Display device and electronic device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12164334-B2
Application number	US-202217929688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2022
Priority date	Sep 6, 2021
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel, a main digitizer and a sub-digitizer disposed behind the display panel. A main flexible circuit board is disposed on a rear surface of the main digitizer and is connected to the main digitizer. A sub-flexible circuit board disposed on a rear surface of the sub-digitizer and connected to the sub-digitizer. A bridge flexible circuit board disposed on the rear surface of the main digitizer and the rear surface of the sub-digitizer and connected to the main flexible circuit board and the sub-flexible circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display device, comprising:
a display panel;
a main digitizer and a sub-digitizer, each disposed behind the display panel;
a main flexible circuit board disposed on a rear surface of the main digitizer and electrically connected to the main digitizer;
a sub-flexible circuit board disposed on a rear surface of the sub-digitizer and electrically connected to the sub-digitizer; and
a bridge flexible circuit board disposed on both the rear surface of the main digitizer and the rear surface of the sub-digitizer and electrically connected to both the main flexible circuit board and the sub-flexible circuit board.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein each of the main digitizer and the sub-digitizer includes a plurality of X-axis electrodes and a plurality of Y-axis electrodes crossing each other, and
wherein the X-axis electrodes of the plurality of X-axis electrodes of the main digitizer are electrically connected to the X-axis electrodes of the plurality of X-axis electrodes of the sub-digitizer through the bridge flexible circuit board.

3. The display device of claim 2 , wherein some of the plurality of Y-axis electrodes of the main digitizer are electrically connected to some of the plurality of Y-axis electrodes of the sub-digitizer through the bridge flexible circuit board.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the bridge flexible circuit board includes:
a first extension disposed on the rear surface of the main digitizer and electrically connected to the main flexible circuit board; and
a second extension extending from one portion of the first extension onto the rear surface of the sub-digitizer, the second extension being electrically connected to the sub-flexible circuit board.

5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the display panel is folded about a folding axis that extends in a first direction, and the first extension forms a first acute angle with respect to the first direction.

6. The display device of claim 5 , wherein the second extension includes:
a first sub-extension extending from the one portion of the first extension in a second direction crossing the first direction at a right angle; and
a second sub-extension extending from the first sub-extension, the second sub-extension being electrically connected to the sub-flexible circuit board,
wherein the second sub-extension forms a second acute angle that is greater than the first acute angle with respect to the first direction.

7. The display device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a main connector electrically connected to one side of the first extension;
a bridge connector electrically connected to an opposite side of the first extension; and
a sub-connector electrically connected to one side of the second extension,
wherein the main connector is electrically connected to the main flexible circuit board, and the sub-connector is electrically connected to the sub-flexible circuit board.

8. The display device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a digitizer driver IC electrically connected to the bridge connector.

9. The display device of claim 7 , wherein the bridge flexible circuit board further includes:
a plurality of first lines disposed in the first extension and electrically connected to both the bridge connector and the main connector;
a plurality of second lines disposed in both the first extension and the second extension and electrically connected to both the bridge connector and the sub-connector; and
a plurality of first and second dummy lines disposed in both the first extension and the second extension and electrically connected to the both main connector and the sub-connector.

10. The display device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first lines is not electrically connected to the sub-connector, the plurality of second lines is not electrically connected to the main connector, and the plurality of first dummy lines and the plurality of second dummy lines are not electrically connected to the bridge connector.

11. The display device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first lines and the plurality of second lines are disposed on a same layer as each other, the plurality of first dummy lines and the plurality of second dummy lines are disposed on a same layer as each other, and the plurality of first dummy lines and the plurality of second dummy lines are disposed on a different layer from that of the plurality of first lines and the plurality of second lines.

12. The display device of claim 9 , wherein the main digitizer includes:
a plurality of first X-axis electrodes; and
a plurality of first Y-axis electrodes crossing the plurality of first X-axis electrodes,
wherein the sub-digitizer includes:
a plurality of second X-axis electrodes; and
a plurality of second Y-axis electrodes crossing the plurality of second X-axis electrodes, and
wherein the plurality of first lines is electrically connected to the plurality of first X-axis electrodes and the plurality of first Y-axis electrodes, and the plurality of second lines is electrically connected to second-first Y-axis electrodes among the plurality of second Y-axis electrodes.

13. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of first dummy lines eclectically connects the plurality of first X-axis electrodes to the plurality of second X-axis electrodes.

14. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of second dummy lines electrically connects some of the plurality of first Y-axis electrodes to second-second Y-axis electrodes among the plurality of second Y-axis electrodes.

15. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of main pads disposed on one surface of the main flexible circuit board facing the rear surface of the main digitizer; and
a plurality of first pads disposed in a first depression defined on the rear surface of the main digitizer, the plurality of first pads being electrically connected to the plurality of main pads in a one-to-one manner.

16. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of sub-pads disposed on one surface of the sub-flexible circuit board facing the rear surface of the sub-digitizer; and
a plurality of second pads disposed in a second depression defined on the rear surface of the sub-digitizer, the plurality of second pads being electrically connected to the plurality of sub-pads in a one-to-one manner.

17. A display device, comprising:
a display panel including a first non-folding area, a second non-folding area, and a folding area disposed between the first non-folding area and the second non-folding area;
a first digitizer disposed behind the first non-folding area;
a second digitizer disposed behind the second non-folding area; and
a bridge flexible circuit board electrically connected to both the first and second digitizers,
wherein each of the first and second digitizers includes a plurality of X-axis electrodes and a plurality of Y-axis electrodes crossing each other, and
wherein the plurality of X-axis electrodes of the second digitizer are electrically connected to the plurality of X-axis electrodes of the first digitizer through the bridge flexible circuit board.

18. The display device of claim 17 , wherein some of the plurality of Y-axis electrodes of the second digitizer are electrically connected to some of the plurality of Y-axis electrodes of the first digitizer through the bridge flexible circuit board.

19. The display device of claim 17 , further comprising:
a main flexible circuit board disposed on a rear

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cho Sungyeon
• Son Hoseok
• Park Sungun
• Baek Jongin
• Lim Kyung-Hwa

Classifications

• G06F3/04164

  Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F3/0446

  using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes · CPC title

• G06F2203/04111

  Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate · CPC title