JP5818583B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device configured to be openable and closable using a flexible display device.

In recent years, development of a flexible display panel has been actively performed, and it is possible to bend the display panel. In the conventional display device, as described in Patent Document 1, a coupling portion (hinge portion) that connects the casings has an accordion structure to have elasticity, and is expanded and contracted in accordance with folding and unfolding of the flexible display panel. Thereby, the shift | offset | difference of the display panel with respect to a housing | casing can be absorbed. The display device described in Patent Document 2 has a structure in which a displacement is absorbed by an elastic member because the display panel is displaced with respect to the housing when the flexible display panel is folded.
FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the housing of a conventional display device and a display panel. 5A is a side view of the display device in a folded state, FIG. 5B is a front view of the expanded state, and FIG. 5C is a side view of the expanded state. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the display panel inside the housing so that the positional relationship between the housing and the display panel can be easily understood.

  The casings 101 and 102 are formed of a highly rigid member and have a structure that rotates around the hinge portions 103a and 103b. The display panel 104 uses a flexible device such as an organic EL (electroluminescence) device, and is laid on a plane across the housing 101 and the housing 102. The display panel 104 is supported so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction in the figure with respect to the casings 101 and 102, and is biased in the pulling direction by elastic members (not shown) such as springs from both the left and right sides in the figure. It has become. Since the spring force by the elastic member is set so as to be substantially equal on the left and right, the display panel 104 has a structure with little deviation near the center. In FIG. 5A, the display circuit portion of the bent portion 104a of the display panel 104 is bent at a bending radius (see the diameter Dm in the drawing) so as not to be damaged. At this time, the linear distance of the portion connecting the casing 101 and the casing 102 is Lm. In the unfolded state shown in FIG. 5C, the linear distance of the portion connecting the housing 101 and the housing 102 is Ln.

JP 2006-287982 A JP 2005-114759 A

The conventional apparatus configuration has the following problems.
In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the structure of the folding and unfolding of the casing and the display panel is absorbed by the bellows structure, there is a problem that the expansion / contraction mechanism of the bellows structure becomes complicated and the apparatus becomes large. It was.
Further, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the displacement between the housing and the display panel at the time of folding and unfolding is absorbed by an elastic member provided inside the housing, the mechanism for absorbing the displacement is provided. There is a problem of complexity. Further, in the process from the folded state to the unfolded state (or vice versa), the user can visually recognize how the display unit is shifted in appearance. That is, there is a problem that it is difficult to see the character or the picture on the display panel because the position where the user is looking is shifted.
In the configuration of the display device shown in FIG. 5, as shown exaggeratedly by arrows attached to FIGS. 5B and 5C, the position of the display panel 104 in the folded state (see the two-dot chain line in the drawing) There will be a deviation from the position of the display panel in the unfolded state. This is because the relationship between the distance Lm shown in FIG. 5A and the distance Ln shown in FIG. 5C is “Ln> Lm”. In this case as well, the displacement absorbing mechanism is complicated, and the user can visually recognize how the left and right peripheral parts of the display panel shift in appearance in the process from the folded state to the expanded state (or vice versa). become.
An object of the present invention is to prevent the display panel from being displaced with respect to the housing with a simple configuration when the display panel is shifted from the folded state to the expanded state and from the expanded state to the folded state. is there.

Apparatus according to the present invention in order to solve the above problems, a display panel having flexibility, a plurality of housing the display panel is laid, for coupling said plurality of housing adjacent pivotally A display device including a coupling portion and rotating the plurality of housings to use in a deployed state in which the display panel is flattened from a folded state, and viewed from a direction along a central axis of the coupling portion. The intersection of the circle centered on the central axis and the laying surface of the display panel in the first casing among the plurality of casings is a first intersection, and the circle and the plurality of casings When the intersection with the laying surface of the display panel in the second housing is a second intersection, the first intersection and the second intersection are connected between the first housing and the second housing. The display panel portion is a laying surface of the first casing and the second casing. Not fixed, and the length of the portion is set to be equal to the diameter of the circle immediately before the deployed state.

  According to the present invention, when the display panel is shifted from the folded state to the unfolded state and from the unfolded state to the folded state, the display panel can be prevented from being displaced with respect to the housing with a simple configuration.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance example of a display device in an unfolded state in order to describe the embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with FIGS. In order to explain the relationship between the housing of the display device and the display panel, a folded state view (A), an unfolded state view and an enlarged view (B) showing an essential portion, and an unfolded state view and an essential portion are shown. It is an enlarged view (C) shown. It is detail drawing which shows the relationship between the housing | casing of a display apparatus and a display panel. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the expansion | deployment angle of a display apparatus, and the distance between points. It is a figure which shows the folding state and expansion | deployment state of the conventional display apparatus.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a display device, showing a developed state.
The casings 1 and 2 are made of a highly rigid material and are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. Among the plurality of housings, the first housing 1 is located on the right side as viewed from the front, and the second housing 2 is located on the left side. Hinge portions 3a and 3b are provided as coupling portions of the housings 1 and 2, and the housing 1 and the housing 2 rotate around the hinge portions 3a and 3b. That is, the user folds the display device and carries it with the housing 1 and the housing 2 facing each other (folded state), and opens the display device so that the housing 1 and the housing 2 are deployed on a single plane. Used in (expanded state). The hinge portions 3a and 3b have an independent structure that does not follow the rotation of either the housing 1 or the housing 2, and each hinge portion is provided with a protruding shaft portion 3a-1 or 3b-1. Yes. These projecting shaft portions 3a-1, 3b-1 are columnar projecting portions formed in a state facing the inner side surfaces of the hinge portions 3a, 3b. Maintain the position.

  A flexible display panel (hereinafter simply referred to as a display panel) 4 is a flexible display panel using an organic EL device or the like, and is laid on the plane of the casing 1 and the casing 2 in an unfolded state. It becomes. The protruding shaft portions 3a-1 and 3b-1 protrude to the inside of the apparatus, that is, the side where the display panel 4 is disposed. Therefore, when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel 4 in the unfolded state, the projecting shaft portions 3 a-1 and 3 b-1 project to a position overlapping the longitudinal side edge of the display panel 4. Further, in the folded state, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, a portion near the center of the display panel 4 in the longitudinal direction (see the bent portion 4a) is bent.

Next, the relationship between the display panel 4 and the housing 1 and the housing 2 in the display device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the display panel 4 is shown in a perspective view for easy understanding of the positional relationship between the casings 1 and 2 and the display panel 4 (see the hatched portion).
FIG. 2A shows a side view of the display device in a folded state, FIG. 2C shows a side view in the unfolded state, and FIG. 2B shows a side view in the middle state. FIG. 3A shows an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3B shows an enlarged view of the main part in the middle of deployment.
The casings 1 and 2 can be rotated by hinge portions 3a and 3b, respectively, and the center of rotation on the hinge portion 3b side is a point C in the folded state shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 3 (A). To do. In addition, although the rotation center by the side of the hinge part 3a is also in the same position, since both have the same structure, only one is demonstrated below. The display panels 4 laid on the housings 1 and 2 are arranged with the display surfaces facing each other in the folded state, with a slight clearance between the display surfaces in the folded state. . This is for preventing the display surfaces from coming into contact with each other and preventing damage to the display surface and the display circuit.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the display panel 4 is partially wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the protruding shaft portion 3b-1 in the folded state. In this state, the diameter of the protruding shaft portion 3b-1 (the diameter of the bent portion) is a value that does not damage the display circuit of the display panel 4, and the protruding shaft portion 3b-1 functions as a restricting portion for that purpose. have. With this configuration, the display panels 4 laid on the casings 1 and 2 can be brought close to each other in a folded state. That is, unlike the prior art shown in FIG. 5, it is not necessary to separate the opposing surfaces of the display panel, which contributes to improvement of space efficiency and thinning of the housing.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the protruding shaft portion 3b-1 is upward (front side) with respect to the center of rotation of the housings 1 and 2 (see point C), that is, the rotation of the housings 1 and 2. It is arranged on the front side (user side) with respect to the rotation axis as seen from the axial direction. A point 1 a indicates an intersection (first intersection) between a circle centering on the rotation axis (the central axis of the hinge portion) of the casings 1 and 2 and the laying surface of the display panel 4 in the casing 1. A point 2 a indicates an intersection (second intersection) between a circle centering on the rotation axis of the casings 1 and 2 and the laying surface of the display panel 4 in the casing 2. In this example, this circle is assumed to coincide with the outer peripheral shape of the hinge portion 3b, and the protruding shaft portion 3b-1 is arranged below the points 1a and 2a (center side of the circle) in the folded state. Yes. With this configuration, the display panel 4 is always guided so that the folding position is guided downward in the drawing when shifting from the unfolded state to the folded state. Therefore, damage to the display panel 4 due to bending in the reverse direction (upward in the drawing) can be avoided, and the protruding shaft portion 3b-1 also has a function of a guiding portion. Further, since the protruding shaft portion 3b-1 does not contact the display panel 4 in the unfolded state, the flatness of the display panel 4 is not affected.

ｓｉｎＸは、変数Ｘの正弦関数を表す。なお、表示パネル４のうち、少なくとも点１ａと点２ａを結ぶ範囲内にある部分は、筐体１および筐体２に固定されていない。また、図面上での直径Ｄは円柱状をしたヒンジ部３ｂの直径（外径）と同一としているが、これに限らず、任意に設定した仮想円の直径であってもよい。
3 at (A), point 1a, 2a and the line segment connecting the center of rotation of the housing 1 (see point C) to each upper and lower in FIG. I centerline (point C passing the display device An angle formed with a plane including a line extending in the direction is denoted as “θ ₀ ”. The diameter of the circle around the rotation axis of the casings 1 and 2 is denoted as D. When the linear distance between the point 1a and the point 2a in this state is expressed as “L _1a-2a ”, the following equation is obtained.

sinX represents a sine function of the variable X. Note that at least a portion of the display panel 4 within a range connecting the points 1 a and 2 a is not fixed to the housing 1 and the housing 2. Moreover, although the diameter D on the drawing is the same as the diameter (outer diameter) of the cylindrical hinge portion 3b, the diameter is not limited to this and may be an arbitrarily set virtual circle diameter.

FIG. 3B shows a main part of the display device in the middle of unfolding, and the unfolding angle based on the folded state shown in FIG. 3A is denoted as “θ”. In this case, the linear distance L _1a-2a between the point 1a and the point 2a is expressed by the following equation.

この状態ではθ₀＋θ＝９０°であり、点１ａと点２ａとの直線距離Ｌ_1a-2aが最大となる。筐体１と筐体２を繋ぐ部分（図１の点線部参照）を除いた表示パネル４の大部分は、筐体１と筐体２の敷設面にそれぞれ固定されていて、これらの筐体に対して表示パネル４が移動できるようにするための機構は設けられていない。このため、筐体１と筐体２を繋ぐ境界部に位置する部分の表示パネル４の長さについては、少なくとも直径Ｄの長さが必要になる。仮に、筐体１と筐体２を繋ぐ境界部に位置する部分の表示パネル４の長さが直径Ｄよりも短くなってしまうと、表示パネル４の長さが足りない状態となる。この場合、表示パネル４を完全に展開できなくなるだけでなく、表示パネル４に過大な応力が発生した際、表示回路が破損するおそれがある。 FIG. 2B shows a state where the linear distance L _1a-2a between the point 1a and the point 2a is exactly equal to the diameter D of the circle during the development. At this time, the relationship is as follows.

In this state, θ ₀ + θ = 90 °, and the linear distance L _1a-2a between the point 1a and the point _2a is the maximum. Most of the display panel 4 excluding the portion connecting the housing 1 and the housing 2 (see the dotted line portion in FIG. 1) is fixed to the laying surfaces of the housing 1 and the housing 2, respectively. On the other hand, a mechanism for allowing the display panel 4 to move is not provided. For this reason, at least the length of the diameter D is required for the length of the display panel 4 at the boundary portion connecting the housing 1 and the housing 2. If the length of the display panel 4 at the boundary portion connecting the housing 1 and the housing 2 is shorter than the diameter D, the display panel 4 is not long enough. In this case, not only cannot the display panel 4 be fully developed, but when the display panel 4 is subjected to excessive stress, the display circuit may be damaged.

この状態では、「Ｌ_1a-2a ＜Ｄ」であり、点１ａと点２ａとの直線距離が円の直径Ｄよりも僅かに小さくなっている。つまり、筐体１と筐体２を繋ぐ部分での表示パネル４の長さが、僅かに長くなっているということである。しかし、この量は非常に微小な量であるため、展開状態での表示パネル４は殆ど平坦な面となる。したがって、表示面が変形して表示が見難くなり、表示品質が低下することはない。 When the display angle is expressed as “θ _m ” as shown in the enlarged view of the main part shown in FIG. 2C in the expanded state of the display device, the linear distance L _1a-2a between the points 1a and 2a It becomes like the formula.

In this state, “L _1a-2a <D”, and the linear distance between the point 1a and the point 2a is slightly smaller than the diameter D of the circle. That is, the length of the display panel 4 at the portion connecting the housing 1 and the housing 2 is slightly longer. However, since this amount is very small, the display panel 4 in the unfolded state is almost flat. Therefore, the display surface is deformed and the display becomes difficult to see, and the display quality does not deteriorate.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the point-to-point distance L _1a-2a with respect to the development angle θ. When the development angle θ shown on the horizontal axis is zero, the initial angle is θ ₀ , indicating a development range of 0 to 90 °. When the development angle is gradually increased from 0 °, the point _-to- point distance L _1a-2a increases according to the sine function, but the rate of increase gradually decreases, and the development shown in FIG. The point-to-point distance L _1a-2a becomes the maximum value D by the angle. As the development angle is further increased, the point _-to- point distance L _1a-2a is slightly shortened to the maximum development angle θ _m = 90 °. This state is the state shown in FIG. 2C, and the point _-to- point distance L _1a-2a is D × sin (θ ₀ + θ _m ). Here, the difference between D × sin (θ ₀ + θ _m ) and D on the graph corresponds to the length of the display panel 4 at the portion connecting the housing 1 and the housing 2. It can also be seen from the graph that the amount is very small because it is near the peak position of the sine function waveform. That is, the point-to-point distance L _1a-2a is equal to the diameter D immediately before the unfolded state, and when the unfolded angle is 90 °, the point _-to- point distance L _1a-2a is as close as possible to the maximum value (diameter D). Is set to Thereby, since the display panel 4 is hardly displaced with respect to the housings 1 and 2, it is possible to realize an easy-to-see display without deteriorating the display image quality.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the folding structure of the display panel 4, the length of the display panel that connects the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is the straight line between the points 1a and 2a. The distance is set to be approximately equal to the value when the distance is maximum (the diameter D of the circle). As a result, the display panel 4 is hardly displaced from the housing between the folded state and the unfolded state, so that a display device with excellent display quality can be provided. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide an absorption mechanism for the displacement of the display panel 4, the structure is simple and a small display device can be realized. Further, by limiting the radius of the bent portion of the display panel 4 so that it does not become too small at the time of folding, a long-life display device with high bending durability can be realized.

1, 2 Housing 3a, 3b Hinge part (joint part)
3a-1, 3b-1 Protruding shaft (regulator)
4 Flexible display panel

Claims (14)

A display panel having flexibility;
A plurality of housing the display panel is laid,
A coupling portion that couples the plurality of adjacent casings rotatably,
A display device that is used in a deployed state in which the display panel is flattened from a folded state by rotating the plurality of housings,
When viewed from a direction along the central axis of the coupling portion, a first intersection is defined as an intersection between a circle centered on the central axis and the laying surface of the display panel in the first casing among the plurality of casings. And when the intersection of the circle and the laying surface of the display panel in the second casing among the plurality of casings is a second intersection,
A portion of the display panel that connects the first intersection and the second intersection between the first casing and the second casing is fixed to a laying surface of the first casing and the second casing. And a length of the portion is set to be equal to the diameter of the circle immediately before the unfolded state. Wherein the coupling portion, the display device according to claim 1, wherein a regulating unit to which the display panel is wound is provided at the folded state of the display panel. The restricting portion is located between the center of the circle and the first intersection and the second intersection in the folded state of the display panel when viewed from a direction along the central axis of the coupling portion. the display device according to claim 2,. The said restriction | limiting part protrudes from the said connection part to the said display panel side, and overlaps with the said display panel, when it sees from the direction perpendicular | vertical to the display surface of the said display panel. the display device according to. 5. The display device according to claim 2 , wherein the restricting portion does not come into contact with the display panel when the display panel is unfolded . In the folded state, the laying surface of the display panel in the first housing, any one of claims 1 to 5 with the laying surface of the display panel in the second housing, characterized in that the opposing Item 1. A display device according to item 1. The length L1a-2a of the straight line connecting the first intersection and the second intersection between the first casing and the second casing is the diameter of a circle centering on the central axis of the coupling portion. And an angle formed between a line segment connecting the first intersection and the center of the circle in the folded state and a plane including the center line of the display device, and the second intersection and the center of the circle in the folded state When the angle formed between the line segment connecting the lines and the plane including the center line of the display device is θ ₀ and the development angle based on the folded state is θ, the following expression is used. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

A display panel having flexibility;
A first housing and a second housing on which the display panel is laid;
A coupling portion that pivotably couples the first housing and the second housing;
Wherein the first casing and the second casing, by pivoting about the rotary shaft, from the folded state the first housing and the second housing faces said first housing And a display device that shifts to an unfolded state in which the second housing is flat,
When viewed from a direction along the rotation axis of the first casing and the second casing, an intersection of a circle around the rotation axis and a laying surface of the display panel in the first casing in it the first intersection, the portion of the display panel within a range connecting the second intersection is an intersection of the laying surface of the display panel in the said circular second housing, substantially to the diameter of the circle A display device having equal length and not being fixed to the first casing and the second casing . Wherein the coupling portion, the display device according to claim 8, characterized in that the display panel is wound restricting portion at the folded state of the display panel is provided. The restricting portion is located between the center of the circle and the first intersection and the second intersection in a folded state of the display panel when viewed from a direction along the rotation axis. The display device according to claim 9 . The regulating unit, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display panel, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that overlap with the display panel to project to the side of the display panel from said coupling portion the display device according to. The display device according to claim 9 , wherein the restricting portion does not contact the display panel when the display panel is deployed . In the folded state, said the laying surface of the display panel in the first housing, any of claims 8 to 12 and laying surface of the display panel in the second housing, characterized in that the opposing Item 1. A display device according to item 1. The first straight line connecting the housing and the first intersection point between the second body and the second intersection length L1a-2a is the diameter of a circle around the pivot shaft and D _a An angle formed between a line segment connecting the first intersection point in the folded state and the center of the circle and a plane including the center line of the display device, and the second intersection point in the folded state and the center of the circle. When the angle formed between the connecting line segment and the surface including the center line of the display device is θ _a0, and the development angle based on the folded state is θ _a , it is expressed by the following equation: The display device according to any one of claims 8 to 13 .

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