IP Library Granted Patent US 12,498,757
Granted Patent B2
US 12,498,757 · App. 18/080,406 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Foldable display device

Inventor: MoonSoo Yeom (Gumi-si, KR)
Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
G06F1/1641G06F1/1616G06F1/1652G06F1/169
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,498,757
App. No.
18/080,406
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A foldable display device including a display panel including a folding area and a non-folding area, a back plate disposed on the display panel and supporting the display panel, and a frame disposed on the back plate and including a folding part in a region corresponding to the folding area. The folding part can include an opening hole that penetrates the frame and a bridge having one end fixed to the frame. The opening hole and the bridge can be provided in plural in the folding part. A plurality of the opening hole and a plurality of the bridge can be alternately disposed.

Claims (49)

1 . A foldable display device, comprising:

a display panel including a folding area and a non-folding area;

a back plate disposed on the display panel and supporting the display panel; and

a frame disposed on the back plate and including a folding part in a region corresponding to the folding area,

wherein the folding part includes an opening hole penetrating the frame and a bridge having one end fixed to the frame,

wherein the opening hole and the bridge are provided in plural in the folding part,

wherein the plurality of opening holes and the plurality of bridges are alternately disposed,

wherein the bridge includes a fixed end at the one end of the bridge and a free end separate from the frame, and

wherein all sides of the bridge except the fixed end are the free end,

wherein the plurality of opening holes are arranged in a plurality of rows along a direction intersecting a folding axis of the display device,

wherein the plurality of rows include a first row and a second row adjacent to the first row, and

wherein the number of the plurality of opening holes in the second row is different from the number of the plurality of opening holes in the first row.

2 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein each opening hole is different in shape from each bridge.

3 . The foldable display device according to claim 2 , wherein an opening hole among the plurality of opening holes is adjacent to the one end of a bridge among the plurality of bridges in a direction intersecting a folding axis of the display device and is in one-to-one correspondence with the one end of the bridge, and

wherein a long side of the bridge is parallel to the folding axis.

4 . The foldable display device according to claim 2 , wherein each opening hole has any one of a circular shape and a dot shape, and

wherein each bridge has a rectangular shape having a long side and a short side.

5 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein each bridge has a shape having a long side and a short side, and

wherein a diameter of each opening hole is greater than a length of the short side of each bridge.

6 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge has a rectangular shape.

7 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein in bridges disposed on a same straight line along the folding axis among the plurality of bridges, free ends of two bridges face each other with an opening hole therebetween from among the plurality of opening holes.

8 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of opening holes and the one ends of the plurality of bridges disposed on a same straight line along a folding axis of the display device are alternately disposed at a uniform distance from each other.

9 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display panel includes a display area to display an image and a non-display area that does not display the image, and

wherein each of the folding area and the non-folding area includes a portion of the display area and a portion of the non-display area.

10 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , further comprising an air gap disposed between the back plate and the frame.

11 . The foldable display device according to claim 10 , wherein the air gap is about 1 mm to 1.5 mm.

12 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein the free end of the bridge includes a cut that separates the bride from the folding part.

13 . The foldable display device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first row and the second row is provided in plural,

wherein the plurality of the first rows and the plurality of the second rows are spaced apart from each other at a first distance, and

wherein the first distance is equivalent to a length of a long side of each bridge.

14 . The foldable display device according to claim 13 , wherein each of a distance between the plurality of opening holes in each of the plurality of first rows and a distance between the plurality of opening holes in each of the plurality of second rows are a second distance, and

wherein the second distance is equivalent to a length of a short side of the plurality of bridges.

15 . A foldable display device, comprising:

a display panel configured to display an image and be folded along a folding axis;

a back plate to support the display panel; and

a frame on the back plate, and including a folding part folded when the foldable display device is folded,

wherein the folding part includes a plurality of bridges extending parallel to the folding axis and a plurality of opening holes that penetrate through the frame,

wherein each bridge has a fixed end attached to the frame and a free end not attached to the frame,

wherein all sides of the plurality of bridges except the fixed end are the free end,

wherein the plurality of the opening holes and the plurality of the bridges are alternately disposed,

wherein the plurality of opening holes are arranged in a plurality of rows along a direction intersecting the folding axis of the foldable display device,

wherein the plurality of rows includes a first row and a second row adjacent to the first row, and

wherein the number of the plurality of opening holes in the second row is different from the number of the plurality of opening holes in the first row.

16 . The foldable display device according to claim 15 , wherein the frame further includes a support part, and

wherein the support part maintains a flat state when the foldable display device is folded.

17 . The foldable display device according to claim 15 ,

wherein the free ends of the plurality of bridges communicate with the plurality opening holes, respectively.

18 . The foldable display device according to claim 15 , wherein the fixed ends attached to the frame and the free ends not attached to the frame of the plurality of bridges are arranged alternatingly along a direction that intersects the folding axis.

19 . The foldable display device according to claim 15 , wherein a rigidity of the back plate is greater than that of the display panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2022
From: YEOM, MOONSOO
To: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062174/0456 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0187397 · Dec 24, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230205268A1 · Jun 29, 2023
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