Display apparatus

A display apparatus including a cover, a slide rail component and a flexible display component is provided. The slide rail component is disposed under the cover. The slide rail component includes a first rail, at least one first elastic element, at least one first bump and a first sliding block. The first rail has at least one recess. The first elastic element and the first bump are disposed in the first recess. The first bump is disposed between the cover and the first elastic element. The flexible display component has a first edge. A portion of the first edge is fixed to the first sliding block and disposed between the cover and the first sliding block. A display apparatus including a flexible display component, a support component and a guide roller is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 107135767, filed on Oct. 11, 2018. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly to a display apparatus having a flexible display component.

Description of Related Art

With the development of display technology, application of display panels has been extended to a wide range of areas, and the application of flexible display panels has become one of the development priorities of many manufacturers in recent years. Applications of flexible display panels that thinner hard substrates are commonly seen, such as curved TVs, curved monitors, and curved phones, or flexible display panels with flexible substrate, such as wearable devices like watches and clothes, or portable devices like mobile phones and electronic papers and so on. Among them, a flexible display panel equipped with a flexible substrate receives more attention due to its flexibility and impact resistance.

However, although the flexible substrate has better flexibility than the thinned hard substrate, the flexible display panel equipped with the flexible substrate is prone to have warpage on the display surface during operation, causing the display quality and operation comfort to decrease. Therefore, it is one of the problems that all manufacturers are trying to solve to find out how to balance the flexibility required for the flexible display panel in the storage state and the stiffness required in the extended state.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure provides a display apparatus with good operation comfort.

A display apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a cover, a slide rail component and a flexible display component. The slide rail component is disposed under the cover and includes a first rail, at least one elastic element, at least one first bump, and a first sliding block. The first rail has at least one first recess. The at least one first elastic element and the at least one first bump are disposed in the at least one first recess. The at least one first bump is disposed between the cover and the at least one first elastic element. The first sliding block is slidably disposed on the first rail and disposed between the cover and the first rail. The flexible display component has a first edge. A portion of the first edge is fixed on the first sliding block and disposed between the cover and the first sliding block.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the at least one first elastic element of the display apparatus has a deformation, and the at least one first bump is disposed between the first sliding block and the first rail.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the flexible display component of the display apparatus is curved, and the portion of the first edge of the flexible display component and the other portion of the first edge of the flexible display component are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the slid rail component.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, another portion of the first edge of the flexible display component of the display apparatus extends beyond the first sliding block, and the at least one first bump disposed outside the first sliding block is against another portion of the first edge of the flexible display component.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one first bump disposed outside the first sliding block in the display apparatus has a surface facing the cover, and the first sliding block has a surface facing the cover. The surface of the at least one first bump disposed outside the first sliding block is substantially coplanar with the surface of the first sliding block.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the display apparatus further includes a support component. The support component is disposed between the flexible display component and the first rail, and has a plurality of first support portions and at least one hollow portion disposed between the plurality of first support portions. The flexible display component is connected to the support component.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the display apparatus further includes a guide roller. The flexible display component and the support component are bent in conformity with the guide roller, and the support component is disposed between the flexible display component and the guide roller.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the flexible display component of the display apparatus has a display portion that is bent in conformity with the guide roller. The display portion of the flexible display component and the at least one hollow portion of the support component are disposed on the guide roller.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first rail of the slide rail component of the display apparatus extends in the first direction, and the extending direction of the plurality of first support portions of the support component is staggered with the first direction.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the support component of the display apparatus further has a plurality of second support portions interlaced with the plurality of first support portions, and the extending direction of the plurality of second support portions of the support component is staggered with the first direction.

A display apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a flexible display component, a support component, and a guide roller. The flexible display component has a display portion. The support component is connected to the flexible display component and has a plurality of first support portions and at least one hollow portion disposed between the plurality of first support portions. The display portion of the flexible display component and the at least one hollow portion of the support component are disposed on the guide roller.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the flexible display component of the display apparatus further has a first display portion, and the support component further has a solid portion. The first display portion of the flexible display component is disposed on the solid portion of the support component.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the display portion of the flexible display component of the display apparatus and the first support portion of the support component are bent in conformity with the guide roller. The support component is disposed between the flexible display component and the guide roller.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the guiding roller of the display apparatus extends in the first direction, and the extending direction of the plurality of first support portions of the support component is staggered with the first direction.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the support component of the display apparatus further has a plurality of second support portions interlaced with the plurality of first support portions, and the extending direction of the plurality of second support portions of the support component is staggered with the first direction.

Based on the above, the display apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can fix the sliding block connected to the flexible display component on a corresponding position of the rail through the bump and the elastic element disposed in the recess of the rail depending on the size of the display area needed by the user, thereby avoiding that the sliding block is slid under the influence of unanticipated external force, thus enhancing operation (e.g., watching, touching) comfort for the user. In addition, the display apparatus of the embodiment of the present disclosure connects the flexible display component through the support component having the hollow portion to improve the flatness of the display surface of the flexible display component, while reducing the stress generated on the connection surface when the flexible display component and the support component are bent.

In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of the disclosure more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Descriptions of the exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference signs denote the same or similar portions in the drawings and descriptions.

FIG. 1is a schematic top view of a display apparatus10in a closed state according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 2is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the display apparatus10ofFIG. 1in a closed state.FIG. 3is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display apparatus10ofFIG. 1in a closed state.FIG. 4is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display apparatus10ofFIG. 1in a closed state. Specifically,FIG. 3andFIG. 4respectively correspond to cross-sectional line A-A′ and cross-sectional line B-B′ taken alongFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, for example, in the embodiment, the display apparatus10is applied to a mobile device, such as a smart phone, a tablet, or the like. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the display apparatus10can also be applied to other electronic devices.

In the present embodiment, the display apparatus10includes a cover11and side plates12. The side plate12is disposed on one side of the cover11and has two edges12a,12bopposite to each other. The cover11has an opening11bfacing the side plate12. When the display apparatus10is in the closed state, the edge12aof the side plate12is substantially aligned with one edge11aof the cover11, and the opening11bof the cover11and the edge12bof the side plate12define a display area AA of the display apparatus10in a closed state. In the present embodiment, the display apparatus10may further include a back plate13disposed opposite to the cover11, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, in the embodiment, the display apparatus10further includes at least one slide rail component100disposed under the cover11. For example, the display apparatus10of the present embodiment may optionally include a first slide rail component101and a second slide rail component102respectively disposed on opposite sides of the display area AA, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG. 2,FIG. 3andFIG. 4, the slide rail component100includes a rail110and a plurality of elastic elements120. The rail110extends in the direction D1and has a plurality of recesses111arranged in sequence in the direction D1. A plurality of elastic elements120are respectively disposed in the plurality of recesses111of the rail110. In the present embodiment, the elastic element120is, for example, a spring, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

The slide rail component100further includes a plurality of bumps130and a sliding block140. The plurality of bumps130are respectively disposed in the plurality of recesses111of the rail110and disposed between the cover11and the corresponding elastic element120. The sliding block140is slidably disposed on the rail110and disposed between the cover11and the rail110. For example, in the embodiment, the slide rail component100may further include a plurality of balls150disposed in two opposite grooves112of the rail110. The sliding block140is disposed on the rail110and the ball150, and the sliding block140is movable relative to the rail110in the direction D1through the rotation of the ball150. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the sliding block140may also be movable in the direction D1by other means.

When the display apparatus10is in the closed state, the bump130of the slide rail component100is disposed between the sliding block140and the corresponding elastic element120, and presses against the bump130through the sliding block140, so that the elastic element120has a compressing deformation.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 4, in the embodiment, the display apparatus10may further include a guiding roller400disposed under the cover11. For example, in the present embodiment, the extending direction (i.e., the direction D2) of the guide roller400may be substantially perpendicular to the extending direction (i.e., the direction D1) of the rail110of the slide rail component100, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 5is a schematic top view showing a flexible display component200and a support component300of the display apparatus10in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 5, the display apparatus10further includes the flexible display component200. The flexible display component200has a display area AA′, a first edge200a, and a second edge200b. The first edge200aand the second edge200bare disposed on opposite sides of the display area AA′ and are disposed under the cover11. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the area of the display area AA′ of the flexible display component200is larger than the area of the display area AA (shown inFIG. 1) defined by the opening11bof the cover11and the edge12bof the side plate12of the display apparatus10in the closed state.

The first edge200aof the flexible display component200includes a first portion200a-1and a second portion200a-2. The second edge200bof the flexible display component200includes a first portion200b-1and a second portion200b-2. In the present embodiment, the flexible display component200has a first display portion210and a second display portion220. The first display portion210is disposed between the first portion200a-1of the first edge200aof the flexible display component200and the first portion200b-1of the second edge200bof the flexible display component200. The second display portion220is disposed between the second portion200a-2of the first edge200aof the flexible display component200and the second portion200b-2of the second edge200bof the flexible display component200. Specifically, when the display apparatus10is in the closed state, the first display portion210of the flexible display component200overlaps the display area AA defined by the opening11bof the cover11and the edge12bof the side plate12.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 5, for example, in the embodiment, the first portion200a-1of the first edge200aof the flexible display component200is fixed on the sliding block140of the first slide rail component101and disposed between the cover11and the sliding block140. The first portion200b-1of the second edge200bof the flexible display component200is fixed on the sliding block140of the second slide rail component102and is disposed between the cover11and the sliding block140.

When the display apparatus10is in the closed state, the second portion200a-2of the first edge200aof the flexible display component200is disposed between the first slide rail component101and the back plate13. The second portion200b-2of the second edge200bof the flexible display component200is disposed between the second slide rail component102and the back plate13. In other words, the slide rail component100is disposed between the first display portion210of the flexible display component200and the second display portion220of the flexible display component200.

Referring toFIG. 5, the flexible display component200may further include a flexible circuit board250bonded to a peripheral area PA of the flexible display component200, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the flexible circuit board250can optionally include a driving chip251. The driving chip251can be electrically connected to a wiring layer (not shown) through a flip chip bonding technique; that is, the flexible circuit board250can be a chip on film. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to other embodiments, the driving chip251of the flexible circuit board250can also be electrically connected to the peripheral area PA of the flexible display component200by using Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) technology; that is, the flexible circuit board250may be a Tape Carrier Package (TCP). It should be noted that the present disclosure provides does not limit the flexible circuit board250to include the driving chip. According to other embodiments, the flexible circuit board250may also be a flexible circuit board that does not have a driving chip.

FIG. 6is a schematic bottom view showing a flexible display component200and a support component300of the display apparatus10in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring toFIG. 3,FIG. 4andFIG. 6, in the embodiment, the display apparatus10may further include the support component300. The support component300has a solid portion340, a plurality of first support portions310, a plurality of second support portions320, and a plurality of hollow portions330. The solid portion340of the support component300is connected to the first display portion210of the flexible display component200. The solid portion340of the support component300overlaps the first display portion210of the flexible display component200.

The first support portion310and the second support portion320of the support component300are connected to the second display portion220of the flexible display component200. A plurality of hollow portions330are defined between the plurality of first support portions310and the plurality of second support portions320. The first support portion310, the second support portion320, and the hollow portion330of the support component300overlap the second display portion220of the flexible display component200. For example, in the embodiment, the extending direction (i.e., the direction D2) of each of the first support portions310may be substantially perpendicular to the direction D1, and the plurality of first support portions310are arranged in the direction D1. Each of the second support portions320is connected between two adjacent first support portions310, and the hollow portion330may include an area330abetween the two adjacent first support portions310and an opening330bencircled by the two adjacent first support portions310and the two adjacent second support portions320. A gap between the first support portion310and the plurality of second support portions320is the hollow portion330. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the support component300can also be designed in other suitable forms.

It should be noted that since the second display portion220of the flexible display component200overlaps the hollow portion330of the support component300, the second display portion220of the flexible display component200is bent more easily than the first display portion210of the flexible display component200. Specifically, at least a portion of the first support portion310, at least a portion of the second support portion320, and at least a portion of the hollow portion330of the support component300are disposed between the second display portion220of the flexible display component200and the guide roller400, and a portion of the second display portion220of the flexible display component200and a portion of the support component300can be bent in conformity with the guide roller400. Through the design of the hollow portion330, when the second display portion220of the flexible display component200and the support component300are bent in conformity with the guide roller400, it is possible to reduce the stress generated by the flexible display component200and the support component300on a connection surface200s.

Specifically, when the display apparatus10is in the closed state, a portion of the second display portion220of the flexible display component200and the support component300are bent in conformity with the guide roller400and disposed under the first display portion110and the slide rail component100. That is, most of the second display portion220and the first display portion210are respectively disposed on the upper and lower sides of the slide rail component100.

In the present embodiment, the material stiffness of the support component300is higher than the overall stiffness of the flexible display component200. For example, the material of the support component300may be selected from metal, polypropylene (PP), or other materials having suitable stiffness.

FIG. 7is a schematic top view of the display apparatus10in an extended state according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 8is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the display apparatus10ofFIG. 7.FIG. 9is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a partial area of the display apparatus10ofFIG. 7.FIG. 10is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the display apparatus10in an extended state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 10corresponds to cross-sectional line C-C′, cross-sectional line D-D′, and cross-sectional line E-E′ taken alongFIG. 7, respectively.

Referring toFIG. 7andFIG. 8, when the display apparatus10is in the extended state, the second portion200a-2of the first edge200aof the flexible display component200is bent in conformity with the guide roller400and moved to a position between the rail110of the first slide rail component101and the cover11. The second portion200b-2of the second edge200bof the flexible display component200is bent in conformity with the guide roller400and moved to a position between the rail110of the second slide rail component102and the cover11. On this occasion, the display area size of the display apparatus10is substantially the same as the display area AA′ of the flexible display component200. However, the user can also adjust the size of the display area of the display apparatus10according to actual needs, such as, but not limited to, may be adjusted to two-thirds of the size of the display area AA′ of the flexible display component200.

Referring toFIG. 9andFIG. 10, in the embodiment, the second portion200b-2of the second edge200bof the flexible display component200extends beyond the sliding block140of the second slide rail component102(or the second portion200a-2of the first edge200aof the flexible display component200extends beyond the sliding block140of the first slide rail component101). During the user's adjustment of the size of the display area of the display apparatus10, the sliding block140of the slide rail component100slides on the rail110in the direction D1, and the bump130disposed outside the sliding block140is not pressed by the sliding block140, and is pushed by the elastic element120underneath having compressing deformation, such that the bump130disposed outside the sliding block140is against the support component300. In this manner, a portion of the flexible display component200(e.g., a portion of the second display portion220) on the raised bump130and a portion of the flexible display component200(e.g., a portion of the first display portion220) on the sliding block140may be substantially coplanar, which facilitates the user to view the flat display screen while the display apparatus10is in the extended state.

In detail, when the display apparatus10is in the extended state, the bump130of the second slide rail component102(or the first slide rail component101) disposed outside the sliding block140is against the first support portion310and the second support portion320connected to the second display portion220of the flexible display component200. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to other embodiments, the bump130of the second slide rail component102(or the first slide rail component101) disposed outside the sliding component140may also be directly against the second display portion220of the flexible display component200.

In the present embodiment, the bump130of the slide rail component100has a surface130sfacing the cover11, and the sliding block140of the slide rail component100has a surface140sfacing the cover11. For example, the surface130sof the bump130disposed outside the sliding block140is substantially coplanar with the surface140sof the sliding block140.

In the present embodiment, the bump130can be selectively used as a blocking component of the sliding block140of the slide rail component100. That is, by designing the surface130sof the bump130disposed outside the sliding block140to be coplanar with the surface140sof the sliding block140, it is possible to make the sliding block140to be fixed on a corresponding position of the rail110according to the size of display area required by the user, thereby avoiding that the sliding block140is slid under the influence of unanticipated external force, which affects the user's operation (e.g., watching, touching) comfort.

FIG. 11is a schematic bottom view showing a flexible display component200and a support component300A in an unfolded state according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 12is a schematic bottom view showing a flexible display component200and a support component300B in an unfolded state according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 13is a schematic bottom view showing a flexible display component200and a support component300C in an unfolded state according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 11, in the present embodiment, the first support portion310A of the support component300A extends in the direction D3in a zigzag manner, and the second support portion320A of the support component300A extends in the direction D1, and the plurality of first support portions310A are interlaced with the plurality of second support portions320A. The plurality of hollow portions330A defined by the plurality of first support portions310A and the plurality of second support portions320A are presented in a Z shape. Through the design of the hollow portion330A, when the flexible display component200and the support component300A are bent in conformity with the guide roller, it is possible to reduce the stress generated by the flexible display component200and the support component300A at the connection surface.

Referring toFIG. 12, in the present embodiment, the first support portion310B of the support component300B extends in the direction D4in a zigzag manner, and the second support portion320B of the support component300B extends in the direction D5in a zigzag manner, and the plurality of first support portions310B are interlaced with the plurality of second support portions320B. The plurality of hollow portions330B defined by the plurality of first support portions310B and the plurality of second support portions320B are presented in a cross shape. Through the design of the hollow portion330B, when the flexible display component200and the support component300B are bent in conformity with the guide roller, it is possible to reduce the stress generated by the flexible display component200and the support component300B at the connection surface.

Referring toFIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the first support portion310C of the support component300C extends in the direction D6, and the second support portion320C of the support component300C extends in the direction D7, and the plurality of first support portions310C are interlaced with the plurality of second support portions320C. The plurality of hollow portions330C defined by the plurality of first support portions310C and the plurality of second support portions320C are presented in a diamond shape. Through the design of the hollow portion330C, when the flexible display component200and the support component300C are bent in conformity with the guide roller, it is possible to reduce the stress generated by the flexible display component200and the support component300C at the connection surface.

In summary, the display apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can fix the sliding block connected to the flexible display component on a corresponding position of the rail through the bump and the elastic element disposed in the recess of the rail depending on the size of the display area needed by the user, thereby avoiding that the sliding block is slid under the influence of unanticipated external force, thus enhancing operation (e.g., watching, touching) comfort for the user. In addition, the display apparatus of the embodiment of the present disclosure connects the flexible display component through the support component having the hollow portion to improve the flatness of the display surface of the flexible display component, while reducing the stress generated on the connection surface when the flexible display component and the support component are bent.