WO2025048589A1 - In-folding display device with reduced height - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an in-folding display device with a reduced height and, more specifically, to an in-folding display device with a reduced height, wherein: a pair of gear arms comprising partial gears instead of circular sawtooth gears are installed to reduce the thickness of a hinge module; and a central plate positioned at the center of the display device forms a separated space with a flexible display while being folded.

Description

Infolding display device with reduced height

The present invention relates to an infolding display device with a reduced height, and more specifically, to an infolding display device with a reduced height in which a pair of gear arms composed of partial gears instead of circular toothed gears are installed to reduce the thickness of a hinge module, and a central plate located at the center of the display device forms a space separated from a flexible display panel when folded.

A mobile terminal may be configured to perform a variety of functions. Examples of such various functions include data and voice communication functions, the ability to take pictures or videos through a camera, voice storage functions, the ability to play music files through a speaker system, and the ability to display images or videos.

Some mobile terminals include additional features that allow them to play games, while others are implemented as multimedia devices. Furthermore, recent mobile terminals can receive broadcast or multicast signals to watch videos or television programs.

In addition to the above functions, efforts are being made to support and enhance the functions of current mobile terminals. The above-mentioned efforts include not only changes and improvements in the structural components forming the mobile terminal, but also additions and improvements in software or hardware.

Typically, the display module in a mobile terminal displays information processed in the mobile terminal. For example, when the mobile terminal is in call mode, it displays a UI (User Interface) or GUI (Graphical User Interface) related to the call.

And when the mobile terminal is in video call mode or shooting mode, it displays the captured or/and received image or UI, GUI. The display module may be composed of a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, a 3D display, etc.

Among them, flexible displays (or flexible LCDs) are currently being studied in earnest because of their advantage of being able to change shape at will. However, it seems that it will take a long time before we can carry around a completely paper-like display like a scroll, as shown in current science fiction movies.

Therefore, until the development of flexible displays progresses and their use becomes fully active, transitional forms will be widely used, and these forms will not differ much from the current terminal structure. In addition, there is a need to describe the form of use and the method of protection when the flexible displays currently being developed are used in mobile terminals.

Patent documents similar to the present invention include Application No. 10-2019-0141306, Title of the Invention: Infolding Type Hinge for Foldable Display Device, and Application No. 10-2021-0100641, Title of the Invention: Infolding Type Hinge Device and Foldable Display Device Having Such Hinge Device.

The present invention aims to provide an infolding display device having a reduced height, in which a pair of gear arms composed of partial gears are installed instead of circular gears to reduce the thickness of a hinge module, and a central plate located at the center of the display device forms a space separated from a flexible display panel when folded.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the infolding display device with reduced height according to the present invention,

An infolding display device having a hinge part with a hinge module that folds in the center and a body connected to the hinge part on the left and right sides centered on the hinge part,

The above hinge module,

Left and right link guide arms installed to rotate left and right respectively, connected to a bracket placed in the center;

Left and right wing guides that rotate together when the left and right link guide arms rotate;

The left and right wing guides above are each configured with a rail, and a wing cover bracket is installed on each rail, and the wing cover bracket slides along the rail.

When the above left and right link guide arms are folded, the wing cover bracket moves toward the bracket from the rail located in the center.

When the above left and right link guide arms are spread out, the wing cover bracket moves away from the bracket positioned in the center on the rail,

A central plate is attached to the upper surface of the above wing cover bracket,

A flexible display panel is installed on the upper surface of the central plate, and when the left and right link guide arms are folded, the folded portion of the central plate and the flexible display panel are separated.

Each of the above left and right link guide arms is installed with gear arms that are connected to each other.

The left and right wing cover brackets are each configured with guide grooves that are formed to be inclined in directions symmetrical to each other, and guide protrusions that are configured to protrude from the left and right drop brackets combined with the left and right bodies are fitted into each of the guide grooves.

The wing cover bracket is configured to move on the rail while the guide protrusion of the drop bracket moves on the guide groove while the left and right bodies are folded or unfolded.

According to the infolding display device with reduced height according to the present invention, the pair of gear arms are not configured as cylindrical rotating gears, but are configured only as partial gears cut off only by the angle at which the pair of link guide arms rotate, thereby reducing the thickness of the hinge module, and consequently reducing the thickness of the hinge portion of the present invention, thereby having the advantage of reducing the thickness of the infolding display device.

In addition, the flexible display panel of the present invention and the central plate, which is a metal plate made of a sapphire material, are configured to be spaced apart by a gap of 0.11 mm at the folded portion, thereby reducing stress on the folded portion of the flexible display panel and improving the durability of the flexible display panel.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flexible display panel attached to an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a wing plate and a central plate attached to a central hinge portion of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a hinge portion of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a folded state of a hinge portion of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a hinge module of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a rotating part that is combined with the left and right bodies of a hinge module of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention and is responsible for rotating the body.

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the exploded rotating part illustrated in Figure 6 as viewed from below.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a pair of links being combined while the link guide arm of the rotating part of the present invention is assembled to the bracket.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a pair of gear arms according to the present invention being assembled to each link guide arm.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a shaft assembled to the rear portion of the link guide arm of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a gear bracket for supporting rotation of a pair of gear arms according to the present invention being assembled and a pair of shafts being assembled to the rear portion of the gear bracket.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the assembled appearance of the gear bracket illustrated in Figure 11 and a pair of shafts assembled to the rear portion of the gear bracket, viewed from a different direction.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a free stop part being installed in a hinge module according to the present invention and a wing guide being assembled along with the rotation of the free stop part.

FIG. 14 is an assembly perspective view from a different direction showing the free stop part being installed in the hinge module illustrated in FIG. 13 and the wing guide being assembled along with the rotation of the free stop part.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a drop mount and drop bracket assembled to the rear portion of a hinge module according to the present invention.

Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a hinge module according to the present invention installed in a central housing.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a hinge module of a hinge portion according to the present invention being coupled with a pair of bodies.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a folded infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a fully unfolded infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory drawing showing a state in which a hinge module of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention is folded, and a central plate made of a thin thickness is spaced apart from a flexible display panel.

FIG. 21 is a drawing explaining the operation of unfolding the hinge module of the reduced-height infolding display device according to the present invention, in which the left and right wing cover brackets move in the direction of the arrow to unfold the central plate entirely.

Figure 22 is a drawing supplementary to Figure 20, showing the flexible display panel and the center plate fully installed with the hinge module folded.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flexible display panel attached to an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a wing plate and a central plate attached to a central hinge portion of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a hinge portion of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a folded portion of a hinge portion of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a hinge module of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a flexible display panel (4) is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the left and right bodies (8) of the infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention. However, the flexible display panel (4) is not fixedly attached to the central plate (10) of the present invention.

A plurality of hinge modules (30) are installed in the hinge portion (20) of the present invention.

A central plate (10) of the present invention configured to have a thin thickness is attached to the upper surface of the wing cover bracket (66) of the hinge module (30) of the present invention. The central plate (10) of the present invention is configured to have a thickness of, for example, 0.03T, and is configured to have a plate made of a metal material such as SUS.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a rotating part that is coupled with the left and right bodies in the hinge module of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention and is responsible for rotating the body. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the exploded rotating part illustrated in FIG. 6 as seen from below. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a pair of links being coupled while the link guide arms of the rotating part of the present invention are assembled to the bracket. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a pair of gear arms being assembled to each link guide arm according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, link guide arms (50) are installed to rotate on the left and right sides of the bracket (60) of the present invention.

In a state where the link guide arm (50) of the present invention is installed on the bracket (60), the left and right links (54) are installed to rotate on each link guide arm (50).

According to the present invention, left and right gear arms (42) are installed on left and right link guide arms (50) so that the left and right link guide arms (50) rotate simultaneously and in opposite directions.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a shaft being assembled to the rear portion of the link guide arm of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a gear bracket for supporting the rotation of a pair of gear arms according to the present invention being assembled and a pair of shafts being assembled to the rear portion of the gear bracket. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a gear bracket shown in FIG. 11 being assembled and a pair of shafts being assembled to the rear portion of the gear bracket when viewed from a different direction.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, a shaft (69) is installed at the rear end of each link guide arm (50) according to the present invention.

A gear bracket (46) is installed at the rear end of a pair of gear arms (42) that are gear-coupled to each other according to the present invention, and a pair of shafts (68) are installed at the rear end of the gear bracket (46) of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a free stop section being installed in a hinge module according to the present invention and a wing guide being assembled together with the rotation of the free stop section. Fig. 14 is an assembly perspective view looking from a different direction showing a free stop section being installed in the hinge module shown in Fig. 13 and a wing guide being assembled together with the rotation of the free stop section.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a free stop part (50) according to the present invention is configured by combining a cam arm (54), a moving cam (58), and a spring (56), and four shafts (68, 69) according to the present invention are inserted through the components of the free stop part (50) of the present invention and are configured to be connected to left and right wing guides (62).

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a drop mount and a drop bracket assembled to the rear portion of a hinge module according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, a wing cover bracket (66) is configured to move along the rail (63) of the left and right wing guides (62) according to the present invention along the rail (63) of the present invention.

The drop mount (76) of the present invention is fitted and coupled to a pair of shafts (68).

The guide projection (73) of the left and right wing guide (72) according to the present invention is fitted into the guide groove (67) of the wing cover bracket (66) of the present invention, and the end of the shaft (69) of the present invention is configured to be inserted into the guide groove (74) of the drop bracket (72).

Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a hinge module according to the present invention being installed in a central housing. Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a hinge module of a hinge portion according to the present invention being combined with a pair of bodies.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a hinge module (30) according to the present invention is installed in a central housing, and left and right link guide arms (50) and left and right drop brackets (72) according to the present invention are configured to be connected to the left and right bodies (8), respectively.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention, taken in a folded state. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention, taken in a fully unfolded state.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the infolding display device with reduced height according to the present invention is configured with a shape of a partial gear cut only by the angle at which a pair of gear arms (42) are rotated, rather than being configured as cylindrical rotating gears, thereby reducing the thickness of the hinge module (30), which in turn reduces the thickness of the hinge portion (20) of the present invention, thereby reducing the thickness of the infolding display device.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory drawing showing a state in which a hinge module of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention is folded, and a central plate made of a thin thickness is spaced apart from a flexible display panel. FIG. 21 is a drawing explaining an operation in which the left and right wing cover brackets move in the direction of the arrow while the hinge module of an infolding display device with a reduced height according to the present invention unfolds, thereby fully unfolding the central plate.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, when the hinge module (30) of the infolding display device with reduced height of the present invention is folded, the wing cover brackets (66) of the present invention installed on the left and right sides move downward in the direction of the arrow.

Accordingly, the folded point of the central plate (10) coupled to the upper surface of the wing cover bracket (66) of the present invention at the folded point of the flexible display panel (4) of the present invention is configured to be spaced apart from the surface of the flexible display panel (4).

For example, in the folded portion, the flexible display panel (4) of the present invention and the central plate (10) which is a metal plate made of a stainless steel material are configured to be spaced apart by a gap of, for example, 0.11 mm.

The folded portion of the flexible display panel (4) according to the present invention is spaced apart from the folded portion of the central plate (10), thereby reducing stress on the folded portion of the flexible display panel (4), thereby improving the durability of the flexible display panel (4).

When the infolding display device of the present invention is unfolded, the left and right wing cover brackets (66) combined with the central plate (10) move in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 21 to unfold the central plate (10) to the left and right, and thus are configured not to form a gap with the flexible display panel (4) of the present invention.

Figure 22 is a drawing supplementary to Figure 20, showing the flexible display panel and the center plate fully installed with the hinge module folded.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above using specific terms, such description is for the purpose of explanation only, and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims. Such modified embodiments should not be understood individually from the spirit and scope of the present invention, but should be considered to fall within the scope of the claims appended to the present invention.

Claims (4)

An infolding display device having a hinge part with a hinge module that folds in the center and a body connected to the hinge part on the left and right sides centered on the hinge part, The above hinge module, Left and right link guide arms installed to rotate left and right respectively, connected to a bracket placed in the center; Left and right wing guides that rotate together when the left and right link guide arms rotate; The left and right wing guides above are each configured with a rail, and a wing cover bracket is installed on each rail, and the wing cover bracket slides along the rail. When the above left and right link guide arms are folded, the wing cover bracket moves toward the bracket from the rail located in the center. When the above left and right link guide arms are spread out, the wing cover bracket moves away from the bracket positioned in the center on the rail, A reduced height infolding display device characterized in that a central plate is attached to the upper surface of the wing cover bracket. In paragraph 1, A reduced height infolding display device, characterized in that a flexible display panel is installed on the upper surface of the central plate, and when the left and right link guide arms are folded, the central plate and the folded portion of the flexible display panel are separated. In paragraph 1, An infolding display device with a reduced height, characterized in that each of the left and right link guide arms is installed with gear arms that are connected to each other. In paragraph 1, The left and right wing cover brackets are each configured with guide grooves that are formed to be inclined in directions symmetrical to each other, and guide protrusions that are configured to protrude from the left and right drop brackets combined with the left and right bodies are fitted into each of the guide grooves. An infolding display device with reduced height, characterized in that the wing cover bracket moves on the rail while the guide protrusion of the drop bracket moves on the guide groove while the left and right bodies fold or unfold.

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