Foldable display

Abstract

A foldable display is disclosed. In one aspect, the foldable display includes a foldable display panel including first to fourth regions adjacent to each other. The foldable display also includes a first support located on a rear surface of the first region and a second support located on a rear surface of the fourth region. The foldable display panel is configured to be arranged in a first configuration in which the foldable display panel is unfolded and a second configuration in which the foldable display panel is folded so that the first support supports the first and second regions and the second support supports the third and fourth regions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A foldable display, comprising:
 a foldable display panel including: i) a first region and a second region adjacent to each other in a first direction, and ii) a third region and a fourth region adjacent to each other in the first direction;   a first support located on a rear surface of the first region; and   a second support located on a rear surface of the fourth region,   wherein the foldable display panel is configured to be arranged in a first configuration in which the foldable display panel is unfolded so that i) the first support supports the first region and the second support supports the fourth region and ii) the second and third regions are unsupported,   wherein the foldable display panel is further configured to be arranged in a second configuration in which the foldable display panel is folded so that the first support supports the first region and the second region and the second support supports the third region and the fourth region, and   wherein the second configuration is a configuration in which: i) the first region and the second region oppose each other with the first support therebetween and ii) the third region and the fourth region oppose each other with the second support therebetween.   
     
     
       2. The foldable display of  claim 1 , wherein the first support comprises a first coupling portion and the second support comprises a second coupling portion, wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are configured to be connected to each other in the second configuration of the foldable display panel. 
     
     
       3. The foldable display of  claim 2 , wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion have different magnetic polarities from each other. 
     
     
       4. The foldable display of  claim 2 , wherein the second configuration is a configuration in which: i) the foldable display panel is folded along a boundary line between the first and second regions such that the first support is arranged on rear surfaces of the first and second regions to support the first and second regions at the same time, and ii) the foldable display is folded along a boundary line between the third and fourth regions such that the second support is arranged on rear surfaces of the third and fourth regions to support the third and fourth regions at the same time. 
     
     
       5. The foldable display of  claim 2 , wherein the foldable display panel is further configured to be arranged in a third configuration in which the first and second coupling portions are connected to each other such that the first support and the second support form a right angle and the second region and the third region are curved. 
     
     
       6. The foldable display of  claim 5 , wherein the foldable display panel is further configured to be arranged in a fourth configuration in which the foldable display panel is folded such that the first support and the second support overlap each other and the second region and the third region are curved. 
     
     
       7. The foldable display of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a folding sensor configured to sense the configuration of the foldable display panel; and   a controller configured to: i) communicate with the folding sensor to detect the configuration of the foldable display panel, and ii) control the foldable display panel based on the detected configuration.   
     
     
       8. The foldable display of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the foldable display panel such that the first region displays a first input interface and the fourth region displays a second input interface when the controller detects that the foldable display panel is in the second configuration. 
     
     
       9. The foldable display of  claim 8 , wherein the second input interface continues from the first input interface. 
     
     
       10. The foldable display of  claim 9 , wherein the first interface and the second interface are keyboard input interfaces. 
     
     
       11. The foldable display of  claim 8 , wherein the controller in further configured to control the foldable display panel such that the first region displays the first input inter face and the fourth region displays the second input interface when the controller detects a conversion of the foldable display panel from the first configuration to the second configuration, and wherein the first input interface and the second input interface are interfaces that are based on images displayed by the second and third regions in the first configuration. 
     
     
       12. The foldable display of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the foldable display panel such that the second and third regions are activated when the controller detects that the foldable display panel is in the third configuration. 
     
     
       13. The foldable display of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the foldable display such panel that the first or fourth region is inactive when the controller detects that the foldable display panel is in the fourth configuration. 
     
     
       14. The foldable display of  claim 1 , wherein sizes of the first and second regions are substantially the same, and sizes of the third and fourth regions are substantially the same. 
     
     
       15. A foldable display, comprising:
 a foldable display panel including: i) a first region and a second region adjacent to each other in a first direction, and ii) a third region and a fourth region adjacent to each other in the first direction;   a first support located on a rear surface of the first region; and   a second support located on a rear surface of the fourth region,   wherein the foldable display panel is configured to be arranged in a first configuration in which the foldable display panel is unfolded so that the first support supports the first region and the second support supports the fourth region,   wherein the foldable display panel is further configured to be arranged in a second configuration in which the foldable display panel is folded so that the first support supports the first region and the second region and the second support supports the third region and the fourth region,   wherein the second configuration is a configuration in which: i) the first region and the second region oppose each other with the first support therebetween and ii) the third region and the fourth region oppose each other with the second support therebetween, and   wherein, in the second configuration, the first support contacts the first region and the second region, and the second support contacts the third region and the fourth region.   
     
     
       16. A foldable display, comprising:
 a display panel comprising a first display area, a second display area adjacent to the first display area and having an area larger than that of the first display area, and a third display area adjacent to the second display area and having an area smaller than that of the second display area, each of the first through third display areas being configured to display images using light-emitting elements; and   a first support disposed below the first display area that keeps the first display area flat, the first support defining a boundary between the first display area and the second display area where the display panel folds, wherein   the display panel is configured to be arranged in a folded configuration, and an unfolded configuration in which the second display area is unsupported, and   the first to the third display areas are exposed to an outside of the display panel when the display panel is folded in the folded configuration such that the first display area and the third display area are disposed beneath and oppose the second display area with the first support between the first and second display areas and a second support between the third and second display areas.   
     
     
       17. The foldable display of claim 16, wherein the first display area, the second display area, and the third display area are configured to display an image through a continuously extended area. 
     
     
       18. The foldable display of claim 16, wherein:
 the second support is disposed below the third display area.   
     
     
       19. The foldable display of claim 18, wherein
 the first support supports the first display area in the unfolded configuration, and   the second support supports the third display area in the unfolded configuration.   
     
     
       20. The foldable display of claim 16, wherein the display panel is configured to display an image through the second display area in the folded configuration. 
     
     
       21. The foldable display of claim 16, wherein the display panel is configured to display an image through the first display area, the second display area, and the third display area in the unfolded configuration. 
     
     
       22. The foldable display of claim 16, wherein the display panel is configured to display an image through the first display area, the second display area, and the third display area in the folded configuration and the unfolded configuration. 
     
     
       23. The foldable display of claim 16, wherein
 the display panel is further configured to be arranged in a curved configuration in which the second display area of the display panel is curved, and   the first display area and the third display area overlap each other in the curved configuration.   
     
     
       24. The foldable display of claim 16, wherein
 the second support is disposed below the third display area to keep the third display area flat, the second support defining a boundary between the third display area and the second display area where the display panel folds.