IP Library Granted Patent US 12,635,088
Granted Patent B2
US 12,635,088 · App. 18/778,142 · Granted May 19, 2026

Panel support and display device including the same

Inventors: Sung Sang Ahn (Hwaseong-si, KR); Tae Chang Kim (Anyang-si, KR); Tae Hoon Yang (Yongin-si, KR); Jung Hun Lee (Hwaseong-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
H05K5/0217H05K5/0018
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,635,088
App. No.
18/778,142
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device includes a display panel sliding in a first direction. A panel storage compartment is configured to accommodate the display panel therein and to assist a sliding operation of the display panel in the first direction. A plurality of segments are attached to a lower surface of the display panel, each of the plurality of segments are extended in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and are spaced apart from one another in the first direction. Bearings are disposed inside the plurality of segments and are at least partially exposed by the plurality of segments. The panel storage compartment includes guide rails engaged with the bearings.

Claims (43)

1 . A display device, comprising:

a display panel configured to slide in a first direction;

a panel storage compartment configured to accommodate the display panel therein and to assist a sliding operation of the display panel in the first direction;

a plurality of segments attached to a lower surface of the display panel, each extended in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and spaced apart from one another in the first direction; and

guides at least partially overlapping upper surfaces of the plurality of segments and protruding on opposite sides of the display panel in the second direction; and

bearings disposed inside the guides and at least partially exposed from the guides,

wherein the guides comprise housings for accommodating the bearings, and

wherein the panel storage compartment comprises guide rails engaged with the guides and the bearings.

2 . The display device of claim 1 ,

wherein the bearings are exposed by upper surfaces of the guides.

3 . The display device of claim 2 ,

wherein the bearings penetrate through the guides and are exposed by the upper surface of the guides and the lower surfaces of the guides that are opposite to the upper surfaces of the guides.

4 . The display device of claim 2 ,

wherein each of the bearings has a spherical shape.

5 . The display device of claim 4 ,

wherein a diameter of each of the bearings is smaller than a width of each of the housings.

6 . The display device of claim 1 ,

wherein the bearings comprise a first bearing and a second bearing,

wherein the housings comprises a first housing accommodating the first bearing and a second housing accommodating the second bearing,

wherein the first bearing is exposed by an upper surface of each of the guides and the second bearing is exposed by a front surface of each of the guides, and

wherein the upper surface and the front surface of each of the guides face the panel storage compartment on the guide rails.

7 . The display device of claim 6 ,

wherein the first bearing and the second bearing are not in contact with each other.

8 . A display device, comprising:

a display panel configured to slide in a first direction;

a panel storage compartment configured to accommodate the display panel therein;

a support module attached to a lower surface of the display panel, protruding on opposite sides of the display panel in a second direction, and assisting a sliding operation of the display panel in the first direction; and

bearings disposed inside the support module and at least partially exposed by the support module, wherein the support module comprises a support plate; and

a plurality of segments in contact with a lower surface of the support plate and spaced apart from one another in the first direction, a width of an upper surface of each of the plurality of segments being smaller than a width of a lower surface,

wherein the plurality of segments comprises a plurality of first segment and a plurality of second segment adjacent to the plurality of first segments, wherein each of the plurality of first segment and each of the plurality of second segment are repeatedly or alternately arranged,

wherein the support plate comprises a lattice pattern part composed of slits penetrating the support plate and disposed between the plurality of first segments and the plurality of second segments,

wherein each of the bearings is disposed in a housing defined as a space between the plurality of first segments, the plurality of second segments and the lattice pattern part, and wherein the panel storage compartment comprises guide rails engaged with the support module and the bearings.

9 . The display device of claim 8 ,

wherein each of the plurality of first segments and each of the plurality of second segments comprises a contact portion attached to the support plate and a body pattern portion disposed under the contact portion,

wherein a width of the contact portion is smaller than a width of the body pattern portion, and

wherein a distance between the contact portion of each of the plurality of first segments and each of the plurality of second segments is greater than a distance between the body pattern portion of each of the plurality of first segments and each of the plurality of second segments.

10 . The display device of claim 9 ,

wherein the slits comprise a first slit having a space in which the bearings are accommodated and formed at one end of the support plate in the second direction,

wherein the housing overlaps with the first slit, and

wherein each of the bearings is disposed in the first slit and is exposed by an upper surface of the support plate.

11 . The display device of claim 10 ,

wherein the support plate comprises a segment attachment area where the contact portion of each of the plurality of first segments and the contact portion of each of the plurality of second segments are attached, and

wherein the segment attachment area comprises a first anti-deviation portion that blocks one side of the first slit in the second direction.

Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0173958 · Dec 7, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 17813921 · Jul 20, 2022
Related Publication 20240373571A1 · Nov 7, 2024
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