CN114764267B

CN114764267B - Flexible display equipment and portable electronic device

Info

Publication number: CN114764267B
Application number: CN202110048897.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 温峻宏; 陈俊贤; 孙惠平; 阙延洲
Original assignee: Acer Inc
Current assignee: Acer Inc
Priority date: 2021-01-14
Filing date: 2021-01-14
Publication date: 2023-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2041-01-14
Also published as: CN114764267A

Abstract

The invention provides a flexible display device and a portable electronic device. The second housing is movably assembled with the first housing to form a drawer type configuration, so that the second housing slides relative to the first housing to switch between an extracted state and a retracted state. The frame is movably assembled to the second housing. The flexible screen is provided with a first end and a second end which are opposite, and comprises a first display area and a second display area, wherein the first end is connected with the first shell, and the second end is connected with the frame. When the flexible screen is in the folding state, the flexible screen is bent, so that the second display area is folded in the first shell and the second shell. In the conversion process from the folding state to the drawing state, the second shell is drawn out from the first shell and drives the frame to move in the same direction so as to spread and flatten the second display area.

Description

Flexible display equipment and portable electronic device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a flexible display device and a portable electronic device.

Background

With the progress of technology, flexible display technology is gradually developed and is considered to have great development potential. In general, flexible display technology includes electronic paper, flexible OLED, and the like. Furthermore, flexible display technology is widely used in portable electronic devices in response to the requirements of the portable electronic devices for functions such as bending, folding, stretching, etc. on the display devices. Meanwhile, along with the application of the flexible material in the field of electronic display, the electronic display device can be displayed in a larger area when being stretched, and can be folded as required so as to be beneficial to carrying or reducing the occupied space.

However, in response to the expansion and folding of the mechanism on the flexible display device, the flexible display panel on the flexible display device may also be wrinkled due to the corresponding shape and size changes caused by the flexible characteristic. Therefore, there is a need in the industry to improve the mechanisms of the existing flexible display devices to accommodate the technological development trend and market demand.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to a flexible display device and a portable electronic apparatus, which are used to match with the opening and closing requirements of a flexible display.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a flexible display device includes a first housing, a second housing, a frame, and a flexible screen. The second housing is movably assembled to the first housing to form a drawer-type configuration (drawer configuration) for sliding the second housing relative to the first housing to switch between an extracted state and a collapsed state. The frame is movably assembled to the second housing. The flexible screen is provided with a first end and a second end which are opposite, and comprises a first display area and a second display area, wherein the first end is connected with the first shell, and the second end is connected with the frame. When the first display area is in the folding state, the first display area is exposed out of the first shell and the second shell, and the flexible screen is bent to enable the second display area to be folded in the first shell and the second shell. In the conversion process from the folding state to the drawing state, the second shell is drawn out from the first shell and drives the frame to move in the same direction so as to spread and flatten the second display area, and in the conversion process from the drawing state to the folding state, the second shell is folded in the first shell and drives the frame to move in the same direction so as to fold the second display area in the first shell and the second shell.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a portable electronic device includes a host and the flexible display device. The flexible display device is pivoted to the host and is suitable for being unfolded or closed relative to the host.

In general, flexible display devices are prone to be damaged due to the occurrence of a defective state such as a crush or a wrinkle in the inner side surface thereof when being bent. Based on the above, the present invention provides a flexible display device, which can solve the above-mentioned problems, wherein the flexible display device is provided with a first housing, a second housing, and a frame corresponding to the flexible characteristic of the flexible screen, wherein opposite ends of the flexible screen are respectively connected to the first housing and the frame, and the flexible screen can be driven by the frame during the conversion process of the extracted state and the retracted state by sliding the second housing relative to the first housing, so that the second display area is received in the first housing and the second housing or spread and flattened. Accordingly, the flexible display device can form larger-area display of the first display area and the second display area when the second shell is pulled out, and can also be folded to store the second display area according to the requirement, so that the flexible display device is beneficial to carrying and reducing the occupied space.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another state of the flexible display device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a disassembled view of the flexible display device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4A is a bottom view of the flexible display device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the flexible display device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a portion of the flexible display device of FIG. 4A from another perspective;

FIG. 5A is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a portion of a component of the flexible display device of FIG. 3;

fig. 7A and fig. 7B are perspective views of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention in different states.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device of fig. 1A. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another state of the flexible display device of fig. 1A. Fig. 3 is a disassembled view of the flexible display device of fig. 1A. Referring to fig. 1A and fig. 2, in the present embodiment, a flexible display device 100, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a display, includes a first housing 110, a second housing 120 and a flexible screen 140. The second housing 120 is movably assembled to the first housing 110 to form a drawer-type configuration (drawer configuration) such that the second housing 120 slides relative to the first housing 110 to switch between a retracted state shown in fig. 1A and an extracted state shown in fig. 2.

Referring to fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the flexible display device 100 further includes a frame 130, and the frame 130 is movably assembled to the second housing 120. The second housing 120 includes a bottom plate 121, and the frame 130 is floatingly disposed on the bottom plate 121. In the present embodiment, the flexible screen 140 has a first end 140a and a second end 140b opposite to each other and includes a first display area 141 and a second display area 142, the first end 140a is connected to the first housing 110, and the second end 140b is connected to the frame 130.

In the folded state shown in fig. 1A, the first display area 141 is exposed outside the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, and the flexible screen 140 is bent to enable the second display area 142 to be folded inside the first housing 110 and the second housing 120. In the process of converting from the folded state shown in fig. 1A to the extracted state shown in fig. 2, the second housing 120 is extracted from the first housing 110 and drives the frame 130 to move in the same direction, so as to spread the second display area 142, so that the first display area 141 and the second display area 142 are located on the same plane and are exposed outside the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

In the process of transferring from the extracted state shown in fig. 2 to the retracted state shown in fig. 1A, the second housing 120 is retracted in the first housing 110 and drives the frame 130 to move in the same direction, so as to retract the second display area 142 in the first housing 110 and the second housing 120. Such as the drawer is drawn and folded, so as to be beneficial to improving portability and applicability of the flexible display device 100 and improving operation convenience.

In the above configuration, since the flexible screen 140 is pressed and limited by the frame of the second housing 120 from top to bottom as shown in fig. 1B, the flexible screen 140 only needs to be unfolded in one direction during the process of drawing out the second housing 120. In the present embodiment, the second housing 120 of the flexible display device 100 is adapted to be pulled to the right to obtain a larger display screen. In other embodiments, which are not shown, the flexible display device can be adapted to be pulled apart in the left-right direction by a mechanism similar to the above configuration to obtain a larger display screen.

Referring to fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the first housing 110 includes a first sub-housing 111 and a second sub-housing 112. The second housing 120 includes a bottom plate 121 and a third sub-housing 126. The flexible display device 100 includes a gear G1, a first rack R1, and a second rack R2. The gear G1 is pivotally disposed on the bottom plate 121. The first rack R1 is provided to the first sub-housing 111. The second rack R2 is disposed on the frame 130 and parallel to the first rack R1. The gear G1 is meshed between the first rack R1 and the second rack R2.

Fig. 4A is a bottom view of the flexible display device of fig. 1A. Fig. 4B is a bottom view of the flexible display device of fig. 2. For clarity of the drawing, the external components of the flexible display device 100 are omitted, and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 of fig. 1A are shown in fig. 4A and 4B with dashed lines.

In the transition between the retracted state shown in fig. 4A and the extracted state shown in fig. 4B, the gear G1 moves with the second housing 120 relative to the first housing 110 and the first rack R1, and the gear G1 rotates due to meshing with the first rack R1, and the rotation drives the frame 130 through meshing of the gear G1 with the second rack R2, so that the frame 130 moves in the same direction as the second housing 120, and the movement stroke of the frame 130 is smaller than the movement stroke of the second housing 120. In the present embodiment, in the process of switching from the retracted state shown in fig. 4A to the extracted state shown in fig. 4B, the first end 140a and the second end 140B of the flexible screen 140 are far away from each other. In the transition from the extracted state shown in fig. 4B to the collapsed state shown in fig. 4A, the first end 140a and the second end 140B of the flexible screen 140 move closer to each other.

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a portion of the flexible display device of FIG. 4A from another perspective. For clarity of the drawing, the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 of fig. 1A are not shown in fig. 4C. Referring to fig. 3 and 4C, in the present embodiment, the second housing 120 includes at least one rib 122, and the rib 122 is disposed on the bottom plate 121 and parallel to the first rack R1. The frame 130 has at least one guiding groove 131, the guiding groove 131 is parallel to the first rack R1, and the rib 122 and the guiding groove 131 are slidably coupled together, so that the frame 130 can be relatively stable during the operation of the second housing 120.

Further, in the present embodiment, the flexible display device 100 includes a support chain plate 150 (chain plate). As shown in fig. 4C, in the present embodiment, the locking screw S1 is used to lock the frame 130, the second end 140b of the flexible screen 140 and one end 1502 of the support link plate 150, and the locking screw S1 is supported on the bottom plate 121, so that the support link plate 150 forms a gap between the frame 130 and the bottom plate 121 by the locking screw S1, and the support link plate 150 is movably supported on the bottom plate 121.

Fig. 5A is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device of fig. 1A. Fig. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible display device of fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a portion of a component of the flexible display device of fig. 3. As shown in fig. 4C, 5A and 5B, an end 1502 of the support link 150 and a second end 140B of the flexible screen 140 are fixed to the frame 130. As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the other end 1501 of the support link plate 150 is fixed to the first sub-housing 111 of the first housing 110.

Further, referring to fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the second housing 120 includes a support bar 123, and the support bar 123 is perpendicular to the rack R1. As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the support bar 123 is located between the flexible screen 140 and the support link plate 150. The first display area 141 and the second display area 142 are located on the outer surface of the flexible screen 140, and the supporting rod 123 is abutted against the inner surface of the flexible screen 140.

In detail, referring to fig. 3 and fig. 6, the second housing 120 further includes two limiting portions 125 and two bearings 124, and the two limiting portions 125 are respectively located at two sides of the second housing 120. The bearing 124 is slidably located within the retainer 125. Both ends of the support bar 123 are respectively disposed on the corresponding bearings 124. The flexible display device 100 includes two elastic members 160 disposed in the two limiting portions 125 of the second housing 120, and the elastic members 160 press the bearing 124, so that the supporting rod 123 maintains an abutting relationship with the inner surface of the flexible screen 140.

The advantage of this design is that the support rod 123 can avoid the bad states of extrusion or buckling of the flexible screen 140 during the folding process of the second housing 120 due to the stroke difference, wherein the stroke difference is that the folding stroke of the flexible screen 140 is behind the folding stroke of the second housing 120 in microcosmic view due to the clearance between the gear G1 and the racks R1, R2 during the folding process. As described above, the flexible characteristics of the flexible screen 140 may change in shape and size according to different states. In order to allow the mechanism stroke of the device mechanism (e.g. the first housing 110 and the second housing 120) to be consistent with the deformation of the flexible screen 140, the present embodiment provides the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 capable of relatively moving, and uses the support rod 123 in combination with the bearing 124 and the spring 160 to support the flexible screen 140, so that the flexible screen 140 is tensioned due to the tension to achieve the desired effect.

Fig. 7A and fig. 7B are perspective views of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention in different states. In this embodiment, the portable electronic device 10 includes a host 200 and the flexible display apparatus 100. The flexible display device 100 is pivotally connected to the host 200 through the pivot portion T1 and is adapted to be opened or closed relative to the host 200. When the flexible display device 100 is unfolded with respect to the main body 200, the second housing 120 is adapted to slide with respect to the first housing 110 to switch between the drawn-out state and the folded-in state.

In summary, in the present invention, the flexible display device is provided with the first housing, the second housing, and the frame corresponding to the flexible characteristic of the flexible screen, and the second display area is received in the first housing and the second housing or unfolded and flattened in the process of switching between the extracted state and the retracted state by sliding the second housing relative to the first housing, so that the flexible display device can be displayed in a larger area when extracted, and can be folded as required to facilitate carrying or reducing the occupied space.

Because the flexible screen can be pressed and limited by the side frame of the second shell from top to bottom, the flexible screen only needs to be unfolded in one direction in the process of drawing out the second shell. In other embodiments, the flexible display device may be pulled apart in the left-right direction to obtain a larger display screen. As mentioned above, the flexible characteristics of the flexible screen may change in shape and size according to different states. In order to allow the mechanism travel of the device mechanism (e.g., the first housing and the second housing) to be matched to the amount of deflection of the flexible screen, the present invention achieves the desired result by providing the first housing and the second housing to be relatively movable and cooperating with the frame.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present invention, and not for limiting the same; although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some or all of the technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A flexible display device, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing movably assembled to the first housing to form a drawer-type configuration, so that the second housing slides relative to the first housing to switch between an extracted state and a retracted state;

a frame movably assembled to the second housing; and

a flexible screen having a first end and a second end opposite to each other and including a first display area and a second display area, the first end being connected to the first housing and the second end being connected to the frame,

when the first display area is in the folding state, the first display area is exposed out of the first shell and the second shell, and the flexible screen is bent to enable the second display area to be folded in the first shell and the second shell,

in the process of converting from the folding state to the drawing state, the second shell is drawn out from the first shell and drives the frame to move in the same direction so as to spread and flatten the second display area,

in the process of converting from the extraction state to the folding state, the second casing is folded in the first casing and drives the frame to move in the same direction so as to fold the second display area in the first casing and the second casing, and the flexible display device further comprises:

the gear is pivoted on the second shell;

the first rack is arranged on the first shell; and

the second rack is arranged between the first rack and the second rack in a gear meshing mode, in the conversion process of the extraction state and the folding state, the gear moves along with the second shell relative to the first shell and the first rack, the gear rotates due to meshing of the gear with the first rack, and the rotation drives the frame through meshing of the gear with the second rack so as to enable the frame to move in the same direction with the second shell.

2. A flexible display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement stroke of the frame is smaller than the movement stroke of the second housing.

3. The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the second housing comprises a base plate and at least one rib, the gear is pivotally disposed on the base plate, the rib is disposed on the base plate, the frame has at least one guide slot, and the rib and the guide slot are slidably coupled to each other.

4. A flexible display device as recited in claim 3, wherein the frame is floatingly disposed on the base plate.

5. A flexible display device as recited in claim 3, wherein the first and second ends of the flexible screen are spaced apart from each other during a transition from the collapsed state to the extracted state, and wherein the first and second ends of the flexible screen are moved closer to each other during a transition from the extracted state to the collapsed state.

6. The flexible display device of claim 1, further comprising a support link, wherein one end of the support link is secured to the first housing and the other end of the support link and the second end of the flexible screen are secured to the frame.

7. The flexible display device of claim 6, wherein the second housing comprises a support bar positioned between the flexible screen and the support link plate and abutting an inner surface of the flexible screen, and wherein the first display area and the second display area are positioned on an outer surface of the flexible screen.

8. The flexible display device of claim 7, wherein the second housing further comprises two bearings, and the two ends of the support bar are respectively disposed on the two bearings.

9. The flexible display device of claim 8, further comprising two elastic members disposed on the second housing and pressing the two bearings, so that the supporting rod maintains an abutting relationship with the flexible screen.

10. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a host; and

the flexible display device of any of claims 1-9, pivotally connected to the host and adapted to be unfolded or closed relative to the host.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the second housing is adapted to slide relative to the first housing to transition between the extracted state and the collapsed state when the flexible display apparatus is deployed relative to the host.