Bendable display apparatus

• US 10,031,036 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Minsung, Nguyen, Thanhtien, Im, Kiju
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US15/417,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20170219444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 73862628
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/225 Measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2287 constructional details of the strain gauges adjustable resistors H01C10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/26 Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/00 Cardboard or like show-cards of foldable or flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10083 Electromechanical or electro-acoustic component, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10128 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 Flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/20 with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a substrate including a first area, a second area, and a bending area, the bending area disposed between the first area and the second area and bending about a bending axis running along a first direction; a first piezoelectric device disposed over the bending area; and a pressure sensor. The first piezoelectric device is configured to contract or expand according to a pressure variation sensed by the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising a first area, a second area, and a bending area, the bending area disposed between the first area and the second area and extending in a first direction;

an insulating layer disposed over the substrate and having a groove extending primarily in the first direction, the groove corresponding to the bending area;

a first piezoelectric device disposed at least partially in the groove the insulating layer; and

a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor including a resistance changing unit disposed in the bending area,

wherein the first piezoelectric device is configured to contract or expand according a pressure variation sensed by the pressure sensor.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a strain gauge.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance changing unit is a first wire electrically connected to the first piezoelectric device,

wherein the pressure sensor senses the pressure variation depending on a resistance variation of the first wire.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first piezoelectric device extends primarily in the first direction, and the display apparatus further comprises:

a first wire disposed at a first side of the first piezoelectric device and extending primarily in a second direction that crosses the first direction, the first wire being electrically connected to the first piezoelectric device and extending primarily in the first direction; and

a second wire disposed at a second side of the first piezoelectric device, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side, the second wire being electrically connected to the first piezoelectric device and extending in the first direction.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the first wire and the second wire extends primarily in the first direction and are in direct contact with the first piezoelectric device.

6. The display apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a plurality of first signal lines disposed over the substrate and extending in the first direction;

a plurality of second signal lines disposed over the substrate and extending in the second direction; and

a plurality of pixels electrically connected to the first signal lines and the second signal lines.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the insulating layer covers the first signal lines, and the second signal lines are disposed over the insulating layer and the first piezoelectric device.

8. The display apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a second piezoelectric device disposed over the bending area and extending primarily in the first direction;

a third wire disposed at a first side of the second piezoelectric device in the second direction, the third wire being electrically connected to the second piezoelectric device and extending primarily in the first direction; and

a fourth wire disposed at a second side of the second piezoelectric device, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side, the fourth wire being electrically connected to the second piezoelectric device and extending primarily in the first direction.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the first wire and the second wire extends primarily in the first direction and are in direct contact with the first piezoelectric device, and each of the third wire and the fourth wire extends primarily in the first direction and are in direct contact with the second piezoelectric device.

10. The display apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a first main wire disposed at a third side of the first piezoelectric device and the second piezoelectric device in the first direction; and

a second main wire disposed at a fourth side of the first piezoelectric device and the second piezoelectric device, wherein the fourth side is opposite to the third side,

wherein the first wire and the third wire are electrically connected to the first main wire, and the second wire and the fourth wire are electrically connected to the second main wire.

11. The display apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of first signal lines disposed over the substrate and extending in the first direction;

a plurality of second signal lines disposed over the substrate and extending in the second direction; and

a plurality of pixels electrically connected to the first signal lines and the second signal lines.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second piezoelectric device is at least partially disposed in the grooves of the insulating layer.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the insulating layer covers the first signal lines, and the second signal lines are disposed over the insulating layer, the first piezoelectric device, and the second piezoelectric device.

14. A display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising a bending area, the substrate being bent in the bending area about a bending axis;

an insulating layer disposed over the substrate and having a groove corresponding to the bending area;

a piezoelectric device disposed at least partially in the groove of the insulating layer; and

a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor including a resistance changing unit disposed in the bending area,

wherein the piezoelectric device is configured to contract or expand according a pressure variation sensed by the pressure sensor, and

wherein the resistance changing unit includes a metal.

15. The display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a strain gauge.

16. The display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the resistance changing unit is a first wire electrically connected to the piezoelectric device,

wherein the pressure sensor senses the pressure variation depending on a resistance variation of the first wire.

17. A display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising a bending area;

an insulating layer disposed over the substrate and having a groove corresponding to the bending area;

a piezoelectric device disposed at least partially in the groove of the insulating layer; and

a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor including a resistance changing unit disposed in the bending area and a resistance measurement unit,

wherein a volume of the piezoelectric device is configured to change according a pressure variation sensed by the pressure sensor.

18. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a strain gauge.

19. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein electric signals are applied to the piezoelectric device to change the volume of the piezoelectric device.