Patent Publication Number: US-2023141120-A1

Title: Display device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present disclosure is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/CN2021/104998, filed on Jul. 7, 2021 and claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202021671589.5, filed on Aug. 12, 2020, and entitled “DISPLAY DEVICE,” the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and in particular, to a display device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the vigorous development of science and technology, flexible display panels are gradually realized in mass production and productization. Flexible display panels are gradually entering the vision of consumer, and bendable and rollable display panels have brought a new user experience to consumers while facilitating their lives. 
     Sliding and rolling is another innovative application area of flexible display panel, which form enables the consumers to switch the display area of flexible panels according to their own needs. It is not only convenient for users to carry around, but also provides users with a better experience than foldable display panels, which is an important direction for the development of flexible display panels. However, in the existing display device, the roller and the flexible display panel are prone to slip, resulting in the roller idle, so that the flexible display panel is easily damaged by uneven local force. 
     The above information disclosed in the background section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a display device. 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a display device, including: a housing including a fixed part and a movable part, the movable part being movable relative to the fixed part; a first reel rotatably connected to the fixed part; a second reel parallel to the first reel, rotatably connected to the movable part, and provided with a plurality of first protrusions or a plurality of first grooves; and a flexible display panel with a first end fixed to the fixed part, a second end wound around the first reel, and a middle portion wound around the second reel, where the flexible display panel is provided with a plurality of second grooves matching the plurality of first protrusions or with a plurality of second protrusions matching the plurality of first grooves. 
     Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent through the following detailed description, or will be learned in part through the practice of the present disclosure. 
     It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and not for limiting the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Accompanying drawings herein, which are incorporated in the specification and constitute a part of the present specification, illustrate embodiments conforming to the present disclosure, and are used to explain the principles of the present disclosure together with the specification. It is apparent that the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and other accompanying drawings can also be obtained according to these accompanying drawings without any creative efforts by those skilled in the art. 
         FIG.  1    is a structural schematic diagram of a display device of the present disclosure according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a structural schematic diagram of the display device of  FIG.  1    after being rolled up. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of a three dimensional structure of the display device of  FIG.  1    when no flexible display panel is installed. 
         FIG.  4    is a structural schematic diagram of a second reel in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a structural schematic diagram of a support film group in  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be comprehensive and complete, and the ideas of the embodiments will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or similar structures, and thus their detailed description will be omitted. 
     The present disclosure provides a display device. Referring to the structural schematic diagrams of a display device of the present disclosure according to some embodiments shown in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   , and  FIG.  3   , the display device may include a housing, a first reel  1 , a second reel  2 , and a flexible display panel  5 . The housing includes a fixed part  3  and a movable part  4 , where the movable part  4  can move relative to the fixed part  3 . The first reel  1  is rotatably connected to the fixed part  3 . The second reel  2  is rotatably connected to the movable part  4  and is provided with a plurality of first protrusions  21  or a plurality of first grooves. The second reel  2  is provided parallel to the first reel  1 . One end of the flexible display panel  5  is fixed to the fixed part  3 , and the opposite other end is wound around the first reel  1 , and the middle portion is wound around the second reel  2 . The flexible display panel  5  is provided with a plurality of second grooves  54  matching the plurality of first protrusions  21  or the flexible display panel  5  is provided with a plurality of second protrusions matching the first grooves. 
     In some embodiments, the housing is provided in the shape of a cuboid. The housing may include the fixed part  3  and the movable part  4 , the movable part  4  being able to move relative to the fixed part  3 . 
     The fixed part  3  may include a fixed housing  31 , two first hollow rods  32  and two second hollow rods  33 . The fixed housing  31  is provided in the shape of a cuboid. The fixing housing  31  has an opening. The fixed housing  31  may include a top wall  311 , a bottom wall  312 , a first side wall  313  and two second side walls  314 , the top wall  311 , the bottom wall  312 , the first side wall  313  and the two second side walls  314  may all be rectangular plates. Since the three side walls are provided, i.e. one first side wall  313  and two second side walls  314 , the three side walls are connected to three edges of each of the top wall  311  and the bottom wall  312  correspondingly, such that one of the four edges of each of the top wall  311  and the bottom wall  312  is not connected to form the opening. In some embodiments, the first side wall  313  is connected to edges of the top wall  311  and the bottom wall  312  on a side away from the movable part  4 , and the two second side walls  314  are symmetrically connected to the top wall  311 , the bottom wall  312  and the first side wall  313 . The first side wall  313  is provided parallel to the first reel  1  and the two second side walls  314  are provided perpendicular to the first reel  1 . 
     The two first hollow rods  32  and the two second hollow rods  33  are located correspondingly at the four corners of the fixed housing  31 , i.e. at the four corners of the first side wall  313 , The two first hollow rods  32  and the two second hollow rods  33  are provided parallel to each other A respective end of the two first hollow rods  32  and the two second hollow rods  33  is fixedly connected to the inner wall surface of the first side wall  313 , and a respective other end of the two first hollow rods  32  and the two second hollow rods  33  extends from the fixed housing  31  through the opening. The two first hollow rods  32  are provided symmetrically up and down, and the two second hollow rods  33  are also provided symmetrically up and down. The first hollow rod  32  and the second hollow rod  33  are provided symmetrically at opposite end surfaces of the first reel  1 . 
     In some embodiments, a support plate is connected between the first hollow rod  32  and the second hollow rod  33  close to the top wall  311 , and there is a spacing space between the top wall  311 , and the first hollow rod  32  and the second hollow rod  33  that are close to the top wall  311 , so that there is also a spacing space between the top wall  311  and the support plate. 
     The movable part  4  may include two movable brackets. The two movable brackets have identical structures and the two movable brackets are provided symmetrically. The two movable brackets are provided at both end surfaces of the second reel  2 . The movable bracket may include two movable rods  41  and a connecting plate  42 , the two movable rods  41  being provided in parallel, the connecting plate  42  being connected between the two movable rods  41 , and the connecting plate  42  being located at an end of the movable rods  41  away from the fixed part  3 . The two movable rods  41  are correspondingly inserted into the two first hollow rods  32  at the same end surface of the first reel  1 . In the other movable bracket, the two movable rods  41  are correspondingly inserted into the two second hollow rods  33 . The movable rods  41  can move along the first hollow rods  32  and the second hollow rods  33 , thereby driving the connecting plate  42  to also move along the first hollow rods  32  and the second hollow rods  33  to enable the entire movable part  4  to be move relative to the fixed part  3 . 
     In some embodiments, the first reel  1  is connected between the first hollow rod  32  and the second hollow rod  33  that are close to the bottom wall  312 . In some embodiments, mounting shells  6  are provided on the sides, away from the bottom wall  312 , of both the first hollow rod  32  and the second hollow rod  33 . The mounting shell  6  is provided with a circular via hole, and one end of the first reel  1  is inserted into the circular via hole. A torsional spring is provided inside the mounting shell  6 , which is a constant torsional spring (not shown). One end of the constant torsional spring is fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the mounting shell  6 , and the other end of the constant torsional spring is fixedly connected to the first reel  1 . The constant torsional spring can provide a constant torsional force to the first reel  1 . The constant torsional spring can provide a rotary force to the first reel  1  so that the first reel  1  can be rotated relative to the fixed part  3 . 
     Further, the structures of the fixed part  3  and the movable part  4  are not limited to the above description, for example, the fixed part  3  may include a side wall on which four rails may be provided vertically. The movable part  4  may be provided with sliders on the movable rod  41  that cooperate with the rails. It is also possible to provide the first hollow rods  32  and the second hollow rods  33  of the fixed part as solid rods, and the movable rods  41  of the movable part  4  as hollow rods, where the solid rods of the fixed part are inserted into the hollow rods of the movable part  4 . 
     A locking mechanism may also be provided between the fixed part  3  and the movable part  4  which can lock the fixed part  3  and the movable part  4  to avoid movement of the movable part  4 . The locking mechanism may include a plurality of via holes provided on the first hollow rod  32  or the second hollow rod  33  and arranged along the length of the first hollow rod  32  or the second hollow rod  33 , and a spring provided on the movable rod  41  and a clamping column connected to the spring, the central axis of the spring being perpendicular to the central axis of the movable rod  41 . When the movable rod  41  needs to be able to move, a larger pull or push force can be applied to cause the clamping column to be squeezed and moved down, so that the movable rod  41  can be moved and switched to different clamping point positions. When the movable rod  41  needs to be unable to move, the clamping column can be made to be stuck in the via hole. 
     In some embodiments, the second reel  2  is connected between the two connecting plates  42  of the two movable brackets. In some embodiments, two end portions of the second reel  2  are connected to the two connecting plates  42  at central positions of the two connecting plates  42  by bearings, allowing the second reel  2  to rotate relative to the movable brackets. 
     In this example embodiment, referring to  FIG.  5   , the flexible display panel  5  may include a flexible screen  51  and a support film group. The support film group is provided on a side of the flexible screen  51  opposite to the display surface, and second grooves  54  are provided on a side of the support film group away from the flexible screen  51 . The second grooves  54  are provided along an axial direction of the first reel  1 , i.e. the length direction of the second grooves  54  is consistent with the axial direction of the first reel  1 . 
     In some embodiments, the support film group may include a first support film  52  and a second support film  53 , the first support film  52  is provided on the side of the flexible screen  51  opposite to the display surface, and the second support film  53  is provided on a side of the first support film  52  away from the flexible screen  51 . The material of the first support film  52  may be metal or plastic, and the material of the second support film  53  may be silicone, or rubber. The thickness of the first support film  52  ranges from approximately 50 μm to 200 μm, and the thickness of the second support film  53  ranges from approximately 0.3 mm to 2 mm. The second support film  53  may include a plurality of film strips  55  which have a length direction consistent with the axial direction of the second reel  2 . A V-shaped second groove  54  is formed between two adjacent film strips  55 , i.e., the cross-sectional shape of the film strip  55  perpendicular to the axial direction of the second reel  2  can be an isosceles trapezoid, the long bottom edge of the isosceles trapezoid is connected to the first support film  52 , and the short bottom edge of the isosceles trapezoid is located on the side away from the first support film  52 . The side walls of the two adjacent film strips  55  form the groove walls of the second groove  54 . Of course, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-sectional shape of the second groove  54  perpendicular to the axial direction of the second reel  2  may be an isosceles trapezoid, U-shaped, and other shapes in which the opening is larger than the bottom, so as to facilitate the embedding of the first protrusion  21  into the second groove  54 . It is possible to provide a second protrusion instead of a second groove  54  on the film strip  55 , and the second protrusion is provided along the axial direction of the first reel  1 , i.e. the length direction of the second protrusion is consistent with the axial direction of the first reel  1 . 
     In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the support film group may include only the first support film  52 , i.e., the second support film  53  may not be provided. The material of the first support film  52  may be metal or plastic. The second groove  54  or the second protrusion may be provided on the side of the first support film  52  away from the flexible screen  51 . The cross section of the second groove  54  perpendicular to the axial direction of the second reel  2  can also be in the V-shape, U-shape, isosceles trapezoid shape, etc., in which the opening is larger than the bottom. 
     It should be noted that the second grooves  54  may extend through the entire support film group or may occupy only a portion of the support film group in length, i.e., the length of the second grooves  54  is equal to or less than the length of the support film group. A plurality of second grooves  54  may be provided side by side, or may be staggered. 
     In some embodiments, referring to  FIG.  4   , the first protrusion  21  is provided on the second reel  2  which extends along the axial direction of the second reel  2 , i.e. the length direction of the first protrusion  21  is consistent with the axial direction of the second reel  2 . The cross-sectional shape of the first protrusion  21  perpendicular to the axial direction of the second reel  2  may also be V-shaped. The height of the first protrusion  21  may be less than or equal to the depth of the second groove  54 , the width of the first protrusion  21  may be less than or equal to the width of the second groove  54 , and the length of the first protrusion  21  is less than or equal to the length of the second groove  54 , so that the first protrusion  21  can match with the second groove  54 , i.e., the first protrusion  21  can be embedded in the second groove  54 . Of course, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-sectional shape of the first protrusion  21  perpendicular to the axial direction of the second reel  2  may be an isosceles trapezoid, a U-shape, and the like, which is adapted to the second groove  54 . 
     In the case where the second grooves  54  extend through the entire support film group, the first protrusions  21  may also extend through the entire second reel  2 , or the first protrusions  21  may occupy only a portion of the second reel  2  in length. The plurality of first protrusions  21  may be provided side by side or staggered as long as they are adapted to the second grooves  541  so that the distance between two adjacent second grooves  54  is the same as the distance between two adjacent first protrusions  21 . 
     In addition, the shapes of the first protrusion  21 , the first groove, the second protrusion and the second groove  54  are not limited to the above description, for example, a cross section of the first protrusion  21  or the first groove parallel to an axial direction of the second reel is shaped as a rectangular, an ellipse, a circular, a parallelogram, and the like; and a cross section of the second protrusion or the second groove  54  parallel to the axial direction of the second reel is shaped correspondingly as a rectangular, an ellipse, a circular, and a parallelogram, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, further referring to  FIG.  5   , the first support film  52  has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The second support film  53  also has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end and the second end of the first support film  52  correspondingly extend beyond the first end and the second end of the second support film  53 , i.e., the length of the first support film  52  is greater than the length of the second support film  53 , and the second support film  53  is located at the middle position of the first support film  52 . The first end of the first support film  52  is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed housing  31  of the fixed pail  3 , and the second end of the first support film  52  is wound around the first reel  1 , i.e. the second support film  53  is not connected to the fixed housing  31  of the fixed part  3 , and the second support film  53  is not wound around the first reel  1 . The main function of the second support film  53  is to match with the second reel  2 , so as to avoid the second reel  2  from slipping and idling when the display device is unfolded and causing damage to the flexible display panel  5  due to uneven local force. Therefore, the short length of the second support film  53  can save material and human resources. 
     In some embodiments, the flexible screen  51  also has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The length of the flexible screen  51  is also smaller than the length of the first support film  52 , and the first end of the flexible screen  51  is aligned with the first end of the first support film  52 , and the second end of the first support film  52  extends beyond the second end of the flexible screen  51 . In this way, the first end of the flexible screen  51  is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed housing  31  of the fixed part  3  by the first support film  52 , the second end of the flexible screen  51  is not wound around the first reel  1 , and the flexible screen  51  is only wound around the second reel  2 . Since the display device inevitably has a pail of the flexible display panel  5  needs to be wound around the first reel  1  when in use, and the flexible screen  51  cannot be displayed when wound around the first reel  1 , i.e., the part is an invalid part, so that the length of the flexible screen  51  can be made shorter to avoid the length of the invalid part, thus saving materials and human resources and reducing costs. 
     In some embodiments, the display device may further include an auxiliary support member  7 , one end of which may be connected to the movable part and close to the second reel  2 , and the opposite other end of which may be attached to the fixed part and located on a side of the flexible display panel away from the display surface to support the flexible display panel. The auxiliary support member  7  may include a plurality of support strips  71 , and the side of the plurality of support strips  71  away from the flexible display panel may be connected by a tape. The support strips  71  extends along the axial direction of the second reel  2 , i.e. the plurality of support strips  71  are provided parallel to each other, and the length direction of the support strips  71  is consistent with the axial direction of the second reel  2 . One end of the auxiliary support member  7  is connected to the movable rod  4 , and the opposite other end of the auxiliary support member  7  is inserted into the spacing space between the top wall  311  and the support plate. The movable rod  4  will pull out the auxiliary support member  7  when the display device is unfolded, and the auxiliary support member  7  provides support for the flexible display panel  5 . When the display device is rolled up, the auxiliary support member  7  will be inserted into the spacing space between the top wall  311  and the support plate. In other example embodiments of the present disclosure, one end of the auxiliary support member  7  may be connected to the second reel  2 , and a portion of the auxiliary support member  7  will be wrapped around the second reel  2  when the display device is unfolded. Of course, the auxiliary support member  7  can also be provided as a rigid support plate. 
     When using this display device, the user pulls the fixed part  3  and the movable part  4  in opposite directions, and the movable rods  41  of the movable part  4  are pulled out from the first hollow rods  32  and the second hollow rods  33  of the fixed part  3 , and the flexible display panel  5  and the auxiliary support  7  are also pulled out. In this process, the flexible display panel  5  drives the first reel  1  and the second reel  2  to rotate clockwise, so that the flexible display panel  5  can be smoothly unfolded. The first reel  1  will drive the two constant torsional springs to rotate, so that the constant torsional springs have a constant torsional force. When the flexible display panel  5  is unfolded to a preset position for rolling, the user releases the movable part  4 , and under the action of the torsional force of the constant torsional springs, the first reel  1  rotates counterclockwise to wind the second support film  53  of the flexible display panel  5  on the first reel  1 , and at the same time, the flexible display panel  5  will drive the first reel  1  to rotate counterclockwise until the rolling is completed. When this display device is unrolled or rolled up, due to the cooperation of the second groove  54  or the second protrusion on the flexible display panel  5  and the first protrusion  21  or the first grooves on the second reel  2 , the flexible display panel  5  can drive the second reel  2  to rotate, avoiding the damage caused by the uneven local force on the flexible display panel  5  caused by the idling of the second reel  2 . 
     The features, structures or characteristics described above may be combined in any appropriate manner in one or more embodiments, and the features discussed in the various embodiments are interchangeable if possible. In the above description, many specific details are provided thereby giving a full understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will realize that it is possible to practice the technical embodiments of the present disclosure without one or more of the particular details described, or that other methods, components, materials, etc. may be employed. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the present disclosure. 
     The terms “about”, “approximately” used in this specification generally indicate that it is within 20%, preferably within 10%, and more preferably within 5% of a given value or range. The quantities given herein are approximate quantities, meaning that “about,” “approximately,” “roughly,” “probably” ray still be implied in the absence of specific instructions. 
     Although relative terms such as “up” and “down” are used in this specification to describe the relative relationship of one component of the icon to another, these terms are used in this specification only for convenience, such as in accordance with the orientation of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that if the device of the icon is flipped so that it is upside down, the component described as being “up” will become the component described as being “down”. Other relative terms such as “high”, “low”, “top”, “bottom”, etc. are used with similar meaning. When a structure is “on” another structure, it may mean that a structure is integrally formed on another structure, or that a structure is “directly” arranged on another structure, or that a structure is “indirectly” arranged on other structures through another structure. 
     In this specification, the terms “one”, “a/an”, “the” and “said” are used to indicate the existence of one or more elements/components/etc. The terms “contains”, “includes” and “comprises” are used to indicate an open-ended inclusion and to mean that additional elements/components/etc. may exist in addition to those listed elements/components/etc. The terms “first”, “second” and “third” are used as indications only and are not intended to limit the number of objects. 
     It should be understood that the present disclosure does not limit its application to the detailed construction and arrangement of the components presented herein. The present disclosure can have other embodiments, and can be implemented and performed in a variety of ways. The foregoing variations and modifications fall within the scope of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present disclosure as disclosed and limited by this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more individual features mentioned or evident in the text and/or the accompanying drawings. All such different combinations constitute multiple alternative aspects of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein illustrate the best manner known for implementing the present disclosure and will enable those skilled in the art to utilize the present disclosure.