Display assembly and electronic equipment

Abstract

To support stably a display in a state in which it is bent.SOLUTION: A display assembly according to the present invention includes a first plate; a second plate relatively rotatably provided between a first posture in which surface directions of two plates are provided on the right and left sides with respect to the first plate and a second posture in which two surface directions are laminated on each other; a display formed so as to be sheet-shaped between the first plate and the second plate; and a sheet-shaped member which has a first end portion supported between a surface of the first edge portion and a rear surface of the display and a second edge portion supported between a surface of the second edge portion and a rear surface of the display and which thus can support a rear surface of the bent region in a state in which a gap between the first plate and the second plate is covered in the first posture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display assembly and an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, electronic devices such as PCs and smartphones that have touch panel liquid crystal displays and no physical keyboards have rapidly become popular. While it is desirable for the displays of these types of electronic devices to be large when in use, it is also desirable for them to be compact when not in use. Therefore, electronic devices have been proposed that use flexible displays such as organic electroluminescence (EL) displays, making it possible to fold not only the housing but also the display (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-166990 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The back surface of the flexible display described above is preferably supported by a highly flat surface with few steps when opened 180 degrees. This is because, for example, if a pen or fingertip picks up on the step during touch operation, the operational feel is reduced. However, for example, mechanical components such as hinge device components may be located on the back surface of the display's bending region, making it difficult to completely eliminate step-like differences from such components. Furthermore, regardless of whether or not a touch panel is present, flexible displays are very thin and vulnerable to impacts. Therefore, the display may malfunction if a pen or foreign object is dropped into the bending region.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a display assembly and an electronic device that can stably support a display to be bent.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A display assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first plate having a first edge, a first posture in which the surface directions of the first plate are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and a second posture in which the surface directions overlap each other. A second plate having a second edge that is relatively rotatably provided between the two and is arranged with a gap between it and the first edge in the first posture, and a sheet-like shape formed between the first plate and the second plate. The first region on the first plate side is fixed to a range excluding at least the first edge on the surface of the first plate, the second region on the second plate side is fixed to a range excluding at least the second edge on the surface of the second plate, and the bending region between the first region and the second region is arranged so as to straddle the gap. A display, and a first end is supported between the surface of the first edge and the back surface of the display, and a second end is supported between the surface of the second edge and the back surface of the display, so that the back surface of the bending region can be supported in a state straddling the gap in the first posture. And a sheet-like member.

[0007] The electronic device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a first housing, a second housing that is adjacent to the first housing and is relatively rotatably connected between a first posture in which their surface directions are arranged side by side left and right with respect to the first housing and a second posture in which their surface directions are stacked so as to overlap, a first plate having a first edge and supported by the first housing, a second plate supported by the second housing and having a second edge that is arranged with a gap from the first edge in the first posture, a display formed in a sheet shape extending between the first plate and the second plate, wherein a first region on the first plate side is fixed to a range excluding at least the first edge on the surface of the first plate, a second region on the second plate side is fixed to a range excluding at least the second edge on the surface of the second plate, and a bending region between the first region and the second region is arranged to straddle the gap, so that the bending region is bent in response to relative rotation between the first housing and the second housing, and a sheet-like member whose first end is supported between the surface of the first edge and the back surface of the display and whose second end is supported between the surface of the second edge and the back surface of the display, so that the back surface of the bending region can be supported in a state straddling the gap in the first posture.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the display to be bent can be stably supported.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 8

Figure 9

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the display assembly and the electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment is closed and in a 0-degree posture. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the electronic device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is opened and in a 180-degree posture. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the electronic device 10 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the display 16 and the sheet-like member 21 are shown only by a two-dot chain line for the outline.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electronic device 10 includes a first housing 12A, a second housing 12B, a hinge device 14, and a display assembly 15. The electronic device 10 of the present embodiment exemplifies a foldable tablet PC or notebook PC like a book. The electronic device 10 may be a smartphone or a portable game machine or the like.

[0013] The respective housings 12A and 12B are arranged adjacent to each other. Each of the housings 12A and 12B is appropriately equipped with various electronic components such as a motherboard on which a CPU is mounted, a battery device, an antenna module, and a communication module.

[0014] The first housing 12A includes a frame member 17A and a cover member 18A. The frame member 17A is a rectangular frame-shaped member that forms vertical walls on three sides other than the adjacent end portion 12Aa adjacent to the second housing 12B. The cover member 18A is a plate-shaped member that closes the back opening of the frame member 17A (see also FIG. 8). Similarly, the second housing 12B includes a frame member 17B that forms vertical walls on three sides other than the adjacent end portion 12Ba adjacent to the first housing 12A, and a cover member 18B that closes the back opening of the frame member 17B. The front openings of the frame members 17A and 17B are closed by the display assembly 15.

[0015] Each of the members 17A, 17B, 18A, and 18B is made of, for example, a metal member such as stainless steel, magnesium, or aluminum, or a fiber-reinforced resin plate containing reinforcing fibers such as carbon fiber.

[0016] The hinge device 14 connects the housings 12A and 12B so as to be relatively rotatable between a 0-degree posture and a 180-degree posture. The hinge device 14 also functions as a back cover that hides the gap between the adjacent end portions 12Aa and 12Ba formed in the 0-degree posture shown in FIG. 1. The display assembly 15 extends across the housings 12A and 12B.

[0017] Hereinafter, regarding the electronic device 10, the arrangement direction of the housings 12A and 12B will be referred to as the X direction, the direction along the adjacent end portions 12Aa and 12Ba orthogonal to this as the Y direction, and the thickness direction of the housings 12A and 12B as the Z direction for explanation. Also, regarding the angular postures between the housings 12A and 12B, the state where they are stacked so as to overlap in the plane direction with each other will be referred to as the 0-degree posture (see FIG. 1), and the state where they are arranged side by side in the direction (X direction) perpendicular to the plane direction with each other will be referred to as the 180-degree posture (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for explanation. The postures between 0 degrees and 180 degrees can be called by appropriately marking the angles. For example, the state where the plane directions of the housings 12A and 12B are orthogonal to each other is the 90-degree posture. These angles are for convenience of explanation, and it is natural that in an actual product, the angular position may deviate somewhat from the exact angular position indicated by the angle numbers.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state where the electronic device 10 shown in FIG. 4 is in the 0-degree posture.

[0019] In the 0-degree posture shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the housings 12A and 12B are in a state of being folded in half. The display assembly 15 includes a display 16 composed of, for example, a touch-operable paper-like flexible display formed of an organic EL. In the 0-degree posture, the display 16 is arranged such that the region R1 on the first housing 12A side and the region R2 on the second housing 12B side shown in FIG. 2 face each other, and the bending region R3, which is the boundary region between the regions R1 and R2, is in a state of being bent in an arc shape. In the 180-degree posture shown in FIG. 2, the housings 12A and 12B are arranged side by side with each other. At this time, the display 16 is arranged such that the regions R1, R2, and the bending region R3 are arranged side by side on the XY plane and form a single flat plate shape as a whole (see also FIG. 4).

[0020] The display assembly 15 includes a display 16, a first plate 20A and a second plate 20B, and a sheet-like member 21. In the display 16, region R1 is fixed relatively to the first housing 12A, and region R2 is fixed relatively to the second housing 12B. Specifically, the back surface 16a of region R1 is fixed to the first housing 12A via the first plate 20A, and the back surface 16a of region R2 is fixed to the second housing 12B via the second plate 20B. The first plate 20A is adjacent to the first support plate 22A, and the second plate 20B is adjacent to the second support plate 22B (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the plates 20A and 20B are arranged left and right with the hinge device 14 interposed therebetween, and support the back surface 16a of the display 16 with their respective surfaces 20Aa and 20Ba. The back surface 16a of the display 16 has region R1 adhesively fixed to the surface 20Aa of the first plate 20A with a first adhesive 23A, and region R2 adhesively fixed to the surface 20Ba of the second plate 20B with a second adhesive 23B. The adhesives 23A and 23B are, for example, double-sided adhesive tapes.

[0022] The plates 20A and 20B are composed of, for example, a base plate 24 and a metal frame 25. The base plate 24 is, for example, a carbon fiber reinforced resin plate impregnated with a matrix resin such as an epoxy resin in carbon fiber. The metal frame 25 is formed of, for example, a magnesium alloy or the like, and is fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the back surface 24a of the base plate 24.

[0023] Since the plates 20A and 20B are formed of carbon fiber reinforced resin, it is possible to ensure high flatness, and to make them thinner and lighter. However, there is a concern that carbon fibers may drop off in a puffing manner from the outer peripheral end faces (edges) of the carbon fiber reinforced resin, and it is also difficult to perform shape processing, screw processing, etc. Therefore, the plates 20A and 20B are provided with metal frames 25 so as to surround the outer peripheral end faces and the outer edge portions of the back surfaces 24a thereof. The plates 20A and 20B are fixed to the frame members 17A and 17B of the housings 12A and 12B by screwing screws 27 into screw holes 26 formed in the metal frames 25. The plates 20A and 20B may be formed of a metal material or a resin material instead of carbon fiber reinforced resin. In this case, the metal frame 25 may be omitted.

[0024] The bending region R3 of the display 16 is movable relative to the housings 12A and 12B. In the 180-degree posture, the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 is supported by the hinge base 28 and the support plates 22A and 22B via the sheet-like member 21 (see FIG. 4). In the 0-degree posture, the bending region R3 is bent in an arc shape, and a part of the back surface 16a is supported by the support plates 22A and 22B via the sheet-like member 21, and most of it is separated from the hinge device 14 (see FIG. 6).

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the hinge device 14 of the present embodiment includes a hinge base 28, a first link arm 30A and a second link arm 30B, a first bracket 31A and a second bracket 31B, and a first support plate 22A and a second support plate 22B.

[0026] The hinge base 28 is provided at a position straddling the adjacent ends 12Aa and 12Ba of the housings 12A and 12B, and extends along the adjacent ends 12Aa and 12Ba over substantially the entire length in the Y direction. The hinge base 28 is a block-shaped component formed of a metal material such as aluminum. Two hinge shafts 14A and 14B arranged in the X direction in a 180-degree posture are supported by the hinge base 28. The surface of the hinge base 28 becomes a support surface 28a that supports the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 in the 180-degree posture. A groove portion 28b is formed at the center in the width direction (X direction) of the support surface 28a. The groove portion 28b extends over the entire length or substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the support component 28. The groove portion 28b serves as a relief portion for preventing the support surface 28a from crushing the bending region R3 bent in an arc shape in the 0-degree posture.

[0027] A first end portion of the first link arm 30A is rotatably supported around the axis by the first hinge shaft 14A. A first end portion of the second link arm 30B is rotatably supported around the axis by the second hinge shaft 14B. The link arms 30A and 30B have a boomerang-like curved shape that gradually approaches the inner surfaces 12Ab and 12Bb of the housings 12A and 12B in a direction away from the hinge shafts 14A and 14B.

[0028] A second end portion of the first link arm 30A is connected to the first bracket 31A so as to be relatively rotatable using a rotation shaft 34. The first bracket 31A is fixed to the inner surface 12Ab of the first housing 12A using a screw 27 or the like. A second end portion of the second link arm 30B is connected to the second bracket 31B so as to be relatively rotatable using a rotation shaft 35. The second bracket 31B is fixed to the inner surface 12Bb of the second housing 12B using a screw 27 or the like.

[0029] The link arms 30A, 30B and the brackets 31A, 31B are provided so as to be arranged in a plurality along the Y direction which is the longitudinal direction of the hinge base 28 (see FIG. 3). Thereby, the hinge base 28 connects the housings 12A, 12B so as to be relatively rotatable. Inside the hinge base 28, a gear mechanism for synchronizing the rotation operations between the housings 12A, 12B, a torque mechanism for applying a predetermined rotational torque to the rotation operations between the housings 12A, 12B, and the like are also provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a back cover part 36 serving as a decorative cover is attached to the back surface of the hinge base 28. A part of the link arms 30A, 30B is exposed on the support surface 28a of the hinge base 28, and further, the heads of a plurality of screws 28c for fixing the above-described gear mechanism, torque mechanism, and the like are also exposed (see FIG. 3).

[0030] In the 180-degree posture shown in FIG. 4, the hinge base 28 supports the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 of the display 16 with the support surface 28a. At this time, the hinge base 28 is housed in the housings 12A, 12B, and is arranged so as to straddle the adjacent end portions 12Aa, 12Ba that are close to or in contact with each other in the X direction. In the 0-degree posture shown in FIG. 5, the hinge base 28 is arranged so as to close the gap between the largely separated adjacent end portions 12Aa, 12Ba, and serves as the back cover of the electronic device 10 folded like a book. At this time, the back cover part 36 is exposed on the outermost surface, thereby preventing the appearance design of the folded electronic device 10 from deteriorating (see FIG. 1). Further, the support surface 28a faces the bending region R3 in which the groove portion 28b is bent in an arc shape, and the bending region R3 is suppressed from being crushed.

[0031] The support plates 22A, 22B are plates formed of a metal material such as aluminum, and have a symmetric shape. The support plates 22A, 22B are provided on the inner surface 12Ab, 12Bb sides of the housings 12A, 12B, and extend along the adjacent end portions 12Aa, 12Ba over substantially the entire length in the Y direction.

[0032] The first support plate 22A is disposed between the first plate 20A and the hinge base 28. The edge 22Aa on the first plate 20A side of the first support plate 22A is connected to the first bracket 31A so as to be relatively rotatable via the rotation axis 38. The edge 22Ab on the hinge base 28 side of the first support plate 22A is relatively movable with respect to the hinge base 28.

[0033] The second support plate 22B is disposed between the second plate 20B and the hinge base 28. The edge 22Ba on the second plate 20B side of the second support plate 22B is connected to the second bracket 31B so as to be relatively rotatable via the rotation axis 39. The edge 22Bb on the hinge base 28 side of the second support plate 22B is relatively movable with respect to the hinge base 28.

[0034] The support plates 22A and 22B are movable parts that swing about the rotation axes 38 and 39 in accordance with the rotation operation of the housings 12A and 12B. In the 180-degree posture, the first support plate 22A supports the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 of the display 16 by its surface 22Ac. The second support plate 22B supports the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 of the display 16 by its surface 22Bc. In an angular posture other than 180 degrees, the support plates 22A and 22B are in a state where a gap is provided between them and the display 16, or contact the display 16 with a slight force that does not deform the display 16 (see FIG. 5). The support plates 22A and 22B may be configured to support the bending region R3 of the display 16 and correct its shape even in an angular posture other than 180 degrees. Thus, the support plates 22A and 22B stably support the bending region R3 of the display 16 in a plane in the 180-degree posture, while not inhibiting the bending operation of the bending region R3.

[0035] In the 180-degree posture shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edges on the support plate 22A, 22B sides of the plates 20A, 20B and the edges 22Aa, 22Ba of the support plates 22A, 22B form a single flat surface without a step. Similarly, a single flat surface without a step is also formed between the edges 22Ab, 22Bb of the support plates 22A, 22B and the hinge base 28. Thus, in the 180-degree posture, the electronic device 10 is configured to support the back surface 16a of the display 16 forming a single flat large screen with a single flat plate. Therefore, product defects such as curvature, undulation, poor visibility, or display failure of the display 16 are suppressed.

[0036] Reference numeral 44 in FIG. 3 is a slope member protruding from the edges on the support plate 22A, 22B sides of the plates 20A, 20B. The slope member 44 slides on the back surface 16a of the display 16 when rotating from the 180-degree posture to the 0-degree posture, and is a member that assists in correcting the bending region R3 into an appropriate shape (linear shape or curved shape) according to the rotation angle. Concave notches are formed at the edges 22Ab, 22Bb of each support plate 22A, 22B to avoid interference of the slope member 44 in the 180-degree posture. The slope member 44 may be omitted.

[0037] Incidentally, the display 16 of the present embodiment is a touch-operated paper-like flexible display. In the 180-degree posture, the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 is supported by the support surface 28a of the hinge base 28 and the surfaces 22Ac, 22Bc of the support plates 22A, 22B. However, a step is formed on the support surface 28a by the groove portion 28b, and further steps are formed at various locations by screws 28c and the like. Therefore, when performing a touch operation on the display 16, the user may feel the steps on the support surface 28a on the back side of the display 16 through a pen or a fingertip, and the operation feeling deteriorates. In particular, the groove portion 28b extends substantially over the entire length in the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction of the support surface 28a. Therefore, for example, when performing a touch operation such as tracing the bending region R3 in the X direction, the user may directly receive the step due to the groove portion 28b.

[0038] Even if the display 16 is not configured as a touch panel, it is desirable that the step on the support surface 28a does not affect the display 16 as much as possible. The display 16, which is a flexible display, is thin and vulnerable to impacts and the like. For this reason, for example, when the bending region R3 receives a strong impact from the display surface side, if there is a step immediately below it, the display 16 is more likely to malfunction.

[0039] Therefore, next, a more specific configuration example of the display assembly 15 having a configuration for stably supporting the bending region R3 of the display 16 will be described.

[0040] FIG. 6A is a schematic exploded perspective view of the display assembly 15. FIG. 6B is a view showing the sheet-like member 21 shown in FIG. 6A placed on the plates 20A and 20B. FIG. 7A is a schematic bottom view of the display 16. FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display assembly 15. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the sheet-like member 21 and the plates 20A and 20B shown in FIG. 6B. FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the sheet-like member 21.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6B, the display assembly 15 has a configuration in which the back surfaces 16a of the regions R1 and R2 of the display 16 are fixed to the plates 20A and 20B, and the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 is supported by a sheet-like member 21 straddling the gap C between the plates 20A and 20B.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 6A to 7B, the display 16 of the present embodiment has a display body 40 and a back sheet 42 laminated on the back surface 40a of the display body 40. The display body 40 has a display surface 16b of the display 16 that displays display surface images and pictures. A touch panel can also be laminated on the display surface 16b. The reference numeral 40b in FIG. 6A is a wiring connected to one edge portion of the display body 40.

[0043] The back sheet 42 is fixed to the back surface 40a of the display body 40 with an adhesive such as double-sided adhesive tape. The back sheet 42 forms the back surface 16a of the display 16. The back sheet 42 is a support sheet for supporting the display body 40 and assisting the bending operation. The back sheet 42 covers the entire back surface 40a of the display body 40 across the regions R1 and R2. The back sheet 42 is, for example, a thin stainless steel flexible sheet. The thickness of the back sheet 42 is, for example, 0.15 mm.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the back sheet 42 can be constituted by, for example, a punching metal sheet or a mesh sheet in which a large number of holes 42a and 42b are formed therethrough. The back sheet 42 has an opening ratio (opening area per unit area) of the holes 42a in the bending region R3 larger than that of the holes 42b in the regions R1 and R2. Thereby, the sheet-like member 30 ensures a flexible bending operation in the bending region R3. As a result, the display assembly 15 can cause the display 16 to draw a stable arc shape during the bending operation. In the non-bending regions R1 and R2, the holes 42b may be omitted, but the provision of the holes 42b aims to reduce the weight.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6B and 8, the plates 20A and 20B are arranged with a gap C provided between the end faces of the edge portions 20Ab and 20Bb that face each other in the 180-degree posture. In the 180-degree posture, the gap C is arranged so as to be filled by the hinge base 28 and the support plates 22A and 22B. These hinge base 28 and support plates 22A and 22B serve as support components for supporting the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 of the display 16 that is not supported by the plates 20A and 20B in the 180-degree posture.

[0046] The back surfaces 16a of the regions R1 and R2 of the display 16 are fixed to the displays of the plates 20A and 20B with the adhesives 23A and 23B. The adhesives 23A and 23B in this embodiment are double-sided adhesive tapes formed of, for example, an optically clear adhesive (OCA). The thickness of the adhesives 23A and 23B is, for example, 0.05 mm.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 8, the adhesives 23A and 23B are provided on substantially the entire surfaces 20Aa and 20Ba of the plates 20A and 20B, but are not provided on the surfaces 20Aa and 20Ba of the edge portions 20Ab and 20Bb. In the present application, the edge portions 20Ab and 20Bb refer to strip-shaped regions including a range from the end faces of the plates 20A and 20B facing each other to a predetermined width W in the X direction. The width W can be, for example, about 5 to 15 mm when the display 16 is 16.3 inches. Therefore, the plates 20A and 20B are formed with strip-shaped non-adhesive regions Ra and Rb where the adhesives 23A and 23B are not installed on the surfaces 20Aa and 20Ba of the edge portions 20Ab and 20Bb indicated by the width W.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the sheet-like member 21 is disposed across the gap C between the edge portions 20Ab and 20Bb of the plates 20A and 20B. The sheet-like member 21 has a strip shape that is narrow in the X direction and long in the Y direction. The first end portion 21a of the sheet-like member 21 is placed on the non-adhesive region Ra which is the surface 20Aa of the edge portion 20Ab. The second end portion 21b of the sheet-like member 21 is placed on the non-adhesive region Rb which is the surface 20Ba of the edge portion 20Bb. The first end portion 21a is an end portion extending in the Y direction on the first plate 20A side. The second end portion 21b is an end portion extending in the Y direction on the second plate 20B side.

[0049] As described above, the non-adhesive regions Ra and Rb are not provided with the adhesives 23A and 23B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, a clearance space S corresponding to the thickness of the adhesives 23A and 23B is formed above the non-adhesive regions Ra and Rb. The clearance space S is a clearance formed between the back surface 16a of the display 16 and the front surfaces 20Aa and 20Ba of the plates 20A and 20B. The sheet-like member 21 is supported between the display 16 and the plates 20A and 20B by inserting its end portions 21a and 21b into the respective clearance spaces S.

[0050] Since the sheet-like member 21 is not fixed to the display 16 and the plates 20A and 20B, it is in a state where it can move freely relative to the X direction. As shown in FIG. 8, a movement margin M, which is a clearance in the X direction, is formed between the end portions 21a and 21b of the sheet-like member 21 and the end portions 23Aa and 23Ba of the adhesives 23A and 23B. The end portions 23Aa and 23Ba are the end portions of the adhesives 23A and 23B facing the clearance C side. The movement margin M is a clearance for allowing the relative movement of the sheet-like member 21 in the X direction.

[0051] In the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment, in order to prevent the display 16 from being damaged or malfunctioning due to the stretching force when the housings 12A and 12B rotate, the rotation center between the housings 12A and 12B is made to coincide with the front surface (display surface 16b) of the display 16. Therefore, the sheet-like member 21, which is below the display 16 and outside the rotation center between the housings 12A and 12B, undergoes a stretching and contracting operation. Thus, since the sheet-like member 21 can move in the X direction via the movement margin M, deformations such as undulations and wrinkles when receiving such a stretching and contracting operation are suppressed. Also, it is suppressed that the sheet-like member 21 deforms into an unintended shape and affects the bent shape of the display 16.

[0052] The thickness of the sheet-like member 21 is preferably approximately the same as the thickness of the adhesive agents 23A and 23B, which is the thickness of the gap space S (for example, 0.05 mm). This is because the end portions 21a and 21b of the sheet-like member 21 can be stably supported by the gap space S. Considering the slippage of the sheet-like member 21 with respect to the display 16 and the plates 20A and 20B, the thickness of the sheet-like member 21 may be slightly greater than the thickness of the gap space S.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 9, the sheet-like member 21 of the present embodiment can be a laminated sheet having a first sheet 50 formed of metal and a second sheet 51 formed of a metal different from the first sheet 50.

[0054] The first sheet 50 is, for example, a stainless steel sheet. The second sheet 51 is, for example, a copper sheet or an aluminum sheet. The second sheet 51 can also be constituted by a sheet made of a copper alloy or an aluminum alloy. The second sheet 51 has the same or slightly smaller outer shape as the first sheet 50. The second sheet 51 is fixed to one surface of the first sheet 50 over its entire surface using, for example, a thin double-sided adhesive tape. In the case of the present embodiment, the thickness of the first sheet 50 is, for example, 0.03 mm, and the thickness of the second sheet 51 is, for example, 0.02 mm. Note that the thickness of the double-sided adhesive tape for laminating the sheets 50 and 51 is, for example, 0.01 mm or less. Therefore, the thickness of the sheet-like member 21 is about 0.05 mm to 0.06 mm.

[0055] The sheet-like member 21 is preferably arranged such that the first sheet 50 formed of a stainless steel sheet is disposed on the back surface 16a side of the display 16. That is, the back surface 16a of the display 16 is constituted by a back surface sheet 42 also made of stainless steel. Therefore, if it is made of a copper sheet softer than stainless steel, this soft second sheet 51 slides on the back surface sheet 42. Then, the second sheet 51 may be damaged at the edge of the hole portion 42a or generate abnormal noise, and the smooth movement of the sheet-like member 21 may be hindered. On the other hand, the first sheet 50 formed of a stainless steel sheet is hardly damaged at the edge of the hole portion 42a of the back surface sheet 42, and it is difficult for catching or the like to occur. For this reason, the sheet-like member 21 is preferably arranged in such a direction that the first sheet 50 made of the same material as the back surface sheet 42 contacts the back surface sheet 42.

[0056] The sheet-like member 21 is allowed to move by a distance of the movement allowance M in the X direction, but further movement is prevented because the end portions 21a and 21b are locked to the end portions 23Aa and 23Ba of the adhesives 23A and 23B. Therefore, the end portions 21a and 21b of the sheet-like member 21 do not fall off into the gap C.

[0057] Even if the sheet-like member 21 is made freely movable in the Y direction, it does not contribute to the above-described expansion and contraction operation. Moreover, if the sheet-like member 21 moves in the Y direction, there is also a concern that it may be displaced so as to protrude from the end faces in the Y direction of the plates 20A and 20B.

[0058] Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 9, the sheet-like member 21 can also have a configuration provided with convex portions 52 and 53. The convex portions 52 and 53 are each provided so as to protrude outward from the second end portion 21b. The convex portion 52 is, for example, a semi-circular protrusion. The convex portion 53 is, for example, a rectangular protrusion.

[0059] At the end 23Ba of the second adhesive 23B facing the second end 21b, recesses 54 and 55 in which the protrusions 52 and 53 can be arranged are provided. The recesses 54 and 55 are each provided so as to be recessed inward from the end 23Ba. The recess 54 is, for example, a semi-circular recess. The recess 55 is, for example, a rectangular protrusion.

[0060] The width of the recesses 54 and 55 in the X direction is larger than the width of the protrusions 52 and 53 in the X direction. This dimensional difference is the movement margin M for allowing relative movement of the sheet-like member 21 in the X direction. On the other hand, the width of the recesses 54 and 55 in the Y direction is substantially the same as the width of the protrusions 52 and 53 in the Y direction. Thus, by the recess 54 preventing the movement of the protrusion 52 in the Y direction and the recess 55 preventing the movement of the protrusion 53 in the Y direction, displacement of the sheet-like member 21 in the Y direction is prevented. Therefore, it is preferable that the protrusions 52 and 53 are formed on the first sheet 50 having higher rigidity than the second sheet 51. The protrusions 52 and 53 may be formed on the second sheet 51 or may be formed on the sheets 50 and 51.

[0061] Also, since the protrusions 52 and 53 and the recesses 54 and 55 are different in shape from each other, it is also possible to prevent the installation posture of the sheet-like member 21 with respect to the plates 20A and 20B from being mistaken. That is, the protrusion 52 is aligned with the recess 54 and the protrusion 53 is aligned with the recess 55. Then, the sheet-like member 21 automatically assumes an installation posture in which the first sheet 50 is arranged on the back sheet 42 side, improving the manufacturing efficiency. The protrusions 52 and 53 and the recesses 54 and 55 may be provided on the first end 21a side or may be appropriately provided on each of the ends 21a and 21b.

[0062] As described above, the display assembly 15 of the present embodiment includes a sheet-like member 21 that spans the gap C between the plates 20A and 20B. The first end 21a of the sheet-like member 21 is supported between the surface 20Aa of the edge (first edge) 20Ab of the first plate 20A and the back surface 16a of the display 16. The second end 21b of the sheet-like member 21 is supported between the surface 20Ba of the edge (second edge) 20Bb of the second plate 20B and the back surface 16a of the display 16. Thereby, when the display 16 is in a 180-degree posture, the sheet-like member 21 can support the back surface 16a of the bending region R3 in a state of spanning the gap C.

[0063] Therefore, the display assembly 15 can stably support and reinforce the back surface 16a side of the bending region R3 of the display 16 with the sheet-like member 21. For this reason, when the display assembly 15 is mounted on the electronic device 10, even if the back side of the bending region R3 cannot be supported by a flat member, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the touch operation feeling and the occurrence of problems due to the fall of a pen or the like. In particular, the electronic device 10 including the display assembly 15 of the present embodiment has a step on the support surface 28a of the hinge base 28, which is a support component that supports the back surface 16a of the display 16. However, since the display assembly 15 includes the sheet-like member 21, it is possible to prevent this step from being directly transmitted to the display 16. As a result, the bent display 16 can be stably supported, and problems due to the fall of foreign objects can also be suppressed.

[0064] The sheet-like member 21 is preferably capable of relative movement in the arrangement direction (X direction) of the plates 20A and 20B with respect to the plates 20A and 20B and the display 16. Thereby, when the bending region R3 of the display 16 is bent, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of deformation such as undulation and wrinkles in the sheet-like member 21 that receives an inner-ring difference at a position deviated from the bending center. Only one of the end portions 21a and 21b of the sheet-like member 21 may be freely movable, and the other may be fixed to the plate 20A or 20B, and the above-described absorption of the inner-ring difference is possible. However, it is preferable that both end portions 21a and 21b of the sheet-like member 21 are in a freely movable state. This is because when one of the end portions 21a and 21b is fixed, the sheet-like member 21 presses the bending region R3 of the display 16 that draws a substantially bell shape shown in FIG. 5 during bending, affects the bell shape, and may cause a defect in the display 16.

[0065] The sheet-like member 21 is preferably a laminated sheet having a first sheet 50 formed of metal and a second sheet 51 laminated on one surface of the first sheet 50 and formed of a metal different from that of the first sheet 50. Consider the case where the sheet-like member 21 is formed of a single stainless steel sheet same as the first sheet 50. In such a configuration, depending on the thickness of the sheet-like member 21 and the structure of the hinge device 14 that connects the casings 12A and 12B, etc., it was confirmed by the prototype of the electronic device 10 that the stainless steel sheet may bend and generate a rattling abnormal noise when the bending operation is repeated.

[0066] Therefore, the sheet-like member 21 is preferably a laminated sheet of two different metals. It was confirmed that in this way, by utilizing the fact that the metal types of the sheets 50 and 51 are different and their mutual vibration frequencies are different, the generation of the above abnormal noise can be suppressed. The sheet-like member 21 may be composed of a single sheet. Even if it is a single sheet, depending on its thickness and the structure of the hinge device 14, etc., there are cases where the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed even with a single sheet, and the supporting action of the display 16 can be sufficiently exhibited.

[0067] It is preferable that the sheet-like member 21 has the first sheet 50 made of a stainless steel sheet and the second sheet 51 made of a copper sheet or an aluminum sheet. By doing so, it becomes possible to stably support the display 16 while forming each of the sheets 50 and 51 extremely thinly, and abnormal noises can also be suppressed. As described above, when the display 16 includes the back sheet 42, it is preferable that the sheet-like member 21 has the first sheet 50, which is a stainless steel sheet having higher rigidity and better slipperiness than a copper sheet or an aluminum sheet, disposed on the side of the back sheet 42.

[0068] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that it can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0069] In the above, the electronic device 10 that can be folded in two as described above was exemplified. However, the present invention is applicable to various configurations other than the configuration in which the same-shaped housings are folded in two, for example, a double-door configuration in which small housings are foldably connected to the left and right edge portions of a large housing, an S-shaped folding configuration in which housings with different folding directions are connected to the left and right edge portions of one housing, a J-shaped folding configuration in which a small housing is foldably connected to one of the left and right edge portions of a large housing, etc. The number of connections of the housings may be four or more. In this case, the display assembly 15 may have a configuration corresponding to such a housing connection structure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0070] 10 Electronic device 12A First housing 12B Second housing 14 Hinge device 15 Display assembly 16 Display 20A First plate 20B Second plate 21 Sheet-like member 22A First support plate 22B Second support plate 23A First adhesive 23B Second adhesive 28 Hinge base 40 Display body 42 Back sheet 50 First sheet 51 Second sheet 52, 53 Protrusions 54, 55 Recesses

Claims

1. A display assembly, comprising: a first plate having a first edge; a second plate rotatably provided relative to the first plate between a first posture in which the surface directions of the two are arranged side by side left and right and a second posture in which the surface directions of the two are stacked so as to overlap each other, and having a second edge disposed with a gap between it and the first edge in the first posture; a display formed in a sheet shape extending between the first plate and the second plate, wherein a first region on the first plate side is fixed to a range on the surface of the first plate excluding at least the first edge, a second region on the second plate side is fixed to a range on the surface of the second plate excluding at least the second edge, and a bent region between the first region and the second region is arranged so as to straddle the gap; a sheet-like member whose first end is supported between the surface of the first edge and the back surface of the display, and whose second end is supported between the surface of the second edge and the back surface of the display, so that the back surface of the bent region can be supported in a state straddling the gap in the first posture; A display assembly, characterized by comprising the above.

2. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like member is a first sheet formed of metal, and a second sheet laminated on one surface of the first sheet and formed of a metal different from that of the first sheet; a laminated sheet having the above A display assembly, characterized by the above.

3. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first sheet is a stainless steel sheet, and the second sheet is a copper sheet or an aluminum sheet. A display assembly, characterized by the above.

4. The display assembly according to claim 3, wherein the display is a display body for displaying an image, and a stainless steel back sheet covering the back surface of the display body from the first region to the second region; having the above the back sheet has a plurality of holes at least at a position overlapping the back surface of the bent region, and the sheet-like member is arranged with the first sheet in contact with the back sheet. A display assembly, characterized by the above.

5. The display assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The sheet-like member is movable relative to the first plate, the second plate, and the display in the direction in which the first plate and the second plate are arranged. A display assembly characterized by this.

6. The display assembly according to claim 5, The first region is fixed by a first adhesive provided in a range excluding at least the surface of the first edge portion among the surfaces of the first plate, The second region is fixed by a second adhesive provided in a range excluding at least the surface of the second edge portion among the surfaces of the second plate, The first end portion is inserted into a gap space between the surface of the first edge portion formed by the thickness of the first adhesive and the back surface of the display, The second end portion is inserted into a gap space between the surface of the second edge portion formed by the thickness of the second adhesive and the back surface of the display. A display assembly characterized by this.

7. The display assembly according to claim 6, At least one of the first adhesive and the second adhesive is provided with a recess in a part of the end portion facing the gap side, At least one of the first end portion and the second end portion of the sheet-like member facing the recess has a convex portion provided with a movement allowance in the arrangement direction and inserted into the recess. A display assembly characterized by this.

8. An electronic device, A first housing, A second housing that is adjacent to the first housing and is relatively rotatably connected between a first posture in which the surface directions of the two are arranged side by side left and right with respect to the first housing and a second posture in which the surface directions of the two are stacked so as to overlap, A first plate having a first edge portion and supported by the first housing, A second plate supported by the second housing and having a second edge portion arranged with a gap between the second edge portion and the first edge portion in the first posture, A display formed in a sheet shape extending between the first plate and the second plate, wherein a first region on the first plate side is fixed in a range excluding at least the first edge portion on the surface of the first plate, a second region on the second plate side is fixed in a range excluding at least the second edge portion on the surface of the second plate, and a bent region between the first region and the second region is arranged so as to straddle the gap, whereby the bent region is bent in response to relative rotation between the first housing and the second housing. A sheet-like member that is supported between the surface of the first edge portion and the back surface of the display at the first end portion and is supported between the surface of the second edge portion and the back surface of the display at the second end portion, so that the back surface of the bending region can be supported in a state straddling the gap in the first posture. An electronic device characterized by comprising the same. **Claim 9** The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the sheet-like member is a first sheet formed of metal, and a second sheet laminated on one surface of the first sheet and formed of a metal different from the first sheet. The electronic device is a laminated sheet having the same. characterized by the above. **Claim 10** The electronic device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a support component is provided that extends along the adjacent ends of the first housing and the second housing so as to straddle the adjacent ends, is disposed so as to fill the gap in the second posture, and supports the back surface of the bending region with the sheet-like member interposed therebetween. An electronic device characterized by comprising the same.

Images