Curved display device

• US 9,978,825 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lim, YuSok, Cho, Sejun
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarkar, Asok K
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITHERS, GRANT S
• Application Number:
  US15/358,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20170125501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/84 Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/8426 Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1213 the pixel elements being TFTs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• 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 curved display device including a display area and a non-display area is provided. The curved display device includes a first direction area configured to maintain a flat state and a bending area connected to the first direction area. A thin film transistor (TFT) layer, a passivation layer, a sealing layer, and an upper film are provided on a base substrate in an area where the display area overlaps the bending area, and the sealing layer and the upper film extend to an area where the non-display area overlaps the bending area.

Claims

1. A curved display device including a display area and a non-display area in a substrate, the curved display device comprising:

a first direction area having a first flat front surface;

a second direction area having a second flat front surface,

a bending area connecting the first flat surface with the second flat surface,

wherein the first and second flat front surfaces remain flat when the bending area is bent, and the first and second flat front surfaces are not parallel when the bending area is bent,

wherein a thin film transistor (TFT) layer, a passivation layer, a sealing layer, and an upper film are included on a base substrate in a portion of the display area in each of the bending area and the first direction area,

wherein extended portions of the sealing layer and the upper film extend toward an end of the substrate in both the bending area and the first direction area,

wherein the sealing layer and the upper film extend to an area where the non-display area overlaps the bending area,

wherein the extended portions of the sealing layer and the upper film in the bending area are closer to the end of the substrate than the extended portions of the sealing layer and the upper film in the first direction area, and

wherein a crack transfer preventing part is provided in a portion of the non-display area in the bending area.

2. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the sealing layer and the upper film extend to an end of the non-display area.

3. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of a portion of the display area in the bending area is equal to a thickness of a portion of the non-display area in the bending area.

4. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the sealing layer and the upper film do not extend to an end of the non-display area.

5. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein a second TFT layer and a second passivation layer are provided in a portion of the non-display area in the bending area, and

wherein the TFT layer and the passivation layer, which are provided in the display area in the bending area, are separated from the second TFT layer and the second passivation layer in the non-display area in the bending area with the crack transfer preventing part therebetween.

6. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein one selected from the base substrate, the TFT layer, and the passivation layer is exposed to the crack transfer preventing part.

7. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein a metal layer is included in the crack transfer preventing part.

8. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the sealing layer and the upper film extend to a portion of the non-display area in the second direction area.

9. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the first direction area comprises a first pixel configured to include a line and a TFT for displaying an image, and

wherein the bending area does not include a pixel for displaying an image, or comprises a second pixel including a configuration which differs from a configuration of the first pixel.

10. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the first direction area includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and wherein a width of the bending area is greater than a width of a pixel of the first direction area.

11. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the first direction area includes a plurality of first pixels arranged in a matrix, and

wherein the bending area includes no pixels or a plurality of second pixels having a pixel configuration different than the first pixels.

12. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the first direction area includes a plurality of first pixels arranged in a matrix, and

wherein the bending area includes a plurality of second pixels having a pixel configuration different than the first pixels.

13. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the crack transfer preventing part includes at least one portion where the base substrate is exposed.

14. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the crack transfer preventing part includes at least one portion where one of the base substrate, the TFT layer, and the passivation layer is exposed.

15. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the crack transfer preventing part includes a metal layer directly in contact with the base substrate.

16. The curved display device of claim 1, wherein the crack transfer preventing part includes a metal layer directly in contact with the TFT layer.