Flexible display device

• US 10,593,741 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Khachatryan, Hayk, Koo, Hyunwoo, Kim, Minsung, Kim, Taewoong, Park, Boik
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Xiaoliang
• Application Number:
  US15/833,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20180342566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 174525, 257 40, 257 43, 257 57, 257 59, 257 66, 257 72, 257 79, 257 88, 438 23, 438 28, 438 30, 438 33, 438 34, 438104, 438151, 438455, 313512
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/06 of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/082 comprising vinyl resins; comprising acrylic resins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/085 comprising polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/095 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/18 comprising iron or steel B32B15/011, B32B15/012 and B32B15/013 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/05 5 or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/102 Oxide or hydroxide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/416 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/42 Polarizing, birefringent, filtering
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/50 having particular mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/51 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/548 Creep
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/558 Impact strength, toughness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7244 Oxygen barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7246 Water vapor barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/04 : comprising rubber as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/043; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/044; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/042; next to a metal layer B32B15/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/063; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/043; next to a wood layer B32B21/045; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/046
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/14 : comprising synthetic rubber copolymers B32B25/18 and B32B25/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/18 : comprising butyl or halobutyl rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/20 : comprising silicone rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 : as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/20 : using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/281 : comprising polyimides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/283 : comprising polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/302 : comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/306 : comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/308 : comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 : comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 : comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/38 : comprising epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 : comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/02 : Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/022 : Mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/005 : comprising one layer of ceramic material, e.g. porcelain, ceramic tile layered products with at least two ceramic layers composed mainly of ceramic B32B18/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/045 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/172 : Composite material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/10 : without flanges, e.g. cop tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/28 : Arrangements for positively securing ends of material
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 : Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 : Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/124 : Insulating layers formed between TFT elements and OLED elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 : Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 77/111 : Flexible substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 : Organic PV cells

Abstract

A flexible display device includes: a flexible substrate; a thin-film transistor on the flexible substrate; a passivation film covering the thin-film transistor; and a display element on the passivation film and electrically connected to the thin-film transistor. The passivation film includes a material exhibiting a shear-thickening phenomenon.

Claims

1. A flexible display device comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a thin-film transistor on the flexible substrate;

a passivation film covering the thin-film transistor, the passivation film comprising a material exhibiting a shear-thickening phenomenon; and

a display element on the passivation film and electrically connected to the thin-film transistor,

wherein the passivation film comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polyurethane comprising an ether functional group or a thermoplastic polyurethane comprising an ester functional group.

2. The flexible display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sealing member on the display element; and

a first protective layer on the sealing member, the first protective layer comprising at least one of a thermoplastic polyurethane comprising an ether functional group or a thermoplastic polyurethane comprising an ester functional group.

3. The flexible display device of claim 1, further comprising a rolling drum,

wherein one end of the flexible substrate is coupled with the rolling drum, and

wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be wound on an outer peripheral surface of the rolling drum.

4. The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the flexible display device further comprises a second protective layer on a lower surface of the flexible substrate.

5. The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the display element comprises an organic light-emitting diode.

6. A flexible display device comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a thin-film transistor on the flexible substrate;

a passivation film covering the thin-film transistor, the passivation film comprising a material exhibiting a shear-thickening phenomenon;

a display element on the passivation film and electrically connected to the thin-film transistor,

a sealing member on the display element; and

a first protective layer on the sealing member, the first protective layer comprising at least one of a thermoplastic polyurethane comprising an ether functional group or a thermoplastic polyurethane comprising an ester functional group,

wherein the first protective layer comprises;

a first layer comprising the thermoplastic polyurethane comprising the ether functional group; and

a second layer comprising the thermoplastic polyurethane comprising the ester functional group.

7. The flexible display device of claim 6, wherein the second layer is stacked on the first layer.

8. The flexible display device of claim 7, wherein a thickness of the second layer is greater than that of the first layer.

9. The flexible display device of claim 7, wherein, when an external impact is applied to the first protective layer, the second layer exhibits the shear-thickening phenomenon before the first layer exhibits the shear-thickening phenomenon.

10. The flexible display device of claim 7, wherein, when an external impact is applied to the first protective layer, the Young'"'"'s modulus of the first layer is greater than that of the second layer.

11. The flexible display device of claim 6, further comprising a rolling drum,

wherein one end of the flexible substrate is coupled with the rolling drum, and

wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be wound on an outer peripheral surface of the rolling drum.

12. The flexible display device of claim 6, wherein the flexible display device further comprises a second protective layer on a lower surface of the flexible substrate.

13. The flexible display device of claim 6, wherein the display element comprises an organic light-emitting diode.