FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20180295735A1
• Filed: 01/19/2018
• Published: 10/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: AHN, SUNGSANG
• Granted Patent: US 10,362,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/02 with one pin
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/301 flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges
• 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

A foldable display device according to example embodiments includes a support member including a first support portion, a second support portion, and a hinge portion connected between the first support portion and the second support portion, the support member being divided into an adhesive area and a non-adhesive area, a coating layer on the non-adhesive area of the support member, an adhesive member integrally on the adhesive area of the support member and the coating layer, and a foldable display module attached on the adhesive member.

Claims

1. A foldable display device, comprising:

a support member comprising a first support portion, a second support portion, and a hinge portion connected between the first support portion and the second support portion, the support member being divided into an adhesive area and a non-adhesive area;

a coating layer on the non-adhesive area of the support member;

an adhesive member on the adhesive area of the support member and the coating layer; and

a foldable display module on the adhesive member.

2. The foldable display device of claim 1, wherein the coating layer comprises a material which is not attached to the adhesive member.

3. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein the coating layer is a fluorine-based material.

4. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein the coating layer is a silicon-based material.

5. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein an adhesive strength between the adhesive member and the coating layer is less than an adhesive strength between the adhesive member and the foldable display module.

6. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein the non-adhesive area corresponding to the coating layer overlaps at least a part of the hinge portion.

7. The foldable display device of claim 6, wherein the hinge portion and the non-adhesive area correspond to a folding axis of the foldable display module.

8. The foldable display device of claim 6, wherein at least a part of an upper surface of the coating layer and the adhesive member are separated from each other by a difference between a curvature of the foldable display module and a curvature of the support member when the foldable display module is folded.

9. The foldable display device of claim 8, wherein the entire upper surface of the coating layer and the adhesive member are in contact with each other when the foldable display module is unfolded.

10. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein the foldable display module and the support member are in-folded such that light emitting surfaces of the foldable display module oppose each other by a rotational movement of the hinge portion.

11. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein the foldable display module and the support member are out-folded such that the first support portion of the support member and the second support portion of the support member oppose each other by a rotational movement of the hinge portion.

12. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the coating layer is 5 um or less.

13. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein a folding angle between the first support portion and the second support portion are controlled by a rotational movement of the hinge portion.

14. The foldable display device of claim 13, wherein an upper surface of the coating layer and the adhesive member are separated from each other when the folding angle is out of a set angle range.

15. A method for manufacturing a foldable display device, the method comprising:

coating a coating layer on a non-adhesive area of a support member, the support member being divided into an adhesive area and the non-adhesive area;

forming an adhesive member on the support member and the coating layer to integrally cover the adhesive area of the support member and the coating layer; and

attaching a foldable display module onto the adhesive member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the support member comprises:

a first support portion and second support portion that both correspond to the adhesive area; and

a hinge portion between the first support portion and the second support portion to allow the support member to be folded or unfolded.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the coating layer comprises a fluorine-based material and/or a silicon-based material.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the coating layer is coated on the non-adhesive area of the support member utilizing a mask and/or a jig.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the coating layer overlaps at least a part of the hinge portion.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the coating layer and the adhesive member are separated from each other based on a difference between a curvature of the foldable display module and a curvature of the support member.