FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20160048171A1
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: LEE, Kyu-Taek, Kim, Kyu Young, Min, Gui-Nam, Lee, Jongin, Han, Kyung Woo, Han, Soyeon
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED

Abstract

A foldable display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the foldable display device includes a display panel and a window panel on the display panel. The window panel includes a folding area and a flat area adjacent to at least one side of the folding area. The flat area is less flexible than the folding area. An elastic modulus of the folding area is less than an elastic modulus of the flat area. The window panel includes a plurality of layers including a first layer, wherein a first thickness of the first layer in the folding area is different from a second thickness of the first layer in the flat area.

Claims

1. A foldable display device, comprising:

a display panel; and

a window panel on the display panel, wherein the window panel includes a folding area and a flat area adjacent to at least one side of the folding area, wherein the flat area is less flexible than the folding area,

wherein an elastic modulus of the folding area is less than an elastic modulus of the flat area, and

wherein the window panel comprises a plurality of layers including a first layer, wherein a first thickness of the first layer in the folding area is different from a second thickness of the first layer in the flat area.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the window panel further comprises a second layer, wherein a third thickness of the second layer in the folding area is different from a fourth thickness of the second layer in the flat area, wherein an elastic modulus of the first layer is less than an elastic modulus of the second layer, and wherein the first thickness of the first layer is greater than the third thickness of the second layer.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the window panel is substantially uniform.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the window panel comprises a third layer, wherein an elastic modulus of the third layer is greater than the elastic modulus of the second layer, and wherein a thickness of the third layer in the folding area is less than the third thickness of the second layer.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the first layer comprises at least one convex portion in the folding area protruding toward the second layer.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the convex portion has a shape of a polygon, a portion of a circle, or a portion of an ellipse on a sectional view.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the convex portion is provided in a plural.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a density of the convex portions decreases as the distance from the flat area decreases.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein heights of the convex portions decrease as the distance from the flat area decreases.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the first layer is formed of a polymer resin.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the polymer resin comprises an acrylic or silicone resin.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the second layer is formed of at least one of polyimide, polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethersulfone, polyamide, polyamide imide, or polycarbonate-poly(methyl methacrylate).

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal display panel, an organic electroluminescence display panel, an electrophoresis display panel, or an electrowetting display panel.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the display panel further comprises a touch screen panel.

15. A foldable display device, comprising:

a base substrate comprising a folding area and a flat area adjacent to at least one side of the folding area, wherein the flat area is less flexible than the folding area; and

an image display layer on the base substrate,

wherein an elastic modulus of the folding area is less than an elastic modulus of the flat area, and

wherein the base substrate comprises a plurality of layers including a first layer, wherein a first thickness of the first layer in the folding area is different from a second thickness of the first layer in the flat area.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the base substrate further comprises a second layer, wherein a third thickness of the second layer in the folding area is different from a fourth thickness of the second layer in the flat area, wherein an elastic modulus of the first layer is less than an elastic modulus of the second layer, and wherein the first thickness of the first layer is greater than the third thickness of the second layer.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first layer comprises at least one convex portion in the folding area protruding toward the second layer.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the convex portion has a shape of a polygon, a portion of a circle, or a portion of an ellipse on sectional view.

19. The device of claim 15, further comprising an encapsulation member encapsulating the image display layer.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the image display layer comprises an organic electroluminescence layer.