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US-12628542-B2 - Display device

US12628542B2US 12628542 B2US12628542 B2US 12628542B2US-12628542-B2

Abstract

A display device according to an embodiment includes a substrate including a display area and a non-display area. The substrate has a bend in the non-display area. Moisture-sensitive components such as a data driver and a pad unit are also in the non-display area. A dummy pattern unit is between the bend and the moisture-sensitive components, and an inspection circuit unit positioned is between the dummy pattern unit and the moisture-sensitive components. The dummy pattern unit and the inspection circuit may reduce a flow of moisture from the bend to the moisture sensitive components.

Inventors

  • Jaewon Choi
  • BYOUNGKYU PARK

Assignees

  • SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20231114
Priority Date
20230413

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A display device, comprising: a substrate including a display area and a non-display area, the substrate including a bend in the non-display area; one or more moisture-sensitive components in the non-display area; a dummy pattern unit in the non-display area, the dummy pattern unit being between the bend and the moisture-sensitive components; and an inspection circuit unit positioned between the dummy pattern unit and the moisture-sensitive components.
  2. 2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein: in the display area, the display device further comprises a semiconductor layer positioned on the substrate, a first conductive layer including a gate electrode overlapping the semiconductor layer, a second conductive layer including a drain electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, and a third conductive layer including a connection electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode.
  3. 3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein: the dummy pattern unit includes a first dummy pattern positioned on the same layer as the second conductive layer.
  4. 4 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein: the dummy pattern unit includes a second dummy pattern positioned on the same layer as the third conductive layer.
  5. 5 . The display device of claim 4 , wherein: edges of the first dummy pattern and the second dummy pattern are aligned.
  6. 6 . The display device of claim 4 , wherein: section of the first dummy pattern and section of the second dummy pattern are alternately disposed in a plan view.
  7. 7 . The display device of claim 2 , further comprising: a first insulating layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; a second insulating layer between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer; and a third insulating layer on the third conductive layer.
  8. 8 . The display device of claim 7 , wherein: the second insulating layer is recessed between sections of the first dummy pattern.
  9. 9 . The display device of claim 7 , wherein: the third insulating layer is recessed between sections of the first dummy patterns.
  10. 10 . The display device of claim 7 , wherein: the third insulating layer is recessed between sections of the second dummy pattern.
  11. 11 . The display device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer comprises: a first portion overlapping the dummy pattern unit and having a first thickness; and a second portion spaced apart from the dummy pattern unit and having a second thickness, the first thickness being smaller than the second thickness.
  12. 12 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein: the inspection circuit unit includes a first inspection circuit unit including a static electricity discharge part.
  13. 13 . The display device of claim 12 , wherein: the first inspection circuit unit includes a first static electricity discharge line and a second static electricity discharge line, and different voltages are applied to the first static electricity discharge line and the second static electricity discharge line.
  14. 14 . The display device of claim 13 , wherein: the first static electricity discharge line and the second static electricity discharge line are positioned on the same layer as the second conductive layer.
  15. 15 . The display device of claim 12 , wherein: the inspection circuit unit further comprises: a second inspection circuit unit including a plurality of lighting lines; and a third inspection circuit including a plurality of crack detection lines.
  16. 16 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein: the first inspection circuit unit, the second inspection circuit unit, and the third inspection circuit unit are positioned away from the display area in order.
  17. 17 . The display device of claim 15 , wherein: the plurality of light lines and the plurality of crack detection lines are positioned on the same layer as the second conductive layer.
  18. 18 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein: an organic insulating layer is positioned at an outermost portion of the bend in the substrate.
  19. 19 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein: no voltage is applied to the dummy pattern unit.
  20. 20 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein: the display area comprises a scan line extending in a first direction and a data line extending in a second direction; and the first dummy pattern and the second dummy pattern extend along the first direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0048768 filed at the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 13, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND (a) Field of the Invention Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device having improved reliability. (b) Description of the Related Art A display device is a device that is capable of displaying images. A display device typically includes a screen such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode display (OLED), or the like. Such display devices are commonly used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, navigation devices, digital cameras, electronic books, portable game consoles, and terminals. SUMMARY Embodiments disclosed herein may provide a display device that prevents moisture from flowing through a dummy pattern into a data driver, a pad unit, or a test circuit unit of the display device. A display device according to an embodiment may include a substrate having a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area may include a bend. The non-display area may also include one or more moisture-sensitive components such as a data driver, a pad portion and a flexible circuit board connected to the pad portion. A dummy pattern unit may be disposed between the moisture-sensitive components and the bend, and a test or inspection circuit unit may be positioned between the dummy pattern unit and the moisture-sensitive components. In the display area, a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate, a first conductive layer including a gate electrode overlapping the semiconductor layer, a second conductive layer including a drain electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, and a third conductive layer including a connection electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode may be positioned. The dummy pattern unit may include a first dummy pattern positioned on the same layer as the second conductive layer. The dummy pattern unit may include a second dummy pattern positioned on the same layer as the third conductive layer. Edges of the first dummy pattern and the second dummy pattern may be aligned. The first dummy pattern and the second dummy pattern may be alternately disposed. The display device may further include a first insulating layer positioned between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, a second insulating layer positioned between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer, and a third insulating layer positioned on the third conductive layer. The second insulating layer may be recessed between sections of the first dummy pattern. The third insulating layer may be recessed between sections of the first dummy pattern. The third insulating layer may be recessed between sections of the second dummy pattern. At least one of the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer includes a first portion overlapping the first and/or second dummy pattern and having a first thickness, and a second portion spaced apart from the first or second dummy pattern and having a second thickness. And the first thickness may be smaller than the second thickness. The inspection circuit unit may include a first inspection circuit unit including a static electricity discharge unit. The first inspection circuit unit may include a first static electricity discharge line and a second static electricity discharge line, and different voltages may be applied to the first static electricity discharge line and the second static electricity discharge line. The inspection circuit unit may further include a second inspection circuit unit including a plurality of lighting lines and a third inspection circuit unit including a plurality of crack detection lines. The first inspection circuit unit, the second inspection circuit unit, and the third inspection circuit unit may be positioned away from the display area in that order. The first static electricity discharge line and the second static electricity discharge line may be positioned on the same layer as the second conductive layer. The plurality of lighting lines and the plurality of crack detection lines may be positioned on the same layer as the second conductive layer. In a portion where the substrate is bent, an organic insulating layer may be positioned at an outermost portion. A separate voltage may not be applied to the dummy pattern unit. A scan line extending in a first direction and a data line extending in a second direction may be positioned in the display area, and sections of the first dummy pattern and the second dummy pattern may extend along the first direction. According to the embodiments, since moisture is prevented from flowing into moisture-sensitive components such as the data driver, the pad unit, or the inspection ci