IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,983,629
Granted Patent B2
US 9,983,629 · App. 14/834,987 · Granted May 29, 2018

Electronic device including flexible display element

Inventors: Jae-Hun Ko (Seoul, KR); Jung-Hyun Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G06F1/1652G06F1/163G06F1/1681A44C5/0053
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,983,629
App. No.
14/834,987
Granted
May 29, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a main body including a rigid section portion, and a flexible section portion extending from at least one side of the rigid section portion, and a display element, at least a portion of which is disposed on the rigid section portion and another portion is disposed on the flexible section portion. The flexible section portion is bendable to be curved in relation to the rigid section portion, and the display element may be bent to be curved in relation to the rigid section portion together with the flexible section portion.

Claims (51)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a main body comprising a rigid section portion, and two flexible section portions extend from opposite sides of the rigid section portion in a direction away from each other; and

a display element, at least a portion of which is disposed on the rigid section portion and another portion is disposed on the two flexible section portions,

wherein the two flexible section portions are configured to be bendable to be curved in relation to the rigid section portion,

wherein the display element is bent to be curved in relation to the rigid section portion together with the two flexible section portions,

wherein a portion of the display element is mounted to be fixed to the rigid section portion, and another portion of the display element is slidably mounted to the two flexible section portions,

wherein the another portion of the display element is slid along an extending direction of the two flexible section portions with respect to the two flexible section portions as the two flexible section portions are bent, and

wherein a wearing unit extends from each flexible section portion of the two flexible section portions.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the two flexible section portions comprise:

at least one pair of rotary members, and

hinge members inserted into and fixed to the at least one pair of rotary members, respectively, and

wherein the hinge members, which are adjacent to each other, are coupled to each other so as to rotatably connect the at least one pair of rotary members.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein one of the hinge members is coupled to the rigid section portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 ,

wherein the two flexible section portions further comprise:

support slits formed on opposite sides of an outer surface of the at least one pair of rotary members, respectively, and

wherein edges of the display element are accommodated in the support slits, respectively.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 ,

wherein the rigid section portion comprises additional support slits formed on opposite sides of an outer surface thereof, respectively, and

wherein the additional support slits of the rigid section portion and the support slits of the two flexible section portions are connected to each other so as to partially accommodate and support opposite edges of the display element, respectively.

6. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the two flexible section portions further comprise:

a free stop module configured to:

connect the hinge members to each other, and

provide a restraint force to maintain the hinge members in a stopped state in relation to each other.

7. The electronic device of claim 2 ,

wherein the two flexible section portions further comprise:

a guide member protruding from a first surface of each of the at least one pair of rotary members, and

an accommodation recess formed on a second surface of each of the at least one pair of rotary members, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, and

wherein, as the two flexible section portions are bent, the guide member of one of the at least one pair of rotary members in the pair is selectively accommodated in the accommodation recess of another one of the at least one pair of rotary members in the pair.

8. The electronic device of claim 2 ,

wherein the two flexible section portions further comprise:

inclined surfaces which are inclined in relation to each other and face each other in the at least one pair of rotary members, and

wherein, as the at least one pair of rotary members are rotated in relation to each other, the inclined surfaces of the at least one pair of rotary members selectively come in contact with each other.

9. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one pair of rotary members comprise a seating recess opened above the surface on which the display element is mounted.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the display element is fixed to the outer surface of each of the rigid section portion and the two flexible section portions, and

wherein, as the two flexible section portions are bent, a length of an inner surface of the two flexible section portions is contracted or extended.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the two flexible section portions further comprise:

a band member configured to be bendable in a direction curved in relation to the rigid section portion; and

a chain member comprising at least one pair of hinge members accommodated in the band member and rotatably coupled to each other.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 ,

wherein the two flexible section portions further comprise:

a first fixing member configured to fix one end of the chain member to a first point of the band member, and

a second fixing member configured to be fixed to a second point of the band member and is slidably coupled to the other end of the chain member, and

wherein, as the two flexible section portions are bent, the second fixing member is slid in the other end of the chain member.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the two flexible section portions further comprise:

a free stop module configured to:

connect the at least one pair of hinge members to each other, and

provide a restraint force so as to maintain the at least one pair of hinge members in a stopped position in relation to the at least one pair of hinge members.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the band member is formed in a bellows structure on the inner surface of the two flexible section portions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2015
From: KO, JAE-HUN; KIM, JUNG-HYUN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 036415/0125 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0133192 · Aug 28, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160062410A1 · Mar 3, 2016