IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,417,848
Granted Patent B2
US 11,417,848 · App. 17/103,732 · Granted Aug 16, 2022

Foldable display device

Inventors: Yong Kwon Soh (Hwaseong-si, KR); In Soo Park (Hwaseong-si, KR); Jin Yong Sim (Seongnam-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
H01L51/0097H01L27/323H01L27/3244H05K5/0017H05K5/0226H01L2251/5338
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,417,848
App. No.
17/103,732
Granted
Aug 16, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A foldable display device includes: a display panel; a first support member on a back surface of the display panel and in a first non-folding area; a second support member on a back surface of the display panel and in a second non-folding area and spaced apart from the first support member; a barrier sheet on back surfaces of the first support member and the second support member to overlap the first non-folding area, a folding axis, and the second non-folding area. The barrier sheet is on the folding axis and includes an extension portion extending along a direction of the folding axis. The first support member includes a first groove portion formed at a corner of the first support member adjacent to the folding axis, and the second support member includes a second groove portion formed at a corner of the second support member adjacent to the folding axis.

Claims (45)

1. A foldable display device having a first non-folding area and a second non-folding area with a folding axis therebetween, the foldable display device comprising:

a display panel;

a first support member disposed on a back surface of the display panel and in the first non-folding area;

a second support member disposed on a back surface of the display panel and in the second non-folding area, the second support member spaced apart from the first support member; and

a barrier sheet disposed on back surfaces of the first support member and the second support member to overlap the first non-folding area, the folding axis, and the second non-folding area,

wherein the barrier sheet is disposed on the folding axis and includes an extension portion extending along a direction of the folding axis, and wherein:

the first support member includes a first groove portion formed at a corner of the first is support member adjacent to the folding axis, and

the second support member includes a second groove portion formed at a corner of the second support member adjacent to the folding axis.

2. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion of the barrier sheet is bent to be accommodated in a space defined by the first groove portion of the first support member and the second groove portion of the second support member.

3. The foldable display device of claim 2 , wherein the barrier sheet further includes a cover portion covering a space between the first support member and the second support member, and

the extension portion of the barrier sheet includes an overlapping portion disposed to overlap the cover portion in a thickness direction of the cover portion, and a bending portion connecting the cover portion and the overlapping portion in the thickness direction.

4. The foldable display device of claim 3 , wherein the bending portion of the barrier sheet is bent in a direction intersecting the folding axis.

5. The foldable display device of claim 3 , wherein the bending portion of the barrier sheet has a U-shaped structure having one open side facing toward a center of the foldable display device or facing between the cover portion and the overlapping portion, and has one end connected to the cover portion and another end connected to the overlapping portion.

6. The foldable display device of claim 3 , wherein the bending portion of the barrier sheet covers a gap between the display panel and the cover portion in the thickness direction.

7. The foldable display device of claim 3 , wherein the bending portion of the barrier sheet protrudes outwardly beyond an edge of the display panel.

8. The foldable display device of claim 3 , wherein the cover portion, the overlapping portion, and the bending portion of the barrier sheet are folded or unfolded according to a variation of an angle between the first support member and the second support member.

9. The foldable display device of claim 3 , wherein the cover portion of the barrier sheet is attached to back surfaces of the first support member and the second support member, and the overlapping portion of the barrier sheet is attached to a back surface of the display panel.

10. The foldable display device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a first adhesive member disposed between the first support member and the barrier sheet; and

a second adhesive member disposed between the second support member and the barrier sheet.

11. The foldable display device of claim 10 , wherein the first adhesive member and the second adhesive member are disposed along an edge of the cover portion of the barrier sheet with the overlapping portion therebetween.

12. The foldable display device of claim 9 , further comprising:

an adhesive layer disposed between the overlapping portion of the barrier sheet and the display panel to attach an upper surface of the overlapping portion of the barrier sheet to a lower surface of the display panel.

13. The foldable display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first groove portion and the second groove portion includes a first side surface extending along a direction intersecting the direction of the folding axis and a second side surface extending along the direction of the folding axis.

14. The foldable display device of claim 13 , wherein the extension portion of the barrier sheet is spaced apart from the first side surface and is in contact with the second side surface.

15. The foldable display device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a connection portion disposed in a back direction of the barrier sheet and connecting the first support member and the second support member, the connection portion configured to change an angle between the first support member and the second support member.

16. The foldable display device of claim 15 , wherein the connection portion further includes a hinge structure having at least one rotation axis and a hinge cover covering the hinge cover;

the barrier sheet is disposed inside the hinge cover; and

the extension portion of the barrier sheet covers a gap between an edge of the display panel and an inner side surface of the hinge cover.

17. A foldable display device, comprising:

a display panel;

a first support member and a second support member disposed on a back surface of the display panel in a first direction; and

a barrier sheet disposed to overlap back surfaces of the first support member and the second support member and including an extension portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction,

wherein the first support member includes a first groove portion at one side corner of the first support member adjacent to the second support member,

the second support member includes a second groove portion at one side corner of the second support member adjacent to the first support member, and

the extension portion of the barrier sheet is bent to be disposed in a space defined by the first groove portion of the first support member and the second groove portion of the second support member.

18. The foldable display device of claim 17 , wherein each of the first groove portion and the second groove portion includes a first side surface extending in the first direction, and a second side surface extending in the second direction.

19. The foldable display device of claim 17 , further comprising:

a first adhesive member disposed between the first support member and the barrier sheet; and

a second adhesive member disposed between the second support member and the barrier sheet.

20. The foldable display device of claim 17 , further comprising:

a connection portion connecting the first support member and the second support member, the connection portion configured to change an angle between the first support member and the second support member,

wherein the connection portion further includes a hinge structure having at least one rotation axis and a hinge cover covering the hinge cover, and

the barrier sheet is disposed inside the hinge cover.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2020
From: SOH, YONG KWON; PARK, IN SOO; SIM, JIN YONG
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 055614/0051 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0010460 · Jan 29, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210234107A1 · Jul 29, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,216,879 US 12,225,674