Foldable display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021111230-A1
Application number	US-202016859834-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2020
Priority date	Oct 15, 2019
Publication date	Apr 15, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A display device including: a sensor device; a display module to display an image and having a first through-hole in which the sensor device is positioned; and a bottom panel cover on one surface of the display module and having a second through-hole in which the sensor device is positioned. The first through-hole has breadth that increases from the one surface of the display module toward another surface of the display module opposite to the one surface of the display module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A display device, comprising:
a sensor device; a display module to display an image and having a first through-hole in which the sensor device is positioned; and a bottom panel cover on one surface of the display module and having a second through-hole in which the sensor device is positioned, wherein the first through-hole has breadth that increases from the one surface of the display module toward another surface of the display module opposite to the one surface of the display module.

2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein a maximum breadth of the second through-hole is smaller than a maximum breadth of the first through-hole.

3 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display module comprises:
a display panel including pixels to display the image; a protective film on one surface of the display panel; and a first adhesive member between the display panel and the protective film.

4 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein a minimum distance between the protective film and the sensor device is less than a minimum distance between the display panel and the sensor device.

5 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein a minimum distance between the protective film and the sensor device when the display module is folded differs from a minimum distance between the protective film and the sensor device when the display module is not folded,
wherein a first portion of the one surface of the display module faces either toward or away from a second portion of the one surface of the display module when the display module is folded, and wherein a first portion of the other surface of the display module faces either toward or away from a second portion of the other surface of the display module when the display module is folded.

6 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein the display module further comprises:
a polarizing film on another surface of the display panel opposite to the one surface of the display panel; and a second adhesive member between the display panel and the polarizing film.

7 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein a minimum distance between the display panel and the sensor device is less than a minimum distance between the polarizing film and the sensor device.

8 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein a minimum distance between the polarizing film and the sensor device when the display module is folded differs from a minimum distance between the polarizing film and the sensor device when the display module is not folded,
wherein a first portion of the one surface of the display module faces either toward or away from a second portion of the one surface of the display module when the display module is folded, and wherein a first portion of the other surface of the display module faces either toward or away from a second portion of the other surface of the display module when the display module is folded.

9 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein the display module further comprises:
a buffer layer on one surface of the polarizing film; and a third adhesive member between the polarizing film and the buffer layer.

10 . The display device of claim 9 ,
wherein a section of the protective film, a section of the first adhesive member, a section of the display panel, a section of the second adhesive member, a section of the polarizing film, a section of the third adhesive member, and a section of the buffer layer are inclined at a first angle with respect to one surface of the protective film, and wherein the first angle is an acute angle.

11 . The display device of claim 9 , wherein a section of the protective film, a section of the first adhesive member, a section of the display panel, a section of the second adhesive member, a section of the polarizing film, a section of the third adhesive member, and a section of the buffer layer are aligned with each other.

12 . The display device of claim 9 , wherein a section of the protective film and a section of the display panel are spaced apart from each other, the section of the display panel and a section of the polarizing film are spaced apart from each other, and the section of the polarizing film and a section of the buffer layer are spaced apart from each other.

13 . The display device of claim 9 ,
wherein a section of the display panel, a section of the second adhesive member, and a section of the polarizing film are inclined at a first angle with respect to the one surface of the display panel, and wherein the first angle is an acute angle.

14 . The display device of claim 13 ,
wherein a section of the protective film is inclined at a second angle with respect to one surface of the protective film, and wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.

15 . The display device of claim 13 ,
wherein a section of the buffer layer is inclined at a third angle with respect to one surface of the buffer layer, and wherein the third angle is larger than the first angle.

16 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover window on the other surface of the display module, wherein the cover window covers the first through-hole.

17 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover window on the other surface of the display module, wherein the cover window has a third through-hole overlapping the first through-hole.

18 . The display device of claim 17 , further comprising:
a through-hole cover on one surface of the cover window and covering the third through-hole.

19 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein the first through-hole is in a display area including the pixels to display the image on the display panel.

20 . A display device, comprising:
a sensor device; and a display module having a first through-hole in which the sensor device is positioned, wherein the first through-hole has breadth that increases from one surface of the display module toward another surface of the display module, and wherein a first portion of the one surface of the display module faces a second portion of the one surface of the display module when the display module is folded.

21 . The display device of claim 20 , further comprising:
a cover window on the one surface of the display module.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shin Jai Ku
• Park Dong Jin
• Seo Dong Woo
• Choi Sung Chul

Classifications

• H10K59/8792

  comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. black layers · CPC title

• H10K59/871

  Self-supporting sealing arrangements · CPC title

• H10K59/65

  OLEDs integrated with inorganic image sensors · CPC title

• G06F1/1652 Primary

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

• Y02E10/549

  Organic PV cells · CPC title