Foldable display device

1. A display device comprising:

a flexible display module configured to display an image on a display surface, the flexible display module comprising:

a display panel comprising a light-emitting device; and

a sensor unit disposed on the display panel,

wherein the sensor unit comprises a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor,

wherein, in a folded-in mode in which the flexible display module is folded along a bending axis, a portion of the display surface faces another portion of the display surface,

wherein, in the folded-in mode, the first and second sensors overlap with each other and are capacitively coupled to each other,

wherein the display device is configured to sense a first pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-in mode based on a first capacitance between the first and second sensors facing each other,

wherein the first and second sensors are configured to sense a touch of a user in a normal mode, and

wherein the display device is configured to determine a magnitude of the first pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-in mode based on the first capacitance.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first sensor and the second sensor are disposed symmetrically with respect to the bending axis in the folded-in mode; and

the first capacitance is a variation in capacitance between the first sensor and the second sensor in the folded-in mode.

3. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a force sensor disposed under the display panel,

wherein the display device further comprises a back side opposing the display surface,

wherein, in a folded-outward mode in which the flexible display module is folded such that a portion of the back side faces another portion of the back side, the display device is configured to determine a second pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-outward mode based on output from the force sensor.

4. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the second pressure is sensed by sensing a variation in capacitance in the folded-outward mode.

5. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the force sensor comprises a strain gauge.

6. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:

the light-emitting device comprises a front surface light emitting area and a back surface light emitting area; and

the display panel is configured to emit light from both the front surface light emitting area and the back surface light emitting area.

7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein the light-emitting device further comprises:

a first reflection layer disposed on a base layer and overlapping with the front surface light emitting area;

a first anode disposed on the first reflection layer and overlapping with the front surface light emitting area;

a second anode disposed on the base layer and overlapping with the back surface light emitting area;

a light-emitting layer disposed on the first anode and the second anode, the light-emitting layer overlapping with the front surface light emitting area and the back surface light emitting area;

a cathode disposed on the light-emitting layer and overlapping with the front surface light emitting area and the back surface light emitting area; and

a second reflection layer disposed on the cathode and overlapping with the back surface light emitting area.

8. The display device of claim 7 , further comprising:

a first force sensor disposed between the second reflection layer and the sensor unit, the first force sensor being configured to sense pressure applied to the flexible display module in at least a mode other than the folded-in mode.

9. The display device of claim 8 , further comprising:

a second force sensor disposed under the display panel,

wherein the display device further comprises a back side opposing the display surface,

wherein, in a folded-outward mode in which the flexible display module is folded such that a portion of the back side faces another portion of the back side, the display device is configured to determine a second pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-outward mode based on output from the second force sensor.

10. The display device of claim 7 , further comprising:

a first force sensor disposed on the second reflection layer, the first force sensor being configured to sense pressure applied to the flexible display module in at least a mode other than the folded-in mode; and

a reflection member disposed on the first force sensor and overlapping with the front surface light emitting area and the back surface light emitting area.

11. A display device comprising:

a flexible display module configured to display an image on a display surface; and

a force sensor,

wherein the flexible display module comprises:

a first display panel comprising a light-emitting device; and

a sensor unit disposed on the first display panel,

wherein the sensor unit comprises a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor,

wherein, in a folded-in mode in which the flexible display module is folded along a bending axis, a portion of the display surface faces another portion of the display surface,

wherein, in the folded-in mode, the first and second sensors overlap with each other and are capacitively coupled to each other,

wherein the first and second sensors are configured to sense a first pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-in mode based on a first capacitance between the first and second sensors facing each other,

wherein the first and second sensors are configured to sense a touch of a user in a normal mode,

wherein the force sensor is disposed under the first display panel,

wherein the flexible display module further comprises a back side opposing the display surface,

wherein, in a folded-outward mode in which the flexible display module is folded such that a portion of the back side faces another portion of the back side, the force sensor is configured to sense a second pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-outward mode, and

wherein the display device is configured to determine a magnitude of the first pressure applied to the flexible display module in the folded-in mode based on the first capacitance.

12. The display device of claim 11 , wherein the second pressure is sensed by sensing a variation in capacitance in the folded-outward mode.

13. The display device of claim 11 , wherein the force sensor comprises a strain gauge.

14. The display device of claim 11 , further comprising:

a second display panel comprising a light-emitting device,

wherein the second display panel is disposed under the force sensor.

15. The display device of claim 14 , wherein the force sensor comprises:

a first force-sensing electrode;

a second force-sensing electrode capacitively coupled to the first force-sensing electrode; and

a pressure cushion disposed between the first force-sensing electrode and the second force-sensing electrode.

16. The display device of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first force-sensing electrode and the second force-sensing electrode is electrically connected to the sensor unit.

17. A display device comprising:

a flexible display module configured to display an image on a display surface, the flexible display module comprising:

a display panel comprising a light-emitting device; and

a sensor unit disposed on the display panel,

wherein the sensor unit comprises a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor,

wherein, in a first state in which the flexible display module is folded along a bending axis, a portion of the display surface faces another portion of the display surface,

wherein, in the first state, the first and second sensors overlap with each other and are capacitively coupled to each other,

wherein, in response to pressure being applied to the flexible display module in the first state, the display device is configured to sense a variation in capacitance between the one portion of the display surface and the another portion of the display surface based on output from the first and second sensors,

wherein, in a second state of the flexible display module other than the first state, the display device is configured to sense a touch interaction based on a capacitance between the first and second sensors, and

wherein the display device is configured to determine a magnitude of the pressure applied to the flexible display module in the first state based on the variation of the capacitance.