US-20260130066-A1 - DISPLAY DEVICE

Abstract

A display device includes an active area having a plurality of sub pixels, a first non-active area adjacent to the active area, a bending area extending from the first non-active area, and a second non-active area extending from the bending area. A first substrate is disposed in the active area and the first non-active area, and a second substrate is disposed in the second non-active area and spaced apart from the first substrate. A plurality of insulating layers is disposed on the first substrate and the second substrate and extends to the bending area. At least a portion of the insulating layers includes a plurality of first holes disposed along a bending direction in the bending area. The holes reduce stress concentration and suppress crack formation and propagation during bending, thereby enhancing the reliability of the display device.

Inventors

• Sinchul KANG
• GyuHo LEE
• Miyeon Seo
• Sungjin Park

Assignees

• LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250930

Priority Date

20241104

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A display device which includes an active area in which a plurality of sub pixels is disposed, a first non-active area which encloses the active area, a bending area which extends from the first non-active area, and a second non-active area which extends from the bending area, the display device comprising: a first substrate disposed in the active area and the first non-active area; a second substrate which is disposed in the second non-active area and is spaced apart from the first substrate; and a plurality of insulating layers which is disposed on the first substrate and the second substrate and extends to the bending area, wherein at least a part of the plurality of insulating layers includes a plurality of first holes disposed along a bending direction in the bending area.
2. 2 . The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a micro coating layer which is disposed above and below the plurality of insulating layers in the bending area.
3. 3 . The display device according to claim 2 , wherein the micro coating layer further comprises a portion which is disposed so as to be filled in the plurality of first holes.
4. 4 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are glass substrates.
5. 5 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein a planar shape of the plurality of first holes is a square or a rectangle.
6. 6 . The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a link line which is disposed in a center portion of the bending area and supplies a signal to the plurality of sub pixels, wherein the plurality of first holes is disposed in both sides of the center portion in which the link line is disposed in the bending area.
7. 7 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first holes is disposed to be spaced apart in a direction intersecting the bending direction to be parallel.
8. 8 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein both ends of each of the plurality of first holes are located in a boundary of the bending area.
9. 9 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first holes has the same length and is disposed to be staggered from each other.
10. 10 . The display device according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first holes is disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the bending direction.
11. 11 . The display device according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first holes has different lengths and is disposed to be staggered from each other.
12. 12 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulating layers further includes a plurality of second holes disposed along the bending direction in the first non-active area and the second non-active area adjacent to the bending area.
13. 13 . The display device according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of insulating layers includes: a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer; and a bank layer disposed on the second insulating layer, and the plurality of second holes is disposed in the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer, and the bank layer.
14. 14 . The display device according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of first holes is disposed in the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer, and the bank layer.
15. 15 . The display device according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of first holes is disposed in the second insulating layer and the bank layer.
16. 16 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first substrate and the second substrate has a side surface adjacent to the bending area which is inclined or concave.
17. 17 . A display device, comprising: a plurality of insulating layers which includes an active area in which a plurality of sub pixels is disposed, a first non-active area which encloses the active area, a bending area which extends from the first non-active area, and a second non-active area which extends from the bending area; a first substrate disposed below the plurality of insulating layers in the active area and the first non-active area; a second substrate which is disposed below the plurality of insulating layers in the second non-active area and is spaced apart from the first substrate; a plurality of first holes which is disposed in at least a part of the plurality of insulating layers along a bending direction in the bending area; and a micro coating layer comprising a portion which is disposed above and below the plurality of insulating layers in the bending area and comprising another portion which is filled in the plurality of first holes.
18. 18 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of first holes has a planar shape that is square or rectangular, is spaced apart from one another in a direction intersecting the bending direction so as to be parallel, and is disposed in a staggered pattern.
19. 19 . The display device according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of insulating layers further includes a plurality of second holes disposed along the bending direction in the first non-active area and the second non-active area adjacent to the bending area.
20. 20 . The display device according to claim 19 , wherein the plurality of insulating layers includes: a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer; and a bank layer disposed on the second insulating layer, and the plurality of first holes is disposed in the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer, and the bank layer and the plurality of second holes is disposed in the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer, and the bank layer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0154272 filed on Nov. 4, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device which suppresses propagation of cracks when it is bent. Description of the Related Art Generally, display devices are widely used as display screens for various electronic devices, such as mobile communication terminals, electronic notebooks, electronic books, portable multimedia players (PMPs), ultra mobile PCs (UMPC), mobile phones, smart phones, tablet PCs (Personal Computers), electronic pads, wearable devices, watch phones, portable information devices, navigation, vehicle control display devices, televisions, notebooks, and monitors. Recently, display devices which implement a maximum screen by reducing a bezel area in which images are not displayed with the same size of display panel are being studied and developed. BRIEF SUMMARY The disclosed display device introduces a structure for suppressing cracks in flexible panels by strategically integrating a plurality of quadrangular holes in the insulating layers along the bending area. These holes, arranged either continuously or in staggered patterns, relieve stress concentration during bending and prevent the initiation and propagation of cracks. Some embodiments include holes only within the bending region, while others extend the holes into adjacent non-active areas, including regions containing conductive lines and pad units, to protect areas essential for electrical connectivity and mechanical integrity. The design further incorporates a micro coating layer that fills the holes and is placed above and below the insulating layers. By shifting the neutral plane upward, this layer reduces tensile stress on brittle components, including the conductive lines, thereby lowering the risk of fractures when the panel is bent. The use of ductile conductive materials and optimized substrate geometries, such as inclined sidewalls near the bending regions, further enhances flexibility while preserving durability. Several embodiments are presented with different hole arrangements, material configurations, and layer compositions to accommodate various manufacturing processes and mechanical requirements. This approach provides flexibility in design while improving bending reliability and extending the operational life of the display device. Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device which reduces a stress generated in a bending area and improves reliability. Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device which suppresses generation and propagation of a crack while being bent. Technical benefits of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned benefits, and other benefits, which are not mentioned above, can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following descriptions. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a display device includes an active area in which a plurality of sub pixels is disposed, a first non-active area which encloses the active area, a bending area which extends from the first non-active area, and a second non-active area which extends from the bending area, the display device includes a first substrate disposed in the active area and the first non-active area, a second substrate which is disposed in the second non-active area and is spaced apart from the first substrate and a plurality of insulating layers which is disposed on the first substrate and the second substrate and extends to the bending area, wherein at least a part of the plurality of insulating layers includes a plurality of first holes disposed along a bending direction in the bending area. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a display device a plurality of insulating layers which includes an active area in which a plurality of sub pixels is disposed, a first non-active area which encloses the active area, a bending area which extends from the first non-active area, and a second non-active area which extends from the bending area, a first substrate disposed below the plurality of insulating layers in the active area and the first non-active area, a second substrate which is disposed below the plurality of insulating layers in the second non-active area and is spaced apart from the first substrate, a plurality of first holes which is disposed in at least a part of the plurality of insulating layers along a bending direction in the bending area and a micro coating layer which is disposed above and below the plurality of insulating layers in the bending area and is filled in the plurality of first holes. Other detailed matters of the exemplary embodiments are included in the detailed description and the