Display device

• US 10,733,408 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2017
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bok, Seung Lyong
• Primary Examiner(s): Bekele, Mekonen T
• Application Number:
  US15/495,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20180089485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing

Abstract

A display device includes a substrate including a first area having a first light transmittance and a second area adjacent to the first area having a second light transmittance, a plurality of pixels disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and a fingerprint sensor disposed in the first area on a second surface of the substrate. The first light transmittance is greater than the second light transmittance.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a substrate including, in a plan view, a first area having a first light transmittance and a second area adjacent to the first area with a second light transmittance;

a plurality of pixels disposed on a first surface of the substrate to display an image on the first surface; and

a photo sensor disposed in the first area on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface being disposed opposite the first surface and not configured to display images,

wherein the first light transmittance is greater than the second light transmittance,

wherein the first area includes a light emitting area having a first size in which an image is displayed and a light transmission area having a second size in which light is transmitted therethrough, the light transmission area being different from the light emitting area, and

wherein the first size is smaller than the second size.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels include at least one first pixel in the first area and a second pixel in the second area.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the first pixel includes the light emitting area and the light transmission area.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the first pixel includes at least one first sub-pixel disposed in the light emitting area, and

the first sub-pixel comprises:

a first electrode disposed on the substrate;

an emission layer disposed on the first electrode; and

a second electrode disposed on the emission layer.

5. The display device of claim 4, further comprising an insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the first electrode, and

wherein the insulating layer extends into the transmission area.

6. The display device of claim 5, further comprising at least one of a pixel defining layer and passivation layer disposed above the substrate, and wherein the insulating layer extends into at least one of the pixel defining layer and the passivation layer.

7. The display device of claim 4, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode extend across the transmission area.

8. The display device of claim 4, wherein the first sub-pixel further includes at least one structure selected from the group of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer, the at least one structure being disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and

wherein the at least one structure extends across the transmission area.

9. The display device of claim 4, wherein the second pixel includes at least one second sub-pixel, and

a size of the first sub-pixel is smaller than a size of the second sub-pixel.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein each of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel emits one wavelength of light selected from the group of red light, green light, and blue light.

11. The display device of claim 3, wherein a size of the first pixel is the substantially same as a size of the second pixel.

12. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a first sensor disposed on the substrate to sense a touch position input by a user.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the first sensor is a touch sensor of a self-capacitance type or a touch sensor of a mutual-capacitance type.

14. The display device of claim 12, wherein the first sensor includes:

a first touch electrode; and

a second touch electrode spaced apart from the first touch electrode and forming a capacitance with the first touch electrode.

15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the first touch electrode comprises a mesh structure.

16. The display device of claim 14, wherein the first touch electrode comprises a conductive polymer.

17. The display device of claim 12, further comprising a second sensor configured to sense a touch pressure and disposed on the first surface of the substrate spaced apart from the first sensor.

18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the second sensor comprises a conductive polymer.

19. The display device of claim 18, wherein the first sensor has a hole in the first area and touch electrodes of the first sensor are disposed in the second area.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein touch electrodes of the second sensor comprise a portion in the first area and a portion in the second area.

21. The display device of claim 17, wherein the type of the first sensor is different from the type of the second sensor.

22. The display device of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the display device is flexible.

23. The display device of claim 22, wherein the display device is bendable or rollable.

24. The display device of claim 3, wherein the light transmission area is free of any light emitting components.

25. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises a front surface of the substrate and the second surface comprises a rear surface of the substrate.

26. A display device comprising:

a substrate including, in a plan view, a first area having a first light transmittance and a second area adjacent to the first area having a second light transmittance;

a plurality of pixels disposed on a first surface of the substrate to display an image on the first surface; and

a first sensor disposed on the first surface of the substrate to sense a touch position;

a second sensor disposed on the first surface of the substrate spaced apart from the first sensor to sense pressure applied by touch from a user; and

a photo sensor disposed in the first area on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface being disposed opposite the first surface and not configured to display images,

wherein the first area includes a light emitting area having a first size configured to display an image and a light transmission area having a second size configured to transmit light, the light transmission area being different from the light emitting area, and

wherein the first size is smaller than the second size.

27. The display device of claim 26, wherein the light transmission area is free of any light emitting components.