Patent Application
20230244277
The present invention relates to a display device.
Patent Literature 1 for instance discloses, as a folding display device, a display that includes a flexible display body.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT application) No. 2018-537780
By the way, a flexible display body, which flexes, normally has a support on its back surface (surface opposite to its display surface) to maintain the form of the flexible display body. For instance, a flexible display body alone that is used as a software keyboard flexes too much to be difficult to use; hence, providing a support on the backside of the flexible display body to reduce the flexure of the flexible display body and maintain its form, so that the flexible display body is easy to use.
The support, when provided on the backside of the flexible display body, can maintain the form of the flexible display body, but this increases the thickness of the entire device including the flexible display body and support, thus making it difficult to fold or roll up the flexible display body. That is, the flexibility of the flexible display body, which is its inherent function, cannot be unfortunately used effectively.
One aspect of the present invention aims to enhance the convenience of a flexible display body.
To solve the above problem, a display device according to one aspect of the present invention includes the following: a flexible display body; and a support supporting the flexible display body, wherein the support has a hollow that enables intake/discharge of a gas.
The aspect of the present invention can enhance the convenience of the flexible display body.
The following details one embodiment of the present invention.
The display device 101 includes, as indicated by sign 1001 in
The flexible display body 10 is, for instance, a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OILED) panel or a flexible quantum dot panel.
The support 20 is made of a material with suppleness and includes the following: a hollow 21 being in intimate contact with the almost entire back surface 10b of the flexible display body 10, and being in the form of a bag into which gas is to be supplied; and an intake/discharge port 22 for taking in or letting out gas contained in the hollow 21.
The support 20 is as large as or smaller than the outer size of the flexible display body 10 so as not to be able to be seen from the display surface 10a of the flexible display body 10.
Upon receiving a predetermined or more amount of gas from the intake/discharge port 22, the hollow 21 inflates into a substantially rectangular shape, as indicated by sign 1011 in
Moreover, upon discharge of a predetermined or more amount of gas from the intake/discharge port 22, the hollow 21 deflates, as indicated by sign 1012 in
In this way, the intake/discharge of gas contained in the hollow 21 brings the support 20 into the first form, in which a predetermined or more amount of gas is supplied to the hollow 21, or brings the support 20 into the second form, in which a predetermined or more gas is discharged from the hollow 21.
The hollow 21 may be a single hollow the support 20 or may be divided into a plurality of rooms. This example division into a plurality of rooms will be described later on in another embodiment.
The intake/discharge port 22 may be a single opening for intake-cum-discharge or may be provided separately for intake and discharge. Moreover, a plurality of intake/discharge ports 22 may be formed.
The intake/discharge of gas contained in the hollow 21 may be controlled by providing a stopper on the intake/discharge port 22, or by providing a relief valve on the intake/discharge port 22. That is, for a stopper provided on the intake/discharge port 22, this control is performed by removing the stopper to take a predetermined or more amount of gas from the intake/discharge port 22 into the hollow 21, followed by stoppering the intake/discharge port 22 to prevent gas leakage from the hollow 21, followed by unstoppering the intake/discharge port 22 to discharge gas from the hollow 21. Moreover, for a relief valve provided on the intake/discharge port 22, the intake/discharge of gas contained in the hollow 21 is controlled by opening/closing the relief valve.
There are two methods for putting gas into the hollow 21: (1) putting gas from an external compressor, and (2) putting gas from a built-in compressor.
Method (1), although applicable to all sizes irrespective of the size of a flexible display body, is suitable particularly for a large monitor and large signage. Method (2) is in contrast suitable for mobile apparatuses (e.g., tablets, smartphones, and mobile monitors) that include a flexible display body having a size of 20 inch or smaller for placing emphasis on portability.
It is noted that methods (1) and (2) are both applicable to both a method of maintaining form by stoppering an intake port upon a hollow of a support receiving gas to transform into a predetermined shape, and a method of maintaining the support in a predetermined form by putting gas from the intake port into the hollow of the support and discharging extra gas from a discharge port provided separately from the intake port. However, in method (2), continual gas supply causes the compressor's power to place a load on the battery; it is hence preferable to stopper the hollow to stop the compressor after the hollow inflates.
Unlike the display device 101 shown in
Accordingly, when the discharge port 22b is unstoppered with the hollow 21 of the support 20 filled with a predetermined amount of gas, that is, with the display surface 10a of the flexible display body 10 remaining flat, as indicated by sign 1021 in
Adding the function of a touch panel to the flexible display body 10 can apply the present invention to software keyboards and game controllers.
The display device 103 achieves a software keyboard by, as indicated by sign 1031 in
For the display device to function as a software keyboard, the hollow 21 (not shown) of the support 20 undergoes gas supply to inflate until a keyboard image displayed on the display surface 10a of the flexible display body 10 becomes flat, as indicated by sign 1032 in
The display device 103, when not used as a software keyboard, becomes thin by releasing gas from the hollow 21 of the support 20 to deflate the hollow 21 and can be thus rolled up, as indicated by sign 1034 in
In addition, the support 20 serves as a cushion; hence, if the display device 103 is slipped off for instance to drop, as indicated by sign 1035 in
The display device 104 achieves a game controller by, as indicated by sign 1041 in
For the display device to function as a game controller, the hollow 21 (not shown) of the support 20 undergoes gas supply to inflate until it has such a thickness that a user easily operates the game controller, as indicated by sign 1042 in
In addition, the display device 104, which has the support 20 that is inflated to be thick, is easy to hold by both hands and facilitates game operations. Furthermore, the user can operate the display device 104 while twisting the display device 104 in a position where the user can use it easily, as indicated by sign 1042 in
Moreover, the support 20 serves as a cushion; hence, if the user gets so excited during a game that the user drops the display device 104, as indicated by sign 1043 in
The display device 104, when not used as a game controller, becomes thin by releasing gas from the hollow 21 of the support 20 to deflate the hollow 21 and can be thus rolled up, as indicated by sign 1044 in
The first embodiment has described an instance where the hollow 21 of the support 20 undergoes gas supply with the flexible display body 10 developed, to be thus ready for use. A second embodiment below will describe an instance where the hollow 21 of the support 20 undergoes gas supply with the flexible display body 10 rolled up (in a retractable state), to thus develop the flexible display body 10 to be ready for use.
The following describes another embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that for convenience in description, components having the same functions as components described in the foregoing embodiment will be denoted by the same signs, and the description of the same components will not be repeated.
Upon gas supply from the compressor 50 to the hollow 21, with the display device 105 rolled up as indicated by sign 1051 in
Furthermore, in the display device 105 that is structured to incorporate a metal (shape-memory metal) thin curly wire rod, releasing gas from the hollow 21 of the support 20 brings the wire rod back into a memorized curly state.
The rollable display 106 rolls up the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 to house them in a container (roll-up unit) 60 and extends them as necessary from the container 60 to function as a display unit. That is, for the rollable display 106 to function as a display unit, the flexible display body 10 undergoes transformation from a state where, as indicated by sign 1061 in
The container 60 includes the following, as indicated by sign 1061 in
For sending out the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 from the container 60, supplying gas from the compressor 50 to the hollow 21 in accordance with the sending-out timing of the roller 40 causes the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 to develop upward while standing on their own, so that, as indicated by sign 1062 in
It is noted that once a predetermined amount of gas is supplied to the hollow 21, the support 20 discharges gas little by little from the hollow 21 via a discharge port that is different from the intake/discharge port connected to the compressor 50, to thus support, as indicated by sign 1062 in
The rollable display 106, which is designed to always supply gas from the compressor 50 to the hollow 21 in the developed state, flexes without breakage to avoid a stress, as indicated by sign 1063 in
It is noted that this embodiment has described an instance where the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 are integrally formed and are rolled up by a single roller 40. The following embodiment will describe an instance where the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 are rolled up separately by different rollers and are then integrated when taken out.
The following describes another embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that for convenience in description, components having the same functions as components described in the foregoing embodiments will be denoted by the same signs, and the description of the same components will not be repeated.
The rollable display 107 rolls up the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 to house them in the container (roll-up unit) 60 and extends them as necessary from the container 60 to function as a display unit. That is, for the rollable display 107 to function as a display unit, the flexible display body 10 undergoes transformation from a state where, as indicated by sign 1071 in
As indicated by sign 1071 in
For sending out the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 from the container 60, supplying gas from the compressor 50 to the hollow 21 in accordance with the sending-out timing of the roller 41 and second roller 42 causes the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 to be integrated together while being in intimate contact near the exit of the container 60, and to then develop upward while standing on their own, so that, as indicated by sign 1072 in
It is noted that once a predetermined amount of gas is supplied to the hollow 21, the support 20 discharges gas little by little from the hollow 21 via a discharge port that is different from the intake/discharge port connected to the compressor 50, to thus support, as indicated by sign 1072 in
The rollable display 107 with the foregoing configuration is structured such that the flexible display body 10 and the support 20, when housed, are separated and are rolled around two different rollers (the first roller 41 and the second roller 42). Moreover, the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 are disposed so as to rotate in mutually opposite directions. That is, when the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 undergo roll-up, the first roller 41 rotates clockwise, and the second roller 42 rotates counterclockwise. In contrast, when the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 undergo sending-out, the first roller 41 rotates counterclockwise, and the second roller 42 rotates clockwise. A flexible sheet in the form of a roll, when spread, normally receives a stress in a direction where the sheet curves outward. As such, the flexible display body 10 and the support 20, which are sent out from the container 60 by rotating the first roller 41 and the second roller 42 in mutually opposite directions, have their respective curving directions opposite to each other (mutually dragging directions) to thus cancel out power each other, and the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 hence easily become in an upright position. In this case, the support 20 undergoes material and thickness adjustment in accordance with a bending stress that is exerted on the flexible display body 10.
Moreover, the rollable display 107, which is designed to always supply gas from the compressor 50 to the hollow 21 in the developed state, flexes without breakage to avoid a stress, as indicated by sign 1073 in
One way to couple the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 together for development, and to separate the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 from each other for retraction is attaching hooks to the support 20 at appropriate intervals, and attaching hook receivers to corresponding locations on the flexible display body 10.
The back surface 10b has hook receivers (recesses) 11 provided at regular intervals on the back surface 10b, as indicated by sign 1181 in
The hook receivers 11 are for inserting the hooks 24 of the support 20 thereinto and are each in the form of a bag consisting of the following, as indicated by sign 1091 in
The hooks 24 are each, as indicated by sign 1092 in
Once inserted into the hook receivers 11, the hooks 24 are almost covered with the hook receivers 11, as indicated by sign 1093 in
Here, adding the function of a magnet to both of the hook receivers 11 and hooks 24, and furthermore, adding such magnetic-field directions that the hooks 24 and the hook receivers 11 attract each other to the respective hooks 24 and hook receivers 11 enable the hooks 24 to be easily fitted into the hook receivers 11.
It is noted that how to couple the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 together for development, and to separate the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 from each other for retraction is not limited to such a method as described above, in which the hook receivers 11 and the hooks 24 are used. Examples of the method of coupling and separation may include, but not limited to, the following: providing a magnet or a magnet sheet on each of the facing surfaces (10b and 20a) of the respective flexible display body 10 and support 20, to thus couple the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 together for development, and to separate the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 from each other for retraction; and subjecting the flexible display body 10 and the support 20 to electrification using an electrifier to bring them into intimate contact for development, and subjecting them to electricity elimination using an electricity eliminator to separate them from each other for retraction.
It is noted that the foregoing embodiment has described a non-limiting instance where the support 20 is of hollow structure in the form of a single bag, which is herein the hollow 21, with no partition. For instance, a hollow structure may be used like one in a fourth embodiment that will be described below, where the hollow 21 is sectioned into a plurality of hollows.
The following describes another embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that for convenience in description, components having the same functions as components described in the foregoing embodiments will be denoted by the same signs, and the description of the same components will not be repeated. It is noted that the rollable display according to this embodiment is structured in almost the same manner as the rollable display 107 shown in
The hollow 21 of the support 20 is composed of a plurality of ventilation paths communicating, as indicated by sign 1101 in
When the lattice shape of the hollow 21 is a rhombus, the second ventilation paths 21b are preferably arranged in such a manner that the interval between the second ventilation paths 21b adjacent to each other is 1 to 2 times inclusive of the width of each ventilation path, For the flexible display body 10 having a display size of 32 inch (an aspect ratio of 16:9) for instance, the second ventilation paths 21b of 1.5 cm in diameter are arranged at intervals of about 2.3 cm when the inner diameters of the second ventilation paths 21b (the diameters of cylindrical paths for gas) are set at 1.5 cm, and when the interval between the second ventilation paths 21b adjacent to each other is set at 1.5 times of the diameters of the second ventilation paths 21b (the diameters of the cylinders). At this time, 30 second ventilation paths 21b positively sloped at 45° are arranged laterally, and about 30 second ventilation paths 21b negatively sloped at −45° are similarly arranged laterally. The second ventilation paths 21b are connected at intersections 21c while penetrating each other, as indicated by sign 1102 in
The hollow 21 of the support 20, when being in the form of a single bag, is inflated toward its center in a plan view upon receiving gas, thus resulting in a bad-looking appearance in a lateral view. Moreover, such inflation makes it difficult to bend the support 20 equally.
However, such a structure as the support 20 with the foregoing configuration, where the hollow 21 is sectioned into a plurality of smaller hollows (the first ventilation paths 21a and the second ventilation paths 21b), enables the support 20 to inflate to a uniform thickness even when the support 20 per se becomes large, thus achieving a good-looking appearance in a lateral view. In addition, many second ventilation paths 21b in the form of a lattice, when provided, can improve the strength of the support 20 per se to function as the skeleton of the support 20.
The sizes of the first ventilation paths 21a and second ventilation path 21b constituting the hollow 21 are non-limiting; their sizes need to be set as appropriate in view of the screen size of the flexible display body 10 and the bending performance of the flexible display body 10.
Moreover, although the first ventilation paths 21a and the second ventilation paths 21b may have any shape in the form of a hollow, they preferably have a cylindrical shape. This is because that a cylinder commonly involves a less loss of head (a loss of energy that hinders liquid flow or gas flow).
Here, based on the premise that the gas paths are cylinders, the number (density) of lattices reduces along with increase in the sectional thickness of the second ventilation paths 21b that constitute a lattice. That is, the thickness of the support 20 increases along with increase in the sectional thickness of the second ventilation paths 21b, thus resulting in a bad-looking appearance. In contrast, the thickness of the support 20 reduces along with decrease in the sectional thickness of the second ventilation paths 21b that constitute a lattice, achieving a good-looking appearance, but the power of the support 20 for supporting the flexible display body 10 becomes weak. That is, the support 20 bends easily even when inflated by gas.
As such, the size of the lattice (the sectional size of the second ventilation paths 21b) needs to be set in view of the balance between bending degree and appearance (thickness) at the time of application of an external force.
The shape of the divided hollow 21 is an oblique-lattice shape (rhombus), as indicted by sign 1101 in
However, the shape of the divided hollow 21 is not limited to what is illustrated in
The following describes another embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that for convenience in description, components having the same functions as components described in the foregoing embodiments will be denoted by the same signs, and the description of the same components will not be repeated.
The rollable display 108 is structured in almost the same manner as the rollable display 107 shown in
The support 20 has such an outer size as to, as indicated by sign 1121 in
It is noted that in the support 20 protruding from the flexible display body 10, the frame edge of the flexible display body 10 seemingly widens, resulting in a bad-looking appearance, but this configuration is effective when emphasis is placed on reliability, that is, protecting the flexible display body 10.
A display device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes the following: a flexible display body (10); and a support (20) supporting the flexible display body (10), wherein the support (20) has a hollow (21) that enables intake/discharge of a gas.
In the foregoing configuration, the support supporting the flexible display body, which has a hollow that enables gas intake/discharge, can change shape depending on a gas amount to be supplied to the hollow and can also change the form of the flexible display body, supported by the support, along with a change in the shape of the support. For instance, increasing the gas amount to be supplied to the hollow can maintain the support in a desired form, thereby enabling the flexible display body to be maintained in a desired form. In contrast, reducing the gas amount to be supplied to the hollow, or discharging gas from the inflated hollow can no longer maintain the support in the desired form, thereby no longer enabling the flexible display body to be maintained in the desired form. As such, once a flexible display can be no longer maintained in a desired form, the flexibility of the flexible display body can be used. Changing the amount of gas within the hollow, as described above, changes the shape of the support as well, thus enabling the flexible display body supported by the support to also change form along with a change in the form of the support. This can enhance the convenience of the flexible display body.
The display device according to a second aspect of the present invention is preferably configured, in the first aspect, such that the support (20) is brought into a first form upon intake of a predetermined or more amount of gas into the hollow (21), and the support is brought into a second form upon discharge of a predetermined or more amount of gas from the hollow (21).
The foregoing configuration enables the flexible display body to take at least two types of form in accordance with the amount of gas contained in the hollow.
The display device according to a third aspect of the present invention may be configured, in the second aspect, such that the support (20) is fastened to the back surface (10a) of the flexible display body (10).
The display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention may be configured, in the third aspect, such that the first form is a form that renders the display surface (10a) of the flexible display body (10) flat, and such that the second form is a form that renders the flexible display body (10) at least partly flexed.
In the foregoing configuration, the support takes the first form, thus enabling the flexible display body to be in a function execution state for functioning as a display device, and the support takes the second form, thus enabling flexible display body to be in a retracted state for folding and retraction.
The display device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention may be configured, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, such that the outer shape of the support (20) is larger than the outer shape of the flexible display body (10).
The foregoing configuration enables the support not only to support the flexible display body, but also to protect the flexible display body using portions protruding from the flexible display body. For instance, let the flexible display body that is used as a rollable display be made to stand on its own; accordingly, the flexible display body, even if falling down in response to an external force, is protected by the protruding portions of the support.
The display device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention may be configured, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, such that the hollow is composed of a plurality of ventilation paths (first ventilation paths 21a, second ventilation paths 21b) communicating.
The display device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention may be configured, in the sixth aspect, such that the plurality of ventilation paths (second ventilation paths 21b) are arranged in a lattice manner or a planar honeycomb manner.
The display device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention may be configured, in the seventh aspect, such that the plurality of ventilation paths (second ventilation paths 21b) are arranged in an oblique-lattice manner.
The display device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is preferably configured, in the eighth aspect, such that the interval between the plurality of ventilation paths (second ventilation paths 21b) adjacent to each other is set to 1 to 2 times inclusive of the width of each of the plurality of ventilation paths (second ventilation paths 21b).
In the foregoing configuration, the support, which is composed of a plurality of hollows arranged in a planar manner, can have a uniform thickness without having an inflated middle, which is seen in an instance where the support is composed of a single hollow.
In the second aspect, the display device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention may include a roll-up unit (container 60) configured to roll up the flexible display body (10) and the support (20) that is in the second form, wherein the roll-up unit (container 60) may have a first roller (41) around which the flexible display body (10) is rolled up, and a second roller (42) around which the support (2) that is in the second form is rolled up.
The display device according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention may be configured, in the tenth aspect, such that the back surface (10a) of the flexible display body (10) extended from the first roller (41) is engaged in the support (20) extended from the second roller (42) to transform from the second form into the first form.
The display device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention may be configured, in the eleventh aspect, such that the back surface (10a) of the flexible display body (10) is provided with a plurality of recesses (hook receivers 11), and such that the support (2) is provided with a plurality of protrusions (hooks 24) engaging in the plurality of recesses (hook receivers 11).
In any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the display device according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention may include the following: a compressor (31) configured to perform intake/discharge of the gas; and a battery (32) configured to supply power to the compressor (31).
The display device according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention may be configured, in any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, such that the flexible display body is a flexible OLED panel.
The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. Various modifications can be devised with the scope of the claims. An embodiment that is obtained in combination, as appropriate, with the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments can form a new technical feature.
10 flexible display body
10
a display surface
10
b back surface
11 hook receiver
20 support
20
a opposed surface
21 hollow
21
a first ventilation path
21
b second ventilation path
21
c intersection
22 intake/discharge port
22
a intake port
22
b discharge port
24 hook
30 compressor device
30
a case
31 compressor
32 battery
33 drive circuit
40 roller
41 first roller
42 second roller
50 compressor
60 container (roll-up unit)
101, 102, 103, 104, 105 display device
106, 107, 108 rollable display
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2020/023556 | 6/16/2020 | WO |
