Patent Application
20110210937
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0017922, filed on Feb. 26, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a foldable touch screen display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A foldable display apparatus is convenient to carry about and may provide a relatively wide screen. The foldable display apparatus may be widely applied not only to various mobile equipments, for example, a mobile phone, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigator, an ultra mobile PC (UMPC), an electronic book, and an electronic paper, but also to a TV and a computer monitor.
Some conventional display apparatuses are equipped with a touch panel function. In these devices, the display apparatuses have not only a display function but are also capable of performing an input function by contacting a panel surface of the display apparatus with a finger or a dedicated pen.
Example embodiments provide a foldable touch screen display apparatus.
Example embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of example embodiments.
In accordance with example embodiments, a foldable touch screen display apparatus may include a first display panel, a second display panel at least partially overlapping the first display panel, a transparent plate on at least one of the first and second display panels, a transparent window on the first and second display panels, a first touch panel at a lower part of the transparent window corresponding to the first display panel, and a second touch panel at the lower part of the transparent window corresponding to the second display panel. In example embodiments, the transparent window may be configured to protect the first and second display panels from external shocks and may be foldable as the first and second display panels are folded to each other.
In accordance with example embodiments, a foldable touch screen display apparatus may include a first display panel, a second display panel at least partially overlapping the first display panel, a first touch panel at an upper part of the first display panel, a second touch panel at an upper part of the second display panel, a transparent plate on at least one of the first and second touch panels, and a transparent window configured to protect the first and second display panels from external shocks and foldable as the first and second display panels are folded to each other. In example embodiments the transparent window may include first and second hard parts at positions corresponding to the first and second display panels, and a soft part between the first and second hard parts. In example embodiments, the transparent window may be configured to protect the first and second display panels from external shocks and may be foldable as the first and second display panels are folded to each other.
According to example embodiments, a foldable touch screen display apparatus may include a first display panel, a second display panel at least partially overlapping with the first display panel, a transparent plate disposed on at least one of the first and second display panels, a transparent window adapted to protect the first and second display panels from external shocks and foldable as the first and second display panels are folded to each other, a first touch panel disposed at a lower part of the transparent window corresponding to the first display panel, and a second touch panel disposed at the lower part of the transparent window corresponding to the second display panel.
The transparent window may include first and second hard parts disposed at positions corresponding to the first and second display panels, and a soft part disposed between the first and second hard parts.
The first touch panel may be disposed at a lower part of the first hard part, and the second touch panel may be disposed at a lower part of the second hard part.
The first touch panel and the second touch panel may be foldable to each other about the soft part.
The soft part may include any one selected from the group consisting of Teflon, transparent silicon resin, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
The first and second hard parts may include any one selected from the group consisting of tempered glass, acrylic and polycarbonate.
Each of the first and second touch panels may include a first transparent electrode layer, a thin film layer, a second transparent electrode layer, and a line electrode.
At least one of the first and second transparent electrode layers may have a surface resistance of not greater than about 400 Ω/sq.
Each of the first and second touch panels may include a transparent electrode layer capable of detecting both an X-axis coordinate value and a Y-axis coordinate value of a touched area.
The first and second touch panels may exchange signals with each other.
In case of a touch across both the first and second touch panels, signals of the touch may be processed without interruption by calculating information such as a track and speed of the touch at a gap between the first and second touch panels from the whole track and speed of the touch on the first and second panels.
Each of the first and second touch panels may include a line electrode disposed on at least one side surface thereof, but except on a side surface disposed between the first and second touch panels.
The first and second touch panels may include any one of a resistive film type touch panel, a capacitive type touch panel, an infrared type touch panel, and an ultrasonic type touch panel.
Each of the first and second display panels may include a substrate, a display device disposed on an upper part of the substrate, and a protection cover adapted to cover the display device at the upper part of the substrate.
The display device may include any one selected from a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), a light-emitting diode (LED), and an organic LED (OLED).
The transparent plate may be disposed on an upper part of the second display panel to enclose a lower surface, an upper surface, and a side surface of the first display panel, wherein the side surface may be between the first and second display panels.
The transparent plate may be disposed on an upper part of the second display panel to contact a side surface and a part of an upper surface of the first display panel and to extend between the first and second touch panels.
Any one of a polarizing film, an anti-reflection (AR) film, or an anti-glare (AG) film may be attached to the entire surface of the transparent plate.
According to example embodiments, a foldable touch screen display apparatus may include a first display panel, a second display panel at least partially overlapping with the first display panel, a first touch panel disposed at an upper part of the first display panel, a second touch panel disposed at an upper part of the second display panel, a transparent plate disposed on at least one of the first and second touch panels, and a transparent window adapted to protect the first and second display panels from external shocks and foldable as the first and second display panels are folded to each other, wherein the transparent window includes first and second hard parts disposed at positions corresponding to the first and second display panels, and a soft part disposed between the first and second hard parts.
Each of the first and second display panels may include a substrate, a display device disposed on an upper part of the substrate, and a protection cover adapted to cover the display device at the upper part of the substrate, and the first touch panel may be disposed at a region of the first display panel corresponding to a corresponding display device, and the second touch panel may be disposed at a region of the second display panel corresponding to a corresponding display device.
Each of the first and second touch panels may include a line electrode disposed on at least one side surface thereof, but except on a side surface disposed between the first and second touch panels.
The first and second touch panels may be arranged to look continuous as seen from above the transparent window.
Example embodiments will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which example embodiments are shown.
Example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments, however, may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only example embodiments set forth herein.
Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “formed on,” another element or layer, it can be directly or indirectly formed on the other element or layer. That is, for example, intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element or layer is referred to as being “directly formed on,” to another element, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements or layers should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.
Hereinafter, a foldable touch screen display apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the width and thickness of each of the elements such as layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. Also, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout the specification.
Although
The foldable touch screen display apparatus 100 may include a main body 180 divided into a first body 181, a second body 182, and a hinge portion 183 connecting the first body 181 to the second body 182. A hinge axis H may extend through the center of the hinge portion 183. As shown in
The first and second display panels 110 and 120 may be static or, as shown in
Even in this state, however, a stepwise discontinuity in a vertical direction may still exist between the first and second display panels 110 and 120. To lessen or minimize the stepwise discontinuity, the foldable touch screen display apparatus 100 may be provided with a transparent plate 150 disposed at an upper part of the second display panel 120 to cover an upper part of the first display panel 110. The transparent plate 150 may be configured to cover one side surface 126 and a lower surface 127 of the first display panel 110.
Although
The transparent window 190 according to example embodiments may include first and second hard parts 191 and 192. In example embodiments, the first and second hard parts 191 and 192 may be configured to protect the first and second display panels 110 and 120, the first and second touch panels 130 and 140, and the transparent plate 150 from external shocks. In addition, a soft part 193, which may be transparent, may be disposed between the first and second hard parts 191 and 192. In example embodiments, the soft part 193 may correspond to the hinge axis H1 and may be configured to enable a folding motion of the first and second display panels 110 and 120.
The first and second touch panels 130 and 140 may be disposed at a lower part of the transparent window 190 in regions corresponding to the first and second display panels 110 and 120, respectively. For example, as shown in
Referring to
The first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145 may be formed by thin film vapor deposition at the lower part of the transparent window 190. More specifically, the second transparent electrode layers 135 and 145 may be formed by vapor deposition and patterning at the lower part of the transparent window 190 during thin-film vapor deposition. An insulating material may be vapor-deposited on the second transparent electrode layers 135 and 145, thereby forming the thin film layers 133 and 143. The first transparent electrode layers 131 and 141 may be formed on the thin film layers 133 and 143 by vapor deposition and patterning. An insulating layer may be formed additionally on the first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145 by vapor deposition to protect the first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145.
When a single touch panel using an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) electrode layer is folded, cracks may occur in the ITO electrode layer and electrical conductivity of the (ITO) electrode layer may accordingly deteriorate. To this end, a conductive high-molecular electrode layer may be used at a folding part. However, because the conductive high-molecular electrode layer may have a surface resistance of about 2000 Ω/sq to about 5000 Ω/sq, which is higher than that of the ITO electrode layer, a signal may be slowly transmitted and the increase in screen area of the touch screen display may be restricted. Furthermore, because the conductive high-molecular electrode layer may have a lower optical transmittance than the ITO electrode layer, images may be displayed in the wrong color or look darker than their originals. However, when the foldable touch screen is constituted by two touch panels, that is, the first and second touch panels 130 and 140, such problems may be reduced or minimized.
The first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145 may include ITO and carbon nanotubes (CNT), however, example embodiments are not limited thereto. At least one of the first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145 may have a surface resistance of not greater than about 400 Ω/sq. Such a low surface resistance of the first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145 may be effective to transmit a relatively fast signal and provide a relatively large area screen of the touch screen display apparatus 100. Also, the surface resistance may not increase even if the touch screen display is folded a large number of times. At least one of the first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145 may have an optical transmittance of not less than about 85%. Such a high optical transmittance of the first and second transparent electrode layers 131, 141, 135, and 145 may be effective to prevent or reduce a change of the original color of images being displayed and brightness deterioration. The line electrode may include metal such as Au, Ag, and Cu. The first transparent electrode layers 131 and 141 may detect an X-axis coordinate value of a touch and the second transparent electrode layers 135 and 145 may detect a Y-axis coordinate value of the touch. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, for example, the first transparent electrode layers 131 and 141 may detect a Y-axis coordinate value of a touch while the second transparent electrode layers 135 and 145 may detect an X-axis coordinate value of the touch.
Referring to
The first and second touch panels 130 and 140 may exchange signals with each other through an interface circuit such that a touch screen may operate through both of the first and second display panels 110 and 120, that is, through the entire display screen. Accordingly, the signals of the first and second touch panels may be connected with each other. In other words, since the signals may be exchangeable between the first and second touch panels 130 and 140, a touch may be detectable on the entire display screen. Although a gap may exist between the first and second touch panels 130 and 140, the gap may be so narrow that a finger touch will not be missed. However, in case of a touch across both the first and second touch panels 130 and 140, a dedicated algorithm may be used in order to recognize the touch separately detected by the first and second touch panels 130 and 140 as one continuous touch. That is, the touch across both of the first and second touch panels 130 and 140 may be recognized as one continuous touch by the algorithm. The algorithm may recognize signals detected by the first and second touch panels 130 and 140 regarding the touch across both of the first and second touch panels 130 and 140, and may then calculate information such as a track and speed of the touch at a position between the first and second touch panels 130 and 140 by using the whole track and speed of the touch. Thus, the signals of the touch across both the first and second touch panels 130 and 140 may be processed without interruption by using the information. Non-limiting examples of the touch across both the first and second touch panels 130 and 140 may include sliding, scrolling, and page turning.
The transparent plate 150 may be made of a soft material, which may be flexibly folded and resiliently restored, so as to perform the folding motion of the first and second display panels 110 and 120 and the first and second touch panels 130 and 140. For example, the transparent plate 150 may include any one selected from the group consisting of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), transparent silicon resin, and Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE). An additive may be contained in these materials to control a refractive index of the transparent plate 150. The soft part 193 of the transparent window 190 may be formed of a flexible and resilient high-molecular material. For example, the soft part 193 may include any one selected from the group consisting of PMMA, PDMS, transparent silicon resin, and Teflon. The first and second hard parts 191 and 192 being in the form of a transparent plate may be made of transparent plastic, for example, an acrylic and/or polycarbonate, or tempered glass.
The thickness of the transparent plate 150 may vary according to the thickness of the first display panel 110. The first display panel 110 may have a thickness of about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm. The transparent plate 150 may be about 0.002 mm to about 2 mm thicker than the first display panel 110. To be more specific, a part of the transparent plate 150 enclosing the first display panel 110 may have a thickness of about 0.001 mm to about 1 mm from an upper surface or a lower surface of the first display panel 110. A part of the transparent plate 150 extended toward an upper surface of the second display panel 120 may have a thickness of about 0.012 mm to about 5 mm. The first protection cover 113 and the transparent plate 150 may have substantially the same refractive index so that light is minimally or not refracted at an interface between the first protection cover 113 of the first display panel 110 and the transparent plate 150. The refractive index of the first protection cover 113 and the transparent plate 150 may be substantially the same as long as light is not refracted at the interface between the first protection cover 113 of the first display panel 110 and the transparent plate 150. For this, the refractive index of the transparent plate 150 may be in the range of about 1.3 to about 1.7.
In example embodiments, an optical film 195 may be further attached to an upper part of the transparent plate 150. For example, a polarizing film, an anti-reflection (AR) film, or an anti-glare (AG) film may be attached to the entire surface of the transparent plate 150.
The transparent window 190 may have a thickness of about 0.002 mm to 2 mm. The first and second touch panels 130 and 140 may have a thickness of about 0.1 mm or less.
Referring to
Referring to
Since the first and second display panels 110 and 120 are arranged to closely contact each other at an interface between them, a vertical gap between a light emitting region of the first display panel 110 and a light emitting region of the second display panel 120 may be reduced, compared to in the foldable touch screen display apparatus 100 of
Referring to
Referring to
Although example embodiments of foldable touch screen display apparatuses have been explained with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that example embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within example embodiments should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2010-0017922 | Feb 2010 | KR | national |
