Electronic device and display device applied to the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11096293-B2
Application number	US-201916663156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2019
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A display device is provided that includes a case comprising a bottom portion and a sidewall to define a receiving space in which the display device is accommodated. The display device comprises a display module with a display panel for displaying an image, a folding area, and a plurality of non-folding areas, and a circuit board electrically connected to the display panel. The folding area is capable of being folded about a folding axis and the non-folding areas are disposed adjacent to both sides of the folding area. A receiving groove is defined in the bottom portion of the case corresponding to a part mounting area of the circuit board. The circuit board is disposed on a rear surface of the display module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a display device; and
a case comprising a bottom portion and a sidewall to define a receiving space in which the display device is accommodated, the display device comprising:
a display module comprising a display panel displaying an image and comprising a folding area and a plurality of non-folding areas, which are defined therein, and a circuit board electrically connected to the display panel, the folding area being folded about an imaginary folding axis and the non-folding areas being disposed adjacent to both sides of the folding area when viewed in a plan view; and
a cover panel disposed on a rear surface of the display module and comprising a plurality of layers, wherein a receiving groove is defined in the bottom portion of the case to correspond to a part mounting area of the circuit board, the circuit board is disposed on a rear surface of the cover panel, and the cover panel is provided with an air gap portion defined therein

between at least two layers among the layers to correspond to the part mounting area of the circuit board.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the cover panel comprises:
a support plate supporting the display module; and
a first adhesive film disposed between the support plate and the display module.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first adhesive film is provided with an opening defined therethrough to correspond to the air gap portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the cover panel further comprises:
a buffer film disposed between the first adhesive film and the display module; and
a second adhesive film disposed between the buffer film and the display module.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the air gap portion comprises an air gap defined by the opening between the buffer film and the support plate.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the cover panel further comprises a first step difference film disposed between the support plate and the buffer film corresponding to the opening.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the first step difference film has a thickness smaller than the first adhesive film.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the first step difference film is disposed on the support plate.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the first step difference film has a width smaller than a width of the opening.

10. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the support plate comprises:
a first support plate disposed in a first non-folding area adjacent to a first side of the folding area; and
a second support plate spaced apart from the first support plate and disposed in a second non-folding area adjacent to a second side of the folding area.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first adhesive film comprises:
a first sub-adhesive film fixing the first support plate to the first non-folding area; and
a second sub-adhesive film fixing the second support plate to the second non-folding area.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the cover panel further comprises a second step difference film disposed between the first and second sub-adhesive films and interposed between the display module and the support plate.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second step difference film comprises:
a first sub-step difference film disposed on the first support plate; and
a second sub-step difference film disposed on the second support plate.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the display module further comprises a window disposed on the display panel and comprising a flexible material.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jaechun
• Park Changmin
• Lee Sang Wol
• Choi Giljae

Classifications

• H04M1/0268 Primary

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G02F1/13452

  Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels · CPC title

• H05K1/189

  characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits · CPC title

• G09F9/301 Primary

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

• H05K1/148

  Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means · CPC title