Foldable display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10930883-B2
Application number	US-201916353336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2019
Priority date	Apr 26, 2018
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A foldable display device includes a rigid film. The rigid film has first and second sections between which a space having a first width is located. The rigid film is foldable about a folding axis disposed between the first and second sections. A first double-sided adhesive film is disposed on the rigid film. A lower flexible module is disposed on the first double-sided adhesive film. A second double-sided adhesive film is disposed on the lower flexible module. A flexible display module is disposed on the second double-sided adhesive film and includes an electroluminescent unit. A third double-sided adhesive film is disposed on the flexible display module. An upper flexible module is disposed on the third double-sided adhesive film.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable display device assembly, comprising:
a rigid film having first and second sections between which a space having a first width is located, the rigid film being foldable about a folding axis disposed between the first and second sections;
a first double-sided adhesive film disposed on the rigid film;
a lower flexible module disposed on the first double-sided adhesive film;
a second double-sided adhesive film disposed on the lower flexible module;
a flexible display module disposed on the second double-sided adhesive film, the flexible display module having an electroluminescent unit;
a third double-sided adhesive film disposed on the flexible display module; and
an upper flexible module disposed on the third double-sided adhesive film,
wherein the lower flexible module has a relatively lower light transmittance than the upper flexible module.

2. The foldable display device assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower flexible module includes an impact absorbing layer;
wherein the first and second sections of the rigid film are separated from each other by the space such that a distance between an inner side surface of the first section and an inner side surface of the second section is the first width;
wherein the first section of the rigid film has an upper surface having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being connected to the inner side surface of the first section, the second portion being connected to the first portion;
wherein the second section of the rigid film has an upper surface having a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion being connected to the inner side surface of the second section, the fourth portion being connected to the third portion;
wherein the first double-sided adhesive film is not fixed to the first and third portions; and
wherein the first double-sided adhesive film is fixed to the second and fourth portions.

3. The foldable display device assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first housing coupled to the first section of the rigid film;
a second housing coupled to the second section of the rigid film; and
a hinge connected between the first and second housings to correspond to the folding axis.

4. A foldable display device assembly comprising:
a rigid film having first and second sections between which a space having a first width is located, the rigid film being foldable about a folding axis disposed between the first and second sections;
a first double-sided adhesive film disposed on the rigid film;
a lower flexible module disposed on the first double-sided adhesive film;
a second double-sided adhesive film disposed on the lower flexible module;
a flexible display module disposed on the second double-sided adhesive film, the flexible display module having an electroluminescent unit;
a third double-sided adhesive film disposed on the flexible display module; and
an upper flexible module disposed on the third double-sided adhesive film,
wherein the first double-sided adhesive film extends continuously over the first and second sections of the rigid film.

5. The foldable display device assembly of claim 2 , wherein a neutral plane having a width at least in part including the first width is substantially symmetrical with respect to the folding axis when the foldable display device assembly is folded or unfolded, and
wherein the first double-sided adhesive film at least in part locates the neutral plane within the flexible display module.

6. The foldable display device assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lower flexible module includes an impact absorbing layer;
wherein an entire of an upper surface of the first double-sided adhesive film is directly attached to the lower flexible module; and
wherein a lower surface of the first double-sided adhesive film is directly attached to the first and second sections of the rigid film.

7. The foldable display device assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a first housing coupled to the first section of the rigid film;
a second housing coupled to the second section of the rigid film; and
a hinge connected between the first and second housings to correspond to the folding axis.

8. The foldable display device assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first double-sided adhesive film comprises a third section and a fourth section, the third and fourth being separated from each other by a second width that is relatively greater than the first width,
wherein the third and fourth sections of the first double-sided adhesive film are disposed above over the first and second sections of the rigid film, respectively,
wherein an inner side of the first section of the rigid film is relatively closer to the folding axis than an inner side of the third section of the first double-sided adhesive film is close to the folding axis, and
wherein an inner side of the second section of the rigid film is relatively closer to the folding axis than an inner side of the fourth section of the first double-sided adhesive film is close to the folding axis.

9. The foldable display device assembly of claim 8 , wherein a neutral plane having a width relatively smaller than the second width is substantially symmetrical with respect to the folding axis when the foldable display device assembly is folded or unfolded, and
wherein the neutral plane is located within a foldable region of the flexible display module.

10. The foldable display device assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a height compensation film being disposed between the third and fourth sections of the first double-sided adhesive film and having substantially the same height as the first double- sided adhesive film.

11. The foldable display device assembly of claim 10 , wherein the height compensation film comprises a double-sided common adhesive film extending continuously over the first and second sections of the rigid film.

12. The foldable display device assembly of claim 11 , wherein a neutral plane having a width at least in part including the first width is substantially symmetrical with respect to the folding axis when the foldable display device assembly is folded or unfolded, and wherein the height compensation film at least in part locates the neutral plane within a foldable region of the flexible display module.

13. The foldable display device assembly of claim 10 , wherein the height compensation film comprises a common film extending continuously over the first and second sections of the rigid film and has an adhesive top surface and a non-adhesive bottom surface.

14. The foldable display device assembly of claim 13 , wherein a neutral plane having a width relatively smaller than the second width is substantially symmetrical with respect to the folding axis when the foldable display device assembly is folded or unfolded, and
wherein the height compensation film at least in part locates the neutral plane within a foldable region of the flexible display module.

15. The foldable display device assembly of claim 13 , wherein the bottom surface of the height compensation film comprises an inorganic material.

16. The foldable display device assembly of claim 10 , wherein the height compensation film is a common film extending continuously over the first and second sections of the rigid film and has a non-adhesive top surface and an adhesive bottom surface.

17. The foldable display device assembly of claim 16 , wherein a neutral plane having a width relatively smaller than the second width is substantially symmetrical with respect to the folding axis when

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Myoung Seo

Classifications

• G09F9/301 Primary

  flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED · CPC title

• H10K59/12

  Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays · CPC title

• H10K50/8426

  Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H10K59/8722

  Peripheral sealing arrangements, e.g. adhesives, sealants · CPC title