DISPLAY DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20150062525A1
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: HIRAKATA, Yoshiharu
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0281 Reinforcement details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10128 Display

Abstract

A novel foldable display device or an electronic device using the same, a portable information processor or a portable communication information device, is provided. A foldable display device of which a display panel can be folded n times (n≧1, and n is a natural number) at a curvature radius of greater than or equal to 1 mm, and less than or equal to 100 mm is obtained. The display device can be miniaturized by being foldable. In addition, in the state where the flexible display panel is opened, display which is unbroken and continuous over a plurality of housings is possible. The plurality of housings can store a circuit, an electronic component, a battery and the like inside as appropriate, and the thickness of each housing can be small.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a flexible display panel;

a first housing supporting a first portion of the flexible display panel;

a second housing supporting a second portion of the flexible display panel;

a first circuit in the first housing; and

a second circuit in the second housing,

wherein the flexible display panel is connected to at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit, and

wherein the flexible display panel comprises a bend portion between the first housing and the second housing, and the first housing and the second housing overlap with each other when the flexible display panel is folded.

2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a wiring, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are electrically connected with each other through the wiring.

3. The display device according to claim 2, further comprising a flexible substrate over the first and second housings, the flexible substrate being located between the flexible display panel and each of the first and second housings,

wherein the wiring is provided in the flexible substrate.

4. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the wiring is provided in or on the flexible display panel.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible display panel is an active matrix light-emitting device.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible display panel is a liquid crystal display device.

7. A display device comprising:

a flexible display panel;

a first housing supporting a first portion of the flexible display panel;

a second housing supporting a second portion of the flexible display panel;

a third housing supporting a third portion of the flexible display panel;

a first circuit in one of the first to third housings; and

a second circuit in another one of the first to third housings,

wherein the second portion is positioned between the first portion and the third portion,

wherein the flexible display panel is connected to at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit,

wherein the flexible display panel comprises a first bend portion between the first housing and the second housing and a second bend portion between the second housing and the third housing, and

wherein the first to third housings overlap with one another when the flexible display panel is folded by bending the first bend portion and the second bend portion.

8. The display device according to claim 7, further comprising a wiring, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are electrically connected with each other through the wiring.

9. The display device according to claim 8, further comprising a flexible substrate over the first, second and third housings, the flexible substrate being located between the flexible display panel and each of the first, second and third housings,

wherein the wiring is provided in the flexible substrate.

10. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the wiring is provided in or on the flexible display panel.

11. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the flexible display panel is an active matrix light-emitting device.

12. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the flexible display panel is a liquid crystal display device.

13. A display device comprising:

a flexible display panel;

a first housing supporting a first portion of the flexible display panel;

a second housing supporting a second portion of the flexible display panel;

a battery unit in the first housing; and

a control unit in the second housing, the control unit configured to control the display device,

wherein the flexible display panel comprises a. bend portion between the first housing and the second housing, and the first housing and the second housing overlap with each other when the flexible display panel is folded.

14. The display device according to claim 13, further comprising a wiring, wherein the battery unit and the control unit are electrically connected with each other through the wiring.

15. The display device according to claim 14, further comprising a flexible substrate over the first and second housings, the flexible substrate being located between the flexible display panel and each of the first and second housings,

wherein the wiring is provided in the flexible substrate.

16. The display device according to claim 14, wherein the wiring is provided in or on the flexible display panel.

17. The display device according to claim 13, wherein the flexible display panel is an active matrix light-emitting device.

18. The display device according to claim 13, wherein the flexible display panel is a liquid crystal display device.