Foldable display device

A display device comprising:

• a flexible display module configured to display an image on a display surface;
• and
• a force sensor,
• wherein the flexible display module comprises:
• a first display panel comprising a light-emitting device;
• and
• a sensor unit disposed on the first display panel,
• wherein the sensor unit comprises a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor,
• wherein, in a folded-in mode in which the flexible display module is folded along a bending axis, a portion of the display surface faces another portion of the display surface,
• wherein, in the folded-in mode, the first and second sensors overlap with each other and are capacitively coupled to each other,
• wherein the first and second sensors are configured to sense a first pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-in mode based on a first capacitance between the first and second sensors facing each other,
• wherein the first and second sensors are configured to sense a touch of a user in a normal mode,
• wherein the force sensor is disposed under the first display panel,
• wherein the flexible display module further comprises a back side opposing the display surface,
• wherein, in a folded-outward mode in which the flexible display module is folded such that a portion of the back side faces another portion of the back side, the force sensor is configured to sense a second pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-outward mode, and
• wherein the display device is configured to determine a magnitude of the first pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-in mode based on the first capacitance.

A display device comprising:

• a flexible display module configured to display an image on a display surface, the flexible display module comprising:
• a display panel comprising a light-emitting device;
• and
• a sensor unit disposed on the display panel,
• wherein the sensor unit comprises a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor,
• wherein, in a first state in which the flexible display module is folded along a bending axis, a portion of the display surface faces another portion of the display surface,
• wherein, in the first state, the first and second sensors overlap with each other and are capacitively coupled to each other,
• wherein, in response to pressure being applied to the flexible display module in the first state, the display device is configured to sense a variation in capacitance between the one portion of the display surface and the another portion of the display surface based on output from the first and second sensors,
• wherein, in a second state of the flexible display module other than the first state, the display device is configured to sense a touch interaction based on a capacitance between the first and second sensors, and
• wherein the display device is configured to determine a magnitude of the pressure applied to the flexible display module in the first state based on the variation of the capacitance.