阅读说明：本技术 显示装置 (Display device ) 是由 安晟相 于 2021-06-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了显示装置。该显示装置包括：显示模块,具有在第一状态和第二状态下暴露于外部的第一区域以及与第一区域相邻地限定并且在第二状态下暴露于外部的第二区域；壳体,容纳显示模块；以及驱动器,控制显示模块的第一状态和第二状态。驱动器包括：第一驱动模块,固定到壳体；第二驱动模块,联接到第一驱动模块；以及滑动模块,联接到第二驱动模块并且根据第二个螺钉的旋转在靠近或远离第二电动机的方向上移动。(A display device is provided. The display device includes: a display module having a first region exposed to the outside in a first state and a second region defined adjacent to the first region and exposed to the outside in the second state; a housing accommodating the display module; and a driver controlling the first state and the second state of the display module. The driver includes: a first driving module fixed to the housing; a second drive module coupled to the first drive module; and a sliding module coupled to the second driving module and moving in a direction approaching or departing from the second motor according to rotation of the second screw.)

1. A display device, comprising:

a display module having a first region and a second region defined adjacent to the first region, the first region being exposed to the outside in a first state and a second state, and the second region being exposed to the outside in the second state;

a housing accommodating the display module; and

a driver controlling the first state and the second state of the display module, the driver comprising:

a first drive module including a first motor fixed to the housing and a first screw coupled to the first motor;

a second drive module comprising a second motor and a second screw, the second motor coupled to the first screw and configured to move in a direction toward or away from the first motor, the second screw coupled to the second motor; and

a sliding module coupled to the second screw and configured to move in a direction to approach or move away from the second motor.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes:

a first housing fixedly coupled to the display module and the first driving module; and

a second housing coupled to the first housing and configured to move in a first direction in a direction approaching or departing from the first housing.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein one end of the sliding module is coupled to the second housing, and the sliding module moves closer to or away from the second motor when the second housing moves closer to or away from the first housing.

4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a roller configured to insert the display module into the housing in the first state and pull the display module out of the housing in the second state.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding module comprises:

a first portion coupled to the second screw and extending in a first direction;

a second portion coupled to the display module and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; and

a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion to couple the slide module to the housing.

6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein the second portion includes a roller, and the display module is inserted into the housing by the roller when the slide module moves in a direction close to the second motor, and is pulled out from the housing by the roller when the slide module moves in a direction away from the second motor.

7. The display device according to claim 5, wherein each of the first driving module and the second driving module is provided in plurality.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the sliding module is provided in plurality, and the second screws of the plurality of second driving modules are respectively coupled to the plurality of first portions.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second motor includes:

a motor unit that controls rotation of the second screw; and

a connection portion physically connecting the motor portion to the first screw.

10. The display device of claim 2, wherein the second drive module is coupled to the first housing to be slidable in the first direction.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a display device. More particularly, embodiments relate to a display device including an expandable or contractible display module.

Background

Electronic devices that provide images to users, such as smart phones, digital cameras, notebook computers, navigation units, and smart televisions, include display devices that display images. The display device generates an image and provides the image to a user through a display screen.

In recent years, various types of display devices including technical improvements of the display devices are being developed. For example, various flexible display devices that can be folded or rolled are being developed. The flexible display device, which can be changed into various shapes, is easy to carry, and improves user convenience.

Flexible display devices provide various sizes of display screens to users. For example, the flexible display device operates in a basic mode and an extended mode. In the basic mode, a portion of the flexible display module is exposed and the rest of the flexible display module is inserted into the housing. The rest inserted into the housing is pulled out and unfolded in the expanded mode.

The above information disclosed in this background section is only for background understanding of the inventive concept and, therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a display device capable of reducing the number of defects generated when a display module is expanded or contracted.

Additional features of the inventive concept will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the inventive concept.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a display device including: a display module including a first region exposed to the outside in a first state and a second region defined adjacent to the first region and exposed to the outside in the second state; a housing accommodating the display module; and a driver controlling the first state and the second state of the display module. The driver includes: a first driving module including a first motor fixed to the housing and a first screw coupled to the first motor and extending along one side of the first direction; a second drive module comprising: a second motor coupled to the first screw and moving in a direction approaching or separating from the first motor due to a rotational operation of the first screw, and a second screw coupled to the second motor and extending along the other side of the first direction; and a sliding module coupled to the second screw and moving in a direction approaching or departing from the second motor due to a rotational operation of the second screw.

The housing may include: a first housing fixedly coupled to the display module and the first driving module; and a second housing coupled to the first housing to move in a direction approaching or departing from the first housing in the first direction.

One end of the slide module may be coupled to the second housing, and the slide module may be moved closer to or away from the second motor when the second housing is moved closer to or away from the first housing.

The display device may further include a roller to insert the display module into the housing in the first state and to pull the display module out of the housing in the second state.

The sliding module may include: a first portion coupled to the second screw and extending in a first direction; a second portion coupled to the display module and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion to couple the slide module to the housing.

The second portion may include a roller, and the display module is inserted into the housing by the roller when the sliding module moves in a direction close to the second motor, and is pulled out of the housing by the roller when the sliding module moves in a direction away from the second motor.

Each of the first driving module and the second driving module may be provided in plurality.

The first portion of the sliding module may be provided in plurality, and the second screws of the plurality of second driving modules may be coupled to the plurality of first portions, respectively.

The second motor may include: a motor unit for controlling rotation of the second screw; and a connection portion physically connecting the motor portion to the first screw.

The second drive module may be coupled to the first housing to be slidable in the first direction.

The direction of the threads of the first screw may be opposite to the direction of the threads of the second screw.

The length of the first screw in the first direction may be substantially the same as the length of the second screw in the first direction.

The display device may further include at least one elastic member, wherein one end of the at least one elastic member is fixed to the second housing and the other end thereof is fixed to the display module.

The elastic member may be stretched in the second state of the display module and contracted in the first state of the display module.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a display device including a display module including a first region always exposed to the outside and a second region defined adjacent to the first region, hidden from the outside in a first state, and exposed to the outside in a second state, a housing accommodating the display module and including a first housing and a second housing slidably coupled with the first housing, a driver fixed to the housing to change an operation state of the display module to the first state or the second state while sliding the second housing, and a roller connected to the driver to insert or pull the second region of the display module into or out of the housing. The driver includes a first driving module fixed to an inner sidewall of the first housing and a second driving module coupled to the first driving module to be movable. Wherein the roller is fixed to the second housing and coupled to the second driving module to be movable.

The first drive module may include a first motor and a first screw coupled to the first motor and extending along one side of the first direction, and the second drive module may include a second motor coupled to the first screw and a second screw coupled to the second motor and extending along another side of the first direction opposite the one side.

The roller may move in a direction approaching the second driving module when the second driving module moves in a direction away from the first driving module, and may move in a direction away from the second driving module when the second driving module moves in a direction approaching the first driving module.

The direction of the threads of the first screw may be opposite to the direction of the threads of the second screw.

The roller may include: a connecting rod, one end of which is connected to the second screw; and a roller rod extending from the other end of the connecting rod in a second direction crossing the first direction, and pulling out the second region of the display module from the housing when the connecting rod moves in a direction away from the second driving module, and inserting the second region of the display module into the housing when the connecting rod moves in a direction close to the second driving module.

The driver may include a first driver fixed to one side wall of the housing and a second driver fixed to the other side wall of the housing opposite to the one side wall.

According to the above, the display device can be provided as a slidable display device, and therefore, defects can be prevented from occurring when the display module is expanded or contracted. In addition, since the slidable display device is operated using the motor and the screw rotated by the motor, the reliability of the slidable display device can be improved.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the inventive concept.

Fig. 1A and 1B are perspective views illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A and 2B are perspective views illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3A and 3B are plan views illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4A and 4B are sectional views illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a display module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a display module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments or implementations of the present invention. As used herein, an "embodiment" is a non-limiting example of an apparatus or method that employs one or more of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. It may be evident, however, that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the various embodiments. Moreover, the various embodiments may be different, but are not necessarily exclusive. For example, the particular shapes, configurations and characteristics of the embodiments may be used or implemented in another embodiment without departing from the inventive concept.

Unless otherwise indicated, the illustrated embodiments are to be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of some ways in which the inventive concepts may be practiced. Thus, unless otherwise specified, features, components, modules, layers, films, panels, regions, and/or aspects and the like (hereinafter referred to individually or collectively as "elements") of the various embodiments may be otherwise combined, separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the figures is generally provided to clarify the boundaries between adjacent elements. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, the presence or absence of cross-hatching or shading does not convey or indicate a preference or requirement for a particular material, material property, dimension, proportion, commonality between the illustrated elements and/or any other characteristic, attribute, performance, etc. of the elements. Moreover, in the drawings, the size and relative sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. When the embodiments may be implemented differently, the specific processing order may be performed differently from that described. For example, two processes described consecutively may be performed substantially simultaneously or in an order reverse to the order described. Also, like reference numerals designate like elements.

When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. However, when an element or layer is referred to as being "directly on," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. For purposes of this disclosure, the term "connected" may refer to physical, electrical, and/or fluid connections, with or without intervening elements. Further, the DR1 axis, DR2 axis, and DR3 axis are not limited to three axes of a rectangular coordinate system, such as an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, and may be explained in a broader sense. For example, the DR1 axis, DR2 axis, and DR3 axis may be perpendicular to each other, or may represent different directions that are not perpendicular to each other. For purposes of this disclosure, "at least one of X, Y and Z" and "at least one selected from the group consisting of X, Y and Z" may be construed as any combination of two or more of only X, only Y, only Z, or X, Y and Z, such as, for example, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various types of elements, these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as "under," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," "above," "higher," "side" (e.g., as in a "sidewall") and the like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes and thus to describe one element's relationship to another element(s) as illustrated in the figures. In addition to the orientations depicted in the figures, the spatially relative terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use, operation, and/or manufacture. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. Further, the devices may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," and/or "including," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms "substantially," "about," and other similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not degree, and thus are used to interpret inherent deviations in measured, calculated, and/or provided values that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Various embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations and/or exploded illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments and/or intermediate structures. Variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments disclosed herein should not necessarily be construed as limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. In this manner, the regions illustrated in the figures may be schematic in nature and the shapes of these regions may not reflect the actual shape of a region of a device and, thus, are not necessarily intended to be limiting.

Some embodiments are described in terms of functional blocks, units, and/or modules and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings as is conventional in the art. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the blocks, units and/or modules are physically implemented using electronic (or optical) circuits such as logic circuits, discrete components, microprocessors, hardwired circuitry, memory elements, wired connections, and so on, which may be formed using semiconductor-based fabrication techniques or other fabrication techniques. Where the blocks, units, and/or modules are implemented by a microprocessor or other similar hardware, they may be programmed and controlled using software (e.g., microcode) to perform the various functions discussed herein, and alternatively, they may be driven by firmware and/or software. In addition, it is contemplated that each block, unit, and/or module may be implemented by dedicated hardware for performing some functions or as a combination of dedicated hardware for performing some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) for performing other functions. In addition, each block, unit and/or module of some embodiments may be physically separated into two or more interactive and discrete blocks, units and/or modules without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore, the blocks, units and/or modules of some embodiments may be physically combined into more complex blocks, units and/or modules without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1A and 1B are perspective views illustrating display devices DD-1 and DD-2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1A shows the display device DD-1 in a first state, and fig. 1B shows the display device DD-2 in a second state.

The display device DD may be activated in response to an electrical signal. The display device DD may include various embodiments. For example, the display device DD may be applied to large electronic products such as a television, a monitor, or an outdoor signboard, and small and medium electronic products such as a personal computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a car navigation unit, a game unit, a mobile electronic device, and a camera. However, these are merely exemplary, and the display device DD may be applied to other display products as long as they do not depart from the inventive concept. In the present embodiment, a smartphone will be described as a representative example of the display device DD.

The display device DD may be an expandable display device. The display device DD may be a slidable display device in an expandable display device. The slidable display device may include a display module DM that expands or contracts according to a sliding operation of its housing CS.

Referring to fig. 1A and 1B, the display device DD may include a case CS and a display module DM. The display device DD is operable in a first state or a second state. The first state indicates a state in which the display module DM is not expanded, and the second state indicates a state in which the display module DM is expanded. That is, the display area DA of the display device DD-2 in the second state is larger than the display area DA of the display device DD-1 in the first state.

The display module DM may display an image to a user. The display area DA may be defined in the display module DM, and may include a first area DA1 and a second area DA 2. The display module DM may be fixed to the housing CS and may extend in the first direction DR 1. According to an embodiment, one end of the display module DM may be fixed to the first case CS1 or the second case CS 2. The display module DM may be a flexible display module. The first region DA1 may be exposed to the outside in the first and second states, and the second region DA2 may be exposed to the outside only in the second state.

The housing CS may accommodate the display module DM. The case CS may include a first case CS1 and a second case CS 2. The second housing CS2 is movable in a first direction DR1 to couple to the first housing CS 1. In the present embodiment, the first case CS1 may be referred to as an "outer case", and the second case CS2 may be referred to as an "inner case". That is, the second housing CS2 may slide inside the first housing CS1 while being coupled to the first housing CS 1.

Referring to fig. 1A, the first area DA1 may be exposed to the outside when the display device DD-1 is in the first state. The second area DA2 (see fig. 1B) is hidden inside the case CS. That is, the display device DD-1 in the first state may provide only the first area DA1 to the user. The first state of the display device DD-1 may be a state in which the case CS is closed, and in detail, may be a state in which the second case CS2 is slid in a direction to approach the first case CS 1.

Referring to fig. 1B, the first and second areas DA1 and DA2 of the display module DM of the display device DD-2 may be exposed to the outside in the second state. The user can view both the first area DA1 and the second area DA2 in the second state of the display device DD-2. The second state of the display device DD-2 may be a state in which the case CS is opened, and in detail, may be a state in which the second case CS2 is slid in a direction away from the first case CS 1.

Fig. 2A and 2B are perspective views illustrating display devices DD-1 and DD-2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A shows the inside of the casing CS of the display device DD-1 in the first state, and fig. 2B shows the inside of the casing CS of the display device DD-2 in the second state. In fig. 2A and 2B, the display module DM (refer to fig. 1A and 1B) disposed in the display area DA is transparently shown to show the inside of the housing CS.

Referring to fig. 2A and 2B, the display devices DD-1 and DD-2 may include a driver disposed in a case CS. The driver may include a first driving module 100, a second driving module 200, and a sliding module 300. The driver may change the operating state of the display device DD to the first state or the second state in response to a user's control. According to an embodiment, the driver may automatically control the first state and the second state of the display device DD in response to an input of a user. For example, when an extended command of the display module DM is input by a user of the display device DD (e.g., a smart phone), the driver may change the operation state of the display device DD from the first state to the second state. When a contraction command of the display module DM is input by a user, the driver may change the operation state of the display device DD from the second state to the first state.

The driver may drive the first and second driving modules 100 and 200, and may control the operation of the sliding module 300 to change the operation state of the display device DD to the first state or the second state. The first and second drive modules 100 and 200 may operate substantially simultaneously. The second driving module 200 may be connected to the first driving module 100 and may be moved in the first direction DR1 according to the operation of the first driving module 100. The second driving module 200 may operate substantially simultaneously with the first driving module 100 or may operate separately from the first driving module 100. The slide module 300 may move in the first direction DR1 according to the operation of the second driving module 200. The operation state of the display device DD may be changed to the first state or the second state due to the movement of the second driving module 200 and the sliding module 300.

The first drive module 100 may be coupled to the first casing CS 1. The first driving module 100 may be fixed to a sidewall of the first housing CS1 in the second direction DR 2.

The first drive module 100 may include a first motor 110 and a first screw 120. The first screw 120 may be mechanically coupled to the first motor 110. In this case, the expression "mechanical coupling" is different from a simple physical coupling, and means a relationship in which the operation of the first motor 110 directly affects the operation of the first screw 120. The first motor 110 may rotate a first screw 120 coupled to one end thereof. One end of the first screw 120 may be coupled to the first motor 110 and may extend in the first direction DR 1. The first screw 120 may correspond to various types of threaded fasteners including screws and bolts. The first screw 120 may include a body and a thread defined on the body.

The second driving module 200 may include a second motor 210 and a second screw 220. The second screw 220 may be mechanically coupled to the second motor 210. The second motor 210 may rotate the second screw 220. One end of the second screw 220 may be coupled to the second motor 210, and the second screw 220 may extend in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first screw 120 extends in the first direction DR 1. The second screw 220 may include a body and a thread defined on the body. The direction of the threads of the second screw 220 may be opposite to the direction of the threads of the first screw 120. For example, when the threads of the first screw 120 are left-hand threads, the threads of the second screw 220 are right-hand threads, and when the threads of the first screw 120 are right-hand threads, the threads of the second screw 220 are left-hand threads.

The second motor 210 may be fixed to the first screw 120 and may move in a direction approaching or departing from the first motor 110 in the first direction DR1 according to the rotation of the first screw 120.

The second motor 210 may include a motor part 212 controlling rotation of the second screw 220 and a connection part 214 connecting the motor part 212 to the first screw 120.

The second screw 220 may be mechanically coupled to one end of the motor portion 212. The motor part 212 may control rotation of a second screw 220 coupled with one end thereof. The motor portion 212 may be coupled to the connection portion 214 in the second direction DR 2.

The connection portion 214 may physically connect the second driving module 200 to the first screw 120. The connecting portion 214 may include internal threads that mesh at an inner surface thereof with external threads of the first screw 120. For example, the connection portion 214 may correspond to a nut. The connection part 214 may move in a direction approaching or separating from the first motor 110 according to the rotation of the first screw 120, and thus, the motor part 212 may move together with the connection part 214.

The second driving module 200 is slidably coupled to a sidewall of the first case CS 1. Although not shown in the drawings, the connection part 214 of the second driving module 200 may be coupled to the first screw 120 at an inner side thereof, and may be coupled to an inner sidewall of the first case CS1 at an outer side thereof to be movable.

The sliding module 300 may be coupled to the second screw 220 and may move in a direction approaching or departing from the second motor 210 according to the rotation of the second screw 220. The slide module 300 may include a first portion 310, a second portion 320, and a third portion 330.

The first portion 310 may be coupled to the second screw 220. The first portion 310 may be a connecting bar 310 extending in a first direction DR 1. An internal thread engaged with the external thread of the second screw 220 may be defined in the inner surface of the first portion 310. The first portion 310 may move in a direction approaching or separating from the second motor 210 in the first direction DR1 according to the rotation of the second screw 220.

The second portion 320 may extend in a second direction DR 2. The second portion 320 may comprise a roller. The second portion 320 may be referred to as a "roller bar". The display module DM may be coupled to the second portion 320. The second portion 320 may be rotated by the horizontal movement of the first portion 310 to pull out or insert the display module DM. In more detail, the second portion 320 may expose or hide the second area DA2 of the display module DM to the outside using the rotation of the roller. In fig. 2A and 2B, the display module DM may be inserted into the first housing CS1 when the sliding module 300 is moved in a direction approaching the second motor 210, and may be pulled out of the first housing CS1 when the sliding module 300 is moved in a direction departing from the second motor 210.

Although not shown in the drawings, according to another embodiment, the second part 320 may be a fixing rod fixing the sliding module 300 to the second case CS 2. In this case, the second part 320 may be fixed to one end of the second case CS 2. In addition, one end of the display module DM may be fixed to the second portion 320. The rollers (not shown) may be individually coupled to the first case CS 1. A roller (not shown) may be coupled to one end of the first case CS1 and may be inserted or pulled out of the display module DM according to the movement of the sliding module 300. In this case, the roller (not shown) may rotate to expose or hide a portion of the first region of the display module DM to the outside. The second region may be always exposed to the outside.

The third portion 330 may be disposed between the first portion 310 and the second portion 320. The third portion 330 may connect the first portion 310 to the second portion 320. Meanwhile, the third part 330 may be connected to the second case CS 2. Accordingly, the third portion 330 may secure the slide module 300 to the second case CS 2. Accordingly, the slide module 300 may be coupled to the second case CS 2. The slide module 300 may move away from the second motor 210 when the second housing CS2 moves in a direction away from the first housing CS1, and the slide module 300 may move close to the second motor 210 when the second housing CS2 moves in a direction close to the first housing CS 1.

Fig. 3A and 3B are plan views illustrating display devices DD-1 and DD-2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3A shows the display device DD-1 in a first state, and fig. 3B shows the display device DD-2 in a second state.

The display device DD may include a plurality of first driving modules and a plurality of second driving modules. Referring to fig. 3A and 3B, the driver may include a first driver and a second driver. The first driver may be fixed to one sidewall of the case CS, and the second driver may be fixed to the other sidewall of the case CS opposite to the one sidewall. The first driver may include a first driving module 100 and a second driving module 200, and the second driver may include a first driving module 100-1 and a second driving module 200-1, wherein the first driving module 100-1 may include a first motor 110-1 and a first screw 120-1; the second driving module 200-1 may include a second motor 210-1 and a second screw 220-1, and the second motor 210-1 may include a motor part 212-1 and a connection part 214-1. The first driver and the second driver may share the sliding module 300, and the sliding module 300 may include a roller.

The sliding module 300 may include first portions 310 and 310-1, a second portion 320, and third portions 330 and 330-1. The first driver and the second driver may share the second portion 320. The first portions 310 and 310-1 may be coupled to opposite ends of the second portion 320, and the third portions 330 and 330-1 may be coupled to opposite ends of the second portion 320.

In fig. 3B, the directions of the threads of the first and second screws 120 and 220 may be opposite to each other. The second driving module 200 may move in proportion to a length LH1 in the first direction DR1 of the first screw 120, and the sliding module 300 may move in proportion to a length LH2 in the first direction DR1 of the second screw 220. The total moving distance of the sliding module 300 may correspond to the sum of the length LH1 of the first screw 120 and the length LH2 of the second screw 220. The total moving distance of the sliding module 300 may be substantially the same as the sliding distance LH3 of the second case CS 2. For example, the sum of length LH1 of first screw 120 and length LH2 of second screw 220 may be substantially the same as sliding distance LH3 of second housing CS 2.

According to an embodiment, a length LH1 in the first direction DR1 of the first screw 120 and a length LH2 in the first direction DR1 of the second screw 220 may be substantially equal to each other.

According to an embodiment, the display devices DD-1 and DD-2 may include an elastic member SR. The elastic member SR may be a spring. The spring may be various springs, for example, a torsion spring. One end of the elastic member SR may be fixed to the second case CS2, and the other end of the elastic member SR may be fixed to the display module DM. In the present embodiment, at least one elastic member SR may be provided. Although two elastic members SR are shown in the drawings, the number of the elastic members SR is not limited thereto. That is, one or three or more elastic members SR may be applied to the display devices DD-1 and DD-2.

Fig. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating display devices DD-1 and DD-2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4A and 4B show the display devices DD-1 and DD-2 when viewed in the second direction DR 2.

Fig. 4A shows the display device DD-1 in the first state, and fig. 4B shows the display device DD-2 in the second state. In more detail, fig. 4A and 4B illustrate the movement of the sliding module 300 in the first direction DR 1. Fig. 4A and 4B show a first state and a second state of the display module DM, respectively.

In the display device DD-1 in the first state as shown in fig. 4A, the first area DA1 of the display module DM may be exposed to the outside. The display device DD-1 may display an image through the first area DA 1. The second area DA2 of the display module DM may be inserted into the first housing CS1 by a roller (hereinafter, referred to as a "roller") of the second portion 320 of the sliding module 300, and may be disposed in the first housing CS 1.

In the display device DD-2 in the second state as shown in fig. 4B, the first and second areas DA1 and DA2 of the display module DM may be exposed to the outside. That is, the display device DD-2 may display the extended image to the user through the first and second areas DA1 and DA 2.

In fig. 4A and 4B, the rollers in the slide module 300 may be coupled to the second case CS 2. When the second housing CS2 moves in a direction away from the first housing CS1, the rollers in the slide module 300 may move in a direction away from the first housing CS 1.

When the second driving module 200 moves in a direction away from the first driving module 100, the roller in the sliding module 300 may move in a direction approaching the second driving module 200. When the second driving module 200 moves in a direction to approach the first driving module 100, the roller in the sliding module 300 may move in a direction to be away from the second driving module 200.

That is, the rollers in the second driving module 200 and the sliding module 300 may always move in the same direction in the first direction DR 1. The moving distance of the rollers in the sliding module 300 may be greater than that of the second driving module 200.

The rollers in the sliding module 300 may include a connecting rod 310 and a roller rod 320. The connection rod 310 may be connected to the second screw 220 and may move in the first direction DR1 according to the rotation of the second screw 220. The roller lever 320 may be coupled to the display module DM. The roller lever 320 may be rotated according to the movement of the connection lever 310 to pull out or insert the display module DM. According to an embodiment, when the connection rod 310 moves in a direction away from the second driving module 200, the roller lever 320 may pull out the second area DA2 of the display module DM. When the connecting bar 310 moves in a direction to approach the second driving module 200, the roller bar 320 may be inserted into the second area DA2 of the display module DM.

The elastic member SR may be stretched or contracted by its elastic force. One end of the elastic member SR may be coupled to one end of the second case CS2 disposed in the first case CS 1. The other end of the elastic member SR opposite to the one end of the elastic member SR may be coupled to one end of the display module DM disposed in the second case CS 2. When the operating state of the display device DD is changed from the first state to the second state, the elastic member SR may be stretched and pull the display module DM in the first direction DR1 using elastic force. The display module DM may maintain a flat state by the elastic force of the elastic member SR in the first state and the second state. The display module DM may be kept in tension by the elastic force of the elastic member SR even during the change between the first state and the second state. When the operating state of the display device DD changes from the second state to the first state, the elastic member SR may contract.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display module DM according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pixel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view schematically illustrating the display module DM shown in fig. 1, and fig. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 5, the display module DM may include a display panel DP, a touch sensing unit TSP disposed on the display panel DP, a window WIN disposed on the touch sensing unit TSP, and an adhesive OCA disposed between the touch sensing unit TSP and the window WIN.

The display panel DP may be an organic light emitting display panel. However, the inventive concept should not be so limited. Various display panels displaying images, such as a liquid crystal display panel, an electrowetting display panel, and an electrophoretic display panel, may be used as the display panel DP. The display panel DP may be a flexible display panel.

The display panel DP may include a substrate SUB, a pixel layer PXL disposed on the substrate SUB, and a thin film encapsulation layer TFE disposed on the pixel layer PXL to cover the substrate SUB. The substrate SUB may be a transparent substrate and may comprise a flexible plastic substrate. For example, the substrate SUB may include Polyimide (PI).

The substrate SUB may include a display area DA and a non-display area NDA around the display area DA. The pixel layer PXL may be disposed in the display area DA. The pixel layer PXL may include a plurality of pixels, and each of the pixels may include a light emitting element.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may include at least two inorganic layers and an organic layer disposed between the inorganic layers. The inorganic layer may include an inorganic material, and may protect the pixel layer PXL from moisture and oxygen. The organic layer may include an organic material, and may protect the pixel layer PXL from foreign substances such as dust particles.

The touch sensing unit TSP may be disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE. The touch sensing unit TSP may sense an external input such as a user's hand or a stylus pen, and may convert the sensed external input into a predetermined input signal. The touch sensing unit TSP may include a plurality of sensing electrodes to sense an external input. The sensing electrode may sense an external input through a capacitive method.

When the display module DM is manufactured, the touch sensing unit TSP may be directly manufactured on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE. However, the inventive concept should not be so limited. The touch sensing unit TSP may be manufactured as a touch panel separated from the display panel DP, and then may be attached to the display panel DP by an adhesive.

The window WIN may protect the display panel DP and the touch sensing unit TSP from external scratches and impacts. The window WIN may be attached to the touch sensing unit TSP by the adhesive OCA. The adhesive OCA may be, but is not limited to, an optically clear adhesive. The image generated by the display panel DP may be provided to the user through the window WIN.

As shown in fig. 6, each pixel PX may include an organic light emitting element OLED and a transistor TR connected to the organic light emitting element OLED. The organic light emitting element OLED may include a first electrode E1, a second electrode E2, and an organic light emitting layer OEL disposed between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2. The first electrode E1 may be an anode, and the second electrode E2 may be a cathode.

The pixel PX may include a pixel area PA and a non-pixel area NPA surrounding the pixel area PA. The organic light emitting element OLED may be disposed in the pixel region PA, and the transistor TR may be disposed in the non-pixel region NPA.

The transistor TR and the organic light emitting element OLED may be disposed on the substrate SUB. The buffer layer BFL may be disposed on the substrate SUB, and the buffer layer BFL may include an inorganic material. The semiconductor layer SM of the transistor TR may be disposed on the buffer layer BFL. The semiconductor layer SM may include an inorganic semiconductor such as amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon, or an organic semiconductor. In addition, the semiconductor layer SM may include an oxide semiconductor.

Although not shown in fig. 6, the semiconductor layer SM may include a source region, a drain region, and a channel region defined between the source region and the drain region.

The first insulating layer INS1 may be disposed on the buffer layer BFL to cover the semiconductor layer SM. The first insulating layer INS1 may include an inorganic material. The gate electrode GE of the transistor TR may be disposed on the first insulating layer INS1 to overlap the semiconductor layer SM. The gate electrode GE may be disposed to overlap a channel region of the semiconductor layer SM.

The second insulating layer INS2 may be disposed on the first insulating layer INS1 to cover the gate electrode GE. The second insulating layer INS2 may be defined as an interlayer insulating layer. The second insulating layer INS2 may include an organic material and/or an inorganic material.

The source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE of the transistor TR may be disposed on the second insulating layer INS2 to be spaced apart from each other. The source electrode SE may be connected to the source region of the semiconductor layer SM through a first contact hole CH1 defined through the first and second insulating layers INS1 and INS 2. The drain electrode DE may be connected to the drain region of the semiconductor layer SM through a second contact hole CH2 defined through the first and second insulating layers INS1 and INS 2.

The third insulating layer INS3 may be disposed on the second insulating layer INS2 to cover the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE of the transistor TR. The third insulating layer INS3 may be defined as a planarization layer that provides a planar surface and may include an organic material.

The first electrode E1 may be disposed on the third insulating layer INS 3. The first electrode E1 may be connected to the drain electrode DE of the transistor TR through a third contact hole CH3 defined through the third insulating layer INS 3. The first electrode E1 may be defined as a pixel electrode.

A pixel defining layer PDL may be disposed on the first electrode E1 and the third insulating layer INS3 to expose a predetermined portion of the first electrode E1. The opening PX _ OP may be defined by the pixel defining layer PDL to expose a predetermined portion of the first electrode E1.

The organic light emitting layer OEL may be disposed on the first electrode E1 in the opening PX _ OP. The organic light emitting layer OEL may emit light having red, green, or blue color, however, it should not be limited thereto or thereby. The organic light emitting layer OEL can emit white light by combining organic materials that generate red light, green light, and blue light, respectively.

The second electrode E2 may be disposed on the pixel defining layer PDL and the organic light emitting layer OEL. The second electrode E2 may be defined as a common electrode.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the organic light emitting element OLED to cover the pixels PX. The layer between the substrate SUB and the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be defined as a pixel layer PXL.

Although not shown in the drawings, a first voltage may be applied to the first electrode E1, and a second voltage may be applied to the second electrode E2. The holes and the electrons are injected into the organic emission layer OEL and are recombined in the organic emission layer OEL to generate excitons. When the excited state of the exciton returns to the ground state, the organic light emitting element OLED may emit light. The organic light emitting element OLED may emit red, green, and blue light according to the flow of current so that an image may be displayed.

Fig. 6 shows a pixel structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, the inventive concept should not be limited to the pixel structure of fig. 6.

Although certain embodiments and implementations have been described herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparent from this description. Accordingly, the inventive concept is not limited to such embodiments, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims and various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.