# US 2019/0174645 A1 · Foldable display apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174645 A1 - Document ID: US20190174645A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/198,075 - Filed: 2018-11-21 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: LG Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: LG Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Seungo JEON; YoungJoon YUN; ShinSuk LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174645A1 ## CPC - G09F 9/301: {flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED} - G06F 1/1641: {the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable} - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - H05K 5/0226: {Hinges} - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A foldable display apparatus includes a mid-layer having a hinge region; a panel on the mid-layer; a pair of set frames under the mid-layer; and a hinge portion connected to the pair of set frames, and moving as the panel is folded or unfolded. Since a sliding section of the panel in the hinge region is compensated for during the folding and unfolding of the panel, the size of a bezel that would otherwise accommodate a sliding section can be reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foldable display apparatus, comprising: at least two set frames each having a curved portion corresponding to where the foldable display apparatus folds; between each set frame, a support member having at least one pair of links, each of the at least one pair of links having one portion hinged along a second axis disposed on opposite sides of the support member and another portion hinged along a first axis disposed on a curved portion of an adjacent set frame, wherein each of the pair of set frames is configured to rotate around the first axis, each of the at least one pair of links is configured to rotate around the second axis, and the support member is configured to move back and forth relative to the curved portions of each of the at least two set frames; a mid-layer disposed along an outer surface of the pair of set frames; and a panel along an outer surface of the mid-layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The foldable display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mid-layer comprises: a support area corresponding to a gap between the pair of set frames when the foldable display apparatus is in a folded state, a pair of folding areas connected to opposite sides of the support area and overlapping the curved portion of each of the pair of set frames when the foldable display apparatus is in the folded state, and a pair of frame areas connected to each of the folding areas on a side opposite from the support area and overlapping a portion of each of the pair of set frames, and wherein the support member supports and withdraws support to the support area as the support member moves back and forth relative to the curved portions of the pair of set frames. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The foldable display apparatus of claim 1, wherein an upper corner edge on each side of the support member and a lower inner edge of each curved portion is shaped such that the support member and the curved portions of each of the pair of set frames no more than obliquely contact each other when the support member moves back and forth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The foldable display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support member includes a support end that protrudes towards the mid-layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The foldable display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support end includes a concave recess. ### Claim 6 A device, comprising: a panel; a mid-layer attached to the panel; at least a pair of set frames on which the mid-frame is attached; and a compensation area disposed between each set frame, each compensation area expanding and contracting a space between each set frame as the foldable device transitions between a folded and unfolded state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein each compensation area includes at least one support member connected by links disposed on opposite sides of the at least one support member to an end portion of each set frame the support member is disposed between. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein an end portion of each set frame that overlaps a folding area when the foldable device is in the folded state is a curved portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein an upper corner edge on each side of the at least one support member and a lower inner edge of each curved portion is shaped such that the at least one support member and the curved portions of each of the pair of set frames no more than obliquely contact each other when the at least one support member moves back and forth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein a folding area is disposed on portions of the mid-layer overlapping a compensation area when the foldable device is in the unfolded state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein a support area is disposed on any portions of the folding area overlapping the at least one support member when the foldable device is in the unfolded state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one support member includes a support end that protrudes towards a central portion of the mid-layer ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the support end includes a concave recess. ### Claim 14 A folding apparatus, comprising: a pair of set frames facing each other when the folding apparatus is in an unfolded state; a pair of joints, of which one joint includes a second portion connected to one in the pair of set frames and the other joint includes a second portion connected to the other in the pair of set frames; a support member, wherein a first portion of each of the joints is connected to opposite sides of the support member; and a flexible layer on the folding apparatus, such that it folds and unfolds along with the folding apparatus; and wherein a distance between the set frames is greater when the folding apparatus is in the unfolded state than when the folding apparatus is in the folded state, and the support member moves with a rotation of the pair of joints to compensate for a change in the distance between the pair of set frames. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The folding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pair of end portions of a set frame of the pair of set frames are curved such that the flexible layer overlaid on the end portions is rounded when the folding apparatus is in the folded state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The folding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the support member provides and removes support to the flexible layer as the support member moves back and forth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The folding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the support member includes a support end extending towards the flexible layer and provides support to an overlapping portion of the flexible layer when the folding apparatus is in the unfolded state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The folding apparatus of claim 17, wherein the support end includes a concave recess.