KR102655734B1 - Wrinkle removal apparatus for flexible display - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for preventing wrinkles in a flexible display, and more specifically, to a device that is attached to the bottom of a flexible display and prevents wrinkles on the surface of the display by pulling the flexible display.
According to the present invention, even if the bending and unfolding of the flexible display is repeated countless times, wrinkles do not occur in the bent area when the flexible display is unfolded, so that the user can always enjoy a clear content screen without wrinkles. Increase trust in the smart device product and brand.

Description

Wrinkle removal apparatus for flexible display}

The present invention relates to a device for preventing wrinkles in a flexible display, and more specifically, to a device that is attached to the bottom of a flexible display and prevents wrinkles on the surface of the display by pulling the flexible display.

The size of mobile terminals such as smartphones and tablet PCs continues to be reduced in size for portability. On the other hand, because consumers demand displays with a certain screen size or larger, the development of flexible devices such as rollable or foldable displays (hereinafter collectively referred to as 'flexible displays') is actively underway.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing wrinkles that appear when a foldable device is unfolded. As the flexible display repeats bending and unfolding countless times, stress due to bending is applied, causing wrinkles to appear on the display as shown in Figure 1. Wrinkles on the display like this cause the content screen itself to appear wrinkled, greatly damaging the integrity of the mobile terminal product, which is a problem that greatly reduces users' trust in the product and its brand. It has been this way.

Figure 2 is a diagram to explain the cause of wrinkles occurring in the folding part (hereinafter referred to as the 'folding part') of a foldable device.

As shown in Figure 2 (a), the body of the foldable device 10 is divided into two left and right halves (51 and 52) and connected by a hinge, and a display support plate 12 is fixed on the body of the device, respectively. there is. The flexible display 11 is glued and placed on the support plate 12. In order for the display 11 to be folded, the display 11 and the support plate 12 are not adhered to each other at the folding portion 15. That is, the part that is not folded is permanently glued (13), and the part that is folded (15) is not permanently glued.

Since the folded portion 15 is not permanently glued, as shown in FIG. 2(b), when the flexible display 11 is deformed by bending, the flexible display 11 is separated from the support plate 12. This causes wrinkles to form.

KR 10-2020-0067023 A

The present invention was created to solve this problem, and even if the bending and unfolding of the flexible display is repeated countless times, wrinkles do not occur in the bent area when the flexible display is unfolded, so that the user can always enjoy clear, wrinkle-free content. The purpose is not only to allow people to enjoy the screen, but also to increase trust in the smart device product and brand.

In order to achieve this purpose, in a foldable device equipped with a flexible display according to the present invention, a device for preventing wrinkles of the flexible display is provided at a portion including a point where the flexible display is folded (hereinafter referred to as a 'folding portion'). ) is mounted below, and when the flexible display is unfolded, a downward force is applied to the flexible display, so that the attachment portion of the flexible display (hereinafter referred to as 'display attachment portion') attaches the flexible display to the bottom of the flexible display. It includes an adhesive force applicator for attaching to an attachment part of a supporting support plate (hereinafter referred to as 'support plate attachment part'), wherein the display attachment part is provided with a magnetic body portion, and the attachment force application portion pulls the magnetic body portion downward to It is provided with a magnetic force generating device that generates a magnetic force to attach the magnetic body portion to the support plate attachment portion, and the support plate attachment portion is provided with a variable adhesive layer that is detachable from the magnetic body portion.

The magnetic body portion may include a plurality of rod-shaped magnetic bodies arranged in parallel.

The magnetic body part may be provided with a flat magnetic body made of a flexible material.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a foldable device equipped with a flexible display, the device for preventing wrinkles of the flexible display is located below the area including the point where the flexible display is folded (hereinafter referred to as the 'folding portion'). It is mounted on the flexible display and applies a downward force to the flexible display when the flexible display is unfolded, so that the attachment portion of the flexible display (hereinafter referred to as 'display attachment portion') is a support plate that supports the flexible display at the bottom of the flexible display. It includes an adhesive force application part to be attached to an attachment part (hereinafter referred to as 'support plate attachment part'), wherein the support plate is in the form of a plate with only the folded portion separated, and the entire plate supports the flexible display, and the adhesive force is applied. The portion includes a plurality of fine holes penetrating vertically from the lower surface of the support plate to the attachment portion of the support plate; and a suction force generating device that applies a suction force to bring the display attachment portion into closer contact with the support plate attachment portion by sucking air downward through the microhole.

The support plate attachment portion may include a variable adhesive layer that is detachable from the display attachment portion.

On the lower surface of the support plate, pre-tension is applied so that the upper end is inclined toward the center, which is the point where the flexible display is folded, and the upper end may be provided with a plurality of shear deformation bodies attached to the lower surface of the support plate. You can.

The shear deformation body may be made of an elastic material.

The wrinkle prevention device may further include a groove for accommodating each shear deformation body.

A heat conductor may be attached to the display attachment portion, which is connected to a heating element in the foldable device and is used to transfer heat from the heating element to the flexible display.

The anti-wrinkle device may further include a temperature control unit that maintains the temperature of the heat conductor below a certain temperature.

According to the present invention, even if the bending and unfolding of the flexible display is repeated countless times, wrinkles do not occur in the bent area when the flexible display is unfolded, so that the user can always enjoy a clear content screen without wrinkles. It has the effect of increasing trust in the smart device product and brand.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing wrinkles that appear when a foldable device is unfolded.
Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining the cause of wrinkles in the folding part of a foldable device.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram briefly showing the state in which the anti-wrinkle device of the present invention is mounted on a foldable device.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a wrinkle prevention device using magnetic force.
Figure 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a wrinkle prevention device using air pressure.
Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining the principle of allowing axial deformation using a shear deformation body.
Figure 7 is a view showing a state in which a shear deformation body is added to the anti-wrinkle device of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a view showing a state in which a heat conductor is added to the anti-wrinkle device of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should appropriately use the concept of terms to explain his or her invention in the best way. It must be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle of definability. Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of the present invention, so at the time of filing this application, various alternatives are available to replace them. It should be understood that equivalents and variations may exist.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram briefly showing the state in which the anti-wrinkle device 200 of the present invention is mounted on the foldable device 100.

Figure 3 shows the flexible display 110 in an unfolded state. Below the display 110, there is an adhesive layer 130, a support plate 120, and a foldable device body 51 and 52.

The anti-wrinkle device 200 of the present invention is attached to the folded portion of the flexible display 110 to eliminate separation between the display 110 and the support plate 120. The flexible display 110 is attached to a support plate 120 made of a hard material such as metal, and when the display 110 is unfolded, it can maintain a wrinkle-free shape by using the anti-wrinkle device 200 of the present invention.

That is, the wrinkle prevention device 200 formed at the folded portion of the display 110 applies a force that pulls the flexible display 110 toward the lower direction where the support plate 120 is located when the flexible display 110 is unfolded. It is applied to the display 110, so that the display 110 is attached to the support plate 120 and is in a smooth state without wrinkles. When the display 110 is folded (folding), the flexible display 110 is separated from the support plate 120.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, two embodiments of the configuration of the anti-wrinkle device 200 that pulls the flexible display 110 downward will be described. In FIGS. 7 and 8, In addition to the configuration of Figure 5 or Figure 6, embodiments of the configuration of the anti-wrinkle device 200 that further improves the anti-wrinkle effect will be described.

The wrinkle prevention device 200 of the present invention is a device that prevents wrinkles of the flexible display 110 in an unfolded state in a foldable device equipped with the flexible display 110. The wrinkle prevention device 200 is mounted below the area containing the folding point of the flexible display 110 (hereinafter referred to as the 'folding portion'), and applies downward force to the flexible display 110 when the flexible display 110 is unfolded. By adding, the attachment portion (hereinafter referred to as 'display attachment portion') 111 of the flexible display 110 is the attachment portion ( It includes an attachment force application part that allows it to be attached to (hereinafter referred to as 'support plate attachment part') 121. This attachment force application unit may include a magnetic force generator or a pump that generates air suction force, which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.

The display attachment portion 111 attached to the support plate attachment portion 121 of the support plate 120 may be the lower surface of the flexible display 110. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4 below, the magnetic material portion attached to the flexible display 110 It could be (210).

In addition, the support plate attachment portion 121 attached to the display attachment portion 111 of the flexible display 110 may be the upper surface of the support plate 120, and as in the case of an embodiment of FIG. 4 or 5 below, the support plate attachment portion 121 (120) It may be a variable adhesive layer 230 adhered to the upper surface.

This configuration will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a wrinkle prevention device 200 using magnetic force.

Figure 4(a) shows an example in which attachment is implemented by magnetic force at the area where the anti-wrinkle device 200 is mounted when the flexible display 110 is unfolded.

The flexible magnetic portion 210 of the wrinkle prevention device 200 is adhered below the flexible display 110, and there is a variable adhesive layer 230 that can be repeatedly attached and detached beneath the magnetic portion 210. The variable adhesive layer 230 can be easily implemented using a tape or adhesive with weak adhesiveness.

The support plate 120, which is attached to the flexible display 110 by the permanent adhesive layer 130, is equipped with the magnetic force generating device 220 of the anti-wrinkle device 200. One example of the magnetic force generating device 220 is an electromagnet.

When the flexible display 110 is unfolded, a magnetic force is generated in the magnetic force generating device 220 to pull the magnetic portion 210 downward, and the flexible display 110 attached to the magnetic portion 210 is variable due to this force. By being attached to the adhesive layer 230, the flexible display 110 maintains an unfolded state without wrinkles. Even after the magnetic force disappears, the magnetic portion 210 and the flexible display 110 bonded to the magnetic portion 210 remain attached to the variable adhesive layer 230, thereby maintaining the flexible display 110 in an unfolded state without wrinkles. .

Alternatively, the anti-wrinkle device 200 of the present invention may be implemented without the variable adhesive layer 230. In this case, the magnetic portion 210 is maintained attached to the support plate by continuously applying magnetic force, and accordingly, the flexible display 110 attached to the magnetic portion 210 can also be maintained in an unfolded state without wrinkles. .

Figure 4(b) shows an implementation example of the flexible magnetic portion 210. In this way, several thin and long rod-shaped magnetic materials can be placed at right angles to the direction in which the display is folded. Alternatively, a wide plate-shaped magnetic material may be used, in which case the magnetic material itself is made of a sufficiently flexible material.

When the flexible display 110 is folded, the magnetic force disappears, and when it is provided with a variable adhesive layer 230, it is separated from the variable adhesive layer 230.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a wrinkle prevention device 200 using air pressure.

Figure 5 shows an example in which attachment is implemented by air pressure at the area where the wrinkle prevention device 200 is mounted when the flexible display 110 is unfolded.

There is a variable adhesive layer 230 that can be repeatedly attached and detached under the flexible display at the attachment implementation site. The variable adhesive layer 230 can be easily implemented using a tape or adhesive with weak adhesive strength, as described above with reference to FIG. 4 .

There are many fine holes (hereinafter referred to as 'microholes') 240 of the anti-wrinkle device 200 through which air can enter and exit the support plate 120. When the flexible display 110 is unfolded, air is sucked through the microhole 240 and the flexible display 110 is attached to the variable adhesive layer 230. Even after the suction force disappears, attachment is maintained by the variable adhesive layer 230.

If the anti-wrinkle device 200 is implemented without the variable adhesive layer 230, suction power can be continuously applied. In FIG. 5, the adhesive layer 130 and the variable adhesive layer 230 are shown as thick layers for convenience to make them clearly visible. However, in reality, the adhesive layer 130 and the variable adhesive layer 230 are very thin layers, so the variable adhesive layer ( Even if the flexible display 110 is directly attached to the support plate 120 without 230, the curvature of the flexible display 110 is hardly noticeable.

When the flexible display 110 is folded, it does not apply suction force and is separated from the variable adhesive layer 230.

A suction part (not shown) of the anti-wrinkle device 200 that generates this suction force may be provided at the lower part of the support plate 120. The suction unit can obtain suction power by operating the suction power generating device using electricity, or a method of operating the suction power generating device of the suction unit by the folding force of the foldable device can be applied. As an example, the suction force generating device may be a small pump.

In the anti-wrinkle device 200 that implements attachment using magnetic force described with reference to FIG. 4 or the anti-wrinkle device 200 that implements attachment using air pressure described with reference to FIG. 5, the flexible display 110 is the attachment implementation part. ) and the support plate 120 by creating irregularities (concave-convex) to achieve more stable attachment.

Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining the principle of allowing axial deformation using the shear deformation body 250.

When the flexible display 110 is folded and unfolded, the flexible display 110 is deformed in the longitudinal direction. If this is not allowed to some extent, wrinkles may form or excessive tensile stress may occur.

In particular, as described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, excessive compressive stress may occur when removing wrinkles on the display 110 using attachment by the wrinkle prevention device 200.

To solve this problem, a shear deformable body 250 capable of shear elastic deformation can be attached between the support plate 120 and the foldable device. The shear deformation body 250 allows some axial deformation of the flexible display due to its elasticity, thereby reducing the occurrence of excessive stress. It can also prevent wrinkles.

That is, Figure 6(b) is an example of allowing outward tensile deformation from both sides, and Figure 6(c) is an example of allowing contractional deformation of the folding portion, that is, toward the center.

The shear deforming body 250 uses a material with good elasticity, such as rubber. In order to sufficiently induce shear deformation, a certain thickness is required, and for this purpose, as shown in FIG. 6, a groove can be made in the body of the foldable device and the shear deformation body 250 can be installed.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a shear deformation body is added to the anti-wrinkle device 200 of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 7, the shear deformable body is deformed in advance and then the support plate is attached to the shear deformable body. That is, the shear deformable body 251 on the left is attached to the support plate 120 with its upper end deformed to the right, i.e. toward the center, and the shear deformable body 252 on the right is attached to the support plate 120 with its upper end deformed to the left, i.e. toward the center. The upper end is attached to the support plate 120.

The arrows on both sides shown in FIG. 7 indicate the direction of the force in which the left shear deformable body 251 and the right shear deformable body 252 return to their original shape, respectively, and this force causes an outward tensile force to be applied to the flexible display 110. As a result, wrinkles of the flexible display 110 are alleviated.

That is, pre-tension is applied to the flexible display 110, and the pre-tension alleviates wrinkles when the flexible display 110 is unfolded.

In Figure 7, only the shear deformation body is shown as the anti-wrinkle device 200, but this shear deformation body is installed in addition to the anti-wrinkle device 200 of FIG. 5 or the anti-wrinkle device 200 of FIG. 6 to further enhance the wrinkle alleviation effect. It can be improved.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a heat conductor 260 is added to the anti-wrinkle device 200 of the present invention.

Since the flexible display 110 has a layer of plastic material such as PI, deformation and stress are relieved when the temperature rises. That is, when heat is applied to an appropriate temperature, the wrinkles of the flexible display 110 are alleviated.

If there is a variable adhesive layer made of tape or adhesive at the attachment area, the applied heat helps ensure uniform adhesion.

When running a mobile phone, for example, the heat coming from the chipset (hereinafter referred to as 'heating element') 70, such as an AP (Application Processor), is transferred to the attachment part using the heat conductor 260, etc., thereby creating a flexible display ( 110) can alleviate wrinkles. However, in this case, the temperature must be controlled to prevent too much heat from being applied from the heating element. To this end, the anti-wrinkle device 200 may further include a temperature control unit that maintains the temperature of the heat conductor below a certain temperature.

10: Conventional flexible display device
11: display
12: support plate
13: Permanent adhesive layer
15: Display folded part
51: Foldable device body (left)
52: Foldable device body (right)
70: Heating element
100: Flexible display device
110: Flexible display
111: Display attachment part
120: support plate
121: Support plate attachment part
130: Permanent adhesive layer
200: Anti-wrinkle device
210: magnetic body part
220: Magnetic force generating device
230: Variable adhesive layer
240: fine hole
250: Shear deformation body
251: Left shear deformation
252: Right shear deformation
260: heat conductor

Claims (12)

In a foldable device equipped with a flexible display, a device for preventing wrinkles of the flexible display, comprising:
It is mounted below the part containing the folding point of the flexible display (hereinafter referred to as the 'folding part'), and when the flexible display is unfolded, a downward force is applied to the flexible display, so that the attachment part (hereinafter referred to as the 'display part') of the flexible display An attachment force application unit that causes the attachment portion (hereinafter referred to as 'attachment portion') to be attached to the attachment portion of the support plate (hereinafter referred to as 'support plate attachment portion') that supports the flexible display at the bottom of the flexible display.
Including,
In the display attachment part,
A magnetic body portion is provided,
The adhesion force application unit,
Equipped with a magnetic force generating device that generates a magnetic force to pull the magnetic body portion downward and attach the magnetic body portion to the support plate attachment portion,
The support plate attachment part,
Provided with a variable adhesive layer that is detachable from the magnetic body portion,
Wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays.
delete In claim 1,
The magnetic body part,
Having a plurality of rod-shaped magnetic materials arranged in parallel
A wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays featuring a. In claim 1,
The magnetic body part,
Providing a flat-shaped magnetic material made of flexible material
A wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays featuring a.
delete In a foldable device equipped with a flexible display, a device for preventing wrinkles of the flexible display, comprising:
It is mounted below the part containing the folding point of the flexible display (hereinafter referred to as the 'folding part'), and when the flexible display is unfolded, a downward force is applied to the flexible display, so that the attachment part (hereinafter referred to as the 'display part') of the flexible display An attachment force application unit that causes the attachment portion (hereinafter referred to as 'attachment portion') to be attached to the attachment portion of the support plate (hereinafter referred to as 'support plate attachment portion') that supports the flexible display at the bottom of the flexible display.
Including,
The support plate is,
It is in the form of a plate with only the folded portion separated, and the entire plate supports the flexible display,
The adhesion force application unit,
a plurality of micro-holes penetrating vertically from the lower surface of the support plate to the support plate attachment portion; and,
A suction force generating device that applies a suction force to bring the display attachment portion into closer contact with the support plate attachment portion by sucking air downward through the fine hole.
Equipped with,
Wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays. In claim 6,
The support plate attachment part,
Having a variable adhesive layer that is detachable from the display attachment portion.
A wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays featuring a. In claim 1 or claim 6,
On the lower surface of the support plate,
The upper end is provided with a plurality of shear deformation bodies attached to the lower surface of the support plate, with pre-tension applied so that the upper end is tilted toward the center, which is the point where the flexible display is folded.
A wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays featuring a. In claim 8,
The shear deformation body is,
Composed of an elastic material
A wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays featuring a. In claim 8,
Groove for accommodating each shear deformation body
An anti-wrinkle device for a flexible display, further comprising: In claim 1 or claim 6,
In the display attachment part,
A heat conductor is attached that is connected to a heating element in the foldable device and transfers heat from the heating element to the flexible display.
A wrinkle prevention device for flexible displays featuring a. In claim 11,
Temperature control unit that maintains the temperature of the heat conductor below a certain temperature
An anti-wrinkle device for a flexible display, further comprising: