Foldable display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

• US 10,175,738 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2013
• 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, Hyeong-Gwon
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US15/253,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 315291-311
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3218 of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/00 Constructional details relating to the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/351 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8423 Metallic sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• 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 59/1201 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/13 comprising photosensors that control luminance
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 Flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A foldable display apparatus, a method of manufacturing the same, and a controlling method of the same are disclosed. The foldable display apparatus includes a substrate including a metal thin film and an insulating layer provided on the metal thin film, an organic light-emitting unit formed on the substrate and emitting light in an direction away from the substrate, and a thin film encapsulating layer for encapsulating the organic light-emitting unit. The foldable display apparatus may be folded in a direction such that the metal thin film is exposed.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a display region; and

a peripheral region outside the display region,

wherein, in a non-flexed state of the display apparatus, the display region comprises;

a structure forming a substrate, the structure comprising;

an insulating layer; and

a metal film on a first surface of the insulating layer;

an organic light-emitting unit comprising;

a thin film transistor on a second surface of the insulating layer such that the insulating layer is stacked between the thin film transistor and the metal film, the second surface opposing the first surface; and

an organic light-emitting device on the second surface of the insulating layer such that the insulating layer is stacked between the organic light-emitting device and the metal film, the organic light-emitting device being electrically connected to the thin film transistor; and

an encapsulating layer on the organic light-emitting unit.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal film comprises stainless steel.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the metal film is in a range of about 5 micrometers to about 30 micrometers.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal film comprises a polished surface.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating layer comprises at least one inorganic layer.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating layer comprises at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one organic layer and the at least one inorganic layer are alternately stacked.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a polarizing member on the encapsulating layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a passivation member on the encapsulating layer.

10. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a passivation layer between the substrate and the organic light-emitting device.

11. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulating layer comprises at least one plastic material.

12. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulating layer comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, and polyimide.

13. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus is configured to be folded such that the insulating layer is disposed between overlapping portions of the metal film.

14. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus is configured to be folded such that the metal film is disposed between overlapping portions of the insulating layer.

15. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed on at least one of the metal film, the insulating layer, the organic light-emitting device, and the encapsulating layer,

wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a first sensor and a second sensor spaced apart from the first sensor, the first sensor and the second sensor being disposed on different sides of the folding line.

16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed in the peripheral region.

17. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed in the display region.

18. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of sensors are configured to output variable electric signals according to a folded state of the display apparatus; and

the display apparatus further comprises a controller configured to trigger a warning based on a variable electric signal among the variable electric signals corresponding to a partially folded state of the display apparatus.

19. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are symmetrically arranged about the folding line.

20. A display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of layers;

a plurality of sensors disposed on at least one of the plurality of layers, the plurality of sensors being configured to interact with one another to output a capacitance according to a folded state of the display apparatus; and

a controller configured to control the display apparatus based on the output,

wherein the plurality of layers comprises;

an insulating layer;

a metal film on a first surface of the insulating layer;

an organic light-emitting unit on a second surface of the insulating layer, the second surface opposing the first surface; and

an encapsulating layer on the organic light-emitting unit.