EP-4737953-A1 - DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING A COVER WINDOW WITH A FUNCTIONAL LAYER AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

EP4737953A1EP 4737953 A1EP4737953 A1EP 4737953A1EP-4737953-A1

Abstract

A display device includes at least one folding area. The display device includes a display panel and a cover window disposed on the display panel The cover window includes a base layer and a functional layer disposed on the base layer and has an anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the functional layer.

Inventors

LEE, HEEYOUNG
AN, SUNGGUK
Han, Soyeon
Ko, Jisun
KIM, JUNGWOOK
Eom, Jimi
Yun, Jooho
Lee, Seungri

Assignees

Samsung Display Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20250528

Claims (15)

A display device (10) comprising at least one folding area (FA), the display device (10) comprising: a display panel (DP) configured to display an image; and a cover window (CW, 910) disposed on the display panel, wherein the cover window (CW, 910) comprises a base layer (921) and a functional layer (922, 924) disposed on the base layer (921), the functional layer (922, 924) having a thickness within a range from about 2 micrometers to about 21 micrometers, inclusive, and wherein the functional layer (922, 924) comprises: a hard coating layer (922) disposed on the base layer (921) and comprising a hard coating material; a refractive layer (924) disposed on the hard coating layer (922); and an anti-fingerprint material (924a), wherein at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material (924a) is disposed at an outermost surface of the refractive layer (924).
The display device (10) of claim 1, wherein the refractive layer (924) comprises at least one low refractive layer (924) comprising a low refractive material, wherein the at least one low refractive layer (924) comprises the anti-fingerprint material (924a) and at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material is disposed at an outermost surface (S) of the at least one low refractive layer (924).
The display device (10) of claim 1, wherein the refractive layer (924) comprises at least one high refractive layer (923) comprising a high refractive material, and at least one low refractive layer (924) disposed on the at least one high refractive layer (923) and comprising a low refractive material, wherein the at least one low refractive layer has the anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon and at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material is disposed at an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer.
The display device (10) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the anti-fingerprint material (924a) comprises at least one fluorine-based material of polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, fluorinated ethylene propylene, FEP, perfluoropolyether, PFPE, and/or fluorinated silane, or at least one silicon-based material of silica nanoparticles, SiO 2 , hexamethyldisiloxane, HMDSO, tetraethyl orthosilicate, TEOS, polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, and/or phenylmethylsilicone.
The display device (10) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a density of the anti-fingerprint material (924a) is higher in a first portion of the refractive layer (924) that is farther from the base layer (921) than in a second portion of the refractive layer (924) closer to the base layer (921); and/or wherein a density of the anti-fingerprint material (924a) is higher in a first portion of the refractive layer (924) that is closer to an exposed surface (S) of the refractive layer (924) than in a second portion of the refractive layer (924) farther from the exposed surface (S) of the refractive layer (924).
The display device (10) of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the refractive layer (924) has a surface contact angle within a range from about 100 degrees to about 120 degrees, inclusive.
The display device (10) of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between the display panel (DP) and the cover window (CW, 910), wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive, PSA, that is a semi-fluidic material.
The display device (10) of claim 7, wherein at least one of the base layer (921), the hard coating layer (922) and the adhesive layer further comprises an ultraviolet blocking material (922a), and wherein the ultraviolet blocking material is configured to transmit 10 % or less ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less.
The display device (10) of claim 8, wherein the ultraviolet blocking material is uniformly distributed within at least one of the base layer (921), the hard coating layer (922), and the adhesive layer.
The display device (10) of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the hard coating material comprises at least one material of siloxane resin, epoxy resin, and/or acryl-based resin, and wherein a thickness of the hard coating layer (922) is in a range from about 1 micrometer to about 20 micrometers, inclusive.
The display device (10) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the low refractive material (924) comprises at least one material of an amino-based low refractive material, a silane-based low refractive material, and/or an acrylate-based low refractive material, and wherein a thickness of the at least one low refractive layer is in a range from about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, inclusive.
The display device (10) of claim 3, wherein the high refractive material comprises at least one high refractive inorganic material of titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, silicon carbide, zinc sulfide, and/or titanium carbide, or comprises at least one high refractive organic material from among polyimide and/or polythiophene, and wherein a thickness of the at least one high refractive layer (923) is in a range from about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, inclusive.
The display device (10) of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the display panel (DP) comprises: a substrate divided into a display area (DA) and a peripheral area (PA); an organic light-emitting diode disposed in the display area (DA) of the substrate; and an encapsulation layer (400) sealing the organic light-emitting diode, wherein the display device (10) further comprises, between the display panel and the cover window (CW, 910): a touch layer (700) disposed on the encapsulation layer (400); and a color filter layer (800) disposed on the touch layer.
A display device (10) comprising at least one folding area (FA), the display device (10) comprising: a display panel (DP) configured to display an image; and a cover window (CW, 910) disposed on the display panel, wherein the cover window (CW, 910) comprises a base layer (921) and a functional layer, wherein the functional layer comprises: a hard coating layer (922) disposed on the base layer (921) and comprising a hard coating material; a primer layer (925) disposed on the hard coating layer (922) and comprising a primer material; and an anti-fingerprint layer (926) disposed on the primer layer (925) and comprising an anti-fingerprint material, wherein a thickness of the primer layer (925) is in a range from about 5 nanometers to about 30 nanometers, inclusive, and wherein the primer material comprises at least one material of a silane-based material, an acrylate-based material, and an epoxy-based material.
An electronic device (1000) with improved surface durability, comprising: a controller (1100) configured to generate a scan input signal; a power module (1500) configured to generate a scan input voltage; a display panel (DP) comprises a substrate divided into a display area in which a pixel circuit is arranged and a peripheral area (PA) surrounding the display area (DA), a scan driver arranged in the peripheral area (PA), the scan driver configured to receive the scan input signal and the scan input voltage, and output a scan signal to the pixel circuit, and an encapsulation layer (400) sealing at least the display area (DA); a touch layer (700) disposed on the encapsulation layer (400); a color filter layer (800) disposed on the touch layer; and a cover window (CW, 910) disposed on the color filter layer, wherein the cover window comprises: a base film (921); and a functional layer (922) disposed on the base film, having a thickness in a range of about 2 micrometers to about 21 micrometers, inclusive, and having an anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon, wherein at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material is disposed at an outermost surface of the functional layer, wherein the anti-fingerprint material comprises at least one material of a fluorine-based material and a silicon-based material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a display device and, more specifically, to a display device including a cover window having a functional layer and an electronic device including the display device. DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART Electronic devices often incorporate display panels so as to produce an image for a user. Traditionally, display panels have been flat and rigid. However, modern display panels may be capable of being bent into a desired curvature or may be designed for repeated folding to a noticeable degree without cracking or otherwise sustaining damage. Such display panel are often referred to as foldable display panels. While traditional display panels may utilize highly transparent windows, such as those made of a thick glass, so as to create a high-quality visual appearance and to provide superior scratch resistance, foldable display panels might not be able to make use of thick glass windows and may therefore suffer from reduced clarity and/or scratch resistance. SUMMARY Various aspects relate to a display device including at least one folding area, a display panel configured to display an image, and a cover window disposed on the display panel. The cover window includes a base layer and a functional layer disposed on the base layer. The functional layer may have a thickness in a range from about 2 micrometers to about 21 micrometers, inclusive. The functional layer may include a hard coating layer disposed on the base layer and including a hard coating material. The functional layer may include a refractive layer disposed on the hard coating layer. The refractive layer may include an anti-fingerprint material. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material may be disposed at an outermost surface of the refractive layer. According to various aspects, the refractive layer may include at least one low refractive layer including a low refractive material. The at least one low refractive layer may include the low refractive material and may have the anti-fingerprint material disposed therein. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material may be disposed at an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer. According to various aspects, the refractive layer may include at least one high refractive layer including a high refractive material, and at least one low refractive layer disposed on the at least one high refractive layer and including a low refractive material. The at least one low refractive layer may include the low refractive material and may have the anti-fingerprint material disposed therein. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material may be disposed at on an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer. According to various aspects, the anti-fingerprint material may include at least one material of a water-repellent material, an oil-repellent material, a fluorine-based material, and/or a silicon-based material. According to various aspects, the anti-fingerprint material may include at least one fluorine-based material of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), perfluoropolyether (PFPE), and fluorinated silane, or at least one silicon-based material of silica nanoparticles (SiO2), hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and phenylmethylsilicone. According to various aspects, a density of the anti-fingerprint material may be higher in a portion of the refractive layer farther from the base layer than in a portion of the refractive layer closer to the base layer. According to various aspects, the refractive layer may have a surface contact angle from about 100 degrees to about 120 degrees, inclusive. According to various aspects, the display device may include an adhesive layer disposed between the display panel and the cover window. The adhesive layer may include a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) that is a semi-fluidic material. According to various aspects, at least one of the base layer, the hard coating layer, and/or the adhesive layer may further include an ultraviolet blocking material. The ultraviolet blocking material may transmit 10 % or less ultraviolet light that has a wavelength of 380 nm or less. According to various aspects, the ultraviolet blocking material may be (e.g., uniformly) distributed within at least one of the base layer, the hard coating layer, and/or the adhesive layer. According to various aspects, the hard coating material may include at least one material of siloxane resin, epoxy resin, and/or acryl-based resin, and a thickness of the hard coating layer may be in a range from about 1 micrometer to about 20 micrometers, inclusive. According to various aspects, the low refractive material may include at least one material of an amino-based low refractive material, a silane-based low refractive material, and/or an acrylate-based low refractive material, and a thickness of the at least one low refractive layer may b