US-12622163-B2 - Display device and method for manufacturing the same

US12622163B2US 12622163 B2US12622163 B2US 12622163B2US-12622163-B2

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel including a first area including a pixel and at which the display panel is foldable, a second area on which a driver connected to the pixel is disposed, and a bending area between the first area and the second area and at which the display panel is bendable, a functional layer on the first area, and a protective layer on the bending area, a groove is defined in one surface of the protective layer, which does not face the display panel, and the groove is adjacent to the first area.

Inventors

Youngmin CHO
Hyunwoo Lee
HONGAM KIM

Assignees

SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220729
Priority Date: 20211109

Claims (12)

1 . A display device comprising: a display panel comprising: a first area including a pixel and at which the display panel is foldable, a second area on which a driver connected to the pixel is disposed, and a bending area between the first area and the second area and at which the display panel is bendable; a functional layer on the first area; and a protective layer on the bending area, wherein a groove is defined in one surface of the protective layer, which does not face the display panel, and the groove is adjacent to the first area and exposes one side surface of the functional layer adjacent to the bending area.
2 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer between the functional layer and the first area, wherein the one surface of the protective layer, in which the groove is not defined, is disposed higher than the adhesive layer.
3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein the protective layer is in contact with one side surface of the adhesive layer, which is adjacent to the bending area, under the groove.
4 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein a bottom surface of the groove is disposed at the same height as one surface of the adhesive layer, which faces the functional layer.
5 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein a bottom surface of the groove is disposed lower than one surface of the adhesive layer, which faces the functional layer.
6 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein when the first area is folded, the groove has a width greater than a slip width of the functional layer that is slipped from the first area to the bending area.
7 . The display device of claim 6 , wherein the width of the groove is about 100 micrometers to about 300 micrometers.
8 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the groove is provided in plurality including a plurality of grooves, and the groove which is closest to the functional layer, among the plurality of grooves, expose the one side surface of the functional layer adjacent to the bending area.
9 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the one side surface of the functional layer adjacent to the bending area is spaced apart from a boundary between the bending area and the first area and is disposed on the first area.
10 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the groove is not defined in the one surface of the protective layer adjacent to the second area.
11 . A display device comprising: a display panel comprising: a first area including a pixel and at which the display panel is foldable, a second area on which a driver connected to the pixel is disposed, and a bending area between the first area and the second area and at which the display panel is bendable; a functional layer on the first area; an adhesive layer which bonds the functional layer to the display panel at the first area thereof; and a protective layer on the bending area, the protective layer facing both the functional layer and the adhesive layer, wherein a groove is defined in one surface of the protective layer, which does not face the display panel, the groove is adjacent to the first area, and the groove is open at a depth disposed at the same height as one surface of the adhesive layer, which faces the functional layer.
12 . The display device of claim 11 , wherein the groove is open at a depth disposed lower than the one surface of the adhesive layer, which faces the functional layer.

Description

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0153103, filed on Nov. 9, 2021, 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 the same. (2) Description of the Related Art Various types of display devices have been developed with the development of technology of display devices. For example, various flexible display devices that are deformed into a curved shape, foldable or rollable are being developed. The flexible display device may be easily carried and improve a convenience of using the flexible display device. Among the flexible display devices, a foldable display device is foldable with respect to a folding axis. The foldable display device may include a display module that is foldable with respect to the folding axis and a support part which is below the display module to support the display module. The support part may be foldable together with the display module. The display module includes a display panel that generates and/or displays an image and a driver which is on the display panel. The display panel includes a first area, a second area, and a bending area between the first and second areas. The first area includes a plurality of pixels driven by the driver to display an image. The first area is foldable with respect to the folding axis. The driver is mounted on the second area, and the bending area is bendable so that the second area is disposed below the first area. Thus, the first area which is folded disposes the driver under the first area and not visually recognizable from outside the display device. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides a display device that is capable of preventing a bending area from being damaged and a method for manufacturing (or providing) the display device. An embodiment of the invention provides a display device including a display panel including a first area including a pixel and at which the display panel is foldable, a second area on which a driver connected to the pixel is disposed, and a bending area between the first area and the second area and at which the display panel is bendable, a functional layer on the first area, and a protective layer on the bending area, a groove is defined in one surface of the protective layer, which does not face the display panel, and the groove is adjacent to the first area. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing (or providing) a display device includes providing a display panel including a first area including a pixel and at which the display panel is foldable, a second area on which a driver connected to the pixel is disposed, and a bending area between the first area and the second area and at which the display panel is bendable, providing a functional layer and a release film which is on the functional layer, on the first area, providing a protective layer on the bending area, forming a groove in one surface of the protective layer, which does not face the display panel, and removing the release film, where the groove is adjacent to the first area. In an embodiment of the invention, an electronic device includes a display device including a transmission area through which an optical signal passes, a control module which controls an operation of the display device, an electro-optical module which faces the display device, overlaps the transmission area, and receives the optical signal through the transmission area, and a first case and a second case which together accommodates the display device and the electro-optical module and with which the display device is foldable. The display device includes a display panel including a first area including a pixel and at which the display panel is foldable, a second area on which a driver connected to the pixel is disposed, and a bending area between the first area and the second area and at which the display panel is bendable, a functional layer on the first area, and a protective layer on the bending area, a groove is defined in one surface of the protective layer, which does not face the display panel, and the groove is adjacent to the first area. a display device in which a transmission area through which an optical signal passes, is defined, a control module configured to control an operation of the display device, an electro-optical module under the display device, configured to overlap the first transmission area, and configured to receive the optical signal, and first and second cases configured to accommodate the display device and the electro-optical module and with which the display device is foldable. The display device includes a display panel including a first area provided with a plurality of pixels and is foldable with respect to a folding axis, a second area on which a driver connected to the pixels is disposed, and a bending area bet