Flexible display
Disclosed is a flexible display that is slim for flexibility, is controlled in stiffness, and has improved reliability owing to a structure of a non-folding portion thereof.
1. A flexible display comprising:
a display panel;
a plate comprising a first surface facing a surface of the display panel and a second surface facing away from the surface of the display panel, the plate being divided into at least one folding portion and a non-folding portion adjacent to the folding portion, the folding portion having a stiffness less than that of the non-folding portion;
a fastener coupled to the non-folding portion of the plate through at least one hole in the plate, the at least one hole being adjacent to an edge of the non-folding portion of the second surface of the plate, the fastener having a body protruding from the second surface of the plate; and
a supporter between the fastener and the second surface of the plate.
2. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a metal bolt positioned on the second surface of the plate.
3. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener is one of a plurality of fasteners arranged on the second surface of the plate along the edge of the non-folding portion adjacent to opposite sides of the folding portion.
4. The flexible display according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fasteners are a plurality of metal bolts.
5. The flexible display according to claim 3 , wherein at least two of the plurality of fasteners are located adjacent to respective sides of the non-folding portion of the lower plate.
6. The flexible display according to claim 3 , wherein the supporter extends through an area where the plurality of fasteners is positioned.
7. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener is provided at a corner of the non-folding portion in the second surface of the plate.
8. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein
the body of the fastener protrudes from the second surface of the plate by a first height; and
a flange coupled to the body of the fastener and on the second surface of the plate, the flange having a first thickness smaller than the first height.
9. The flexible display according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one hole is filled with a part of a component of the flange.
10. The flexible display according to claim 8 , wherein the flange includes a protrusion on a surface of the flange and the protrusion is fitted into the at least one hole.
11. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hole adjacent to the edge of the non-folding portion of the second surface of the lower plate is filled with after the fastener is welded to the lower plate.
12. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein the supporter has a stiffness greater than that of the non-folding portion of the plate.
13. The flexible display according to claim 12 , wherein the supporter comprises one or more discontinuous portions.
14. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein the supporter is aligned with the fastener, and has a width equal to or greater than a diameter of the fastener.
15. The flexible display according to claim 1 , further comprising a case structure configured to accommodate therein the display panel, the plate, the fastener, and the supporter.
16. The flexible display according to claim 1 , wherein the supporter comprises a flat portion in contact with the second surface of the plate, and a protruding portion bent from a side of the flat portion, and
wherein the non-folding portion of the plate comprises a groove that receives the protruding portion.
17. The flexible display of claim 1 , wherein the supporter is another plate to overlap with a region that extends along at least three edges of the plate.
18. The flexible display of claim 1 , wherein the supporter includes a U-shaped portion and a straight portion.
19. The flexible display according to claim 1 , further comprising a case structure configured to accommodate therein the display panel, the plate, and the fastener.
20. The flexible display of claim 1 , wherein the folding portion includes a plurality of openings extending from a first end of the folding portion to a second end of the folding portion.
21. The flexible display of claim 1 , wherein a region of the non-folding portion coupled with the fastener has a stiffness more than that of another region of the non-folding portion.
22. A flexible display comprising:
a display panel;
a plate comprising a first surface facing a surface of the display panel and a second surface facing away from the surface of the display panel, the plate being divided into at least one folding portion and a non-folding portion adjacent to the folding portion, the folding portion having a stiffness less than that of the non-folding portion;
a fastener coupled to the non-folding portion of the plate through at least one hole in the plate, the at least one hole being adjacent to an edge of the non-folding portion of the second surface of the plate; and
a supporter positioned between the plate and the fastener.