Display apparatus having a full-thickness through hole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017150618-A1
Application number	US-201615336944-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 28, 2016
Priority date	Nov 20, 2015
Publication date	May 25, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a display panel. The display apparatus further includes a cover layer disposed over a first surface of the display panel on which an image is displayed. A housing is disposed over a second surface of the display panel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface of the display panel. The display panel also includes at least one through hole that fully penetrates the display panel, the cover layer, and the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A display apparatus comprising:
a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels; a cover layer disposed over a first surface of the display panel on which an image is displayed; a housing disposed over a second surface of the display panel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface of the display panel; and at least one through hole that fully penetrates the display panel, the cover layer, and the housing.

2 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one through hole passes through an area of the display panel on which an image is displayed.

3 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one through hole passes through an area of the display panel on which no image is displayed.

4 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a smallest diameter of the at least one through hole ranges from about 10 mm to about 100 mm.

5 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an outline structure that is disposed between an outer portion of the display apparatus and an inner portion of the at least one through hole, wherein the outline structure is not installed in the cover layer or the housing.

6 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one through hole comprises:
a first through hole passing through the cover layer; a second through hole passing through the display panel; and a third through hole passing through the housing, wherein each of the first, second, and third through holes are vertically aligned.

7 . The display apparatus of claim 6 , wherein inner circumferential surfaces of the first through hole, the second through hole, and the third through hole are substantially the same shape and size.

8 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a signal input element disposed in an area adjacent to the at least one through hole.

9 . The display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the signal input element is disposed over a sidewall of an inner circumferential surface of the at least one through hole, in an upper outline area of the at least one through hole near the first surface of the display panel, or in a lower outline area of the at least one through hole near the second surface of the display panel.

10 , The display apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a signal sensing element disposed in an area adjacent to the at least one through hole.

11 . The display apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the signal sensing element is disposed over a sidewall of an inner circumferential surface of the at least one through hole, in an upper outline area of the at least one through hole near the first surface of the display panel, or in a lower outline area of the at least one through hole near the second surface of the display panel.

12 . The display apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless charging connection terminal disposed over a sidewall of an inner circumferential sidewall of the at least one through hole.

13 . The display apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising an insulation member disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the at least one through hole and the wireless charging connection terminal.

14 . An organic light-emitting display apparatus comprising:
a housing; a substrate disposed over the housing; an organic light-emitting display layer disposed over the substrate; an encapsulation layer encapsulating the organic light-emitting display layer; a transparent cover layer disposed over the encapsulation layer; and at least one through hole that penetrates the substrate, the organic light-emitting display layer, the encapsulation layer, the transparent cover layer, and the housing, wherein a side surface of the organic light-emitting display layer adjacent to an inner circumferential surface of the at least one through hole is surrounded by the encapsulation layer.

15 . The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible substrate.

16 . The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the encapsulation layer comprises at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer.

17 . The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a side surface of the organic light-emitting display layer is surrounded by the at least one inorganic layer.

18 . The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a signal input device,
wherein the signal input device comprises a button, a wheel, or a switch.

19 . The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a sensor,
wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor, a tactile sensor, a pressure sensor, or a fingerprint recognition sensor.

20 . The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a wireless charging connection terminal disposed over a sidewall of an inner circumferential surface of the at least one through hole.

21 . The organic light-emitting display apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising an insulation member covering the wireless charging connection terminal.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Jonghyun
• Kang Kinyeng
• Kim Sunkwang

Classifications

• H04M1/0279

  Improving the user comfort or ergonomics · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H05K5/0017 Primary

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• G09F9/33 Primary

  being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title