Patent Application
20140247544
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0077078, filed on Aug. 10, 2010 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0077320, filed on Aug. 3, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a flexible display device, and more particularly, to a roll-type flexible display device that can adjust a length.
A roll-type flexible display device has a structure that stores a flexible display by winding within a body housing and that can use the flexible display by extending, as needed and can reduce a bulk of the device, compared with a screen size even while easily carrying and has been thus spotlighted as a future generation display.
Patent Documents related to a roll-type flexible display device may include, for example, Korean Registration Patent No. 818170 and Korean Publication Patent Application No. 2009-0076996.
Korean Registration Patent No. 818170 discloses a roll-type flexible display device including a display driver mounted to one side or both sides of an individual portable information terminal and that may be connected and fixed to the individual portable information terminal, and the display driver includes a fixing member, a rotation case for performing a function of a support shaft that can wind a flexible display, and a coil spring for providing elastic restoring force.
Korean Publication Patent Application No. 2009-0076996 discloses a wrap display system that is formed to wrap a flexible display to a stick circumference and that selects a hinge type frame that supports the flexible display.
However, in a conventional roll-type flexible display device such as Korean Registration Patent No. 818170, a fixing means for maintaining an extended state of a flexible display is weak and thus it is inconvenient to use the flexible display, and particularly, it is very difficult to perform a manipulation such as a multi touch.
In a method of supporting a flexible display using a hinge type frame such as Korean Publication Patent Application No. 2009-0076996, it is difficult to apply the flexible display to a large screen display, and a length of a screen to extend cannot be freely adjusted.
The present invention is made to overcome the above mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a roll-type flexible display device having a structure that can fix on a step basis an extended state of a flexible display that can adjust a length.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a roll-type flexible display device having a structure that can cover a fixing means of an extended state of a flexible display.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a roll-type flexible display device including: a body housing in which a flexible display portion is housed to be wound and unwound; a length adjusting member that is connected to the body housing and in which the flexible display portion maintains an extended state and that has an extendable structure by interlock with unwinding of the flexible display portion; and a fixing member that fixes an extended length of the length adjusting member.
The length adjusting member may have a foldable rod assembly.
The rod assembly may have a rod pair for rotating using a first hinge as an intermediary and crossing in an ‘X’ shape.
A rod constituting the rod assembly may have a multistage pipe structure having an extendable length.
In the rod assembly, a rod pair crossing in the ‘X’ shape may have a structure connected with a chain method in plural using a second hinge as an intermediary.
Alternatively, the rod assembly may rotate using a joint as an intermediary and have a structure in which a foldable ‘>’-shaped rod pair and ‘<’-shaped rod pair are connected.
In the body housing, a guide portion for sliding an end portion of a rod pair positioned at both ends of the length adjusting member in a width direction of the flexible display portion by interlocking with length adjustment of the flexible display portion may be provided.
In the guide portion, a guide rail extended in a length direction may be provided, and in an end portion of the rod pair, a slider slidably coupled along the guide rail may be provided.
Preferably, the fixing member fixes the slider to the guide rail on a step basis.
Preferably, the fixing member includes a stopper that provides a stopping function of a predetermined click when a rod pair constituting the rod assembly rotate.
The body housings may be connected to each of both ends of the length adjusting member, and in one of the body housings connected to the both ends of the length adjusting member, the flexible display portion may be housed, and in the other one thereof, a screen member for covering the length adjusting member may be housed to be wound and unwound.
The screen member may use a flexible display or a film of a cloth or synthetic resin material.
According to the present invention, because an extended state of a flexible display can be maintained and fixed by a length adjusting member, use convenience of a roll-type flexible display device can be improved.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an extended length of a flexible display can be freely adjusted and fixed, as needed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, while a flexible display is extended, a length adjusting member is covered by a screen member, thereby protecting from the outside. Here, when the flexible display is adapted as the screen member, while covering the length adjusting member, a both surface flexible display device can be embodied.
For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, specific embodiments of the present invention are shown in drawings and are described herein in detail, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.
The flexible display portion 102 is housed to be wound and unwound within the body housing 100. For this purpose, at the inside of the body housing 100, a predetermined roller (not shown) connected to one end of the flexible display portion 102 to wind the flexible display portion 102 in a circle shape and a predetermined elastic means (not shown) for providing a restoring force when the roller rotates to unwind the flexible display portion 102 are provided. Such constituent elements are well known in a general roll-type flexible display device and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
When the flexible display portion 102 is unwound, a body housing 101 connected to the other end of the flexible display portion 102 is used as handle for pulling the flexible display portion 102. Alternatively, the body housing 101 connected to the other end of the flexible display portion 102 may be formed to house to be wound and unwound a half of the flexible display portion 102.
The length adjusting member 103 is extended to interlock with unwinding of the flexible display portion 102 and includes a foldable rod assembly. Specifically, the rod assembly has a structure in which a rod pair crossing in an ‘X’ shape using a first hinge 104 as an intermediary are connected with an organic and chain method using a second hinge 105 as an intermediary.
When the length adjusting member 103 is extended, as ‘X’-shaped rod pairs rotate using the first hinge 104 and the second hinge 105 as an intermediary, a height of the ‘X’-shaped rod pairs is lowered and thus two end portions (hereinafter, end portions) of a rod pair positioned at the outermost edge of the length adjusting member 103 move in an approaching direction. In contrast, when the length adjusting member 103 is contracted, as ‘X’-shaped rod pairs rotate using the first hinge 104 and the second hinge 105 as an intermediary, a height of the ‘X’-shaped rod pairs is increased and thus the end portions of a rod pair positioned at the outermost edge of the length adjusting member 103 move in a separating direction.
In an end portion of a rod pair positioned at the outermost edge of the length adjusting member 103, a predetermined shape of slider 110 integrally moving with the end portion is provided, and in the body housing 100, a guide portion 100a for slidably housing the slider 110 is provided.
As shown in
When the button portion 114 is not manipulated, a state in which the latch protrusion 112a of the fixing plate 112 is inserted into the through-hole 113a of the moving plate 113 is maintained by an elastic force of an elastic body 115, as shown in
When the button portion 114 is manipulated, the moving plate 113 is separated from the fixing plate 112 by interlocking with the button portion 114 and thus the latch protrusion 112a is separated from the through-hole 113a, as shown in
In addition, the fixing member may be provided in a nipper form mounted in the body housing 100 to pick up and fix the slider 110.
Referring to
The screen member 118 covers the length adjusting member 103 exposed at a rear surface of the flexible display portion 102 and may be preferably provided by a film of a cloth material or a synthetic resin material. Alternatively, the screen member 118 may be formed by a second flexible display. In this case, a both surface flexible display device may be formed with the length adjusting member 103 interposed therebetween.
It is preferable that the screen member 118 is housed to be wound and unwound within the body housing 101, similar to the flexible display portion 102. According to such a structure, in order to extend the flexible display portion 102, as two body housings 100 and 101 are separated, while the flexible display portion 102 is extended, the length adjusting member 103 is covered by the screen member 118 and thus the length adjusting member 103 can be protected from the outside and it is advantageous in improving an appearance of a display device.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, specific embodiments of the present invention are shown in drawings and are described herein in detail, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.
The flexible display portion 102 is housed to be wound and unwound within the body housing 100. For this purpose, at the inside of the body housing 100, a predetermined roller (not shown) connected to one end of the flexible display portion 102 to wind the flexible display portion 102 in a circle shape and a predetermined elastic means (not shown) for providing a restoring force when the roller rotates to unwind the flexible display portion 102 are provided. Such constituent elements are well known in a general roll-type flexible display device and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
When the flexible display portion 102 is unwound, a body housing 101 connected to the other end of the flexible display portion 102 is used as handle for pulling the flexible display portion 102. Alternatively, the body housing 101 connected to the other end of the flexible display portion 102 may be formed to house to be wound and unwound a half of the flexible display portion 102.
The length adjusting member 103 is extended to interlock with unwinding of the flexible display portion 102 and includes a foldable rod assembly. Specifically, the rod assembly has a structure in which a rod pair crossing in an ‘X’ shape using a first hinge 104 as an intermediary are connected with an organic and chain method using a second hinge 105 as an intermediary.
When the length adjusting member 103 is extended, as ‘X’-shaped rod pairs rotate using the first hinge 104 and the second hinge 105 as an intermediary, a height of the ‘X’-shaped rod pairs is lowered and thus two end portions (hereinafter, end portions) of a rod pair positioned at the outermost edge of the length adjusting member 103 move in an approaching direction. In contrast, when the length adjusting member 103 is contracted, as ‘X’-shaped rod pairs rotate using the first hinge 104 and the second hinge 105 as an intermediary, a height of the ‘X’-shaped rod pairs is increased and thus the end portions of a rod pair positioned at the outermost edge of the length adjusting member 103 move in a separating direction.
In an end portion of a rod pair positioned at the outermost edge of the length adjusting member 103, a predetermined shape of slider 110 integrally moving with the end portion is provided, and in the body housing 100, a guide portion 100a for slidably housing the slider 110 is provided.
As shown in
When the button portion 114 is not manipulated, a state in which the latch protrusion 112a of the fixing plate 112 is inserted into the through-hole 113a of the moving plate 113 is maintained by an elastic force of an elastic body 115, as shown in
When the button portion 114 is manipulated, the moving plate 113 is separated from the fixing plate 112 by interlocking with the button portion 114 and thus the latch protrusion 112a is separated from the through-hole 113a, as shown in
In addition, the fixing member may be provided in a nipper form mounted in the body housing 100 to pick up and fix the slider 110.
Referring to
The screen member 118 covers the length adjusting member 103 exposed at a rear surface of the flexible display portion 102 and may be preferably provided by a film of a cloth material or a synthetic resin material. Alternatively, the screen member 118 may be formed by a second flexible display. In this case, a both surface flexible display device may be formed with the length adjusting member 103 interposed therebetween.
It is preferable that the screen member 118 is housed to be wound and unwound within the body housing 101, similar to the flexible display portion 102. According to such a structure, in order to extend the flexible display portion 102, as two body housings 100 and 101 are separated, while the flexible display portion 102 is extended, the length adjusting member 103 is covered by the screen member 118 and thus the length adjusting member 103 can be protected from the outside and it is advantageous in improving an appearance of a display device.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
According to the present invention, because an extended state of a flexible display can be maintained and fixed by a length adjusting member, use convenience in various environments such as a moving environment of a roll-type flexible display device can be improved.
According to another aspect of the present invention, because an extended length of a flexible display can be freely adjusted and fixed, as needed, a flexible display device that conveniently change various sizes of displays can be produced.
According to another aspect of the present invention, while a flexible display is extended, a length adjusting member is covered by a screen member, thereby protecting from the outside. Here, when the flexible display is adapted as the screen member, while covering the length adjusting member, a both surface flexible display device can be embodied. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein described, which may appear to those skilled in the art, will still fall within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2010-0077078 | Aug 2010 | KR | national |
| 10-2011-0077320 | Aug 2011 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2011/005839 | 8/10/2011 | WO | 00 | 3/31/2014 |
