Display apparatus having a flexible display panel

• US 10,401,907 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Song, Song
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Hiram E
• Application Number:
  US15/325,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20170177035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable

Abstract

The present application discloses a display apparatus comprising a flexible display panel capable of undergoing deformation between a flat configuration in which the flexible display panel is substantially flat and a curved configuration in which the flexible display panel is curved; and a first arm section and a second arm section for deforming the flexible display panel between the flat configuration and the curved configuration. Each of the first arm section and the second arm section comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first arm section and the first terminal of the second arm section coupled to each other, and the second terminal of the first arm section and the second terminal of the second arm section coupled to the flexible display panel on a side distal to a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel and at two opposite margins of the flexible display panel, respectively; the first arm section is a retractable arm section capable of retracting and extending between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first arm section, having an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in a flat configuration and a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in a curved configuration; and the second arm section is a retractable arm section capable of retracting and extending between the first terminal and the second terminal of the second arm section, having an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration.

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a flexible display panel capable of undergoing deformation between a flat configuration in which the flexible display panel is substantially flat and a curved configuration in which the flexible display panel is curved; and

a first arm section and a second arm section for deforming the flexible display panel between the flat configuration and the curved configuration;

wherein each of the first arm section and the second arm section comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first arm section and the first terminal of the second arm section coupled to each other, and the second terminal of the first arm section and the second terminal of the second arm section coupled to the flexible display panel on a side distal to a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel and at two opposite margins of the flexible display panel, respectively;

the first arm section and the second arm section constitute a folding arm for deforming the flexible display panel between the flat configuration and the curved configuration, the first arm section and the second arm section forming an included angle, the folding arm is capable of having a first included angle corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and a second included angle corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration;

wherein the display apparatus further comprises an included angle controller for adjusting an included angle of the folding arm thereby deforming the flexible display panel; and

wherein the included angle controller comprises a retractable shaft capable of having a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration;

the retractable shaft comprises a first end coupled to the first arm section and the second arm section, and a second end coupled to the flexible display panel at a side of the flexible display panel distal to a light emitting surface.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one peripheral display panel abutting the flexible display panel along at least one edge of the flexible display panel.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one peripheral display panel abutting the flexible display panel along at least one edge of the flexible display panel, the flexible display panel and the at least one peripheral display panel are substantially planar when the first arm section and the second arm section are in an extended state.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, the flexible display panel is curved and has a partial cylindrical surface when the first arm section and the second arm section are in a retracted state.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protective shell facing the flexible display panel and covering the first end of the retractable shaft;

the protective shell and the flexible display panel enclosing the folding arm and the retractable shaft when the flexible display panel is in the curved configuration.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, comprising a first peripheral display panel and a second peripheral display panel abutting the flexible display panel on two opposite edges of the flexible display panel in plan view of the flexible display panel, respectively;

and

a first supporting connector and a second supporting connector for connecting the first peripheral display panel and the second peripheral display panel when the flexible display panel in the curved configuration and for supporting the display apparatus on a surface when the flexible display panel in the flat configuration;

wherein the first supporting connector is in a margin portion of the first peripheral display panel distal to the flexible display panel, the second supporting connector is in a margin portion of the second peripheral display panel distal to the flexible display panel, and the first supporting connector and the second supporting connector are on a same surface of the display apparatus when the flexible display panel in the flat configuration.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel is on a same side of the display apparatus as light emitting surfaces of the first peripheral display panel and the second peripheral display panel.

8. The display apparatus of claim 6, a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel is on a different side of the display apparatus from light emitting surfaces of the first peripheral display panel and the second peripheral display panel.

9. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first terminals of the first arm section and the second arm section coupled to each other through the first end of the retractable shaft.

10. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first arm section is a retractable arm section capable of retracting and extending between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first arm section, having an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in a flat configuration and a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in a curved configuration;

and

the second arm section is a retractable arm section capable of retracting and extending between the first terminal and the second terminal of the second arm section, having an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration.

11. A display apparatus, comprising:

a flexible display panel capable of undergoing deformation between a flat configuration in which the flexible display panel is substantially flat and a curved configuration in which the flexible display panel is curved; and

a first arm section and a second arm section for deforming the flexible display panel between the flat configuration and the curved configuration;

wherein each of the first arm section and the second arm section comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first arm section and the first terminal of the second arm section coupled to each other, and the second terminal of the first arm section and the second terminal of the second arm section coupled to the flexible display panel on a side distal to a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel and at two opposite margins of the flexible display panel, respectively;

wherein the first arm section and the second arm section constitute a folding arm for deforming the flexible display panel between the flat configuration and the curved configuration, the first arm section and the second arm section forming an included angle, the folding arm is capable of having a first included angle corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and a second included angle corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration;

wherein the display apparatus further comprises;

an included angle controller for adjusting an included angle of the folding arm thereby deforming the flexible display panel; and

an ancillary folding arm comprising a third arm section and a fourth arm section for deforming the flexible display panel between the flat configuration and the curved configuration, the third arm section and the fourth arm section forming an additional included angle, the ancillary folding arm is capable of having a third included angle corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and a fourth included angle corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration;

the included angle controller controlling an included angle of the folding arm and an additional included angle of the ancillary folding arm simultaneously;

the included angle controller comprising a retractable shaft capable of having a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration, the retractable shaft comprises a first end coupled to the first arm section and the second arm section, and a second end coupled to the flexible display panel at a side of the flexible display panel distal to a light emitting surface;

the first terminals of the first arm section and the second arm section coupled to each other through the first end of the retractable shaft.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the folding arm comprises a first arm section and a second arm section, each of which having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminals coupled to the retractable shaft and the second terminals coupled to the flexible display panel on a side distal to a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel, the second terminal of the first arm section and the second terminal of the second arm section coupled to the flexible display panel at two opposite margins of the flexible display panel, respectively;

the ancillary folding arm comprises a third arm section and a fourth arm section, each of which having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the third terminals coupled to the retractable shaft and the fourth terminals coupled to the flexible display panel on a side distal to a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel, the fourth terminal of the third arm section and the fourth terminal of the fourth arm section coupled to the flexible display panel at two opposite margins of the flexible display panel, respectively; and

the retractable shaft has a first end coupled to the first terminals of the first arm section and the second arm section; and

a second end coupled to the third terminals of the third arm section and the fourth arm section, and the flexible display panel at a side of the flexible display panel distal to a light emitting surface.

13. The display apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a flexible shell facing the flexible display panel and covering the first end of the retractable shaft;

the flexible shell and the flexible display panel enclosing the folding arm, the ancillary folding arm, and the retractable shaft when the flexible display panel is in the curved configuration, the flexible shell capable of undergoing deformation between a flat configuration in which the flexible shell is substantially flat and a curved configuration in which the flexible shell is curved;

the flat configuration of the flexible shell corresponding to the flat configuration of the flexible display panel, the curved configuration of the flexible shell corresponding to the curved configuration of the flexible display panel;

the folding arm comprises a first arm section and a second arm section, each of which having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the retractable shaft and the second terminal coupled to the flexible display panel on a side distal to a light emitting surface of the flexible display panel, the second terminals of the first arm section and the second arm section coupled to the flexible display panel at two opposite margins of the flexible display panel, respectively;

the ancillary folding arm comprises a third arm section and a fourth arm section, each of which having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the third terminal coupled to the retractable shaft and the fourth terminal coupled to the flexible shell, the fourth terminals of the third arm section and the fourth arm section coupled to the flexible shell at two opposite margins of the flexible shell, respectively; and

the retractable shaft has a first end coupled to the first terminals of the first arm section and the second arm section, and the flexible shell on a side proximal to the flexible display panel; and

a second end coupled to the third terminals of the third arm section and the fourth arm section, and the flexible display panel at a side of the flexible display panel distal to a light emitting surface.

14. The display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first terminals of the first arm section and the second arm section coupled to the retractable shaft by attaching to portions of the flexible shell proximal to the retractable shaft.

15. The display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the third terminals of the third arm section and the fourth arm section coupled to the retractable shaft by attaching to portions of the flexible display panel proximal to the retractable shaft on a side distal to the light emitting surface of the flexible display panel.

16. The display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising at least one peripheral display panel abutting the flexible display panel along at least one edge of the flexible display panel, wherein the at least one peripheral display panel comprises a peripheral backplate on a side distal to a light emitting surface of the at least one peripheral display panel, the flexible shell connected to the at least one peripheral backplate.

17. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first arm section is a retractable arm section capable of retracting and extending between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first arm section, having an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in a flat configuration and a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in a curved configuration;

and

the second arm section is a retractable arm section capable of retracting and extending between the first terminal and the second terminal of the second arm section, having an extended state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the flat configuration and a retracted state corresponding to the flexible display panel in the curved configuration.