Foldable display device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a foldable display device, include: flexible display screen, hinge assembly, interval board, first frame and second frame, first frame and second frame are rotatedly connected through hinge assembly, to make the foldable display device switches between unfolding state and folding state, the first frame and the second frame are close to the hinge assembly all are provided with the hollow part, hinge assembly is located hollow part, the flexible display screen sets up one side surface at first frame with second frame, the width of interval board is greater than the width of hinge assembly, interval board sets up between flexible display screen with hinge assembly, and interval board covers hinge assembly. Through setting up interval board between flexible display screen and hinge assembly, and the width of interval board is greater than the width of hinge assembly, utilizes interval board and separates hinge assembly with flexible display screen, avoids flexible display screen and hinge assembly contact.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of flexible display device technology. More specifically, it relates to a foldable display device. Background Technology

[0002] Flexible foldable display devices are characterized by their portability and large screen size, which has led to increasing user acceptance of them.

[0003] Ultra-thin foldable devices, especially those with a folding thickness of 10mm, are characterized by a compressed hinge design. To maintain the mechanical reliability of the hinge and accommodate the screen, hollowing out the inner metal plate has become the mainstream thinning solution. However, this hollowed-out metal plate can cause the display module to come into direct contact with the hinge components. When flattened or folded, the screen will come into contact with the sharp points of the components, causing stress concentration and potentially damaging the display device or shattering the ultra-thin glass (UTG). Furthermore, the hollowed-out portion of the metal plate lacks uniform support for the screen, affecting the flatness and aesthetics of the display module. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a folding display device that solves the problem that the hinge in existing flexible foldable display devices is prone to damage when it comes into contact with the flexible screen.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a foldable display device is provided, comprising:

[0006] The device comprises a flexible display screen, a hinge assembly, a spacer plate, a first frame, and a second frame. The first frame and the second frame are rotatably connected by the hinge assembly to allow the foldable display device to switch between an unfolded state and a folded state. Both the first frame and the second frame have cutouts near the hinge assembly, and the hinge assembly is located in the cutouts. The flexible display screen is disposed on one side surface of the first frame and the second frame. The width of the spacer plate is greater than the width of the hinge assembly, and the spacer plate is disposed between the flexible display screen and the hinge assembly, and the spacer plate covers the hinge assembly.

[0007] Optionally, the hinge assembly includes a first hinge and a second hinge arranged coaxially, and the spacer covers the first hinge and the second hinge.

[0008] Optionally, the spacer includes a first spacer and a second spacer, the first spacer covering the first hinge and the second spacer covering the second spacer.

[0009] Optionally, the elastic modulus of the spacer plate ranges from 60 to 200 GPa.

[0010] Optionally, the thickness of the spacer plate ranges from 0.04 to 0.08 mm.

[0011] Optionally, the two ends of the partition plate are respectively glued to the first frame and the second frame with adhesive tape.

[0012] Optionally, the spacer is attached to the back of the flexible display screen with adhesive tape.

[0013] Optionally, the thickness of the tape is in the range of 0.02 to 0.05 mm.

[0014] Optionally, the flexible display screen located on both sides of the hinge assembly has a strip-shaped metal plate attached to its back, and the two ends of the spacer are respectively bonded and fixed to the metal plate with tape.

[0015] Optionally, the spacer plate is made of stainless steel sheet.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0017] The foldable display device disclosed herein includes a spacer plate between the flexible display screen and the hinge assembly. The width of the spacer plate is greater than the width of the hinge assembly, and the spacer plate completely covers the hinge assembly. This spacer plate separates the hinge assembly from the flexible display screen, preventing contact between the two. In the folded state, this prevents contact between the flexible display screen and sharp parts on the hinge assembly, thus avoiding damage to the flexible display screen. In the unfolded state, the spacer plate also supports the bending area of ​​the flexible display screen, preventing sagging and improving the flatness of the screen. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 This diagram shows the unfolded state of the first frame, the second frame, and the hinge assembly of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 The diagram shows an exploded view of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a partial schematic diagram of the folded state of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a partial schematic diagram of the unfolded state of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 An exploded structural diagram of another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 6 A partial schematic diagram of the folded state of another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 7 An exploded structural diagram of another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0026] Figure 8 A partial schematic diagram of the folded state of another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To more clearly illustrate this utility model, the preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings will be used for further description. Similar components in the drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals. Those skilled in the art should understand that the specific description below is illustrative rather than restrictive and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0028] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] It should be noted that although the terms "first," "second," etc., may be used herein to describe various components, members, elements, regions, layers, and / or parts, these components, members, elements, regions, layers, and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are used to distinguish one component, member, element, region, layer, and / or part from another. Thus, for example, the first component, first member, first element, first region, first layer, and / or first part discussed below may be referred to as the second component, second member, second element, second region, second layer, and / or second part without departing from the teachings of this utility model.

[0030] It should also be noted that in the description of this utility model, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0031] Flexible foldable displays are increasingly popular due to their portability and large screen size. In related technologies, the flexible display screen is bonded to two rotatable shells, which are rotatably connected by a hinge assembly. The flexible display screen folds and unfolds by rotating the two shells. The area of ​​the flexible display screen corresponding to the hinge assembly is the bending zone. For ultra-thin foldable displays, to reduce the thickness of the device, a cutout area is created where the shell connects to the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly is located in this cutout area, resulting in direct contact between the bending zone of the flexible display screen and the hinge assembly. Especially when the flexible display screen is folded, it is already under significant stress, and contact with the sharp parts of the hinge assembly can easily cause damage, leading to quality issues in the final product. Furthermore, when the flexible display screen is unfolded, the screen in the cutout area is unsupported. When a user touches the screen in this cutout area, the screen may sink, resulting in an uneven appearance.

[0032] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this embodiment provides a foldable display device, which can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, etc. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the foldable display device includes a flexible display screen 10, a hinge assembly 20, a spacer 30, a first frame 40, and a second frame 50. Both the first frame 40 and the second frame are generally plate-shaped structures. The ends of the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 are respectively connected to the hinge assembly 20, so that the first frame 40 and the second frame are hinged through the hinge assembly 20, thereby the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 can be folded or unfolded relative to each other around the hinge assembly 20.

[0033] It is understood that the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 are generally U-shaped, and their specific shapes can be adjusted according to the shape of the bezel of the folding display device. The materials of the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 can be rigid materials (e.g., PC or metal), flexible materials (e.g., TPU, TPE, etc.), or a combination of rigid and flexible frames (e.g., a rigid support wrapped with liquid silicone, or a flexible frame covered with a rigid metal frame or PC frame).

[0034] Both the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 have openwork portions near the hinge assembly 20, and the hinge assembly 20 is located in the openwork portions. The openwork portions in the first frame 40 and the second frame 50, and the hinge assembly 20 disposed within these openwork portions, allow the hinge assembly 20 to be approximately coplanar with the first frame 40 and the second frame 50, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the machine. The hinge assembly 20 includes a mechanical structure enabling the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 to rotate relative to each other, and may include components such as a rotating shaft, a gear transmission mechanism, a rotating plate, and a sliding member. This disclosure does not impose any particular limitation on the structure of the hinge assembly 20.

[0035] The hinge assembly 20 allows the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 to rotate relative to each other, and to be positioned in the same plane (unfolded state) or to overlap (folded state), thereby enabling the foldable display device to switch between the unfolded and folded states. It should be noted that the positional changes of the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 can be achieved manually by the user or by a drive component driving the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 to rotate.

[0036] In related technologies, the hinge assembly 20 is typically disposed on the surface of the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 away from the flexible display screen 10. In this structure, the overall thickness of the device is the sum of the frame thickness and the hinge assembly 20 thickness, which is not conducive to achieving a thinner and lighter product. In this embodiment, a cutout is provided at one end of the first frame 40 and the second frame 50, and the hinge assembly 20 is disposed within this cutout, so that the hinge assembly 20 partially overlaps with the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 in the thickness direction, thereby reducing the thickness of the final product.

[0037] The flexible display screen 10 is attached to the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 respectively, so that the flexible display screen 10 can be folded or unfolded as the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 are folded and unfolded. In this embodiment, the foldable display device has an inward folding structure, that is, in the folded state, the portion of the flexible display screen 10 located in the first frame 40 overlaps with the portion located in the second frame 50. When the foldable display device is in the unfolded state, the flexible display screen 10 is exposed on the outer surface of the display device, allowing the user to view the image on the flexible display screen 10. When the display device is in the folded state, the frame wraps around the flexible display screen 10, and the flexible display screen 10 is located inside the frame, that is, the flexible display screen 10 is bent and folded in an inward folding manner.

[0038] The flexible display screen 10 is an electroluminescent display screen or other types of flexible display screen.

[0039] In some examples, electroluminescent displays include organic light-emitting diode displays, quantum dot light-emitting diode displays, or micro-LED displays.

[0040] A spacer 30 is disposed between the flexible display screen 10 and the hinge assembly 20. The width of the spacer 30 is greater than the width of the hinge assembly 20, and the spacer 30 completely covers the hinge assembly 20. The spacer 30 separates the hinge assembly 20 from the flexible display screen 10, preventing contact between them. The spacer 30 is a thin plate structure; covering the hinge assembly 20 with the spacer 30 has minimal impact on the overall thickness of the product. This structure does not increase the overall thickness of the product, allowing it to maintain its slim and lightweight characteristics.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, the portion of the flexible display screen 10 located at the hinge assembly 20 is a bent section. When the foldable display device of this disclosure is in a folded state, the bent section of the flexible display screen 10 bends into a teardrop shape. When the bent section of the flexible display screen 10 is bent into a teardrop shape, i.e., when the foldable display device is in a folded state, the bent section is subjected to significant stress. Once it comes into contact with a sharp part on the hinge assembly 20, it is very easy to cause damage to the flexible display screen 10. The tip of the bent section may structurally interfere with the hinge assembly 20. When the interference point is a hollow part, the tip of the bent section of the screen will come into contact with the sharp component of the hinge assembly 20, resulting in severe stress concentration. This problem significantly increases the risk of failure when it occurs at the tip of the bent section of the screen.

[0042] Therefore, by setting a spacer 30 between the hinge assembly 20 and the flexible display screen 10 to separate the two, the bent part of the flexible display screen 10 can be protected and prevented from contacting the hinge assembly 20, thereby avoiding the problem of damage to the flexible display screen 10.

[0043] like Figure 4 As shown, when the foldable display device of this disclosure is in the unfolded state, the bent portion of the flexible display screen 10 is in a flat state. Since there is no support on the back of the bent portion, there is a noticeable indentation and deformation at the bent portion, resulting in an uneven appearance. This unevenness severely affects the user experience of the foldable terminal, significantly reducing its market acceptance. When a user uses the foldable display device, their finger will press on the cutout area of ​​the screen, causing the flexible display screen 10 to deform and come into contact with the hinge assembly 20. The components of the hinge assembly 20, such as the slide rails and gears, have sharp surfaces. Their pressure on the screen can cause severe stress concentration, potentially leading to damage to the display device or UTG breakage. Furthermore, the flexible display screen 10 inevitably sinks when pressed, resulting in an unsightly appearance due to insufficient flatness.

[0044] The spacer 30 provided between the hinge assembly 20 and the flexible display screen 10 can also serve as a support for the back plate, providing support for the flexible display screen 10 with the hollowed-out portion. This not only prevents the bent portion of the flexible display screen 10 from contacting the hinge assembly 20, but also supports the bent portion, preventing the problem of sinking at that point and improving the flatness of the flexible display screen 10.

[0045] like Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the hinge assembly 20 includes a first hinge 21 and a second hinge 22 coaxially arranged, and a spacer plate 30 covers the first hinge 21 and the second hinge 22. Both the first hinge 21 and the second hinge 22 are disposed within the hollow portions of the first frame 40 and the second frame 50, and the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 are respectively connected to the first hinge 21 and the second hinge 22. The first frame 40 and the second frame 50 are rotatably connected via the first hinge 21 and the second hinge 22. In this embodiment, the first hinge 21 and the second hinge 22 are respectively disposed near the two side edges of the frame to improve the stability of the rotation of the first frame 40 and the second frame 50. The spacer plate 30 includes a first spacer plate 31 and a second spacer plate 32, with the first spacer plate 31 covering the first hinge 21 and the second spacer plate 32 covering the second hinge 22.

[0046] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the two ends of the partition plate 30 are respectively bonded to the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 by tape 60.

[0047] like Figure 6As shown, in one example, the spacer 30 is bonded to the back of the flexible display screen 10 by tape 60. For example, both ends of the spacer 30 are bonded to the back of the flexible display screen 10 by tape 60, with the two ends of the spacer 30 located outside the bent portion of the flexible display screen 10. That is, the middle of the spacer 30 spans the bent portion, and both ends of the spacer 30 are bonded to the straight portion of the flexible display screen 10 by tape 60. This structure avoids bonding the spacer 30 to the bent portion of the flexible display screen 10, thus preventing the spacer 30 from affecting the bending performance of the bent portion.

[0048] In one example, the elastic modulus of the spacer 30 ranges from 60 to 200 GPa, the thickness ranges from 0.04 to 0.08 mm, and the thickness of the tape ranges from 0.02 to 0.05 mm. The spacer 30 is made of stainless steel sheet or composite carbon fiber sheet.

[0049] like Figure 7 As shown, two metal strips 70 are adhered to the back of the flexible display screen 10. The metal strips 70 are strip-shaped and are respectively adhered to both sides of the bending part of the flexible display screen 10 to improve the bendability of the bending part. The two ends of the spacer plate 30 are respectively adhered and fixed to the metal strips 70 by tape 60.

[0050] like Figure 8 As shown, the two ends of the partition plate 30 are respectively bonded to the first frame 40 and the second frame 50 by tape 60. The middle part of the partition plate 30 covers the hinge assembly 20, and the two ends of the partition plate 30 are located on the outside of the bent part of the flexible display screen 10.

[0051] Obviously, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating this utility model, and are not intended to limit the implementation of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is impossible to exhaustively list all the implementation methods here. All obvious variations or modifications derived from the technical solutions of this utility model are still within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A foldable display device, characterized in that, include: The device comprises a flexible display screen, a hinge assembly, a spacer plate, a first frame, and a second frame. The first frame and the second frame are rotatably connected by the hinge assembly to allow the foldable display device to switch between an unfolded state and a folded state. Both the first frame and the second frame have cutouts near the hinge assembly, and the hinge assembly is located in the cutouts. The flexible display screen is disposed on one side surface of the first frame and the second frame. The width of the spacer plate is greater than the width of the hinge assembly, and the spacer plate is disposed between the flexible display screen and the hinge assembly, and the spacer plate covers the hinge assembly.

2. The foldable display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge assembly includes a first hinge and a second hinge arranged coaxially, and the spacer covers the first hinge and the second hinge.

3. The foldable display device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spacer includes a first spacer and a second spacer, the first spacer covering the first hinge and the second spacer covering the second spacer.

4. The foldable display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic modulus of the spacer plate ranges from 60 to 200 GPa.

5. The foldable display device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The thickness of the spacer plate ranges from 0.04 to 0.08 mm.

6. The foldable display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two ends of the partition plate are respectively glued to the first frame and the second frame with adhesive tape.

7. The foldable display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacer plate is attached to the back of the flexible display screen with adhesive tape.

8. The foldable display device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The thickness of the tape ranges from 0.02 to 0.05 mm.

9. The foldable display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible display screen located on both sides of the hinge assembly has strip-shaped metal strips attached to its back, and the two ends of the spacer are respectively bonded and fixed to the metal strips with tape.

10. The foldable display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacer is made of stainless steel sheet.

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