# US 11,029,732 B2 · Display device and operating method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,732 B2 - Document ID: US11029732B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/517,937 - Filed: 2019-07-22 - Published: 2020-07-02 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-02 - Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Sung Sang Ahn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029732B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06V 40/1306: {non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing} - G09F 9/301: {flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract A display device includes: a display panel; a first frame to which a first end of the display panel is fixed; and a second frame connected to the first frame, wherein the second frame is moveable in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction with respect to the first frame. A second end of the display panel is in a moveable floating state guided by the second frame. The area of an externally exposed surface of the display panel is widened when the second frame is moved in the first direction, and is narrowed when the second frame is moved in the second direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display device comprising: a display panel; a first frame to which a first end of the display panel is fixed and supporting a back surface of the display panel; and a second frame connected to the first frame, wherein the second frame is moveable with respect to the first frame using a linear motion in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, wherein a second end of the display panel is in a moveable floating state guided by the second frame such that the second end of the display panel is movable with respect to the second frame, wherein an area of an externally exposed surface of the display panel is widened when the second frame is moved in the first direction, and is narrowed when the second frame is moved in the second direction, and wherein when a touch having a predetermined pattern is input to the externally exposed surface of the display panel, the second frame is moved in the first direction from the first frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern in which a touch input from a first region of the externally exposed surface to a second region of the externally exposed surface sequentially occurs, wherein the second region is located in the first direction from the first region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern in which a touch input is maintained in a first region of the externally exposed surface for at least a predetermined time, and a touch input to a second region of the externally exposed surface from the first region occurs sequentially to the touch input maintained in the first region, wherein the second region is located in the first direction from the first region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern in which a touch input repeatedly occurs in a first region of the externally exposed surface at a predetermined time interval. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel includes a fingerprint recognition region of the externally exposed surface, wherein the predetermined pattern is a touch input within the fingerprint recognition region, and the touch input comprises a predetermined fingerprint pattern. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes touch inputs that occur in a predetermined sequence in a plurality of predetermined regions on the externally exposed surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor, wherein the second frame is moved in the first direction based on both a predetermined pattern input to the display panel and a proximity signal generated from the proximity sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the second frame includes: a first sub-frame covering at least a portion of a display surface of the display panel; and a second sub-frame supporting at least a portion of the back surface of the display panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the display panel is movable within a guiding portion of the second frame. ### Claim 10 A display device comprising: a display panel; a first frame to which a first end of the display panel is fixed; a second frame connected to the first frame; and a proximity sensor configured to generate a proximity signal, wherein the second frame is moveable in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction with respect to the first frame based at least in part on the proximity signal, wherein a second end of the display panel is in a moveable floating state guided by the second frame, wherein an area of an externally exposed surface of the display panel is widened when the second frame is moved in the first direction, and is narrowed when the second frame is moved in the second direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The display device of claim 10, wherein the proximity sensor is located at an end portion of the first frame and, when both a predetermined pattern is input to the display panel and the proximity signal is generated from the proximity sensor, the second frame is moved in the first direction from the first frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The display device of claim 10, wherein, the proximity sensor is located at an end portion of the second frame and, when both a predetermined pattern is input to the display panel and no proximity signal is generated from the proximity sensor, the second frame is moved in the first direction from the first frame. ### Claim 13 A method for operating a display device, the method comprising: inputting a predetermined pattern to an externally exposed surface of a display panel, wherein when the predetermined pattern is input to the display panel, a second frame is moved in a first direction from a first frame, and wherein the predetermined pattern includes touch inputs that occur in a predetermined sequence in a plurality of predetermined regions on the externally exposed surface; moving the second frame, which is connected to the first frame to which a first end of the display panel is fixed, in the first direction with respect to the first frame or in a second direction with respect to the first frame; and allowing a second end of the display panel, which is in a floating state, to be guided by the second frame, so that an area of the externally exposed surface is widened when the second frame is moved in the first direction and so that the display panel folds and the area of the externally exposed surface is narrowed when the second frame is moved in the second direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the moving of the second frame in the first direction is performed when a proximity signal is generated from a proximity sensor, wherein the second direction is a direction opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the moving of the second frame in the first direction is performed when no proximity signal is generated from a proximity sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern in which a touch input is maintained in a first region of the externally exposed surface for at least a predetermined time, and a touch input to a second region of the externally exposed surface from the first region occurs sequentially to the touch input maintained in the first region, wherein the second region is located in the first direction from the first region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern in which a touch input repeatedly occurs in a first region of the externally exposed surface at a predetermined time interval. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the display panel includes a fingerprint recognition region of the externally exposed surface, wherein the predetermined pattern is a touch input within the fingerprint recognition region, and the touch input comprises a predetermined fingerprint pattern.