ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH FLEXIBLE DISPLAY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20140217382A1
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoo, Juhn Suk, Lee, Chanwoo, Youn, Sangcheon, Kwon, Seyeoul, Yang, Jae Hun, Yang, Heeseok, Jo, Soyoung
• Granted Patent: US 9,349,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/40
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/10 OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/8722 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• 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

Embodiments of the present disclosure can significantly reduce the non-display area of a flexible OLED display, which would otherwise be covered by a cosmetic trim such as a bezel or an opaque. As such, an electronic device with a display having minimized border area can be provided. This makes it possible to reduce the overall size of the electronic device without sacrificing the size of the display therein. Such a reduction in size of the bezel was achieved by bending the flexible substrate near its edge using an insert member.

Claims

1. A flexible OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display, comprising:

a flexible substrate that includes a first portion, a second portion underneath the plane of the first portion and a bent portion between the first portion and the second portion;

an organic light-emitting diode that is disposed on an outer surface of the first portion of the flexible substrate;

a first support film that is disposed on an inner surface of the first portion of the flexible substrate;

a second support film that is disposed on an inner surface of the second portion of the flexible substrate; and

an insert member that is disposed between the first support film and the second support film,

wherein the insert member has a rounded end that is extended towards the bent portion of the flexible substrate.

2. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, wherein the rounded end of the insert member has a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to that of the bent portion of the flexible substrate.

3. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, wherein the rounded end of the insert member substantially fills a space under the bent portion of the flexible substrate.

4. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, wherein the insert member is formed of a polymeric material.

5. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, wherein the insert member includes a recessed portion for receiving a chip that is operatively connected to the flexible OLED display.

6. The flexible OLED display according to claim 5, wherein the chip that is operable to recognize touch signal on the flexible OLED display.

7. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, wherein the insert member includes a recessed portion for receiving a securing member for affixing the flexible OLED display.

8. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, further includes an adhesive layer on at least some part of the insert member.

9. The flexible OLED display according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive layer is a foam pad type adhesive layer and is interposed between the first support substrate and the insert member.

10. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step compensation layer that is disposed on a bottom surface of the first support film so as to be spaced apart from the insert member, wherein at least one of the insulating film and the circuit board is attached to the step compensation layer.

11. The flexible OLED display according to claim 10, wherein the chip is positioned in a space between the insert member and the step compensation layer.

12. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, wherein the insert member is formed of a metal sheet having a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness, and wherein the rounded end of the insert member includes a channel.

13. The flexible OLED display according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover layer that is formed on at least parts of an outer surface of the first portion of the flexible substrate, an outer surface of the bent portion of the flexible substrate, and an outer surface of the second portion of the flexible substrate.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a flexible substrate having a central portion having a display unit and an edge portion having circuitry electrically connected to the display unit; and

an insert member having a rounded end, wherein the edge portion of the flexible substrate wraps around at least some part of the rounded end of the insert member.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the display unit includes a plurality of organic light emitting diodes for displaying an image.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the edge portion of the flexible substrate has a curvature that substantially conforms to a curvature of the rounded end of the insert member.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the display unit further includes a plurality of wires configured to recognize a touch input, wherein at least some of the plurality of wires are electrically connected to the circuitry on the edge portion of the flexible substrate.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein at least some portion of the insert member overlaps with the display unit formed on the central portion of the flexible substrate.

19. A method for manufacturing a flexible OLED display, comprising:

disposing an organic light-emitting diode on a top surface of a first portion of a flexible substrate that includes the first portion, a bent portion extended from one side of the first portion, and a second portion extended from one side of the bent portion;

disposing a first support film on a bottom surface of the first portion of the flexible substrate and disposing a second support film on a bottom surface of the second portion of the flexible substrate;

disposing an insert member on a bottom surface of the first support film; and

bending the flexible substrate so as to allow the second portion of the flexible substrate to face at least a part of the first portion of the flexible substrate, wherein a side surface of the insert member adjacent to the bent portion of the flexible substrate is positioned on a substantially same plane as a side surface of the first support film and a side surface of the second support film which are adjacent to the bent portion of the flexible substrate or protrudes toward the bent portion of the flexible substrate.

20. The method for manufacturing a flexible OLED display according to claim 19, further comprising:

connecting the second portion of the flexible substrate and an insulating film on which a chip is mounted; and

connecting a circuit board to the insulating film, wherein the second support film is disposed on a part of a bottom surface of the insert member, and the bending of the flexible substrate includes attaching the insulating film to another part of the bottom surface of the insert member.