US-12619284-B2 - Display support structure and display device having the same

US12619284B2US 12619284 B2US12619284 B2US 12619284B2US-12619284-B2

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel rollable about a rolling axis extending in a first direction, and a support member facing the display panel and rollable together with the display panel. The support member includes a support layer defining an upper surface of the support member and a lower surface of the support member which is opposite to the upper surface and further from the display panel than the upper surface, and a plurality of support bars within the support layer and each extending in the first direction, the plurality of support bars being arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction. Within the support layer, each of the plurality of support bars is convexly curved toward the upper surface of the support member, along the first direction.

Inventors

Dongwon Choi
Jonghwa Lee
Beomjin Kim
Jiyeon Kim
Tae-ho Kim
Jin Hwan Choi

Assignees

SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221201
Priority Date: 20220314

Claims (20)

1 . A display device comprising: a display panel which is rollable about a rolling axis, the rolling axis extending in a first direction; and a support member facing the display panel and rollable together with the display panel, wherein the support member includes: a support layer defining an upper surface of the support member and a lower surface of the support member which is opposite to the upper surface and further from the display panel than the upper surface, and a plurality of support bars within the support layer and each extending in the first direction, the plurality of support bars being arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction, and wherein within the support layer, each of the plurality of support bars includes: ends which oppose each other along the first direction, and a single convexly curved portion which defines the ends and is convexly curved toward the upper surface of the support member, along the first direction.
2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein within the support layer, the single convexly curved portion of each of the plurality of support bars has: a first curved surface which is convex, and a second curved surface which is opposite to the first curved surface, further from the display panel than the first surface, and concave.
3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein the support layer covers the first curved surface and the second curved surface of each of the plurality of support bars.
4 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein for each of the plurality of support bars: a center and the ends which oppose each other, are defined along the first direction, a gap is defined between the first curved surface and the upper surface of the support member, and the gap decreases in a direction from an end to the center.
5 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein for each of the plurality of support bars: a center and the ends which oppose each other, are defined along the first direction, a gap is defined between the second curved surface and the lower surface of the support member, and the gap increases in a direction from an end to the center.
6 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface and the lower surface of the support member which are defined by the support layer, are parallel to each other.
7 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support bars has a constant thickness along the first direction.
8 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of support bars: a center and the ends which oppose each other, are defined along the first direction, and a thickness of the support bar increases in a direction from an end to the center.
9 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support bars has one of a rectangular shape, a rhombic shape, an inverted trapezoidal shape, and an inverted triangular shape in a cross-sectional view along the first direction.
10 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support bars and the support layer has a modulus, and the modulus of each of the plurality of support bars is higher than the modulus of the support layer.
11 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support bars includes metal or carbon fibers, and the support layer includes an elastomer.
12 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein within the support member: a coating film surrounds each of the plurality of support bars and the coating film is between each of the plurality of support bars and the support layer along a thickness of the support member, each of the plurality of support bars, the coating film and the support layer has a modulus, and the modulus of the coating film is higher than the modulus of the support layer and lower than the modulus of each of the plurality of support bars.
13 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein within the support member: each of the plurality of support bars has a width along the second direction, and the widths of the plurality of support bars are equal to each other.
14 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein within the support member: a center of the support member is defined along the second direction, each of the plurality of support bars has a width along the second direction, and among the plurality of support bars: a central support bar corresponds to the center of the support member and has the smallest width; left support bars are arranged on a left side of the central support bar, in the second direction; and right support bars arranged on a right side of the central support bar which is opposite to the left side in the second direction, and widths of the left support bars and the right support bars increase as a distance from the central support bar increases along the second direction.
15 . A display device comprising: a display panel which is rollable about a rolling axis, the rolling axis extending in a first direction; and a support member facing the display panel and rollable together with the display panel, wherein the support member includes: a support layer defining an upper surface of the support member, and a lower surface of the support member which is opposite to the upper surface and further from the display panel than the upper surface; and a plurality of support bars within the support layer, each of the plurality of support bars including: ends which oppose each other along the first direction, a single convexly curved portion which defines the ends and has a center, along the first direction, and the single convexly curved portion including a first surface, and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface and further from the display panel than the first surface, wherein along a thickness direction of the support member a gap is defined between the second surface of each of the plurality of support bars, and the lower surface of the support member, respectively, and for each of the plurality of support bars, the gap increases in a direction from an end to the center.
16 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein along the thickness direction of the support member: a lower thickness of the support layer is defined between the second surface and the lower surface, and the lower thickness increases in a direction from the end to the center.
17 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein along the thickness direction of the support member: an upper thickness of the support layer is defined between the first surface and the upper surface; and the upper thickness decreases in a direction from the end to the center.
18 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of support bars includes metal or carbon fibers, and the support layer includes a polymer.
19 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein for each of the plurality of support bars: each of the first surface and the second surface is curved along the first direction and has a curvature with a center of curvature defined between the support bar and the lower surface of the support member, along the thickness direction of the support member, and the curvature of the first surface is the same as the curvature of the second surface.
20 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein for each of the plurality of support bars: each of the first surface and the second surface is curved along the first direction and has a curvature with a center of curvature defined under the support bar, along the thickness direction of the support member, and the curvature of the first surface is greater than the curvature of the second surface.

Description

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0031608 filed on Mar. 14, 2022, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND (1) Field Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein relate to a display device, and more particularly, relate to a rollable display device. (2) Description of the Related Art Electronic devices, such as a smart phone, a digital camera, a notebook computer, a car navigation device, a smart television, and the like, which provide an image to outside the electronic device, such as to a user, include a display device for displaying an image. The display device provides the image to outside the electronic device through a display screen. With the development of display device technology, various forms of display devices are being developed. For example, various flexible display devices that can be curved, folded, or rolled are being developed. SUMMARY Among flexible display devices, a rollable display device may be easy to carry and may improve a convenience of using thereof. However, the rollable display device having a relatively small thickness so as to be rolled may be vulnerable to external impact. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device including a display module having improved surface quality and impact resistance. According to an embodiment, a display device includes a display panel rolled about a rolling axis extending in a first direction, and a support member that supports the display panel. The support member includes a plurality of support bars, each of which extends in the first direction, the support bars being arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction and a support layer that covers the support bars and that includes an upper surface facing the display panel and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface. Each of the support bars has long curved sides that extend in the first direction on a section viewed in the second direction and are convex toward the display panel. Each of the support bars may extend in the first direction and may have a first curved surface that faces the display panel and that is formed to be convex and a second curved surface that is opposite to the first curved surface and that is formed to be concave. The support layer may cover the first curved surface and the second curved surface. On the section, a gap between the first curved surface and the upper surface may be gradually decreased from ends of the support bars toward the centers of the support bars. On the section, a gap between the second curved surface and the lower surface may be gradually increased from ends of the support bars toward the centers of the support bars. The upper surface and the lower surface of the support layer may be parallel to each other. Each of the support bars may have a constant thickness in the first direction. Each of the support bars may have an increasing thickness from an end of the support bar toward the center of the support bar in the first direction. Each of the support bars may have one of a rectangular shape, a rhombic shape, an inverted trapezoidal shape, and an inverted triangular shape on a section viewed in the first direction. Each of the support bars may have a higher modulus than the support layer. Each of the support bars may contain metal or carbon fibers, and the support layer may contain an elastomer. The support member may further include coating films that surround the support bars, respectively, and each of the coating films may have a modulus higher than a modulus of the support layer and lower than a modulus of each of the support bars. Widths of the support bars in the second direction may be equal to each other. The support bars may include at least one central support bar having the smallest width in the second direction, left support bars arranged on a left side of the central support bar in the second direction, and right support bars arranged on a right side of the central support bar in the second direction. Widths of the left support bars and the right support bars may be gradually increased farther away from the central support bar. According to an embodiment, a display device includes a display panel rolled about a rolling axis extending in a first direction and a support member disposed under the display panel. The support member includes a support layer including an upper surface facing the display panel and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface and a plurality of support bars disposed in the support layer, and each of the support bars includes a first surface adjacent to the upper surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. On a section viewed in a second direction crossing the first direction, a gap between the second surface and the lower surface varies depending on areas of the support member. On the section viewed