Display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239133-A1
Application number	US-201614989435-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Feb 16, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A display device includes a display member and a touch member. The display member is configured to generate an image. The display member includes a folding area configured to be folded along a folding axis, and another area adjacent to the folding area. The touch member is configured to detect a touch interaction association with the display member. The touch member includes a touch sensor, and a signal line electrically connected to the touch sensor. The touch sensor is a mesh-shaped touch sensor. A mesh line of the mesh-shaped touch sensor crosses the folding axis. A minimum angle between the folding axis and the mesh line is less than 90 degrees.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A display device comprising:
a display member configured to generate an image, the display member divided into in a plan view; a folding area configured to be folded along a folding axis and a plan area adjacent to the folding area; and a touch member configured to detect a touch interaction associated with the display member, the touch member comprising:
a touch sensor; and
a signal line electrically connected to the touch sensor,
wherein:
the touch sensor comprises a plurality of mesh lines connecting to each other to define a mesh-shape,
each of the plurality of mesh lines crosses the folding axis, and
a minimum angle between the folding axis and each of the plurality of mesh lines is less than 90 degrees.

2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein a width of each of plurality of mesh lines is greater than or equal to about 10 micrometers and less than or equal to about 3000 micrometers.

3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein:
the plurality of mesh lines define transmission parts; and each transmission part of the transmission parts is a polygonal shape in a plan view.

4 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein, in a plan view, different transmission parts of the transmission parts comprise different polygonal shapes from one another.

5 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein, in a plan view, polygonal shapes of the transmission parts are equivalent to one another.

6 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein:
the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch electrodes; each of the plurality of touch electrodes comprises:
first mesh lines of the plurality of mesh lines, the first mesh lines extending in a first direction; and
second mesh lines of the plurality of mesh lines, the second mesh lines extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; and
the first mesh lines and the second mesh lines define transmission parts.

7 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein the minimum angle is in a range greater than or equal to about 0 degrees and less than or equal to about 45 degrees.

8 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein each of the transmission parts is lozenge shaped.

9 . The display device of claim 8 , wherein:
a first transmission part of the transmission parts overlaps the folding area; and a lozenge shape of the first transmission part comprises:
a first diagonal line substantially parallel to the folding axis; and
a second diagonal line crossing the first diagonal line.

10 . The display device of claim 9 , wherein length of the first diagonal line is longer than length of the second diagonal line.

11 . The display device of claim 10 , wherein, in a folded state, the touch member is configured to apply a compressive stress in the folding area.

12 . The display device of claim 10 , wherein, in a folded state, the touch member is configured to apply a tensile stress in the folding area.

13 . The display device of claim 10 , wherein the length of the first diagonal line is greater than or equal to about 10 micrometer and less than or equal to about 500 micrometers.

14 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein:
one of the plurality of touch electrodes overlapping the folding area further comprises:
third mesh lines overlapping the folding area, the third mesh lines being disposed on the first mesh lines and the second mesh lines; and
fourth mesh lines crossing the third mesh lines in the folding area, the fourth mesh lines being disposed on the first mesh lines and the second mesh lines, the fourth mesh lines crossing the third mesh lines; and
the first mesh lines, the second mesh lines, the third mesh lines, and the fourth mesh lines are electrically connected to one another.

15 . The display device of claim 14 , wherein:
each of the third mesh lines is substantially parallel to each of the first mesh lines; and each of the fourth mesh lines is substantially parallel to each of the second mesh lines.

16 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein:
the signal line comprises a plurality of conductive lines; the plurality of conductive lines define a mesh shape; and arrangements of the plurality of conductive lines and the plurality of mesh lines are equivalent to one another.

17 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein:
the touch sensor comprises:
a first touch electrode; and
a second touch electrode insulated from the first touch electrode; and
each of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode comprises the mesh lines.

18 . The display device of claim 17 , wherein:
the first touch electrode is one of a plurality of first touch electrodes; the second touch electrode is one of a plurality of touch electrodes; the plurality of first touch electrodes extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction; and the second touch electrodes extend in the second direction and are arranged in the first direction.

19 . The display device of claim 18 , wherein the folding axis extends in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction or the second direction.

20 . The display device of claim 18 , wherein:
the first touch electrode comprises:
first sensing parts arranged in the first direction; and
first connection parts disposed between and connecting adjacent first sensing parts of the first sensing parts; and
the second touch electrode comprises:
second sensing parts arranged in the second direction; and
second connection parts disposed between and connecting adjacent second sensing parts of the second sensing parts; and
each of the first sensing parts, the second sensing parts, the first connecting parts, and the second connection parts comprises the mesh lines.

21 . The display device of claim 20 , wherein:
an insulating layer is disposed between the first sensing parts and the second sensing parts; and the insulating layer is disposed between the first connection parts and the second connecting parts.

22 . The display device of claim 20 , wherein:
a layer of the touch sensor comprises the second sensing parts and the first sensing parts; and the second sensing parts are, in a plan view, spaced apart from the first sensing parts.

23 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display member comprises:
a base layer; and an element layer disposed on the base layer, the element layer comprising an organic light emitting diode.

24 . The display device of claim 23 , wherein:
the display member comprises an encapsulation layer covering the element layer; and the touch sensor is disposed on the encapsulation layer.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ko Gwang-Bum
• Na Hyunjae
• Kim Cheolkyu
• Choi Sangkyu
• Sohn Jiwon
• Ahn Soonsung

Classifications

• 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

• G06F3/0412 Primary

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a display · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

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

• G06F2203/04112

  Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title