DISPLAY DEVICE AND TOUCH INPUT SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

Abstract

A display device including a display panel comprising at least one folding area. At least one elasticity-adjusting unit that changes an elastic force of the at least one folding area. An elasticity-adjusting circuit adjusting an elastic modulus for the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit in response to a change of a folding state of the at least one folding area. The at least one elasticity-adjusting unit has a width substantially equal to a width of the at least one folding area and the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit is disposed on a rear surface of the at least one folding area.

Description

Claims

1. A display device comprising: a display panel comprising at least one folding area;at least one elasticity-adjusting unit that changes an elastic force of the at least one folding area; andan elasticity-adjusting circuit adjusting an elastic modulus for the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit in response to a change of a folding state of the at least one folding area,wherein the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit has a width substantially equal to a width of the at least one folding area and the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit is disposed on a rear surface of the at least one folding area.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the at least one folding area is disposed between a plurality of non-folding areas and is foldable inwardly or outwardly in a first direction or a second direction that crosses the first direction.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit generates a control signal to a power supply connected to the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit for adjusting the elastic modulus of the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit in a third direction, wherein the adjusting of the elastic modulus of the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit changes a thickness and elasticity of the at least one folding area in the third direction that is a thickness direction of the at least one folding area.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein: the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit comprises at least one elasticity-adjusting member,wherein the at least one elasticity-adjusting member comprises a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode in parallel to the first planar electrode with an elastic member having a variable elastic modulus interposed therebetween.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting unit comprises one elasticity-adjusting member,wherein the elasticity-adjusting unit is disposed on the rear surface of the at least one folding area and has an area substantially equal to an area of the at least one folding area when viewed from top.

6. The display device of claim 4, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting unit comprises a plurality of elasticity-adjusting members,wherein the plurality of elasticity-adjusting members are arranged in an N×M arrangement on the rear surface of the at least one folding area and has an area substantially equal to the at least one folding area when viewed from top, wherein N and M are natural numbers that are different from each other.

7. The display device of claim 4, wherein: each of the first and second planar electrodes is formed of a flexible electrode containing at least one metal or alloy,wherein the elastic member having a variable elastic modulus comprises at least one of a magneto-rheological fluid (MR) module and an electro-rheological fluid (ER) module.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein: the power supply supplies a predetermined ground voltage to the first planar electrode;the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of different levels based on the control signal to the second planar electrode; andthe elastic member has a variable elastic modulus varying based on a voltage difference between the first planar electrode and the second planar electrode.

9. The display device of claim 3, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit detects a change in the folding state by detecting a shape of the at least one folding area comprising a folding shape, a flexion shape or a flat shape through at least one inside and outside temperature sensor and at least one Hall sensor; andthe elasticity-adjusting circuit adjusts the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to a change of the folding shape, the flexion shape and the flat shape.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the elasticity-adjusting circuit performs at least one of: a first control mode sensing an outside temperature when the folding shape is detected and adjusting the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to a change in the outside temperature;a second control mode sensing a change in a flexion angle when the flexion shape is detected and adjusting the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to the change in the flexion angle;a third control mode determining usage of an electronic pen when the flat shape is detected and adjusting the elasticity of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to a temperature change of the display panel if it is determined that no electronic pen is used; anda fourth control mode determining a touch location of the electronic pen when the flat shape is detected and it is determined that an electronic pen is used and adjusting the elasticity of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to a change in the touch location of the electronic pen.

11. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit sequentially compares a value of the outside temperature with values of predetermined first to nth reference temperatures in the first control mode, and supplies the control signal of one of Level 1-1 to Level 1-n to the power supply based on results of sequentially comparing the value of the outside temperature with the values of the first to n tb reference temperatures, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 1-1 to Level 1-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 1-1 to Level 1-n.

12. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit sequentially compares a flexion angle of the at least one folding area detected through the at least one Hall sensor with predetermined first to nth reference angles in the second control mode, and supplies the control signal of one of Level 2-1 to Level 2-n to the power supply based on results of the sequential comparing, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 2-1 to Level 2-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 2-1 to Level 2-n.

13. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit detects a panel temperature of the display panel in the third control mode, and supplies the control signal of one of Level 3-1 to Level 3-n to the power supply based on results of sequentially comparing the panel temperature with predetermined first to nth panel temperature values, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 3-1 to Level 3-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 3-1 to Level 3-n.

14. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit sequentially compares touch coordinates of the electronic pen with predetermined first to nth area coordinate data in the fourth control mode, and supplies the control signal of one of Level 4-1 to Level 4-n to the power supply based on results of the sequential comparing, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 4-1 to Level 4-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 4-1 to Level 4-n.

15. A touch input system comprising: a display device for displaying images; andan electronic pen for a touch input on the display device,wherein the display device comprises: a display panel comprising at least one folding area,at least one elasticity-adjusting unit that changes an elastic force of the at least one folding area;an elasticity-adjusting circuit adjusting an elastic modulus for the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit in response to a change of a shape of the at least one folding area comprising a folding shape, a flexion shape or a flat shape,wherein the at least one elasticity-adjusting has a width substantially equal to a width of the at least one folding area and the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit is disposed on a rear surface of the at least one folding area.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the elasticity-adjusting circuit performs at least one of: a first control mode sensing an outside temperature when the at least one folding area has a folded shape and adjusts the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to a change in the outside temperature,a second control mode sensing a change in a flexion angle when the at least one folding area has a flexion shape and adjusting the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to the change in the flexion angle;a third control mode determining usage of an electronic pen when the at least one folding area has the flat shape and adjusting the elasticity of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to a temperature change of the display panel if it is determined that no electronic pen is used; anda fourth control mode determining a touch location of the electronic pen when the at least one folding area has the flat shape and it is determined that the electronic pen is used and adjusting the elasticity of the elasticity-adjusting unit to different levels in response to a change in the touch location of the electronic pen.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit sequentially compares the outside temperature with predetermined first to nth reference temperatures in the first control mode, and supplies a control signal of one of Level 1-1 to Level 1-n to a power supply connected to the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit based on results of the sequentially comparing, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 1-1 to Level 1-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 1-1 to Level 1-n.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit sequentially compares a flexion angle of the at least one folding area detected through at least one Hall sensor with predetermined first to nth reference angles in the second control mode, and supplies a control signal of one of Level 2-1 to Level 2-n to a power supply connected to the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit based on results of the sequential comparing,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 2-1 to Level 2-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 2-1 to Level 2-n.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit detects a panel temperature of the display panel in the third control mode, and supplies a control signal of one of Level 3-1 to Level 3-n to a power supply connected to the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit based on results of sequentially comparing the panel temperature with predetermined first to nth panel temperature values, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 3-1 to Level 3-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 3-1 to Level 3-n.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein: the elasticity-adjusting circuit sequentially compares touch coordinates of the electronic pen with predetermined first to nth area coordinate data in the fourth control mode, and supplies a control signal of one of Level 4-1 to Level 4-n to a power supply connected to the at least one elasticity-adjusting unit based on results of the sequential comparing, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2,wherein the power supply supplies a driving voltage corresponding to one of Level 4-1 to Level 4-n to the elasticity-adjusting unit so that the elastic modulus of the elasticity-adjusting unit is changed to a respective elastic modulus corresponding to Level 4-1 to Level 4-n .