Sensor for detecting a bending, flexible display apparatus, and method of detecting bending in flexible display apparatus

A sensor for detecting a bending in a flexible display apparatus, comprising:

• a first flexible base substrate;
• a first electrode layer on a side of the first flexible base substrate and comprising an array of a plurality of first electrodes configured to detect a first bending toward a first bent direction relative to a surface of the first flexible base substrate;
• a second flexible base substrate;
• a second electrode layer on a side of the second flexible base substrate, insulated from the first electrode layer, and comprising an array of a plurality of second electrodes configured to detect a second bending toward a second bent direction relative to a surface of the second flexible base substrate;
• and
• a detection circuit electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes;
• wherein the sensor has a first configuration corresponding to the first flexible base substrate in a substantially unbent state and a second configuration corresponding to the first flexible base substrate in a first bent state in which at least a portion of the first flexible base substrate is bent toward the first bent direction;
• the plurality of first electrodes are insulated from each other in a state corresponding to the first configuration;
• and
• at least two adjacent first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected to each other in a state corresponding to the second configuration;
• wherein the sensor has a third configuration corresponding to the second flexible base substrate in a second bent state in which at least a portion of the second flexible base substrate is bent toward the second bent direction;
• the plurality of second electrodes are insulated from each other in a state corresponding to the first configuration;
• and
• at least two adjacent second electrodes of the plurality of second electrodes are electrically connected to each other in a state corresponding to the third configuration;
• wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect a bending position and a bending direction by detecting one or a combination of a first electrical signal from the at least two adjacent first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to each other in the state corresponding to the second configuration, and a second electrical signal from the at least two adjacent second electrodes of the plurality of second electrodes electrically connected to each other in the state corresponding to the third configuration;
• wherein the detection circuit comprises a first voltage terminal and a short circuit detection terminal;
• the detection circuit is configured to scan the plurality of second electrodes one by one with a first voltage signal transmitted from the first voltage terminal;
• and
• the short circuit detection terminal is configured to detect voltage levels at the plurality of second electrodes.

A method of detecting a bending in a flexible display apparatus, comprising:

• providing a sensor in the flexible display apparatus, wherein the sensor comprises a first flexible base substrate;
• and a first electrode layer on a side of the first flexible base substrate and comprising an array of a plurality of first electrodes configured to detect a first bending toward a first bent direction relative to a surface of the first flexible base substrate;
• wherein the sensor has a first configuration corresponding to the first flexible base substrate in a substantially unbent state and a second configuration corresponding to the first flexible base substrate in a first bent state in which at least a portion of the first flexible base substrate is bent toward the first bent direction;
• the plurality of first electrodes are insulated from each other in a state corresponding to the first configuration;
• and at least two adjacent first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected to each other in a state corresponding to the second configuration;
• scanning the plurality of first electrodes one by one with a first voltage signal;
• and
• detecting voltage levels of the plurality of first electrodes;
• wherein a single one of the plurality first electrodes is detected to have a first voltage level at any moment when the plurality of first electrodes are scanned with the first voltage signal, and the first flexible base substrate is determined to be in the substantially unbent state;
• and
• at least two adjacent first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes are detected to have the first voltage level when the plurality of first electrodes are scanned with the first voltage signal, and the first flexible base substrate is determined to be in the first bent state thereby detecting a bending position corresponding to the first bent direction.