Granted Patent B2

US 12,455,597 · App. 18/185,177 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Inventors: Tae Chang Kim (Yongin-si, KR); Sung Sang Ahn (Yongin-si, KR); Tae Hoon Yang (Yongin-si, KR); Byoung Su Lee (Gyeonggi-do, KR)

Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

G06F1/1652G06F1/1624G06F1/1681

Abstract

Claims (72)

1. A display device, comprising:

a display panel comprising a first active area and a second active area that is adjacent to the first active area in a first direction, the second active area configured to slide from the first active area in the first direction;

an input unit disposed adjacent to the display panel;

a hinge having a folding axis in the first direction and configured to couple the display panel to the input unit so that the display panel and the input unit are configured to be folded on the folding axis; and

a first motor gear configured to provide power for a sliding operation of the second active area of the display panel,

wherein the display panel comprises a first slide for sliding the second active area of the display panel in the first direction,

wherein the first motor gear is disposed on one side of the hinge in the first direction to engage with the first slide,

wherein both the hinge and the first motor gear are disposed between the display panel and the input unit,

wherein the first slide comprises:

a first lower slide; and

a first upper slide spaced apart from the first lower slide in a second direction intersecting the first direction,

wherein a roller is disposed between the first lower slide and the first upper slide, and

wherein the second active area of the display panel is bent to surround at least a part of the roller.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the first lower slide comprises a rack gear extended in the first direction, and

wherein the first motor gear is engaged with the rack gear to move the rack gear in the first direction.

3. The display device of claim 2 , further comprising:

a gearing configured to connect the first motor gear with the rack gear,

wherein the first motor gear has a bevel gear shape, and

wherein the gearing comprises a first gear engaged with the first motor gear as a bevel gear and a pinion gear disposed on an opposite side to the first gear and engaged with the rack gear.

4. The display device of claim 2 , wherein the second active area of the display panel comprises a first end adjacent to the first active area and a second end disposed opposite to the first end,

wherein a panel connector is disposed on the second end of the second active area,

wherein the first lower slide further comprises a guide disposed adjacent to the rack gear, and

wherein at least a part of the panel connector is engaged with the guide.

5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the first upper slide, the first lower slide and the roller all move together.

6. The display device of claim 5 , wherein the rack gear and the guide of the first lower slide both move together.

7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein when the first lower slide is moved by a first unit in the first direction by the first motor gear, the panel connector moves further by the first unit on the guide of the first lower slide.

8. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display panel comprises a third active area disposed opposite to the second active area with the first active area disposed therebetween and a first subsidiary area protruding from the first active are in the second direction,

wherein the display panel further comprises a first protrusion that protrudes from the display panel in a second direction intersecting the first direction and is coupled with an end of the hinge, a second protrusion that protrudes from the display panel in the second direction and coupled with an opposite end of the hinge, and a second slide for sliding the third active area in the first direction,

wherein the first motor gear is accommodated in the first protrusion of the display panel and is engaged with the first slide, and

wherein the display device further comprises a second motor gear accommodated in the second protrusion and engaged with the second slide to provide power for a slide operation of the third active area.

9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the hinge is disposed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

10. The display device of claim 9 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured to rotate about the folding axis.

11. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the first subsidiary area is disposed in the display panel such that it is bent.

12. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the first subsidiary area is extended to the input unit through the hinge.

13. The display device of claim 8 , further comprising a second subsidiary area opposite to the first subsidiary area with the second active area disposed therebetween.

14. A housing case, comprising:

a display unit in which a display panel is accommodated;

an input unit disposed on one side of the display unit; and

a hinge having a folding axis in a first direction and disposed between the display unit and the input unit to couple them with each other,

wherein the display unit comprises:

a first panel housing adjacent to the input unit with the hinge disposed therebetween;

a second panel housing configured to slide in the first direction from the first panel housing;

a slide disposed between the first panel housing and the second panel housing and configured to slide the second panel housing; and

a motor gear disposed on one side of the hinge in the first direction and engaged with the slide to provide power for a slide operation of the second panel housing,

wherein both the hinge and the motor gear are disposed between the display unit and the input unit,

wherein the first slide comprises:

a first lower slide; and

a first upper slide spaced apart from the first lower slide in a second direction intersecting the first direction,

wherein a roller is disposed between the first lower slide and the first upper slide, and

wherein the second active area of the display panel is bent to surround at least a part of the roller.

15. The housing case of claim 14 , wherein the display unit further comprises a protrusion that protrudes from the first panel housing in a second direction intersecting the first direction, is coupled with one end of the hinge, and accommodates the motor gear,

wherein the slide comprises a lower slide disposed adjacent to the protrusion and an upper slide spaced apart from the lower slide in the second direction, and

wherein a roller is disposed between the lower slide and the upper slide, the display panel being bent around the roller.

16. The housing case of claim 15 , wherein the lower slide comprises a rack gear extended in the first direction, and

wherein the motor gear is engaged with the rack gear to move the rack gear in the first direction.

17. The housing case of claim 16 , further comprising:

a gearing configured to connect the motor gear with the rack gear,

wherein the motor gear has a bevel gear shape, and

wherein the gearing comprises a gear engaged with the motor gear as a bevel gear and a pinion gear disposed on an opposite side to the gear engaged with the motor gear and engaged with the rack gear.

18. The housing case of claim 17 , wherein a rotation axis of the motor gear extends the first direction, and wherein a rotation axis of the gear engaged with the motor gear extends in the second direction.

19. The housing case of claim 17 , wherein the motor gear has a bevel gear shape that becomes narrower toward one side in the first direction, and wherein the gear engaged with the motor gear of the gearing has a bevel gear shape that becomes narrower toward one side in the second direction.

20. A housing case, comprising:

a display unit that slides in a first direction;

an input unit disposed on one side of the display unit;

a hinge having a folding shaft in the first direction and disposed between the display unit and the input unit to couple them with each other; and

a drive motor disposed on one side of the hinge in the first direction to provide power for a sliding operation of the display unit,

wherein both the hinge and the drive motor are disposed between the display unit and the input unit,

wherein the first slide comprises:

a first lower slide; and

a first upper slide spaced apart from the first lower slide in a second direction intersecting the first direction,

wherein a roller is disposed between the first lower slide and the first upper slide, and

wherein the second active area of the display panel is bent to surround at least a part of the roller.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (25)

Cited By (1)

US 12,693,703