Foldable display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9544993-B2
Application number	US-201414265077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2014
Priority date	Aug 7, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

Provided is a foldable display apparatus that is foldable along a folding line. The foldable display apparatus includes a first display panel for displaying a first image, a second display panel for displaying a second image, wherein the second display panel is spaced apart from the first display panel, and a flexible electric connection unit disposed between the first and second display panels and electrically connecting the first and second display panels, the flexible electric connection unit comprising a groove overlapping with the folding line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable display apparatus foldable along a folding line, the foldable display apparatus comprising:
a first display panel for displaying a first image;
a second display panel for displaying a second image, wherein the second display panel is spaced apart from the first display panel;
a flexible electric connection unit disposed between the first and second display panels and electrically connecting the first and second display panels, the flexible electric connection unit comprising a groove overlapping with the folding line and a fold guide member comprising a first guide member and a second guide member that are spaced apart from each other relative to the folding line.

2. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible electric connection unit comprises a conductive layer, a protection layer disposed on the conductive layer, and a wiring pattern electrically connected to the conductive layer and the first and second display panels, and
wherein the groove is disposed on the protection layer.

3. The foldable display apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the protection layer includes a penetration, and the wiring pattern is disposed in the penetration, the wiring pattern comprising a test region for performing an electrical test on the wiring pattern.

4. The foldable display apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a shielding layer covering the test region and spaced apart from the folding line.

5. The foldable display apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the shielding layer is disposed covering the test region after the electrical test is performed on the wiring pattern.

6. The foldable display apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the wiring pattern comprises at least one first wiring pattern electrically connected to the first display panel via a first connection member, and at least one second wiring pattern electrically connected to the second display pattern via a second connection member.

7. The foldable display apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one first wiring pattern and the at least one second wiring pattern are spaced apart from each other relative to the folding line.

8. The foldable display apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a cover layer disposed on a first surface of the conductive layer, wherein the first surface of the conductive layer is opposite to a second surface of the conductive layer facing the protection layer.

9. The foldable display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first guide member is disposed in contact with a first surface of the cover layer and the second guide member is disposed in contact with a second surface of the cover layer, and wherein the first surface of the cover layer is opposite to the second surface of the cover layer facing the conductive layer.

10. The foldable display apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a solder resist formed on a first surface of the conductive layer, wherein the first surface of the conductive layer is opposite to a second surface of the conductive layer facing the protection layer.

11. The foldable display apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a plating layer disposed adjacent to the solder resist, and between the wiring pattern and the first and second display panels.

12. The foldable display apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first guide member is disposed on a first surface of the solder resist and wherein the second guide member is disposed on a second surface of the solder resist, and wherein the first surface of the solder resist is opposite to the second surface of the solder resist facing the conductive layer.

13. The foldable display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a width of the groove decreases in a direction of a thickness of the flexible electric connection unit.

14. The foldable display panel of claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a curved surface.

15. The foldable display panel of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the groove has a V-shape or a U-shape.

16. The foldable display panel of claim 1 , wherein the first and second display panels each comprises a display device.

17. A method of manufacturing a foldable display apparatus foldable along a folding line, the method comprising:
forming a flexible electric connection unit between a first display panel and a second display panel,
wherein the first display panel is configured to display a first image and the second display panel is configured to display a second image, and
wherein the flexible electric connection unit is configured to electrically connect the first and second display panels, the flexible electric connection unit comprising a groove overlapping with the folding line and a fold guide member comprising a first guide member and a second guide member that are spaced apart from each other relative to the folding line.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein forming the flexible electric connection unit comprises:
forming a protection layer on a conductive layer, wherein the groove is formed on the protection layer, and
forming a wiring pattern electrically connected to the conductive layer and the first and second display panels.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
forming a penetration in the protection layer, and
forming the wiring pattern in the penetration, wherein the wiring pattern comprises a test region for performing an electrical test on the wiring pattern.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
forming a shielding layer covering the test region after the electrical test is performed on the wiring pattern.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Chung-Seok
• You Bong-Hyun
• Cho Seong-Heon

Classifications

• H05K2201/09827

  Tapered, e.g. tapered hole, via or groove · CPC title

• H05K2201/09481

  Via in pad; Pad over filled via · CPC title

• H05K3/361

  Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits · CPC title

• H05K3/323

  by applying an anisotropic conductive adhesive layer over an array of pads · CPC title

• H05K3/282

  for inhibiting the corrosion of the circuit, e.g. for preserving the solderability · CPC title