;

a support frame comprising first and second main display supports, coupled by a hinge mechanism with at least one hinge axis and each structurally configured to support respectively a first and a second portion of the flexible display, the two main display supports being hingeable 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, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective portions of the flexible display in the open position; and

a spring force biased mechanism operative in either the open or closed position or both the open and closed positions of the flexible display, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position,

wherein the spring force biased mechanism enables that the segment of the flexible display in the open position is stretched, keeping the display taut in the area of the hinge mechanism.

56. The display system as recited in claim 55, wherein the first portion of the flexible display is fixed to the first main display support, whereas the second portion of the flexible display is slidably mounted on the second main display support, allowing at the location of the mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the second portion of the flexible display with respect to the second main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in the coupling between the second portion of the flexible display and the second main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

57. The display system as recited in claim 56, wherein the spring means comprise at least one spring biasing in the respective position of the display the slider element away from the hinge axis.

58. The display system as recited in claim 55, wherein each of said portions is slidably mounted on the respective main display support, allowing at the location of each mounting during movement of the display between the storage and open position a sliding movement of the respective portion of the flexible display with respect to the main display support in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the hinge axis, the spring force biased mechanism comprising spring means located in each coupling between the respective portion of the flexible display and the main display support, biasing said segment of the flexible display in the respective position.

59. The display system as recited in claim 58, wherein the segment of the flexible display is fixed to the support frame substantially in the middle between the first and the second portion of the flexible display.