FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20200136067A1
• Filed: 09/05/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: KIM, Sanghoon, CHOI, Minhoon, KIM, Dohoon, HWANG, Seongjin
• Application Number:
  US16/561,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20200136067A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/416 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/281 comprising polyimides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• 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: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/856 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/865 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. light-blocking layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/87 Arrangements for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/00 Manufacture or treatment specially adapted for the organic devices covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/851 : Division of substrate
• 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

A foldable display device is capable of improving a strength of a folding area and substantially reducing or minimizing a dead space of a non-folding area. The foldable display device includes: a display panel including a folding area and a non-folding area, and having a front surface and a back surface that are opposite each other; a window adjacent the front surface of the display panel; an auxiliary layer adjacent the back surface of the display panel; a first adhesive layer between the display panel and the window; and a second adhesive layer between the display panel and the auxiliary layer. A width of the window at the folding area is greater than a width of the window at the non-folding area.

Claims

1. A foldable display device comprising:

a display panel comprising a folding area and a non-folding area, the display panel having a front surface and a back surface;

a window adjacent the front surface of the display panel;

an auxiliary layer adjacent the back surface of the display panel;

a first adhesive layer between the display panel and the window; and

a second adhesive layer between the display panel and the auxiliary layer,

wherein a width of the window at the folding area is greater than a width of the window at the non-folding area.

2. The foldable display device of claim 1, wherein a breaking strength at the folding area is greater than a breaking strength at the non-folding area.

3. The foldable display device of claim 2, wherein the breaking strength at the folding area is in a range from about 1 Gpa to about 100 Gpa, and the breaking strength at the non-folding area is in a range from about 100 MPa to about 1 Gpa.

4. The foldable display device of claim 1, further comprising two opposite side surfaces that are perpendicular to a folding axis and opposite each other;

wherein the two opposite side surfaces at the folding area are uncut surfaces, and the two opposite side surfaces at the non-folding area are cut surfaces.

5. The foldable display device of claim 4, wherein at least one side surface of the two opposite side surfaces at the folding area has a step difference.

6. The foldable display device of claim 4, wherein the two opposite side surfaces at the non-folding area are flat surfaces.

7. The foldable display device of claim 6, wherein respective widths of the display panel, the window, the auxiliary layer, the first adhesive layer, and the second adhesive layer at the non-folding area are substantially equal to each other.

8. The foldable display device of claim 4, wherein the two opposite side surfaces at the non-folding area are curved surfaces.

9. The foldable display device of claim 4, further comprising a reinforcing member at the cut surfaces.

10. The foldable display device of claim 9, wherein the reinforcing member does not contact the uncut surfaces.

11. The foldable display device of claim 1, wherein the window comprises a tempered glass having a thickness in a range from about 10 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.

12. The foldable display device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary layer comprises any one of a protective film, a light blocking film, a reflective film, and a heat dissipation film.

13. A foldable display device comprising:

a display panel comprising a folding area and a non-folding area, the display panel having a front surface and a back surface

a window adjacent the front surface of the display panel;

an auxiliary layer adjacent the back surface of the display panel;

a first adhesive layer between the display panel and the window; and

a second adhesive layer between the display panel and the auxiliary layer,

wherein the window comprises two opposite side surfaces that are perpendicular to a folding axis and opposite each other, and

the two opposite side surfaces at the folding area are uncut surfaces, and the two opposite side surfaces at the non-folding area are cut surfaces.

14. The foldable display device of claim 13, wherein a width of the window at the folding area is greater than a width of the window at the non-folding area.

15. The foldable display device of claim 13, wherein a breaking strength at the folding area is greater than a breaking strength at the non-folding area.

16. The foldable display device of claim 15, wherein the breaking strength at the folding area is in a range from about 1 Gpa to about 100 Gpa, and the breaking strength at the non-folding area is in a range from about 100 MPa to about 1 Gpa.

17. The foldable display device of claim 13, wherein the window comprises a tempered glass having a thickness in a range from about 10 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.

18. A method of manufacturing a foldable display device, the method comprising:

preparing a display panel that comprises a folding area and a non-folding area, the display panel having a front surface and a back surface opposite each other;

coupling a window on the front surface of the display panel and coupling an auxiliary layer on the back surface of the display panel; and

concurrently cutting the display panel, the window, and the auxiliary layer that are located at the non-folding area,

wherein a width of the window at the folding area is greater than a width of the window at the non-folding area.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, when concurrently cutting the display panel, the window, and the auxiliary layer that are located at the non-folding area, the display panel, the window, and the auxiliary layer that are located at the folding area are not cut.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising placing a reinforcing member at cut surfaces of the display panel, the window, and the auxiliary layer.