English:
[0001] Display devices come in any number of designs and sizes, such as display monitors coupled to computing devices, all-in-one computing devices that include the display, tablets, laptop displays, and the like. These devices have traditionally been flat screen devices. However, current technology now allows for display devices that are flexible.
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a rear view of an example apparatus having a flexible display device that is in a flat configuration;
[0004] FIG.2 illustrates a rear view of an example apparatus having a flexible display device that is in a curved configuration;
[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view an example guide mechanism of a flexible display apparatus;
[0006] FIG.4 illustrates a rear view of an example display having a flexible display device that is in a flat configuration; and
[0007] FiG. 5 illustrates a rear view of an example display having a flexible display device that is in a curved configuration.
[0008] As described above, current technology allows for flexible display devices. Flexible display devices may be made of any suitable flexible material capable of displaying content, such as organic light-emining diode (OLED) flexible display devices. While the shape of these display devices can be changed due to their flexible nature, holding a stable shape for these display devices can be problematic. As such, examples discussed herein include an arc bar flexible display device that includes an arc bar device to aid in the transformation and stability of a flexible display device from a flat confiQuration to a curved confiauration.
[0009] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a rear view of an example apparatus 100 having a flexible display device 110 that is in a flat configuration. As used herein, the rear view of the apparatus 100 is the side that is opposite to the side on which content is displayed to a user. The apparatus 100 may be any suitable display device, such as a monitor, a tablet, an all-in-one personal computer, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus is in a flat configuration, which may be useful for presenting content to multiple viewers.
[0010] The flexible display device 110 is located at the front of the apparatus 100, which is on the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 1 (e.g., on the side that a user would face when viewing content displayed by the apparatus 100) and may be any suitable flexible display device capable of displaying content, such as an OLED flexible display device,
[0011] The flexible display device 110 may be adjacent to the support structure 120, which may be any suitable support structure to support the flexible display device 110. The support structure 120 may include a flexible surface 122 and a plurality of stability pieces 124 connected to the flexible surface 122. The flexible surface 122 may be made of any suitable flexible material that may have some resistance to being curved, such as continuous a flexible plastic, sheet metal, and the like.
[0012] Each stability piece 124 may control and form the flexible surface 122 such that the flexible surface 122 may be a similar curve to the curve of the arc bar device 130 so that the support structure 120 is a close fit around the diameter of the arc bar device 130. The stability pieces 124 allow the form of the support structure 120 to closely match the form of the arc bar device 130, The stability pieces 124 may also impart rigidity to the flexible surface 122 in the y-axis direction where flex may not be desirable. The stability pieces 124 may be connected to each other using any suitable connecting devices such that the support structure 120 is capable of maintaining the shape of the flexible display device 110 as it is flexed. For example, the plurality of stability pieces 124 may be connected to each other usina toraue hinaes. In some exanriDles. a hinae mav be toroued bv a SDrina that is matched in force to overcome the bias in the flexible surface 122, such that the arc bar device 130 may be held in an overcentre upward position controlled by a profiled cam lever held within the center stability piece 124. In some examples, there may be T-shaped components between each stability piece 124 to prevent inflection of the apparatus 100 such that the apparatus is capable of curving in one direction.
[0014] In the example of FIG. 1 , each end of the arc bar device 130 may be rotatably fixed to the center of each lateral end of the support structure 120 (e.g., via a central guide bush of the lateral ends of the support structure 120) to prevent sideways movement of the arc bar device 130 but to allow the ends 134 and 136 of the arc bar device 130 to rotate. For example, the end 134 of the arc bar 130 may be rotatably fixed to the center of the lateral end 126 of the support structure 120, and the end 136 of the arc bar 130 may be rotatably fixed to the center of the lateral end 128 of the support structure 120.
[0015] The arc bar device 130 may allow the apparatus 100 to change from the flat configuration shown in FIG. 1 to the curved configuration shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates the rear view of the example apparatus 100 having the flexible display device 110 that is in a curved configuration. FIG. 2 includes all of the components shown in FIG. 1 but in the curved configuration, which may be useful when a single viewer wishes to view content, giving the viewer a more immersive experience. For example, a user facing the front of the apparatus 100 may transform the apparatus 100 from the flat confiauration of FIG. 1 to the curved confiauration of FIG. 2 bv Dullina the lateral ends of the support structure 120 toward each other, which may cause the center portion 132 of the arc bar device 130 to rotatably slide upward along the y-axis within the guide mechanism 140 to allow the flexible display device 110 to transform to the curved configuration of FIG. 2. As the apparatus 100 is flexed into a curved configuration, the center portion 132 of the arc bar device 130 slides upward within the guide mechanism 140, which may also cause the guide mechanism itself to move upward along the y-axis. The curved configuration may be held and maintained by the arc bar device 130.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view 300 of an example guide mechanism 140 of the flexible display apparatus 100 of FIGS 1 and 2. The side view 300 is a zoomed-in view of the side of the guide mechanism 140 of FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the center portion 132 of the arc bar device 130 is rotatable and slidable in the y-axis direction within the guide mechanism 140. As the apparatus 100 is transformed from a flat configuration to a curved configuration, the center portion 132 of the arc bar device 130 slides upward in the y-axis direction within the aperture of the guide mechanism 140 to allow the curved configuration to be maintained.
[0017] FIG.4 illustrates a rear view of an example display 400 having a flexible display device 410 that is in a flat configuration. The display 400 of FIG.4 is similar to the apparatus 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, except for the portions of the arc bar device that are rotatably fixed to the support structure, as described above. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends 134 and 136 of the arc bar device 130 are rotatably fixed to the centers of the lateral ends 126 and 128 of the support structure 120, while the center portion 132 of the arc bar device 130 are slidable within the guide mechanism 140. In FIG. 4, the ends 434 and 436 of the arc bar device 430 are slidable within their respective guide mechanisms 440 and 442 at each lateral end of the support structure 420, while the center portion 432 of the arc bar device 430 is rotatably fixed to a center 424 of the support structure 420.

中文:
[0001]显示装置具有任何数量的设计和尺寸,诸如被联接到计算装置的显示监视器、包括显示器的一体式计算装置、平板电脑、膝上型电脑显示器等。这些装置传统上是平面屏幕装置。然而,当前的技术现在允许柔性显示装置。
[0003]图1示出具有处于平面构造的柔性显示装置的示例设备的后视图;
[0004]图2示出具有处于曲面构造的柔性显示装置的示例设备的后视图;
[0005]图3示出柔性显示设备的示例引导机构的侧视图;
[0006]图4示出具有处于平面构造的柔性显示装置的示例显示器的后视图;和
[0007]图5示出具有处于曲面构造的柔性显示装置的示例显示器的后视图。
[0008]如上所述,当前的技术允许柔性显示装置。柔性显示装置可以由能够显示内容的任何合适的柔性材料制成,诸如有机发光二极管(OLED)柔性显示装置。虽然这些显示装置的形状由于其柔性性质可以改变,但是对于这些显示装置而言保持稳定的形状可能是有问题的。因此,本文讨论的示例包括弧形杆柔性显示装置,该弧形杆柔性显示装置包括弧形杆装置,以有助于柔性显示装置从平面构造(configuration)到曲面构造的转换和稳定性。
[0009]现在参照附图,图1示出具有处于平面构造的柔性显示装置110的示例设备100的后视图。如在这里使用的,设备100的后视图是与在其上向用户显示内容的侧面相对的侧面。设备100可以是任何合适的显示装置,诸如监视器、平板电脑、一体式个人计算机等。如图1所示,该设备处于平面构造,该平面构造在向多个观看者呈现内容时可以是有用的。
[0010]柔性显示装置110位于设备100的前部,该柔性显示装置110在与图1所示的侧面相对的侧面(例如,在当观看由设备100显示的内容时用户面对的侧面)且可以是能够显示内容的任何合适的柔性显示装置,诸如OLED柔性显示装置。
[0011]柔性显示装置110可以邻近支撑结构120,该支撑结构120可以是任何合适的支撑结构以支撑柔性显示装置110。支撑结构120可以包括柔性表面122和被连接到柔性表面122的多个稳定件124。柔性表面122可以由可具有一定抗弯曲能力的任何合适的柔性材料制成,诸如连续的柔性塑料、金属片等。
[0012]每个稳定件124均可以控制柔性表面122且成形该柔性表面122以使柔性表面122可以与弧形杆装置130的弯曲类似地弯曲,从而支撑结构120绕弧形杆装置130的直径紧密配合。稳定件124允许支撑结构120的形式与弧形杆装置130的形式紧密地匹配。稳定件124还可以在可能不期望弯曲(flex)的y轴方向上赋予柔性表面122刚性。稳定件124可以使用任何合适的连接装置彼此连接,使得支撑结构120能够在柔性显示装置110被弯曲时维持该柔性显示装置110的形状。例如,多个稳定件124可以使用扭矩铰链彼此连接。在一些示例中,铰链可以通过在力方面匹配的弹簧扭转,以克服柔性表面122的偏置,使得弧形杆装置130可以被保持在由被保持在中心稳定件124内的异形凸轮杆控制的偏心向上位置。在一些示例中,在每个稳定件124之间可以存在T形部件,以防止设备100反弯曲(inflection),使得设备能够在一个方向上弯曲。
[0014]在图1的示例中,弧形杆装置130的每个端部均可以(例如,通过支撑结构120的侧向端部的中心引导衬套)被可旋转地固定到支撑结构120的每个侧向端部的中心,以防止弧形杆装置130的侧向移动但允许弧形杆装置130的端部134和136旋转。例如,弧形杆130的端部134可以被可旋转地固定到支撑结构120的侧向端部126的中心,并且弧形杆130的端部136可以被可旋转地固定到支撑结构120的侧向端部128的中心。
[0015]弧形杆装置130可以允许设备100从图1所示的平面构造改变成图2所示的曲面构造,该图2示出具有处于曲面构造的柔性显示装置110的示例设备100的后视图。图2包括图1示出的所有部件,除了处于曲面构造,该曲面构造在单个观看者希望观看内容时可以是有用的,从而给观看者更加身临其境的体验。例如,面对设备100的前部的用户可以通过以下方式将设备100从图1的平面构造转换成图2的曲面构造:使支撑结构120的侧向端部朝向彼此拉动,这可以使弧形杆装置130的中心部分132沿着y轴在引导机构140内可旋转地向上滑动,以允许柔性显示装置110转换成图2的曲面构造。在设备100被弯曲成曲面构造时,弧形杆装置130的中心部分132在引导机构140内向上滑动,这也可以使引导机构自身沿着y轴向上移动。曲面构造可以由弧形杆装置130保持且维持。
[0016]图3示出图1和图2的柔性显示设备100的示例引导机构140的侧视图300。侧视图300是图1和图2的引导机构140的侧部的放大视图。如图3所示,弧形杆装置130的中心部分132在y轴方向上在引导机构140内可旋转和可滑动。在设备100从平面构造转换为曲面构造时,弧形杆装置130的中心部分132在y轴方向上在引导机构140的孔内向上滑动,以允许维持曲面构造。
[0017]图4示出具有处于平面构造的柔性显示装置410的示例显示器400的后视图。图4的显示器400类似于图1和图2的除了弧形杆装置的被可旋转地固定到支撑结构的部分之外的设备100,如上所述。在图1和图2中,弧形杆装置130的端部134和136被可旋转地固定到支撑结构120的侧向端部126和128的中心,而弧形杆装置130的中心部分132在引导机构140内可滑动。在图4中,弧形杆装置430的端部434和436在支撑结构420的每个侧向端部处在其相应的引导机构440和442内滑动,而弧形杆装置430的中心部分432被可旋转地固定到支撑结构420的中心424。