Window, method of manufacturing the window, and display module including the window

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11981597-B2
Application number	US-202016790236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2020
Priority date	Apr 22, 2019
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

A display module includes a display panel and a window. The window includes a base substrate and a plurality of functional layers. A central portion of the base substrate is flat, and an edge portion of the base substrate has a rounded shape. An upper portion of the edge portion of the window has the rounded shape and thus protrudes from a lower portion of the edge portion toward the outside. A first functional layer of the plurality of functional layers includes an acrylic-based material and/or an epoxy-based material, and a second functional layer of the plurality of functional layers includes a fluorine-based material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display module, comprising:
a display panel including: a display area oriented along a plane defined by a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a non-display area at least partially surrounding the display area;
a window disposed on the display panel and including a transparent material; and
a set portion receiving the display panel and the window,
wherein the window comprises:
a first portion including: a first area at least partially overlapping the display area; and a second area at least partially overlapping the non-display area;
a second portion extending from the first area of the first portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction;
a third portion extending from the second area of the first portion in the third direction, and extending from the second portion in either the first direction or the second direction, the third portion including an outer surface including a first curved surface; and
a fourth portion extending from the third portion in either the first direction or the second direction, the fourth portion not overlapping the first portion in the third direction, and the fourth portion including an outer surface including a second curved surface,
wherein the second curved surface comprises a curved line that extends from a top surface of the third portion and is directly connected to the first portion, and
wherein the set portion includes a fixing portion that includes a first curvature making contact with the second curved surface, in the first direction, and a second curvature making contact with a first functional layer that is disposed on the second portion, the third portion and the fourth portion of the window such that the fixing portion has a double-curved shape.

2. The display module of claim 1 , wherein each of a first thickness of the first portion and a second thickness of the second portion are constant along their respective lengths, and
wherein a third thickness of the third portion and a fourth thickness of the fourth portion gradually decrease along either the first direction or the second direction.

3. The display module of claim 1 , wherein the first functional layer of the window includes a first material; and
the window further comprises a second functional layer disposed on the first functional layer and including a second material different from the first material.

4. The display module of claim 3 , wherein the first material includes an acrylic-based material and/or an epoxy-based material, and the second material includes a fluorine-based material.

5. The display module of claim 4 , wherein a thickness of the first functional layer is within a range of about 40 μm to about 50 μm, and a thickness of the second functional layer is within a range of about 4 μm to about 6 μm.

6. The display module of claim 4 , wherein the first functional layer comprises:
a first sub-functional layer in contact with each of the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion; and
a second sub-functional layer disposed between the first sub-functional layer and the second functional layer.

7. The display module of claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the first sub-functional layer gradually increases in one direction, and
wherein a thickness of the second sub-functional layer gradually decreases in the one direction.

8. The display module of claim 7 , wherein a portion, adjacent to a first side, of the first sub-functional layer has a first thickness, and a portion, adjacent to a second side, of the first sub-functional layer has a second thickness, and
wherein the second thickness is within a range of 125% to 135% of the first thickness.

9. The display module of claim 6 , wherein each of thicknesses of the first and second sub-functional layers is within a range from about 20 μm to about 25 μm in a central portion of the display area.

10. The display module of claim 3 , further comprising:
an ink layer disposed between the display panel and the window and at least partially overlapping the non-display area.

11. The display module of claim 10 , wherein the ink layer does not overlap the fourth portion of the window in the third direction.

12. The display module of claim 10 , further comprising:
a polarizing layer disposed between the display panel and the ink layer.

13. The display module of claim 12 , further comprising:
an auxiliary panel disposed under the display panel and including a synthetic resin or a metal.

14. The display module of claim 13 , wherein the set portion further receives the auxiliary panel and the polarizing layer,
wherein the set portion further comprises a support portion disposed under the auxiliary panel, and
wherein the fixing portion extends from a side of the support portion in the third direction.

15. A window, comprising:
a first portion including: a first area oriented along a plane defined by a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a second area at least partially surrounding the first area;
a second portion extending from the first area of the first portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction;
a third portion extending from the second area of the first portion in the third direction, and extending from the second portion in either the first direction or the second direction, and including an outer surface including a first curved surface;
a fourth portion extending from the third portion in either the first direction or the second direction, the fourth portion does not overlap with the first portion in the third direction, and the fourth portion includes an outer surface including a second curved surface; and
a first functional layer disposed on the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion,
wherein the second curved surface comprises a curved line that extends from a top surface of the third portion and is directly connected to a straight outer edge gf the first portion that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the first direction and the second direction,
wherein the first functional layer comprises a curved side surface that curves outwardly from the second curved surface, and
wherein the second curved surface of the fourth portion and the curved side surface of the first functional laver form a double-curved structure.

16. The window of claim 15 , wherein a first thickness of the first portion and a second thickness of the second portion are each constant along their respective lengths, and
wherein a third thickness of the third portion and a fourth thickness of the fourth portion gradually decrease in either the first direction or the second direction.

17. The window of claim 15 , wherein the first functional layer includes a first material and the window further comprises:
a second functional layer disposed on the first functional layer and including a second material different from the first material.

18. The window of claim 17 , wherein the first material includes an acrylic-based material and/or an epoxy-based material, and the second material includes a fluorine-based material.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Seo Hyunseung
• Cho Jonghwan
• Kang Yongkyu
• Ko Jihyun
• Byun Ho Yun

Classifications

• H10H29/142 Primary

  Two-dimensional arrangements, e.g. asymmetric LED layout · CPC title

• C03C17/3405 Primary

  with at least two coatings of organic materials (C03C17/36, C03C17/42 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H05K5/03

  Covers · CPC title

• C03C2218/32

  After-treatment · CPC title