KR20210017013A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a display device including: a housing; a roller installed inside the housing; a supporter wound around the roller, unwinding from the roller according to the rotation of the roller, and extending from the inside of the housing to the outside; and a flexible display panel coupled to the supporter and wound or unwound on the roller, and extending from the inside of the housing to the outside, wherein the supporter includes: a plate-shaped wall; a plurality of flutes formed on one surface of the wall; and a skin fixed on the plurality of flutes. Accordingly, the display panel is supported in response to bending or rolling of the flexible display panel.

Description

Display device {DISPLAY DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a display device.

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices is increasing in various forms, and in response to this, various display devices such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display Device), ELD (Electro luminescent Display), VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) are It has been studied and used.

Among them, a display device using an organic light emitting diode (OLED) has superior luminance characteristics and viewing angle characteristics compared to a liquid crystal display device, and has an advantage of being ultra-thin because it does not require a backlight unit.

In addition, the flexible display can be bent or wound on a roller. Using the flexible display, it is possible to implement a display device that is unfolded on a roller or wound around a roller as necessary.

Recently, structural studies on such flexible displays have been actively conducted.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above and other problems.

Another object may be to provide a display device having a supporter capable of supporting the display panel in response to bending or rolling of the flexible display panel.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes: a housing; A roller installed inside the housing; A supporter wound around the roller, released from the roller according to the rotation of the roller, and spreading out from the inside of the housing; The supporter includes: a flexible display panel that is coupled to the supporter, is wound or unwound on the roller, and is spread out from the inside of the housing, wherein the supporter includes: a wall having a plate shape; A plurality of flutes formed on one side of the wall; And, it includes a skin fixed on the plurality of flutes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the wall is soft, and the skin is soft, does not stretch, and may be a material thinner than the thickness of the wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the wall comprises: a first layer; A second layer stacked on the first layer; A plurality of first cores elongated and inserted into the first layer; In addition, a plurality of second cores that are elongated and inserted into the second layer may be included, and the plurality of first cores may cross the plurality of second cores.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first layer and the second layer are synthetic resin, and the plurality of first cores and the plurality of second cores may be carbon fiber or glass fiber. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, the supporter may further include a plurality of flutes that are elongated and stacked on the second layer, and a plurality of flutes are sequentially arranged in the width direction. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, the supporter may further include: a third core extending elongated, inserted into each of the plurality of flutes, and having a longitudinal direction crossing the second core.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, the supporter may be formed as one body.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the pitch of the plurality of flutes may be 1 to 10 mm.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the plurality of flutes may be smaller than the thickness of the wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the supporter may be bent when wound around the roller, and may be flat when released from the roller.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the supporter may bend in a direction in which the wall surrounds the skin, but may not bend in a direction in which the skin surrounds the wall.

The effect of the display device according to the present invention will be described as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, a display device having a supporter capable of supporting the display panel in response to bending or rolling of the flexible display panel may be provided.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below. However, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, specific embodiments such as the detailed description and preferred embodiments of the present invention should be understood as being given by way of example only.

1 to 5 are diagrams illustrating examples of a rollable display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 to 9 are views showing examples of a supporter provided in a rollable display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 and 11 are diagrams showing examples of a rollable display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but identical or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "unit" for components used in the following description are given or used interchangeably in consideration of only the ease of preparation of the specification, and do not have meanings or roles that are distinguished from each other by themselves. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, when it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may obscure the subject matter of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and the technical idea disclosed in the present specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all modifications included in the spirit and scope of the present invention It should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Hereinafter, an organic light emitting display (OLED) will be described as an example of the display panel, but the display panel applicable to the present invention is not limited to the OLED panel.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display panel 10 includes a first long side (LS1), a second long side (LS2) opposed to the first long side (LS1), a first long side (LS1), and A first short side (SS1) adjacent to the second long side (LS2) and a second short side (SS2) opposed to the first short side (SS1) may be included.

Here, the first short side area SS1 is called a first side area, the second short side area SS2 is called a second side area opposite to the first side area, and The first long side area LS1 is referred to as a third side area adjacent to the first side area and the second side area and positioned between the first side area and the second side area, and the second long side area ( LS2) may be referred to as a fourth side area adjacent to the first side area and the second side area, positioned between the first side area and the second side area, and facing the third side area.

In addition, for convenience of explanation, the first and second long sides LS1 and LS2 are illustrated and described as being longer than the first and second short sides SS1 and SS2. However, the first and second long sides LS1 and LS2 It may be possible that the length of LS2) is approximately the same as the lengths of the first and second short sides SS1 and SS2.

In addition, hereinafter, the first direction (DR1) is a direction parallel to the long side (Long Side, LS1, LS2) of the display panel 100, the second direction (Second Direction, DR2) of the display panel 10 It may be in a direction parallel to the short side (SS1, SS2). The third direction (DR3) may be a direction perpendicular to the first direction (DR1) and/or the second direction (DR2).

The first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 may be collectively referred to as a horizontal direction. In addition, the third direction DR3 may be referred to as a vertical direction.

The side on which the display device 100 displays an image may be referred to as a front side or a front side. When the display device 100 displays an image, the side where the image cannot be observed may be referred to as a rear side or a rear side. When viewing the display device 100 from the front or the front, the first long side LS1 side may be referred to as an upper side or an upper side. Similarly, the second long side LS2 may be referred to as a lower side or a lower side. The first short side SS1 side may be referred to as a right or right side, and the second short side SS2 side may be referred to as a left side or left side.

The first long side LS1, the second long side LS2, the first short side SS1, and the second short side SS2 may be referred to as edges of the display device 100. Also, a point where the first long side LS1, the second long side LS2, the first short side SS1, and the second short side SS2 meet each other may be referred to as a corner. For example, the point where the first long side LS1 and the first short side SS1 meet is the first corner C1, and the point where the first long side LS1 and the second short side SS2 meet is the second corner C2. ), the second short side (SS2) and the second long side (LS2) meet at the third corner (C3), and the second long side (LS2) and the first short side (SS1) meet at the fourth corner (C4) Can be.

A direction from the first short side SS1 to the second short side SS1 or a direction from the second short side SS2 to the first short side SS1 may be referred to as a left-right direction LR. A direction from the first long side LS1 to the second long side LS2 or a direction from the second long side LS2 to the first long side LS1 may be referred to as a vertical direction UD.

The +x-axis direction may be referred to as a right direction, a right direction, or a right direction. The -x-axis direction may be referred to as a left direction, a left direction, or a left direction. The +y-axis direction can be referred to as an upward direction. The -y-axis direction can be referred to as a downward direction. The +z axis direction may be referred to as a forward direction, a forward direction, or a front direction. The -z-axis direction can be referred to as a rear direction or a rear direction or a rear direction.

The x-axis direction may be parallel to the first direction. The y-axis direction may be a direction parallel to the second direction. The z-axis direction may be parallel to the third direction.

Referring to FIG. 2, the display device 100 may include a display unit 20 and a housing 30.

The display unit 20 may include a display panel 10 and a module cover 15. The display panel 10 is provided on the front surface of the display device 100 and may display an image. The display panel 10 may output an image by dividing the image into a plurality of pixels and controlling to emit light according to color, brightness, and saturation for each pixel. The display panel 10 may be divided into an active area in which an image is displayed and an inactive area in which an image is not displayed.

When the display panel 10 has elasticity, it may be referred to as a flexible display panel 10.

The display panel 10 may have a rectangular shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the display panel 10 may have a shape having a predetermined curvature at a corner. The display panel 10 may be an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel.

The module cover 15 may be provided on the rear surface of the display panel 10. The module cover 15 may be directly attached to the display panel 10. The module cover 15 may be the same as the size of the display panel 10 or larger than the display panel 10.

The module cover 15 may support the rear surface of the display panel 10. Accordingly, the module cover 15 may include a material having high strength while being light. For example, the module cover 15 may include aluminum or stainless steel. The module cover 15 may be referred to as a supporter 15.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the display device 100, a housing 30 may be located under the display unit 20. The housing 30 may have a shape surrounding the lower portion of the display unit 20. The housing 30 may prevent various driving equipment or driving circuits located inside from being exposed to the outside.

The length in the first direction and the width in the third direction of the housing 30 may be larger than the width or thickness of the display unit 20 to protect the display unit 20 therein. The height of the housing 30 in the second direction may be smaller than the height of the display unit 20.

Referring to FIG. 4, the display device 100 may be in a first state in which the active area of the display unit 20 is located inside the housing 30 and in a second state in which the active region is exposed outside the housing 30.

When the display device 100 is in the first state, the active area of the display unit 20 may be located inside the housing 30. That is, it means that the display unit 20 can be accommodated by the housing 30.

When the display device 100 is in the second state, the active area of the display unit 20 may be exposed to the outside of the housing 30. That is, when the display unit 20 is in the second state, it means that at least a portion of the display unit 20 may protrude upward from the housing 30.

Although not shown, the display unit 20 may be changed from the first state to the second state by a roller located in the housing 30. In detail, in a first state in which the display unit 20 is wound by a roller, the roller may be released to change to a second state in which the display unit 20 is exposed to the outside. Conversely, the display unit 20 may change from the second state to the first state when the roller is unwound and wound.

The display device 100 may be in any one of a first state and a second state of the display unit 20. Accordingly, only when the display device 100 is used, the display unit 20 can be exposed to the outside of the housing 30, and space can be saved.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the display device 100, a panel roller 143 may be connected to one end of the display panel 10. The panel roller 143 may wind or unwind the display panel 10 so that the display panel 10 is in either a first state or a second state. The panel roller 143 may be referred to as a roller 143.

At least one source PCB 120 may be positioned on at least a portion of the front surface of the display panel 10. Each source PCB 120 may be positioned to be spaced apart from each other.

In the at least one source PCB 120, signal wires for transmitting digital video data and timing control signals transmitted from the timing controller board 105 may be located. The source PCB 120 may be connected to the display panel 10 by a source COF (Chip On Film) 123. The source COF 123 connected to one side of the source PCB 120 may extend to the active area of the display panel 10 and be connected to the display panel 10.

The seating portion 379 may be located on the outer periphery of the panel roller 143. The seating portion 379 may form an accommodation space B by stepping a portion of the outer periphery of the panel roller 143. The mounting portion 379 may be positioned at a portion where the source PCB 120 contacts the panel roller 143 while the panel roller 143 rotates. The seating portion 379 may have a shape in which at least a portion of the outer periphery of the panel roller 143 is recessed.

When the panel roller 143 is wound, the source PCB 120 may be accommodated in the receiving space B formed by the seating portion 379. Accordingly, even if the panel roller 143 is wound, damage to the source PCB 120 may not occur.

The timing controller board 105 may be mounted inside the panel roller 143. The FFC cable 117 may electrically connect the timing controller board 105 and the source PCB 120.

The panel roller 143 may include an upper panel roller 331 and a lower panel roller 337. The upper panel roller 331 and the lower panel roller 337 may be coupled to each other by screws. The timing controller board 105 may be embedded between the upper panel roller 331 and the lower panel roller 337. The screw may mutually couple the upper panel roller 331 and the lower panel roller 337 and the timing controller board 105. The FFC cable 117 may be connected to the timing controller board 105 and the source PCB 120 through a hole 331a located in the upper panel roller 331.

Since the timing controller board 105 rotates with the panel rollers 143, the FFC cable 117 may not be twisted. In addition, since the timing controller board 105 is mounted inside the panel roller 143, space can be saved.

Referring to FIG. 6, the supporter 150 may include a wall 151 and a flute 152. The wall 151 may have a plate shape. The flute 152 may be formed on one surface of the wall 151. The flute 152 may be referred to as a protrusion 152. The flute 152 may be formed in a certain pattern or pitch. The flutes 152 are sequentially disposed on one surface of the wall 151 and may be formed continuously. The flute 152 may be formed only on one side of the wall 151. For example, the thickness H3 of the flutes 152 may be 1/2 to 1/10 of the thickness H2 of the wall 151. For example, the pitch P of the flutes 152 may be 1 to 10 mm. The supporter 150 may be asymmetric with respect to the center line CL.

Accordingly, deformation of the supporter 150 can be prevented in a heat contraction situation that may occur during the molding process of the supporter 150.

7 and 8, the wall 151 may include a first layer 151a, a second layer 151b, a first core c1, and a second core c2. The flute 152 includes a third layer (152a), a fourth layer (152b), and a fifth layer (152c), a third core (c3), a fourth core (c4), and a fifth core (c5). can do. The supporter 150 may be formed as one body.

The first core c1 may be inserted into the first layer 151a. For example, the first layer 151a may be an epoxy resin, and the first core c1 may be a carbon fiber or a glass fiber. The first core c1 may have a long elongated column shape. The first core c1 may be sequentially arranged in the second direction DR2 in the axial direction in the first direction DR1. In addition, the first core c1 may be sequentially arranged in the axial direction in the first direction DR1 in the third direction DR3. The first cores c1 may be spaced apart from each other. The second and third directions DR2 and DR3 are cross-sectional directions, and the first cores c1 may form rows and columns.

The second layer 151b may be stacked on the first layer 151a. The thickness of the second layer 151b may be smaller than the thickness of the first layer 151a. For example, the second layer 151b may be an epoxy resin. The second core c2 may be inserted into the second layer 151b. For example, the second core c2 may be a carbon fiber or a glass fiber. The second core c2 may have a long elongated column shape. The second core c2 may be sequentially arranged in the first direction DR1 in the axial direction in the second direction DR2. In addition, the second core c2 may be sequentially arranged in the axial direction in the second direction DR2 in the third direction DR3. The second cores c2 may be spaced apart from each other. The first and third directions DR1 and DR3 are cross-sectional directions, and the second cores c2 may form rows and columns. The second core c2 may cross the first core c1. For example, the second core c2 may be perpendicular to the first core c1. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the supporter 150 from being torn due to repeated bending.

The third layer 152a may be stacked on the second layer 151b. The second layer 151b may be positioned between the first layer 151a and the third layer 152a. The thickness of the third layer 152a may be smaller than the thickness of the second layer 151b. For example, the third layer 152a may be an epoxy resin. The third core c3 may be inserted into the third layer 152a. For example, the third core c3 may be a carbon fiber or a glass fiber. The third core c3 may have a long elongated column shape. The third core c3 may be sequentially arranged in the second direction DR2 in the axial direction in the first direction DR1. The third cores c3 may be spaced apart from each other. The third core c3 may cross the second core c2. For example, the third core c3 may be perpendicular to the second core c2. The third core c3 may be parallel to the first core c1. For example, the third core c3 may be parallel to the first core c1.

The fourth layer 152b may be stacked on the third layer 152a. The third layer 152a may be positioned between the second layer 151b and the fourth layer 152b. The thickness of the fourth layer 152b may be substantially the same as the thickness of the third layer 152a. For example, the fourth layer 152b may be an epoxy resin. The fourth core c4 may be inserted into the fourth layer 152b. For example, the fourth core c4 may be a carbon fiber or a glass fiber. The fourth core c4 may have a long elongated column shape. The fourth core c4 may be sequentially arranged in the second direction DR2 in the axial direction in the first direction DR1. The fourth cores c4 may be spaced apart from each other. The fourth core c4 may cross the second core c2. For example, the fourth core c4 may be perpendicular to the second core c2. The fourth core c4 may be parallel to the first core c1. For example, the fourth core c4 may be parallel to the first core c1.

The fifth layer 152c may be stacked on the fourth layer 152b. The thickness of the fifth layer 152c may be substantially the same as the thickness of the fourth layer 152b. For example, the fifth layer 152c may be an epoxy resin. The fifth core c5 may be inserted into the fifth layer 152c. For example, the fifth core c5 may be a carbon fiber or a glass fiber. The fifth core c5 may have a long elongated column shape. The fifth core c5 may be arranged in an axial direction in the first direction DR1. The fifth core c5 may cross the second core c2. For example, the fifth core c5 may be perpendicular to the second core c2. The fifth core c5 may be parallel to the first core c1. For example, the fifth core c5 may be parallel to the first core c1.

Referring to FIG. 9, the supporter 150 may include a wall 151, a flute 152, and a skin 153. The skin 153 may be referred to as a flexible sheet 153. The skin 153 may be stacked on the flutes 152. The skin 153 may be fixed or adhered to the flutes 152. The adhesive AD is applied on the flutes 152, and the skin 153 may be fixed to the flutes 152 by the adhesive AD. A space G may be formed between the adhesive AD and the flutes 152. The skin 153 may be a thin, flexible, and inextensible material. The wall 151 and/or the flutes 152 may be thick and soft. The thickness of the wall 151 and/or the flutes 152 may be relative to the skin 153.

Accordingly, the supporter 150 may be bent in one direction M1, but may not be bent in the other direction M2. If there is no external force, the supporter 150 may maintain a flat state, and when an external force is applied, the supporter 150 may bend in only one direction. The external force applied to the supporter 150 may be a bending force. When an external force is applied to the supporter 150 in the other direction, the supporter 150 may resist this and maintain a flat state.

Referring to FIG. 10, the supporter 150 may support the display panel 10. The display panel 10 may be fixed or coupled to one surface of the supporter 150. The display panel 10 may be fixed or coupled to the outer surface of the supporter 150. The display panel 10 may be fixed or coupled to the outer surface of the wall 151. The display panel 10 may face the flutes 152 with respect to the wall 151.

The supporter 150 and the display panel 10 may be wound around the panel roller 143. The display panel 10 may form an outermost surface when the supporter 150 is wound around the panel roller 143. In the area RA where the supporter 150 and the display panel 10 are wound around the panel roller 143, the supporter 150 may be wound on the panel roller 143 together with the display panel 10. In the area SA where the supporter 150 and the display panel 10 are not wound around the panel roller 143, the supporter 150 may stand vertically together with the display panel 10. In this case, the supporter 150 may support the flexible display panel 10, which cannot stand on its own, so that the display panel 10 maintains an erect state.

Accordingly, while the panel roller 143 winds or unwinds the supporter 150 and the display panel 10, the display panel 10 is wound around the outer circumference of the panel roller 143 or is erected by the supporter 150. Can be maintained.

Referring to FIG. 11, the supporter 150 may support the display panel 10. The display panel 10 may be fixed or coupled to one surface of the supporter 150. The display panel 10 may be fixed or coupled to the outer surface of the supporter 150. The display panel 10 may be fixed or coupled to the outer surface of the skin 153. The display panel 10 may face the flutes 152 with respect to the skin 153.

The supporter 150 and the display panel 10 may be wound around the panel roller 143. The display panel 10 may form an innermost surface when the supporter 150 is wound around the panel roller 143. In the area RA where the supporter 150 and the display panel 10 are wound around the panel roller 143, the supporter 150 may be wound on the panel roller 143 together with the display panel 10. In the area SA where the supporter 150 and the display panel 10 are not wound around the panel roller 143, the supporter 150 may stand vertically together with the display panel 10. In this case, the supporter 150 may support the flexible display panel 10, which cannot stand on its own, so that the display panel 10 maintains an erect state.

Accordingly, while the panel roller 143 winds or unwinds the supporter 150 and the display panel 10, the display panel 10 is wound around the outer circumference of the panel roller 143 or is erected by the supporter 150. Can be maintained.

Certain or other embodiments of the present invention described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct. Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the present invention described above may be used in combination or combination of each configuration or function (Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the invention described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other.Any or all elements of the embodiment of the invention described above may be combined or combined with each other in configuration or function).

For example, it means that a configuration A described in a specific embodiment and/or a drawing may be combined with a configuration B described in another embodiment and/or a drawing. That is, even if the combination between the configurations is not directly described, it means that the combination is possible except for the case where the combination is described as impossible (For example, a configuration "A" described in one embodiment of the invention and the drawings. and a configuration "B" described in another embodiment of the invention and the drawings may be combined with each other. Namely, although the combination between the configurations is not directly described, the combination is possible except in the case where it is described that the combination is impossible).

The above detailed description should not be construed as restrictive in all respects and should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention (Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments. thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the principles of this disclosure.More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art).

Claims (11)

housing;
A roller installed inside the housing;
A supporter wound around the roller, released from the roller according to the rotation of the roller, and spreading out from the inside of the housing; And,
A flexible display panel coupled to the supporter, wound or unwound on the roller, and unfolded from the inside of the housing to the outside,
The above supporters are:
A plate-shaped wall;
A plurality of flutes formed on one side of the wall; And,
A display device comprising a skin fixed on the plurality of flutes.
The method of claim 1,
The month is soft,
The skin,
A display device made of a material that is flexible, does not stretch, and is thinner than the wall thickness.
The method of claim 2,
The month is:
First layer;
A second layer stacked on the first layer;
A plurality of first cores elongated and inserted into the first layer; And,
Elongated and includes a plurality of second cores inserted into the second layer,
The plurality of first cores,
A display device crossing the plurality of second cores.
The method of claim 3,
The first layer and the second layer are synthetic resins,
The plurality of first cores and the plurality of second cores,
A display device that is carbon fiber or glass fiber.
The method of claim 4,
The above supporters are:
A display device further comprising a plurality of flutes elongated and stacked on the second layer, the plurality of flutes sequentially arranged in a width direction.
The method of claim 5,
Supporters:
The display device further includes a third core extending elongately, inserted into each of the plurality of flutes, and having a longitudinal direction crossing the second core.
The method of claim 5,
The supporter is a display device formed in one body.
The method of claim 5,
A display device having a pitch of the plurality of flutes of 1 to 10 mm.
The method of claim 8,
The display device having a thickness of the plurality of flutes smaller than the thickness of the wall.
The method of claim 1,
The supporter,
When wound around the roller, it is bent,
A display device that is flat when released from the roller.
The method of claim 10,
The supporter is bent in a direction in which the wall surrounds the skin,
A display device in which the skin does not bend in a direction surrounding the wall.

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