Flexible display device and method of manufacturing cover window of the same

• US 9,677,742 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cho, Jong-Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gyllstrom, Bryon T
• Application Number:
  US14/074,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20140140037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 362 19
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2059/023 Microembossing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0053 Moulding articles characterised by the shape of the surface, e.g. ribs, high polish mould construction therefor B29C33/42; surface shaping of articles B29C59/00; by incorporating filler in or near the surface B29C70/64
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/372 provided with means for marking or patterning, e.g. numbering articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/10 Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/021 of profiled articles, e.g. hollow or tubular articles, beams
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/3032 making use of protrusions or cavities belonging to at least one of the parts to be joined B29C66/3034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30322 in the form of rugosity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3475 Displays, monitors, TV-sets, computer screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/14 for producing polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1028 by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith

Abstract

A flexible display device includes a flexible display panel, a cover window disposed on an outer side of the flexible display panel, and a polarizing plate disposed between the flexible display panel and the cover window. The cover window includes a protrusion and depression portion having protrusions and depressions formed in an inner surface thereof.

Claims

1. A flexible display device, comprising:

a flexible display panel, the flexible display panel having a first surface for displaying an image;

a cover window disposed on the first surface and an outer side of the flexible display panel; and

a polarizing plate disposed between the flexible display panel and the cover window,

wherein the cover window includes a protrusion and depression portion having protrusions and depressions formed in an inner surface thereof,

wherein the cover window includes a bent portion corresponding to the outer side of the flexible display panel and a flat portion corresponding to the first surface of the flexible display panel, and

wherein the protrusion and depression portion is formed only in the bent portion of the cover window.

2. The flexible display device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer between the polarizing plate and the cover window, wherein the protrusions and depressions are press-fitted to the adhesive layer.

3. The flexible display device of claim 1, further comprising a support including curved portions at lateral sides thereof, wherein the flexible display panel is attached to outer sides of the curved portions.

4. The flexible display device of claim 3, wherein the bent portion corresponds to one of the curved portions.

5. The flexible display device of claim 1, wherein the protrusions and depressions are nanometer-sized and transmit all incident light.

6. A method of manufacturing a cover window of a flexible display device, the method comprising:

forming a cover window having a bent portion at an edge of the cover window and a flat portion at a center of the cover window by providing a resin to one side of a mold; and

forming a protrusion and depression portion in an inner surface of the bent portion such that protrusions and depressions of the protrusion and depression portion are nanometer-sized,

wherein the protrusions and depressions transmit all incident light, and

wherein the protrusion and depression portion is formed only in the bent portion of the cover window.

7. The method for manufacturing the cover window of claim 6, wherein:

the mold includes a concave first mold and a convex second mold that are coupled to each other, and

the cover window having the bent portion is injection-molded using a melt resin provided in a space formed between the concave first mold and the convex second mold.

8. The method for manufacturing the cover window of claim 7, wherein the protrusion and depression portion is injection-molded by the melt resin being injected to protrusions and depressions formed in a convex portion of the convex second mold corresponding to the bent portion.

9. The method for manufacturing the cover window of claim 6, wherein:

the mold includes a concave first mold and a convex second mold that are coupled to each other, and

a sheet provided in the concave first mold is pressed by the convex second mold to press-mold the cover window having the bent portion.

10. The method for manufacturing the cover window of claim 9, wherein the protrusion and depression portion is imprinted by pressing the sheet using protrusions and depressions formed in a convex portion of the convex second mold corresponding to the bent portion.

11. The method for manufacturing the cover window of claim 6, wherein the cover window having the bent portion is formed by air pressure forming such that the air pressure forming includes pressing a sheet provided on the mold with air pressure.

12. The method for manufacturing the cover window of claim 11, wherein the protrusion and depression portion is formed by air pressure forming such that the air pressure forming includes pressing the sheet onto protrusions and depressions formed in a convex portion of the mold corresponding to the bent portion.