US-12619278-B2 - Lower module, display device including the same and method for providing the same

US12619278B2US 12619278 B2US12619278 B2US 12619278B2US-12619278-B2

Abstract

A display device includes a folding region, and a non-folding region which is adjacent to the folding region along a first direction, a display module which displays an image, a window on the display module, a lower support plate facing the window with the display module therebetween, the lower support plate including a metal material, and an upper support plate between the display module and the lower support plate. The upper support plate includes a support layer including glass fiber and a polymer material, a first surface including a first concave-convex pattern, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, closer to the display module than the first surface and including a second concave-convex pattern and a metal layer directly on the first surface of the support layer, in the non-folding region.

Inventors

Hirotsugu Kishimoto
Yongchan JEON
Chul Ho Jeong

Assignees

SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230310
Priority Date: 20220315

Claims (12)

1 . An electronic device including: a display device comprising: a folding region, and a non-folding region which is adjacent to the folding region along a first direction; a display module which displays an image; a window on the display module; a lower support plate facing the window with the display module therebetween, the lower support plate including a metal material; and an upper support plate between the display module and the lower support plate, wherein the upper support plate includes: a support layer including glass fiber and a polymer material, the support layer including: a first surface including a first concave-convex pattern, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, closer to the display module than the first surface and including a second concave-convex pattern; a metal layer directly on the first surface of the support layer, in the non-folding region; and the glass fiber and the polymer material of the support layer in a same plane as a portion of the metal layer.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the support layer of the upper support plate comprises: a folding portion corresponding to the folding region, the folding portion defining a plurality of openings of the upper support plate; and a support portion corresponding to the non-folding region.
3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein within the upper support plate, the first concave-convex pattern corresponds to each of the folding portion and the support portion, and the second concave-convex pattern corresponds to each of the folding portion and the support portion.
4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein within the upper support plate: each of the first concave-convex pattern and the second concave-convex pattern comprises a concave portion and a convex portion; and the glass fiber and the polymer material of the support layer is between the first surface and the second surface, overlapping each of the concave portions and each of the convex portions.
5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer has a surface in contact with the first concave-convex pattern of the support layer, the surface having a surface roughness of approximately 0.1 micrometers or greater.
6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein within the support layer of the upper support plate, the polymer material comprises at least one of epoxy, polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polybutylene and vinyl ester.
7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein within the upper support plate, a Young's modulus of the support layer is approximately 10 gigapascals to approximately 40 gigapascals.
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein within the upper support plate, a thickness of the support layer is approximately 100 micrometers to approximately 300 micrometers.
9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein within the upper support plate, the metal layer comprises copper.
10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lower support plate and the upper support plate define portions of a lower module which faces the window with the display module therebetween, and the lower module further comprises at least one of a protective layer, a buffer layer and a support module.
11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein within the upper support plate, the support layer comprises a plurality of polymer material-impregnated glass fiber layers.
12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein within the upper support plate, the support layer comprises 2 to 5 the polymer material-impregnated glass fiber layers which are laminated.

Description

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0032088, filed on Mar. 15, 2022, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND (1) Field The present disclosure herein relates to a display device and a method for manufacturing (or providing) a lower module included therein. More particularly, to a display device including a folding region, and a method for manufacturing (or providing) a lower module included in the display device. (2) Description of the Related Art Various display devices used for multimedia devices such as a television, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a navigation system, and a game machine are being developed. In order to facilitate portability and improve user convenience, display devices which are foldable or rollable, by being provided with bendable flexible display members, are being developed. SUMMARY Flexible display devices which are foldable or rollable, may include various display device members such as a window for protecting a display module or a support member for supporting the display module, without inhibiting a folding or bending operation of the display device. Accordingly, display device members with excellent folding properties, while maintaining mechanical properties, are desired. The present disclosure provides a display device with excellent folding properties and improved durability. The present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing (or providing) a lower support module included in a display device with excellent folding properties and improved durability. An embodiment of the invention provides a display device including a folding region, and a non-folding region divided into a first non-folding region and a second non-folding region spaced apart from each other in a first direction with the folding region interposed therebetween, a display module, a window disposed on an upper side of the display module, and a lower module disposed on a lower side of the display module. The lower module includes a lower support plate including a metal material, and an upper support plate disposed on the lower support plate, where the upper support plate includes a support layer including glass fiber and a polymer material, a first surface spaced apart from the display module and including a first concave-convex pattern, and a second surface facing the first surface and including a second concave-convex pattern, and a metal layer directly disposed on the first surface to correspond to the non-folding region. In an embodiment, the support layer may include a folding portion corresponding to the folding region and defining a plurality of openings, a first support portion corresponding to the first non-folding region, and a second support portion corresponding to the second non-folding region. In an embodiment, the first concave-convex pattern may be provided on a lower side of the folding portion, the first support portion, and the second support portion, and the second concave-convex pattern may be provided on an upper side of the folding portion, the first support portion, and the second support portion. In an embodiment, each of the first concave-convex pattern and the second concave-convex pattern may include a concave portion and a convex portion. In an embodiment, the metal layer may be directly disposed on a lower side of the support layer while filling the concave portion of the first concave-convex pattern. In an embodiment, the metal layer may have a surface in contact with the first concave-convex pattern and having a surface roughness Rz of approximately 0.1 micrometer (μm) or greater. In an embodiment, the polymer material may include at least one of epoxy, polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polybutylene and vinyl ester. In an embodiment, a Young's Modulus of the support layer may be approximately 10 gigapascals (GPa) to approximately 40 GPa. In an embodiment, a thickness of the support layer may be approximately 100 micrometers (μm) to approximately 300 μm. In an embodiment the metal layer may include copper (Cu). In an embodiment, the lower module may further include at least one of a protective layer, a buffer layer and a support module. In an embodiment, the support layer may further include a plurality of prepreg layers including the glass fiber and the polymer material. In an embodiment, the support layer may be 2 to 5 laminated prepreg layers. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing (or providing(a lower module includes providing a preliminary support layer including glass fiber and a polymer material, providing a metal layer with a concave-convex portion to each of a first surface and a second surface of the preliminary support layer which face each other, forming (or providing) a support layer with a concave-convex pattern by heating and pressurizing the prelimi