Flexible display device having first and second display panels overlapping each other and light transmitting layer therebetween

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10159135-B2
Application number	US-201514806950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Jul 31, 2014
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A display device that can display an image along a curved surface is provided. In the display device, a first display panel and a second display panel overlap each other with a light-transmitting layer provided therebetween. The light-transmitting layer is positioned on a display surface side of the first display panel, and on a side opposite to the display surface of the second display panel. The light-transmitting layer has an average transmittance of 80% or more with respect to light in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 700 nm and a refractive index higher than that of air. A display region of the first display panel overlaps a region transmitting visible light of the second display panel with the light-transmitting layer provided therebetween. It is preferred that the display region of the first display panel not overlap with a region blocking visible light of the second display panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display device being at least partly flexible comprising:
a first display panel;
a second display panel; and
a light-transmitting layer,
wherein the first display panel includes a first region and a light-blocking region,
wherein the first region has a function of performing display,
wherein the second display panel includes a second region and a third region,
wherein the second region has a function of performing display,
wherein the third region is adjacent to the second region,
wherein the third region has a function of transmitting visible light,
wherein the light-transmitting layer includes a light-transmitting material having a transmittance with respect to light in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 700 nm of 80% or more on the average, and a higher refractive index than air,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is between the first display panel and the second display panel,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is positioned on a display surface side of the first display panel,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is positioned on a side opposite to a display surface side of the second display panel,
wherein the third region overlaps part of the first region with the light-transmitting layer provided therebetween,
wherein the second region and the light-blocking region are spaced from each other, and
wherein a flexible printed circuit is in contact with and electrically connected to a surface of the first display panel on a second region side of the light-blocking region.

2. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second display panel includes a fourth region,
wherein the fourth region is adjacent to the second region,
wherein the fourth region has a function of blocking visible light, and
wherein the fourth region does not include a region overlapping with the first region.

3. The display device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the fourth region functions as a wiring portion electrically connected to a light-emitting element included in the second region.

4. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first region includes a light-emitting element,
wherein the second region includes a light-emitting element, and
wherein the third region includes a bonding layer.

5. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light-transmitting material has a transmittance with respect to light in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 700 nm of 90% or more on the average.

6. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light-transmitting material has a refractive index of higher than or equal to 1.3 and lower than or equal to 1.8.

7. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is detachably in contact with at least one of the first display panel and the second display panel.

8. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer includes an inert material.

9. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer includes a nonvolatile material.

10. The display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer has a material with a viscosity of greater than or equal to 1 mPa·s and less than or equal to 1000 Pa·s.

11. An electronic device comprising:
the display device according to claim 1 , and
an antenna, a battery, a housing, a speaker, a microphone, an operation switch, or an operation button.

12. A display device being at least partly flexible comprising:
a first display panel;
a second display panel; and
a light-transmitting layer,
wherein the first display panel includes a light-blocking region,
wherein the light-transmitting layer includes a light-transmitting material having a transmittance with respect to light in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 700 nm of 80% or more on the average, and a higher refractive index than air,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is between the first display panel and the second display panel,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is positioned on a display surface side of the first display panel,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is positioned on a side opposite to a display surface side of the second display panel,
wherein part of the second display panel overlaps part of the first display panel with the light-transmitting layer provided therebetween,
wherein the second display panel and the light-blocking region are spaced from each other, and
wherein a flexible printed circuit is in contact with and electrically connected to a surface of the first display panel on a second display panel side of the light-blocking region.

13. The display device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the light-transmitting material has a transmittance with respect to light in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 700 nm of 90% or more on the average.

14. The display device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the light-transmitting material has a refractive index of higher than or equal to 1.3 and lower than or equal to 1.8.

15. The display device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer is detachably in contact with at least one of the first display panel and the second display panel.

16. The display device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer includes an inert material.

17. The display device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer includes a nonvolatile material.

18. The display device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the light-transmitting layer has a material with a viscosity of greater than or equal to 1 mPa·s and less than or equal to 1000 Pa·s.

19. An electronic device comprising:
the display device according to claim 12 , and
an antenna, a battery, a housing, a speaker, a microphone, an operation switch, or an operation button.

Assignees

• Semiconductor Energy Lab

Inventors

• Ikeda Hisao
• Sugisawa Nozomu
• Yanagisawa Yuichi

Classifications

• G02F1/133305

  Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film · CPC title

• G02F1/13336

  Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays · CPC title

• H01L27/3293

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H05B33/12 Primary

  Light sources with substantially two-dimensional [2D] radiating surfaces · CPC title

• H10K59/871

  Self-supporting sealing arrangements · CPC title