Flexible display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10516119-B2
Application number	US-201615378709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

A flexible display device includes a flexible display panel having a folding area adapted to be folded with respect to an imaginary folding line extending across the flexible display panel in a first direction, a driver electrically connected to the flexible display panel, and a protection film on the folding area of the flexible display panel. The protection film has a first surface facing the flexible display panel and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The flexible display device includes a folding reinforcer on the protection film in an area of the folding area having one or more discontinuous portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible display device comprising:
a flexible display panel having a folding area adapted to be folded with respect to an imaginary folding line extending across the flexible display panel in a first direction, the flexible display panel comprising a display substrate and a thin film encapsulation layer, the display substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the thin film encapsulation layer being on the first surface of the display substrate;
a driver electrically connected to the flexible display panel;
a protection film on the folding area of the flexible display panel, the protection film having a first surface facing the flexible display panel and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and
a folding reinforcer on the protection film in an area of the folding area and having one or more discontinuous portions,
wherein the one or more discontinuous portions are separated by a plurality of folding openings transpierce the folding reinforcer in the folding area,
wherein the protection film is separate from the display substrate in a vertical direction, the folding reinforcer being on a first area of the protection film and not being on a second area of the protection film, the second area of the protection film contacting the second surface of the display substrate,
wherein the flexible display panel comprises an outwardly-foldable display panel configured to display an image toward the outside of the flexible display panel when the flexible display panel is folded,
wherein the protection film is disposed on the second surface of the display substrate corresponding to an inside surface of the flexible display panel to be folded,
wherein the plurality of folding openings comprise:
a plurality of first folding openings separated from each other along a second direction crossing the first direction; and
a plurality of second folding openings that are each between every two adjacent ones of the first folding openings in the second direction,

wherein the plurality of first folding openings and the plurality of second folding openings are alternately arranged with respect to each other, and
wherein two of the first folding openings are directly adjacent each other along their entire lengths in the first direction at a center of the folding area.

2. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of folding openings transpierce the protection film.

3. The flexible display device of claim 2 , wherein each of the folding openings extends in the first direction.

4. The flexible display device of claim 3 , wherein each of the folding openings has a strip shape.

5. The flexible display device of claim 4 , wherein at least one edge of each folding opening is rounded.

6. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the folding openings are wrapped around by a molded portion.

7. The flexible display device of claim 6 , wherein the molded portion is insert-molded onto the protection film having the folding openings therein.

8. The flexible display device of claim 6 , wherein the molded portion comprises a polymer.

9. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the folding openings is circular, elliptical, wavy, or rectangular.

10. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the protection film comprises a metal film.

11. The flexible display device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display panel further comprises an active area adapted to display an image and an inactive area that outwardly extends from the active area.

12. A flexible display device comprising:
a flexible display panel having a folding area adapted to be folded with respect to an imaginary folding line extending across the flexible display panel in a first direction;
a driver electrically connected to the flexible display panel;
a protection film on the folding area of the flexible display panel, the protection film having a first surface facing the flexible display panel and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and
a folding reinforcer on the protection film in an area of the folding area having one or more discontinuous portions, the one or more discontinuous portions being separated by a plurality of folding openings in the folding area, the folding openings being wrapped around by a molded portion, the molded portion being insert-molded onto the protection film having the folding openings therein and comprising a plurality of protrusions that protrude from the protection film.

13. The flexible display device of claim 12 , wherein each protrusion comprises:
a bottom portion contacting the protection film and at least partially embedded in the folding opening;
a top portion arranged away from the protection film; and
a side portion connecting the bottom and top portions to each other.

14. The flexible display device of claim 13 , wherein a side surface of each protrusion comprises an inclined surface.

15. The flexible display device of claim 14 , wherein a cross-section of the protrusion is narrower in a direction away from the bottom portion contacting the protection film than at the bottom portion.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Sangwol

Classifications

• Y02E10/549

  Organic PV cells · CPC title

• H01L2251/5338

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L51/5253

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L51/5256

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L51/0097 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic