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EP-4742221-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING SELF-HEALING PROTECTIVE LAYER

EP4742221A1EP 4742221 A1EP4742221 A1EP 4742221A1EP-4742221-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a protective layer having self-healing characteristics and shape memory characteristics on one surface of a display panel. To this end, the protective layer can be manufactured from a product composed of methyl methacrylate (MMA), hexyl methacrylate (HMA) and cinnamoyl (Ci) mixed in a predetermined ratio by which predetermined optical transparency, predetermined rigidity or predetermined recovery against plastic deformation can be ensured. Other various embodiments are possible.

Inventors

  • LEE, JUNGHYUN
  • CHUNG, JAEWOO
  • PARK, JUNHO
  • Lee, Geunho
  • JUNG, SUNGHOON
  • YU, Yeongjun

Assignees

  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
  • Soongsil University Foundation of University-Industry Cooperation

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240802

Claims (15)

  1. A display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) comprising: a display panel (350, 450) provided with a protective layer (310, 410) capable of self-healing on one surface exposed to an outside, wherein the protective layer (310, 410) is manufactured by a product (730) composed of methylmethacrylate (MMA), hexylmethacrylate (HMA), and cinnamoyl (Ci) mixed in a predetermined ratio capable of securing predetermined optical transparency, predetermined rigidity, or predetermined recoverability against plastic deformation.
  2. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of claim 1, wherein a molar ratio of the MMA, the HMA and the Ci constituting the product (730) is 37:12:1 to 37.5:12.5:1.
  3. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the product (730) is generated from an intermediate composed of the MMA, the HMA, and hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) mixed in a predetermined ratio.
  4. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of claim 3, wherein a molar ratio of the MMA, the HMA, and the HEMA is 37:12:1 to 37.5:12.5:1.
  5. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the product (730) forms cross-linking (733a).
  6. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of claim 5, wherein the cross-linking (733a) is formed by the Ci.
  7. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the protective layer (310, 410) has a thickness of 30 micrometers (µm) to 200 µm.
  8. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the protective layer (410) includes a secondary protective layer (4130) formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material.
  9. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of claim 8, wherein the protective layer (4110) having a predetermined thickness is provided on a front surface of the secondary protective layer (4130).
  10. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of claim 8 or 9, wherein the product (730) is coated with a predetermined thickness on a front surface of the secondary protective layer (4130).
  11. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of claim 9 or 10, wherein the predetermined thickness is 1 micrometer (µm) to 50 µm.
  12. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the predetermined recoverability of the protective layer (310, 410) increases under a predetermined temperature condition.
  13. The display device (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the predetermined recoverability of the protective layer (310, 410) increases in response to an external temperature increasing to 60°C to 75°C.
  14. An electronic device (101, 200, 900, 1000) comprising: a first housing (210, 911); a second housing (220, 912) foldably connected to the first housing (210, 911) through a hinge module (240, 913); and a flexible display (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) supported by the first housing (210, 911) and the second housing (220, 912), wherein the flexible display (160, 260, 300, 400, 921, 1030) includes a protective layer (310, 410) manufactured by a product (730) composed of methylmethacrylate (MMA), hexylmethacrylate (HMA), and cinnamoyl (Ci) mixed in a predetermined ratio capable of securing predetermined optical transparency, predetermined rigidity, or predetermined recoverability against plastic deformation.
  15. The electronic device (101, 200, 900, 1000) of claim 14, wherein a molar ratio of the MMA, the HMA and the Ci constituting the product (730) is 37:12:1 to 37.5:12.5:1.

Description

[Technical Field] Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a protective layer having self-healing characteristics and shape memory characteristics and an electronic device comprising the same. [Background Art] An electronic device requires a small profile for portability and requires a large-area display for providing users with substantial information. To achieve compatibility between a small profile and a large-area display in an electronic device, various form factors such as rollable, slidable, or foldable are emerging, departing from the rectangular bar-shaped form factor. An electronic device having such a form factor requires a flexible display which is bendable or foldable. A display of an electronic device may include a protective layer to prevent foreign objects from entering from above a panel layer. The protective layer may be provided with at least a portion formed of a flexible material corresponding to flexible characteristics of a flexible display. As a flexible display is bent or folded with increased frequency or number of times, stress exceeding an elastic limit of the protective layer (e.g., yield strength) may be applied, causing plastic deformation. In this case, the flexible display may experience distortion or decreased transparency due to creases or scratches. [Technical Problems] Various embodiments of the disclosure propose a protective layer formed of a material capable of self-healing and shape memory while having predetermined rigidity and transmittance, and an electronic device including the same. [Solution to Problems] A display device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a display panel provided with a protective layer capable of self-healing on one surface exposed to an outside. The protective layer may be manufactured by a product composed of methylmethacrylate (MMA), hexylmethacrylate (HMA), and cinnamoyl (Ci) mixed in a predetermined ratio capable of securing predetermined optical transparency, predetermined rigidity, or predetermined recoverability against plastic deformation. An electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a first housing, a second housing foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge module, and a flexible display supported by the first housing and the second housing. The flexible display may include a protective layer manufactured by a product composed of methylmethacrylate (MMA), hexylmethacrylate (HMA), and cinnamoyl (Ci) mixed in a predetermined ratio capable of securing predetermined optical transparency, predetermined rigidity, or predetermined recoverability against plastic deformation. [Advantageous Effects] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may provide a protective layer that self-restores in response to plastic deformation caused by compression and tension of a display. An electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may enhance durability of a display appearance by providing a protective layer composed of a material capable of reversible self-healing. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments.FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating a foldable electronic device in a folded state of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 2C is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device in an intermediate state of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a display according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 6 is a flowchart for manufacturing a self-healing polymer to be used as a protective layer of a display, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 7 illustrates a bonding structure of a self-healing polymer, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 8 illustrates deformation of a protective layer manufactured with a self-healing polymer and the corresponding recovery process, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 9A is a view illustrating an unfolded state of an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 9B is a view illustrating a folded state of an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 9C is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;FIG. 10A is a view illustrating an extended state of an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; andFIG. 10B is a view illustrating a retr