IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,996,020
Granted Patent B2
US 11,996,020 · App. 17/920,021 · Granted May 28, 2024

Display device

Inventor: Kenichiroh Tsuchida (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G09G3/035H04M1/0214H04M1/0268
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,996,020
App. No.
17/920,021
Granted
May 28, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device according to one aspect of the present disclosure can undergo selection between a closed state where a case housing a display module renders bezels adjacent to each other with a hinge interposed therebetween, and an open state where the case renders the bezels spaced from each other with the hinge interposed therebetween, the display module has an uppermost layer (window film) provided with an engaged portion with which an engaging portion provided in a cover portion of each bezel can engage, and in conjunction with the opening of the case, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion and pulls the uppermost layer in such manner the uppermost layer is in parallel.

Claims (30)

1. A display device comprising:

a display module incorporating at least a display panel, including a stack of a plurality of function layers structured mutually slidably, and structured in a foldable manner; and

a case having a first bezel and a second bezel respectively attached to one end and another end of a lowermost layer of the display module with a slide mechanism interposed, the case having a hinge provided between the first bezel and the second bezel, the case housing the display module in a foldable manner,

wherein the case houses the display module in a foldable manner in response to selection between a closed state where the first bezel and the second bezel are adjacent to each other with the hinge interposed, and an open state where the first bezel and the second bezel are spaced from each other with the hinge interposed,

the case is provided with a coupling portion that couples the hinge and the first bezel together in such a manner that the hinge is located above an uppermost layer of the display module when the case is brought into the open state, and the case is provided with a coupling portion that couples the hinge and the second bezel together in such a manner that the hinge is located above the uppermost layer of the display module when the case is brought into the open state,

the case has a cover portion provided in each of the first bezel and the second bezel, and covering one end and another end of the uppermost layer of the display module,

the cover portion is provided with an engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion provided at the one end and the another end of the uppermost layer of the display module, and

in conjunction with an operation from the closed state of the case into the open state of the case, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion and pulls the uppermost layer of the display module in such a manner that the uppermost layer is in parallel.

2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the display module further includes an adhesive layer provided between two adjacent function layers, and

the two adjacent function layers are structured mutually slidably by a deformation of the adhesive layer.

3. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the hinge includes

a pair of hinge bodies provided to sandwich the display module, and

a rotation shaft provided at one end and another end of each of the pair of hinge bodies, and coupled to be able to rotate a distal end of the coupling portion.

4. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the slide mechanism slides the lowermost layer of the display module with respect to the uppermost layer of the display module in accordance with an open/closed state of the case.

5. The display device according to claim 4 , wherein

the slide mechanism includes

a lowermost-layer support plate fastened to the lowermost layer of the display module, and provided in a corresponding one of the first bezel and the second bezel so as to be able to slide, and

a spring having one end connected to the lowermost-layer support plate, and another end connected to a corresponding one of the first bezel and the second bezel.

6. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the engaging portion is composed of a recess provided in the cover portion, and

the engaged portion is composed of a protrusion that engages with the recess.

7. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein

the engaging portion is composed of a protrusion protruding toward a side surface of the uppermost layer of the display module, and

the engaged portion is composed of a recess that engages with the protrusion.

8. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion is provided at two sites in the cover portion, the two sites being one end and another end in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a direction where the engaging portion pulls the uppermost layer of the display module.

9. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion and the cover portion are integrated with each of the first bezel and the second bezel.

10. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display module incorporates a touch panel, a polarizing plate, and a window film provided sequentially on the display panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2022
From: TSUCHIDA, KENICHIROH
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 061483/0981 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230162636A1 · May 25, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,563,680