Foldable display apparatus
AssigneeLG Display Co., Ltd.
InventorsDal Jae Lee, Su Chan Kwon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments relate to a hinge assembly in a foldable display device that provides support for a bending portion of a flexible display panel when the foldable display device in an unfolded state. The hinge assembly includes a bending portion support assembly and a sliding member that is slidable relative to the bending portion support assembly as the foldable display device is folded or unfolded. The hinge assembly also includes a surface that abuts the bending portion of the flexible display panel that defines the curvature of the flexible display panel when the foldable display device is rotated from the unfolded state.
Claims18
A hinge assembly in a foldable display device, comprising:
- a bending portion support assembly configured to couple to a first frame in a rotatable manner and configured to provide support for a bending portion of a flexible display panel in an unfolded state of the foldable display device, the first frame secured to a first area of the flexible display panel adjacent to a first side of the bending portion in the unfolded state to provide support for the first area of the flexible display panel, the bending portion support assembly comprising:
- a first hinge part configured to secure to the first frame, and
- a second hinge part engaging with the first hinge part and coupled to a panel support member that provides a surface for supporting the bending portion in the unfolded state, the second hinge part configured to rotate about the first hinge part between the unfolded state and a folded state of the foldable display device;
- and
- a sliding member configured to couple to a second frame and slide relative to the bending portion support assembly with rotation of the first frame relative to the second frame, the second frame secured to a second area of the flexible display panel adjacent to a second side of the bending portion in the unfolded state to provide support for the second area of the flexible display panel.
A foldable display device, comprising:
- a flexible display panel;
- a first frame configured to secure a first area of the flexible display panel;
- a second frame configured to secure a second area of the flexible display panel;
- and
- a hinge assembly between the first frame and the second frame, the hinge assembly comprising:
- a bending portion support assembly coupled to the first frame in a rotatable manner and providing support for a bending portion of the flexible display panel between the first area and the second area in an unfolded state of the foldable display device, and
- a sliding member coupled to the second frame and slidable relative to the hinge assembly with rotation of the first frame relative to the second frame;
- a first supporting member between the first frame and the first area, the first supporting member having a flat surface onto which the first area is secured;
- and
- a second supporting member between the second frame and the second area, the second supporting member having a flat surface onto which the second area is secured.
A method of folding or unfolding a foldable display device, comprising:
- in an unfolded state of the foldable display device, supporting a first area of a flexible display panel by a first frame secured to a first hinge part of a hinge assembly, a second area of the flexible display panel by a second frame and a bending portion of the flexible display panel by the hinge assembly between the first frame and the second frame;
- rotating, about the first hinge part, a second hinge part of the hinge assembly engaging with the first hinge part and coupled to a panel support member that provides a surface for supporting the bending portion in the unfolded state between the unfolded state and a folded state of the foldable display device;
- and
- responsive to rotating the first frame relative to the second frame from the unfolded state, sliding a sliding member of the hinge assembly coupled to the second frame relative to a bending portion support assembly coupled to the first frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.