US-20260130097-A1 - DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING A COVER WINDOW WITH A FUNCTIONAL LAYER AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

Abstract

A display device includes at least one folding area. The display device includes a display panel and a cover window disposed on the display panel The cover window includes a base film and a functional layer disposed on the base film and has an anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the functional layer.

Inventors

• HeeYoung Lee
• Sungguk AN
• Soyeon HAN
• JISUN KO
• Jungwook Kim
• Jimi Eom
• jooho Yun
• Seungri Lee

Assignees

• SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250317

Priority Date

20241105

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A display device including at least one folding area, the display device comprising: a display panel configured to display an image; and a cover window disposed on the display panel, wherein the cover window comprises a base film and a functional layer disposed on the base film and having a thickness within a range of about 2 micrometers to about 21 micrometers, inclusive, and wherein the functional layer comprises: a hard coating layer disposed on the base film and including a hard coating agent; a refractive layer disposed on the hard coating layer; and an anti-fingerprint material, wherein at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the refractive layer.
2. 2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the refractive layer comprises at least one low refractive layer including a low refractive material, wherein the at least one low refractive layer includes the anti-fingerprint material and at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer.
3. 3 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the refractive layer comprises at least one high refractive layer including a high refractive material, and at least one low refractive layer disposed on the at least one high refractive layer and including a low refractive material, wherein the at least one low refractive layer has the anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon and at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer.
4. 4 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the anti-fingerprint material comprises at least one fluorine-based material of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), perfluoropolyether (PFPE), and fluorinated silane, or at least one silicon-based material of silica nanoparticles (SiO 2 ), hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and phenylmethylsilicone.
5. 5 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein a density of the anti-fingerprint material is higher in a portion of the refractive layer that is farther from the base film than in a portion of the refractive layer closer to the base film.
6. 6 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the refractive layer has a surface contact angle within a range of about 100 degrees to about 120 degrees, inclusive.
7. 7 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between the display panel and the cover window, wherein the adhesive layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) that is a semi-fluidic material.
8. 8 . The display device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the base film, the hard coating layer and the adhesive layer further includes an ultraviolet blocking material, and wherein the ultraviolet blocking material is configured to transmit 10% or less ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 380 nm or less.
9. 9 . The display device of claim 8 , wherein the ultraviolet blocking material is uniformly distributed within at least one of the base film, the hard coating layer, and the adhesive layer.
10. 10 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the hard coating agent comprises at least one material of siloxane resin, epoxy resin, and acryl-based resin, and wherein a thickness of the hard coating layer is in a range of about 1 micrometer to about 20 micrometers, inclusive.
11. 11 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein the low refractive material comprises at least one material of an amino-based low refractive material, a silane-based low refractive material, and an acrylate-based low refractive material, and wherein a thickness of the at least one low refractive layer is in a range of about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, inclusive.
12. 12 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein the high refractive material comprises at least one high refractive inorganic material of titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, silicon carbide, zinc sulfide, and titanium carbide, or comprises at least one high refractive organic material from among polyimide and polythiophene, and wherein a thickness of the at least one high refractive layer is in a range of about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, inclusive.
13. 13 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display panel comprises: a substrate divided into a display area and a peripheral area; an organic light-emitting diode disposed in the display area of the substrate; and an encapsulation layer sealing the organic light-emitting diode, wherein the display device further comprises, between the display panel and the cover window: a touch layer disposed on the encapsulation layer; and a color filter layer disposed on the touch layer.
14. 14 . A display device including at least one folding area, the display device comprising: a display panel configured to display an image; and a cover window disposed on the display panel, wherein the cover window includes a base film and a functional layer, wherein the functional layer comprises: a hard coating layer disposed on the base film and including a hard coating agent; a primer layer disposed on the hard coating layer and including a primer material; and an anti-fingerprint layer disposed on the primer layer and including an anti-fingerprint material, wherein a thickness of the primer layer is in a range of about 5 nanometers to about 30 nanometers, inclusive, and wherein the primer material includes at least one material of a silane-based material, an acrylate-based material, and an epoxy-based material.
15. 15 . The display device of claim 14 , further comprising, between the hard coating layer and the primer layer, a low refractive layer including a low refractive material and having a thickness in a range of about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, inclusive.
16. 16 . The display device of claim 15 , further comprising, between the hard coating layer and the low refractive layer, a high refractive layer including a high refractive material and having a thickness in a range of about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, inclusive.
17. 17 . The display device of claim 14 , wherein a thickness of the anti-fingerprint layer is in a range of about 5 nanometers to about 30 nanometers, inclusive, and wherein the anti-fingerprint material includes at least one material of a fluorine-based material and a silicon-based material.
18. 18 . An electronic device, comprising: a controller configured to generate a scan input signal; a power module configured to generate a scan input voltage; a display panel including a substrate divided into a display area in which a pixel circuit is arranged and a peripheral area surrounding the display area, a scan driver arranged in the peripheral area, the scan driver configured to receive the scan input signal and the scan input voltage, and output a scan signal to the pixel circuit, and an encapsulation layer sealing at least the display area; a touch layer disposed on the encapsulation layer; a color filter layer disposed on the touch layer; and a cover window disposed on the color filter layer, wherein the cover window comprises: a base film; and a functional layer disposed on the base film, having a thickness in a range of about 2 micrometers to about 21 micrometers, inclusive, and having an anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon, wherein at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the functional layer, wherein the anti-fingerprint material includes at least one material of a fluorine-based material and a silicon-based material.
19. 19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the functional layer comprises a hard coating layer disposed on the base film, including a hard coating agent, and having a thickness in a range of about 1 micrometer to about 20 micrometers, inclusive, and wherein the hard coating layer has the anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon and at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the hard coating layer.
20. 20 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the functional layer comprises: a hard coating layer disposed on the base film, including a hard coating agent, and having a thickness in a range of about 1 micrometer to about 20 micrometers, inclusive; and at least one low refractive layer disposed on the hard coating layer, having a thickness that is less than that of the hard coating layer, and including a low refractive material, wherein the at least one low refractive layer has the anti-fingerprint material disposed therein and at least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0154832, filed on Nov. 5, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a display device and, more specifically, to a display device including a cover window having a functional layer and an electronic device including the display device. DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART Electronic devices often incorporate display panels so as to produce an image for a user. Traditionally, display panels have been flat and rigid. However, modern display panels may be capable of being bent into a desired curvature or may be designed for repeated folding to a noticeable degree without cracking or otherwise sustaining damage. Such display panel are often referred to as foldable display panels. While traditional display panels may utilize highly transparent windows, such as those made of a thick glass, so as to create a high quality visual appearance and to provide superior scratch resistance, foldable display panels might not be able to make use of thick glass windows and may therefore suffer from reduced clarity and/or scratch resistance. SUMMARY A display device includes at least one folding area, includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a cover window disposed on the display panel. The cover window includes a base film and a functional layer disposed on the base film and having a thickness in a range of about 2 micrometers to about 21 micrometers, inclusive. The functional layer includes a hard coating layer disposed on the base film and including a hard coating agent, and a refractive layer disposed the hard coating layer and has an anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material floats on an outermost surface of the refractive layer. The refractive layer may include at least one low refractive layer including a low refractive material. The at least one low refractive layer may include the low refractive material and may have the anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material may float on an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer. The refractive layer may include at least one high refractive layer including a high refractive material, and at least one low refractive layer disposed on the at least one high refractive layer and including a low refractive material. The at least one low refractive layer may include the low refractive material and may have the anti-fingerprint material disposed thereon. At least a portion of the anti-fingerprint material may float on an outermost surface of the at least one low refractive layer. The anti-fingerprint material may include at least one material of a water-repellent material, an oil-repellent material, a fluorine-based material, and a silicon-based material. The anti-fingerprint material may include at least one fluorine-based material of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), perfluoropolyether (PFPE), and fluorinated silane, or at least one silicon-based material of silica nanoparticles (SiO2), hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and phenylmethylsilicone. A density of the anti-fingerprint material may be higher in a portion of the refractive layer farther from the base film than in a portion of the refractive layer closer to the base film. The refractive layer may have a surface contact angle of about 100 degrees to about 120 degrees, inclusive. The display device may further include an adhesive layer disposed between the display panel and the cover window. The adhesive layer may include a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) that is a semi-fluidic material. At least one of the base film, the hard coating layer and the adhesive layer may further include an ultraviolet blocking material. The ultraviolet blocking material may transmit 10% or less ultraviolet light that has a wavelength of 380 nm or less. The ultraviolet blocking material may be uniformly distributed within at least one of the base film, the hard coating layer, and the adhesive layer. The hard coating agent may include at least one material of siloxane resin, epoxy resin, and acryl-based resin, and a thickness of the hard coating layer may be in a range of about 1 micrometer to about 20 micrometers, inclusive. The low refractive material may include at least one material of an amino-based low refractive material, a silane-based low refractive material, and an acrylate-based low refractive material, and a thickness of the at least one low refractive layer may be in a range of about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, inclusive. The high refractive material may include at least one high refractive inorganic material of titanium dioxide, zi