Flexible display device

Abstract

A flexible display apparatus includes a flexible display panel configured to wind around a winding axis unit, and a cushion unit arranged on the flexible display panel, wherein the cushion unit is arranged on a surface of the flexible display panel facing a circumferential surface of the winding axis unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flexible display apparatus comprising:
 a flexible display panel configured to wind around a winding axis unit; and   a cushion unit arranged on the flexible display panel,   wherein the cushion unit is arranged on a surface of the flexible display panel facing a circumferential surface of the winding axis unit.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the flexible display panel has a first surface, on which a display unit is arranged and which is on an outside of the flexible display panel with respect to the circumferential surface of the winding axis unit, and a second surface opposite to the first surface and on an inside of the flexible display panel with respect to the circumferential surface of the winding axis unit; and   wherein the cushion unit is on the second surface of the flexible display panel.   
     
     
         3 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cushion unit comprises a plurality of cushions on the flexible display panel in a lengthwise direction corresponding to a winding direction of the flexible display panel, and wherein the plurality of cushions are spaced from each other in the lengthwise direction. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the cushions extends in a widthwise direction of the flexible display panel, the widthwise direction intersecting the winding direction of the flexible display panel. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a cushion of the cushions has a stripe shape. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a cross-section of the cushion becomes narrower as a distance from a bottom surface of the cushion contacting the second surface of the flexible display panel increases. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the bottom surface of the cushion is larger than other parallel cross-sections of the cushion, and a top surface of the cushion is smaller than other parallel cross-sections of the cushion. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein edges of adjacent cushions of the cushions contact each other. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the flexible display panel comprises an active area extending in a lengthwise direction of the flexible display panel and on which a display unit is arranged, and an inactive area extending in a widthwise direction of the flexible display panel and outside the active area of the flexible display panel; and   wherein each of the cushions is arranged across the active area and the inactive area of the flexible display panel.   
     
     
         10 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the cushions has a dot shape. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the flexible display panel comprises an active area extending in a lengthwise direction of the flexible display panel and on which a display unit is arranged, and an inactive area extending in a widthwise direction of the flexible display panel and outside the active area of the flexible display panel; and   wherein the cushions are in the inactive area of the flexible display panel and are spaced from each other in the inactive area of the flexible display panel.   
     
     
         12 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cushion unit is on the second surface of the flexible display panel corresponding to a length of the flexible display panel, the length of the flexible display panel being equivalent to a circumference of the winding axis unit. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion unit comprises a foam type insulation tape. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein an adhesive is between the cushion unit and the flexible display panel. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the winding axis unit comprises a fixing portion, and   wherein an end of the flexible display panel is configured to be connected to the fixing portion of the winding axis unit.   
     
     
         16 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the end of the flexible display panel and the winding axis unit are configured to be connected to each other at a winding start portion of the flexible display panel. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the winding axis unit is connected to the flexible display panel, and an end of the flexible display panel is bent. 
     
     
         18 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the flexible display panel is configured to wind around the winding axis unit in one direction, and   wherein the cushion unit is in a space between the flexible display panel and the circumferential surface of the winding axis unit.   
     
     
         19 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cushion unit comprises a plurality of cushions in a gap between portions of the flexible display panel around the winding axis unit. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel comprises:
 a display substrate;   at least one thin film transistor (TFT) comprising a semiconductor active layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode that are on the display substrate;   an organic light-emitting device electrically connected to the at least one TFT; and   a thin film encapsulation layer configured to cover the display substrate.