TWI685454B - Flexible display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible display apparatus including a first roller, a second roller, a first display panel and a second display panel is provided. The second roller is slidably disposed in the first roller along a moving axis. The first display panel is connected to the first roller. The first display panel is suitable for being rolled up in the first roller or being spread out from the first roller along a direction perpendicular to the moving axis. The second display panel is connected to the second roller. The second display panel is suitable for being spread out from the second roller or being rolled up in the second roller along a direction perpendicular to the moving axis when the second roller is moved out of the first roller along the moving axis.

Description

Flexible display device

The present invention relates to a display device, and particularly to a flexible display device.

With the development of flexible materials (such as substrate materials, packaging materials, conductive materials or insulating materials) and the advancement of process technology, bendable/bendable displays are no longer the imagination of science fiction movies. For example, curved displays, flexible displays, or recent foldable displays are the best manifestations of related manufacturers in the design and development of such bendable/foldable displays. In consideration of the maturity of the technology and the breadth of application, the flexible display is the focus of the development of relevant manufacturers. In order to facilitate portability or space reusability, most flexible displays are equipped with a reel and a flexible display panel, and the flexible display panel can be retracted to the reel after use. However, this type of design cannot meet people's needs for large-size displays and diversified operations.

The invention provides a flexible display device with multi-screen display, which has excellent operation flexibility and portability.

The flexible display device of the present invention includes a first reel, a second reel, a first display panel, and a second display panel. The second reel is slidably arranged in the first reel along the moving axis. The first display panel is connected to the first reel. The first display panel is adapted to be unrolled from or retracted into the first reel in a direction perpendicular to the axis of movement. The second display panel is connected to the second reel. When the second reel is moved out of the first reel along the moving axis, the second display panel is adapted to unwind or rewind from the second reel in the direction perpendicular to the moving axis.

Based on the above, in the flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, through the relative sliding of the first reel and the second reel on a moving axis, the second reel is extended or received from the first reel The first reel helps to improve the portability of the flexible display device. On the other hand, the first display panel retractable in the first reel and the second display panel retractable in the second reel are respectively taken from the first reel and the second reel along the direction perpendicular to the moving axis The tube is unfolded, which can achieve the effect of large-size display or multi-screen display, and improve the operation flexibility and portability of the flexible display device.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the embodiments are specifically described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings for detailed description as follows.

As used herein, "about", "approximately", "essentially", or "substantially" includes the stated value and the average value within the acceptable deviation range of the specific value determined by those of ordinary skill in the art, considering The measurement in question and the specific number of errors associated with the measurement (ie, the limitations of the measurement system). For example, "about" can mean within one or more standard deviations of the stated value, or for example within ±30%, ±20%, ±15%, ±10%, ±5%. Furthermore, the terms "approximately", "approximately", "essentially", or "substantially" as used herein can select a more acceptable range of deviation or standard deviation according to measurement properties, cutting properties, or other properties. All properties are applied without a standard deviation.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. It should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "connected" to another element, it can be directly on or connected to the other element, or Intermediate elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "directly connected to" another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, "connected" may refer to physical and/or electrical connections. Furthermore, "electrical connection" may be that there are other components between the two components.

In addition, relative terms such as "lower" or "bottom" and "upper" or "top" may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another element, as shown. It should be understood that relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device than those shown in the figures. For example, if the device in one drawing is turned over, the element described as being on the "lower" side of the other element will be oriented on the "upper" side of the other element. Thus, the exemplary term "lower" may include "lower" and "upper" orientations, depending on the particular orientation of the drawings. Similarly, if the device in one drawing is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements would then be oriented "above" the other elements. Thus, the exemplary terms "above" or "below" can include an orientation of above and below.

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same element symbols are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a flexible display device according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the flexible display device of FIG. 1. 3A to 3C are schematic top views of the folding process of the flexible display device of FIG. 1. It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, FIG. 2 omits the illustration of the side wall 110w, the side wall 120w, and the second knob 132 of FIG. 1 and 2, the flexible display device 10 includes a first reel 110, a second reel 120, a first display panel 210, and a second display panel 220. The second reel 120 is slidingly connected to the first reel 110, and the second reel 120 can slide relative to the first reel 110 along the moving axis MA1 (as shown in FIG. 3B) and extend from the first reel 110 Or received in the first reel 110. In other words, the sliding relationship between the first reel 110 and the second reel 120 makes the two reels a telescopic structure.

The first display panel 210 is connected to the first reel 110 and is adapted to be retracted into the first reel 110. The second display panel 220 is connected to the second reel 120 and is adapted to be retracted into the second reel 120. In this embodiment, the display panels (that is, the first display panel 210 and the second display panel 220) are, for example, organic light emitting diode (Organic Light Emitting Diode, OLED) display panels, but the invention is not limited thereto . In other embodiments, the display panel may also be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a micro light emitting diode (Micro Light Emitting Diode, Micro LED) panel, or a sub-millimeter light emitting diode (Mini Light Emitting Diode, Mini LED) panel, or Electrophoretic Display (EPD) panel. It should be noted that the number of display panels in this embodiment is exemplarily described by taking two as examples, and does not mean that the present invention is limited thereto. In other embodiments, the number of display panels can also be adjusted according to actual needs (such as number of users and display size).

In particular, the flexible display device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is in an unfolded state for display operation. For example, the first display panel 210 has a first display surface 210d, and the second display panel 220 has a second display surface 220d. In this embodiment, both the first display panel 210 and the second display panel 220 are unfolded on the same side of the reel, and the first display surface 210d and the second display surface 220d both face the first reel 110 (or the second reel Tube 120) on the same side, and the first display panel 210 and the second display panel 220 are used to display a spliced image frame. That is, the first display panel 210 may display a part of the stitched image screen, and the second display panel 220 may display another part of the stitched image screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. According to other embodiments, the first display surface 210d of the first display panel 210 and the second display surface 220d of the second display panel 220 may also respectively face opposite sides of the reel, and the first The display panel 210 and the second display panel 220 respectively display different image frames for viewing by different users.

From another point of view, the first display panel 210 and the second display panel 220 of the flexible display device 10 of this embodiment can also be deployed on opposite sides of the reel, so that the first display surface 210d and the second display panel The two display surfaces 220d respectively face the opposite sides of the reel for viewing by different users. That is to say, the diversified operation modes of the flexible display device 10 can meet the requirements of different usage scenarios, and help to improve the operation flexibility of the flexible display device 10.

Further, the first reel 110 includes a first housing 111 and a first reel 112, the first reel 112 is disposed in the first housing 111, and the first display panel 210 is adapted to be retracted in the first housing 111 With the first reel 112. The second reel 120 slidably disposed in the first reel 112 includes a second housing 121 and a second reel 122. The second reel 122 is disposed in the second housing 121, and the second display panel 220 is adapted to be retracted between the second housing 121 and the second reel 122. More specifically, the first display panel 210 has a first side 210a and a second side 210b opposite to each other, wherein the first side 210a is connected to the first reel 112, and the second side 210b is adapted to An opening 111a extends to unfold the first display panel 210. Similarly, the second display panel 220 has opposite third sides 220a and fourth sides 220b, wherein the third side 220a is connected to the second reel 122, and the fourth side 220b is adapted to the second opening from the second housing 121 121a extends to expand the second display panel 220.

The folding process of the flexible display device 10 will be exemplarily described below. Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A. First, the first reel 112 is rotated relative to the first housing 111 according to the first rotation axis RA1 to drive the first display panel 210 in a direction perpendicular to the movement axis MA1 ( For example, the direction D1) is retracted into the first reel 110; similarly, the second reel 122 is rotated relative to the second housing 121 according to the second rotation axis RA2 to drive the second display panel 220 along the direction perpendicular to the movement axis The direction of MA1 (for example, direction D1) is wound into the second reel 120.

In the opposite direction, the first reel 112 can also be reversely rotated relative to the first housing 111 according to the first rotation axis RA1, so as to drive the first display panel 210 in a direction perpendicular to the movement axis MA1 (such as the direction D1 Opposite direction) from the first reel 110; similarly, the second reel 122 can also be reversely rotated relative to the second housing 121 according to the second rotation axis RA2 to drive the second display panel 220 to move perpendicularly The direction of the axis MA1 (for example, the direction opposite to the direction D1) unwinds from the second reel 120.

In the present embodiment, the flexible display device 10 can also optionally include a first knob 131 and a second knob 132. The first knob 131 is disposed on the first end surface 111e of the first housing 111, and the second knob 132 is disposed on the second end surface 121e of the second housing 121 exposed by the first housing 111. Further, the first knob 131 is connected to the first reel 112 and is configured to drive the first reel 112 to rotate to retract or unfold the first display panel 210. The second knob 132 is connected to the second reel 122 and is configured to drive the second reel 122 to rotate to retract or unfold the second display panel 220. In other words, in this embodiment, the winding or unfolding of the display panel can be implemented manually through the knob, but the invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the winding or unfolding of the display panel can also be achieved by electric means.

Since the first knob 131 and the second knob 132 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the flexible display device 10, during the process of winding or unfolding the two display panels, the two knobs can be along different rotation directions (for example, the rotation direction RD1 Rotating with the rotation direction RD2) helps to improve the smoothness of single-person operation, but the invention is not limited to this. On the other hand, the first rotation axis RA1 defined by the first reel 112 and the second rotation axis RA2 defined by the second reel 122 may be coaxial, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the first rotation axis RA1 of the first reel 112 can also be staggered on the second rotation axis RA2 of the second reel 122 according to the relative arrangement relationship of the two reels.

3B and 3C, after the first display panel 210 and the second display panel 220 are retracted into the first reel 110 and the second reel 120, respectively, the second reel 120 is moved along the moving axis MA1 slides in the direction D2 and is received in the first reel 110. At this point, the folding of the flexible display device 10 is completed. It should be understood that, during the deployment process of the flexible display device 10, the user may also slide the second reel 120 along the movement axis MA1 in the opposite direction of the direction D2 to extend from the first reel 110 to facilitate The second display panel 220 is unfolded from the second reel 120.

It is worth mentioning that, through the relative sliding of the first reel 110 and the second reel 120 on the moving axis MA1, the second reel 120 can be received in the first reel 110, which can effectively enhance the flexible display device Portability of 10. On the other hand, when the second reel 120 is received in the first reel 110, the user can still unwind the first display panel 210 from the first reel 110. In other words, the first display panel 210 can be independent of the operation of the second display panel 220, which helps to increase the operation flexibility of the flexible display device 10.

The following will list some other embodiments to describe the disclosure in detail, wherein the same components will be marked with the same symbols, and the description of the same technical content will be omitted. For the omitted parts, please refer to the foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated below.

4 is a schematic top view of a flexible display device according to a second embodiment of the invention. 5 is a schematic side view of a partial area of the flexible display device of FIG. 4. 6A and 6B are top schematic views of the splicing process of the flexible display device of FIG. 4.

4 and 5, the main difference between the flexible display device 11 of this embodiment and the flexible display device 10 of FIG. 1 is that the configuration of the second display panel is different. In this embodiment, the second display panel 220A has a notch 221, and the first reel 110 is adapted to extend into the notch 221. Specifically, when the flexible display device 11 is in the unfolded state, the notch 221 is provided on the side of the second display panel 220A facing the first display panel 210. Therefore, after the second display panel 220A is unrolled from the second reel 120, the second reel 120 can move toward the first reel 110 to drive the second display panel 220A closer to the first display panel 210 (as shown in FIG. 6A ), so that the second display panel 220A overlaps the first display panel 210 (as shown in FIG. 6B ). That is, the second display panel 220A may partially overlap the first display panel 210. Accordingly, it is helpful for the image continuity of the two display panels when displaying a spliced picture.

7 is a schematic top view of a flexible display device according to a third embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the main difference between the flexible display device 12 of this embodiment and the flexible display device 10 of FIG. 1 is the number of display panels. In this embodiment, the flexible display device 12 further includes a third display panel 230. That is, the number of display panels of the flexible display device 12 is three. The third display panel 230 is connected to the first reel 110 and is adapted to be retracted into the first reel 110. Specifically, the third display panel 230 and the first display panel 210 may be retracted into the first reel 110 at the same time or unfolded on opposite sides of the first reel 110 respectively.

For example, the first display surface 210d of the first display panel 210 and the third display surface 230d of the third display panel 230 may face the same side of the reel (ie, the user UR1 side), and the second display panel 220 The two display surfaces 220d may face the other side of the reel (ie, the user UR2 side). That is to say, through the second display surface 220d facing away from the first display surface 210d and the third display surface 230d, two users (eg, user UR1 and user UR2) can be provided for viewing at the same time. However, the present invention is not limited to this. According to other embodiments, the second display panel 220 can also be folded to the other side of the reel, so that the second display surface 220d and the first display surface 210d (or the third display surface 230d ) Face the same side of the reel for viewing by a single user (eg user UR1).

On the other hand, the first display panel 210 and the third display panel 230 can be used to display a stitched image. In other words, the first display surface 210d and the third display surface 230d can form a spliced display surface to present a larger-sized display screen for the user UR1 to view. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In another operation mode, the operation of the first display panel 210 can also be independent of the operation of the third display panel 230 to provide the user with a multi-screen display effect.

8 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of a flexible display device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 9A and 9B are schematic top views of the deployment process of the flexible display device of FIG. 8. It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, FIG. 8 omits the illustration of the second knob 132A of FIG. 9A. Referring to FIG. 8, the main difference between the flexible display device 13 of this embodiment and the flexible display device 10 of FIG. 1 is that the component composition and the number of display panels are different. In this embodiment, the flexible display device 13 further includes a guide 150, and the second casing 121A of the second reel 120A further has a third opening 121b adjacent to the second opening 121a, and the guide 150 is adapted to extend through the third opening 121b to extend out the second reel 120A.

In particular, the number of the third openings 121b (or the guide 150) in this embodiment is exemplarily described by taking two as examples, and the two third openings 121b are located at two opposite sides of the second opening 121a, respectively side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. According to other embodiments, the number of the third openings 121b (or the guide 150) may be adjusted to one according to the number of display panels (for example, one). Further, the second reel 122A of the second reel 120A has a slot 122g corresponding to the third opening 121b of the second casing 121A, and the guide 150 is slidably disposed on the opening of the second reel 122A according to the moving axis MA2 In the groove 122g.

In the present embodiment, the flexible display device 13 can also optionally include a connecting rod 151 and a convex rod 152. The connecting rod 151 is connected between the two guides 150. The convex rod 152 is disposed on the connecting rod 151 and configured to drive the guide 150 to move along the movement axis MA2 to extend out of the third opening 121b of the second housing 121A. That is to say, the guide 150 of this embodiment can be manually extended from the second reel 120A through the above-mentioned configuration relationship, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the two guides 150 can also be extended from the second reel by electric means, and the actions of the two guides 150 can be independent of each other.

Further, the second knob 132A has a slot 132g, and the protruding rod 152 protrudes from the slot 132g of the second knob 132A (that is, the protruding rod 152 is threaded through the second knob 132A), so as to facilitate the user to operate the guide引件150。 150. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the flexible display device 13 further includes a fourth display panel 240. The fourth display panel 240 is connected to the second reel 120A (or the second reel 122A), and the fourth display panel 240 and the second display panel 220 are adapted to be rolled into the second reel 120A together or unfolded respectively The opposite sides of the second reel 120A are as shown in FIG. 9A. The operation flow of the guide 150 will be exemplarily described below.

9A and 9B, the first display panel 210 and the third display panel 230 are deployed on opposite sides of the first reel 110 and the second display panel 220 and the fourth display panel 240 are deployed on the second reel 120A After the two opposite sides, the convex rod 152 is pulled in the direction D3 to drive the guide 150 to protrude from the second reel 120A along the moving axis MA2. At this time, through the interference relationship between the second display panel 220 and the adjacent guide 150, the bend of the second display panel 220 can be brought closer to the bend of the first display panel 210; similarly, through the fourth The interference relationship between the display panel 240 and the adjacent guide 150 brings the bend of the fourth display panel 240 closer to the bend of the third display panel 230. In other words, the distance between the first display surface 210d and the second display surface 220d in the normal direction of the display surface (for example, the first display surface 210d) (or the distance between the third display surface 230d and the fourth display surface 240d) Can be further shortened.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the end surface 150s of the guide 150 can be flush with the first opening 111a of the first housing 111, so that the first display surface 210d substantially aligns with the second display surface 220d (or The third display surface 230d is substantially aligned with the fourth display surface 240d). In other words, the four display surfaces of the flexible display device 13 can be coplanar in the expanded state, which helps to improve the display quality of the flexible display device 13.

In summary, in the flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the relative movement of the first reel and the second reel on a moving axis causes the second reel to protrude from the first reel Or included in the first reel, which helps to improve the portability of the flexible display device. On the other hand, the first display panel retractable in the first reel and the second display panel retractable in the second reel are respectively taken from the first reel and the second reel along the direction perpendicular to the moving axis The tube is unfolded, which can achieve the effect of large-size display or multi-screen display, and improve the operation flexibility and portability of the flexible display device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined in the appended patent application.

10, 11, 12, 13 ‧‧‧ flexible display device 110‧‧‧The first reel 110w, 120w‧‧‧side wall 111‧‧‧First shell 111a‧‧‧First opening 111e‧‧‧First end 112‧‧‧The first scroll 120、120A‧‧‧Second reel 121、121A‧‧‧Second shell 121a‧‧‧Second opening 121b‧‧‧ Third opening 121e‧‧‧Second end face 122, 122A‧‧‧Second Scroll 122g, 132g 131‧‧‧First knob 132、132A‧‧‧Second knob 150‧‧‧Guide 150s‧‧‧End 151‧‧‧ connecting rod 152‧‧‧Convex rod 210‧‧‧First display panel 210a‧‧‧First side 210b‧‧‧Second side 210d‧‧‧First display 220、220A‧‧‧Second display panel 220a‧‧‧third side 220b‧‧‧The fourth side 220d‧‧‧second display 221‧‧‧Notch 230‧‧‧The third display panel 230d‧‧‧ third display 240‧‧‧Fourth display panel 240d‧‧‧Fourth display D1, D2, D3 ‧‧‧ direction MA1, MA2‧‧‧Movement axis RA1‧‧‧ First axis of rotation RA2‧‧‧Second rotation axis RD1, RD2‧‧‧Rotation direction UR1, UR2‧‧‧User

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a flexible display device according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the flexible display device of FIG. 1. 3A to 3C are schematic top views of the folding process of the flexible display device of FIG. 1. 4 is a schematic top view of a flexible display device according to a second embodiment of the invention. 5 is a schematic side view of a partial area of the flexible display device of FIG. 4. 6A and 6B are top schematic views of the splicing process of the flexible display device of FIG. 4. 7 is a schematic top view of a flexible display device according to a third embodiment of the invention. 8 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of a flexible display device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 9A and 9B are schematic top views of the deployment process of the flexible display device of FIG. 8.

10‧‧‧ Flexible display device

110‧‧‧The first reel

110w, 120w‧‧‧side wall

111a‧‧‧First opening

120‧‧‧The second reel

121a‧‧‧Second opening

131‧‧‧First knob

132‧‧‧ second knob

210‧‧‧First display panel

210a‧‧‧First side

210b‧‧‧Second side

220‧‧‧Second display panel

220a‧‧‧third side

220b‧‧‧The fourth side

RA1‧‧‧ First axis of rotation

RA2‧‧‧Second rotation axis

Claims (12)

A flexible display device includes: a first reel; a second reel, which is slidably disposed in the first reel, and the first reel and the second reel are on the same moving axis; one A first display panel connected to the first reel, the first display panel is adapted to be unrolled from or retracted into the first reel in a direction perpendicular to the axis of movement; and a first Two display panels connected to the second reel, wherein when the second reel is moved out of the first reel along the movement axis, the second display panel is adapted to move from the direction perpendicular to the movement axis The second reel is unwound or retracted into the second reel. The flexible display device as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the first reel includes: a first housing having a first opening; and a first reel disposed in the first housing, The first display panel has a first side and a second side opposite to each other, the first side is connected to the first reel, and the second side is adapted to extend from the first opening to unfold the first display panel. The flexible display device as described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the second reel includes: a second housing having a second opening; and a second reel disposed in the second housing, The second display panel has a third side and a fourth side opposite, the third side is connected to the second reel, and The fourth side is adapted to protrude from the second opening to expand the second display panel. The flexible display device as described in item 3 of the patent application scope further includes: a first knob connected to the first reel, the first knob configured to drive the first reel to rotate for winding or unfolding The first display panel; and a second knob connected to the second reel, the second knob configured to drive the second reel to rotate to rewind or unfold the second display panel, wherein the first knob is set It is on a first end surface of the first housing, and the second knob is disposed on a second end surface of the second housing exposed by the first housing. The flexible display device as described in item 3 of the patent application range, wherein the first reel rotates relative to the first housing according to a first rotation axis, and the second reel rotates relative to the first rotation axis according to a second rotation axis The two housings rotate, and the first axis of rotation is coaxial with the second axis of rotation. The flexible display device as described in item 3 of the patent application scope further includes: a guide member slidably disposed in the second reel along a movement axis, wherein the second housing further has an adjacent A third opening of the two openings, and the moving axis passes through the third opening. The flexible display device as described in item 6 of the patent application scope, wherein one end surface of the guide member is adapted to protrude from the third opening, and the end surface is flush with the first opening of the first housing . The flexible display device as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the first display panel and the second display panel are respectively unrolled from the first reel and the second reel, and the first display panel and The second display panels partially overlap. The flexible display device as described in item 8 of the patent application range, wherein the side of the second display panel facing the first display panel has a notch, and the first reel is adapted to extend into the notch. The flexible display device as described in item 1 of the patent application scope further includes: a third display panel connected to the first reel, wherein the first display panel and the third display panel are adapted to be rolled together Collected in the first reel or unfolded on opposite sides of the first reel respectively. The flexible display device as described in item 10 of the patent application range, wherein one of the second display panel and the third display panel and the first display panel have a spliced display surface, and the second display panel The other of the third display panels has a display surface, and the spliced display surface is opposite to the display surface. The flexible display device as described in item 10 of the patent application scope further includes: a fourth display panel connected to the second reel, wherein the second display panel and the fourth display panel are adapted to be rolled together Collected in the second reel or unfolded on opposite sides of the second reel respectively.

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