Foldable display device

Abstract

A foldable display apparatus includes a display panel having light emitting elements disposed thereon, a cover window disposed on top of the display panel, a bottom plate disposed below the display panel, a bellows for supporting at least a portion of the bottom plate, a first support coupled with one end of the bellows, and an edge coupled with the other end of the bellows.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to display devices, and more specifically, to foldable display devices capable of changing the size and shape of the screen. Background Technology

[0002] As we enter the information age, display devices that visually express electrical information signals have developed rapidly. In response, various display devices with excellent performance, thinness, light weight, and low power consumption have been developed.

[0003] Display devices include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light-emitting diode displays (OLEDs), quantum dot displays (QDs), etc.

[0004] Recently, with the increasing demand for large screens in portable electronic devices, devices that achieve large-screen displays by connecting flat panel display panels are being developed and commercialized. Specifically, foldable display devices, which utilize the advantages of flexible display panels that can be bent or folded, are attracting attention as the next-generation technology in the display field because they offer the advantages of large-screen display while maintaining portability. Such foldable display devices can be applied to various fields such as televisions and monitors, as well as portable electronic devices such as mobile communication terminals, electronic notebooks, e-books, portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigation systems, ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs), mobile phones, smartphones, and tablet PCs (PCs).

[0005] Recently, technology has been developed to form organic light-emitting display devices on plastic substrates, enabling foldable or flexible display devices with organic light-emitting layers integrated on them. From now on, foldable or flexible display devices will be collectively referred to as display devices.

[0006] In such display devices, there gradually emerged a need to change the size of the display screen in response to the user's needs, and research continued on display devices that could respond to so-called mobile environments and indoor desktop environments. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Leveraging the bendable or foldable nature of display devices, a method is proposed as follows: In mobile environments, the display panel is rolled into a foldable display device, reducing the screen size to maximize the user's grip comfort; and in indoor desktop environments where grip comfort is not required, the rolled-up display panel is unfolded to improve screen visibility. The proposal aims to achieve a display device with free sliding capabilities, allowing for easy expansion or contraction of the so-called display screen area.

[0008] In implementing the above-described display device, this disclosure should be able to repeat the operation of rolling up and folding the display panel by means of a sliding mechanism.

[0009] In addition, the sliding operation of the display panel of the foldable display device can be a free-stop scheme, in which the display panel slides to the degree desired by the user and then fixes its state.

[0010] When a display device performs a sliding operation to enlarge or shrink the display screen, the area of ​​the display panel that changes by sliding can increase and decrease equally on the left and right sides about the sliding axis, rather than increasing and decreasing unevenly on the left and right sides.

[0011] The focus of this disclosure is on designing a sliding section that allows for the formation of a foldable display device (which is a trend in display device development) that is robust, durable, and provides a uniform display, while simultaneously enabling the screen size to be increased or decreased.

[0012] The purpose of this disclosure is not limited to the objectives described above. Other unmentioned objectives and advantages of this disclosure may be understood based on the following description and may become clearer based on embodiments of this disclosure. Furthermore, it will be readily understood that the objectives and advantages of this disclosure can be achieved using the means set forth in the claims and combinations thereof.

[0013] A foldable display device according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include: a display panel having light-emitting elements disposed thereon; a cover window disposed on top of the display panel; a base plate disposed below the display panel; bellows for supporting at least a portion of the base plate; a first support member connected to one end of the bellows; and an edge connected to the other end of the bellows.

[0014] A foldable display device according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include a base plate, a display panel, and a cover window arranged sequentially, and may include: a corrugated tube for supporting at least a portion of the base plate; a first support member for supporting another portion of the base plate; and an edge disposed at one end of the base plate.

[0015] Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0016] The foldable display device according to embodiments of this disclosure can expand or shrink the area of ​​the display screen. The increase / decrease on the left and right sides of the screen can be constant, such that the external shape of the expanded or shrunk display screen forms a right angle of a square or rectangle.

[0017] The screen swipe function, used to expand and shrink the display area, can be achieved using the user's hand without the need for a separate power source.

[0018] The screen swipe, used to expand or shrink the display area, allows for expansion or shrinking to the user's desired level, and the inclusion of a free pause function provides flexibility in selecting the screen size.

[0019] The foldable display device according to embodiments of this disclosure may have additional space below the sliding area for setting the main components required to drive the display device.

[0020] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art through the following description.

[0021] The purpose, technical solution, and effects of this disclosure as described above are not intended to specify the essential features of the claims. Therefore, the scope of the claims is not limited by the purpose, technical solution, and effects of the disclosure as described above. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the front of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a conceptual diagram showing the layers constituting a display panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 3 By magnification Figure 1 The area A in the image is magnified to show a plan view of the display area.

[0025] Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the sub-pixel intercepted by line II′ in the image.

[0026] Figure 5A By magnification Figure 1 The cross-section of region B shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding portion.

[0027] Figure 5B This is a cross-sectional view of the sliding portion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when the display area is expanded.

[0028] Figure 6 It is based on Figure 5A An enlarged cross-sectional view of the sliding portion in the embodiment.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the support member and bellows, omitting the display panel and other components, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, to aid in understanding the structure.

[0030] Figure 8 It is based on the embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 7 A plan view of the structure from the top.

[0031] Figure 9A and Figure 9B This is a perspective view showing a display device in a reduced state when the display area is slid to the side opposite to the support member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 10A and Figure 10B This is a perspective view showing a display device in an expanded state when the display area is slid to the front according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The advantages and features of this disclosure, and how they can be implemented, will become clearer with reference to the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are intended only to complete this disclosure and are designed to fully reveal the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. The scope of this disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims.

[0034] The shapes, dimensions, scales, angles, quantities, etc., disclosed in the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure are exemplary, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The same reference numerals refer to the same elements herein. Furthermore, in describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of relevant known elements are omitted where such descriptions would unnecessarily obscure the gist of the disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intended to include the plural forms as well. It will be further understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “representing” as used in this specification specify the presence of the mentioned features, integers, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, elements, components, and / or portions thereof.

[0035] When interpreting numerical values, unless there is a separate, explicit description, the value is interpreted to include a range of error.

[0036] It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "connected to" or "attached to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or attached to the other element or layer, or one or more intermediate elements or layers may exist. Furthermore, it will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "between" two elements or layers, it can be the only element or layer between the two elements or layers, or one or more intermediary elements or layers may exist. Additionally, it will be understood that when a first element or layer is referred to as being "above" or "below" a second element or layer, the first element can be directly disposed on or below the second element, or it can be indirectly disposed on or below the second element and a third element or layer is disposed between the first element or layer and the second element or layer.

[0037] Furthermore, as used herein, when a layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., is disposed "above" or "on top" of another layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., the former can directly contact the latter, or another layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., can be disposed between the former and the latter. As used herein, when a layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., is directly disposed "above" or "on top" of another layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., the former directly contacts the latter, and no other layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., is disposed between the former and the latter. Furthermore, as used herein, when a layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., is disposed "below" or "below" another layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., the former can directly contact the latter, or another layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., can be disposed between the former and the latter. As used herein, when a layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., is directly disposed "below" or "below" another layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., the former directly contacts the latter, and no other layer, membrane, region, plate, etc., is disposed between the former and the latter.

[0038] In descriptions of temporal relationships (e.g., the chronological order between two events such as “after,” “following,” “before,” etc.), unless it is specified that “directly after,” “directly following,” or “directly before,” another event may occur in between.

[0039] It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, or section. Therefore, without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, the first element, component, region, layer, or section described below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or section.

[0040] The features of the various embodiments of this disclosure can be combined with each other in part or in whole, and can be technically related to or operable on each other. These embodiments can be implemented independently of each other, or they can be implemented together in an associated relationship.

[0041] In descriptions of temporal relationships (e.g., the chronological order between two events such as "after," "following," "before," etc.), unless it is specified that "directly after," "directly following," or "directly before," another event may occur in between. Features of the various embodiments of this disclosure may be combined partially or entirely with each other and may be technically associated with or operable on each other. These embodiments may be implemented independently of each other and may be implemented together in an associated relationship. For ease of explanation in describing the relationship between one element or feature and another element or feature as shown in the figures, spatial relative terms such as "below," "under," "low," "below," "above," "high," etc., may be used herein. It will be understood that, in addition to the orientations depicted in the figures, spatial relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, when the device in the figures can be flipped, an element described as "below," "under," or "below" other elements or features will be oriented as "above" other elements or features. Thus, the example terms "below" and "below" may cover both the upper and lower orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways, such as by rotating 90 degrees or in other orientations, and the spatial relative descriptions used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the inventive conception pertains. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries shall be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0043] In this disclosure, "display device" can include display devices in the narrow sense, such as liquid crystal modules (LCMs), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) modules, and quantum dot modules, which include display panels and drivers for driving the display panels. Furthermore, "display device" can also include assemblies of electronic equipment or complete sets of equipment, such as laptop computers, televisions, and computer monitors; equipped displays, including in-vehicle displays or other types of displays for vehicles; mobile electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets; which are complete products (or final products) including LCMs, OLED modules, QD modules, etc.

[0044] Therefore, the display device disclosed herein may include not only the display device itself in the narrow sense, such as LCM, OLED module, QD module, etc., but also complete sets of equipment, which are application products or end-user equipment including LCM, OLED module, QD module, etc.

[0045] Furthermore, in some cases, LCM, OLED modules, and QD modules, which consist of display panels, drivers, etc., can be described as "display devices" in the narrow sense, while electronic devices that are complete products including LCM, OLED, and QD modules can be described as "equipment sets." For example, a display device in the narrow sense can include liquid crystal (LCD), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or quantum dot display panels, as well as a source PCB that serves as a controller for driving the display panels. Furthermore, an equipment set can further include the concept of an equipment set PCB, which is a complete controller electrically connected to the source PCB and controlling the entire equipment set.

[0046] The display panel used in this embodiment can be any type of display panel, such as a liquid crystal display panel, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, a quantum dot (QD) display panel, an electroluminescent display, etc., and is not limited to a specific display panel capable of bendable bezels using the flexible substrate and backplane support structure of the OLED display panel of this embodiment. Furthermore, the display panel used in the display device according to the embodiments of this disclosure is not limited in shape or size.

[0047] More specifically, when the display panel is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, the display panel may include multiple gate lines and data lines, and pixels formed in the intersection areas of the gate lines and data lines. Furthermore, the display panel may include an array comprising thin-film transistors as elements for selectively applying voltage to each pixel, an organic light-emitting element (OLED) layer on the array, and an encapsulation substrate or encapsulation layer disposed on the array to cover the OLED layer. The encapsulation layer can protect the thin-film transistors, OLED layer, etc., from external impacts and can prevent moisture or oxygen from penetrating into the OLED layer. Additionally, the layers formed on the array may include inorganic light-emitting layers, such as nanoscale material layers or quantum dots.

[0048] In this disclosure, Figure 1 A foldable display device 10 applying an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the device folds inward and slides to expand the display area.

[0049] Reference Figure 1 Since the display device must be foldable or slidable, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel 100 can be used as the display panel 100.

[0050] Figure 1An exemplary organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel 100 that can be integrated into a display device is illustrated. As a self-emissive display element that does not require a separate light source, the OLED display panel 100 can be manufactured to be thinner, and recently it has been made extremely thin by manufacturing a glass substrate used as a substrate for the display element, or by actively utilizing a plastic substrate actively used in foldable or rollable display devices.

[0051] Reference Figure 1 As can be seen, when the display device 10 is folded around the hinge at a certain angle, the display area expands to become larger in the upper part of the hinge, and the display area shrinks to become smaller in the lower part of the hinge.

[0052] Figure 2 This is a conceptual diagram showing the components of a display device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in an exploded view.

[0053] Reference Figure 2 The base plate 210, top plate 220, back plate 230, display panel 100, polarizing film 240 and cover window 250 are arranged sequentially on the back of the display device 10.

[0054] First, the base plate 210 and the top plate 220 can be made of a lightweight and transparent material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0055] The base plate 210 can be positioned on the lowest layer and support the display panel 100 while in direct contact with the module of the display device 10. Perforations (not shown) can be defined in the base plate 210 in the area near the hinge to facilitate folding operations. Because polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a rigid material that is elastic at a certain thickness, defining the perforations can be a method to maintain constant folding performance. Hereinafter, polyethylene terephthalate will be referred to as PET.

[0056] The top plate 220 can be placed with a small thickness to cover the perforations in the bottom plate 210. Since steps may appear in the display panel 100 located above the bottom plate 210 due to the perforations in the bottom plate 210, the top plate 220 can be placed to eliminate such steps in the perforations.

[0057] The backplate 230 can be disposed on top of the top plate 220 and can be provided in a state of being attached to the display panel 100, rather than being disposed on top of the top plate 220 by a separate process. Microprocessing at the micrometer (μm) unit is used for the manufacturing process of the display panel 100. As mentioned above, the plastic substrate (e.g., a polyimide (PI)-based substrate) used for the display panel 100 is flexible and not suitable for microprocessing. Therefore, the display panel can be supported by attaching a more rigid polyethylene terephthalate to the bottom of the PI-based substrate.

[0058] Light-emitting elements and driving circuits for driving the light-emitting elements can be mounted on the display panel 100. Details will be provided later.

[0059] The polarizing film 240 can be disposed on the top of the display panel 100. The polarizing film 240 can be configured to solve the problem of light-emitting element failure caused by the inflow of external light or the reduction in visibility caused by the reflection of external light.

[0060] A cover window 250 can be disposed on top of the polarizing film 240 to protect the display device 10 from external impacts. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the cover window 250 can have a level of flexibility capable of being folded and rolled up via sliding. Typically, a large amount of glass material can be used for the cover window 250. Recently, ongoing development of the cover window 250 has been undertaken to make the cover window 250 extremely thin and to use flexible glass materials suitable for foldable display devices.

[0061] Figure 3 Is as Figure 1 An enlarged view of region A, a portion of the display area DA of the display panel 100, is shown, and the planar shape of the sub-pixels arranged in the display area DA is also shown.

[0062] exist Figure 3 In the display panel 100, multiple anode electrodes 151 can be arranged in the display area DA, and a dam 154 can be filled in the area between the anode electrodes 151. The dam 154 can be configured to cover the edges of the anode electrodes 151, and can only allow the middle area of ​​the anode electrodes 151 to contact the organic light-emitting layer stack, thereby defining the light-emitting area of ​​the sub-pixel. Spacers 155 can be disposed in a portion of the area where the dam 154 is disposed. The spacers 155 can be configured to have a constant density throughout the display panel 100. The spacers 155 can be used to support the mask, such that during the deposition process for forming the organic light-emitting layer stack, the deposition mask covering or opening the organic layer of each sub-pixel does not directly contact the display panel 100. Figure 3 An example of a pentile planar structure with subpixels arranged in a dotted pattern is given, but this disclosure is not limited thereto and a real planar structure can also be applied.

[0063] Figure 4 The cross-sectional structure of the sub-pixel is shown along line II′ in 3.

[0064] Reference Figure 4The system may include a substrate 101, multiple buffer layers 102, and a lower buffer layer 103, and a first transistor 120 may be disposed on top of the lower buffer layer 103. A first semiconductor layer 123 constituting the first transistor 120 and a lower gate insulating film 104 for insulating from the first gate electrode 122 may be disposed on top of the first semiconductor layer 123. A first lower interlayer insulating film 105 and a second lower interlayer insulating film 106 may be sequentially disposed on top of the first gate electrode 122, and an upper buffer layer 107 may be disposed thereon.

[0065] The multiple buffer layer 102 can delay the diffusion of moisture or oxygen into the substrate 101, and can be formed as silicon nitride (SiNx) and silicon oxide (SiOx) stacked at least once alternately.

[0066] The lower buffer layer 103 can protect the first semiconductor layer 123 and block various types of defects introduced from the substrate. The lower buffer layer 103 can be made of a-Si, silicon nitride (SiNx) or silicon oxide (SiOx).

[0067] The first semiconductor layer 123 of the first transistor 120 (e.g., a thin-film transistor) may be composed of a polycrystalline semiconductor layer, and the first semiconductor layer 123 may include a channel region, a source region, and a drain region.

[0068] Polycrystalline semiconductor layers have higher mobility than amorphous and oxide semiconductor layers, resulting in lower power consumption and superior reliability. With these advantages, polycrystalline semiconductor layers can be used to drive transistors.

[0069] The first gate electrode 122 can be disposed on top of the lower gate insulating film 104 and can be configured to overlap with the first semiconductor layer 123.

[0070] The second transistor 130 can be disposed on top of the upper buffer layer 107, and the light-blocking layer 136 can be disposed below the region corresponding to the second transistor 130. (Refer to...) Figure 4The light-blocking layer 136 can be disposed on the region of the first lower interlayer insulating film 105 corresponding to the second transistor 130, and the second semiconductor layer 133 of the second transistor 130 can be disposed on the second lower interlayer insulating film 106 and the upper buffer layer 107 to overlap with the light-blocking layer 136. An upper gate insulating layer 137 for insulating the second gate electrode 132 and the second semiconductor layer 133 from each other can be disposed on the second semiconductor layer 133, and then an upper interlayer insulating film 108 can be disposed on the second gate electrode 132. The first gate electrode 122 and the second gate electrode 132 can be composed of a single layer or multiple layers, which can be made of one of the following: molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), gold (Au), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), and copper (Cu), or alloys thereof, but this disclosure is not limited to these.

[0071] The first lower interlayer insulating film 105 and the second lower interlayer insulating film 106 can be formed as inorganic films with a higher hydrogen particle content than the upper interlayer insulating film 108. For example, the first lower interlayer insulating film 105 and the second lower interlayer insulating film 106 can be made of silicon nitride (SiNx) formed using a deposition process using NH3 gas, and the upper interlayer insulating film 108 can be made of silicon oxide (SiOx). The hydrogen particles contained in the first lower interlayer insulating film 105 and the second lower interlayer insulating film 106 can diffuse into the polycrystalline semiconductor layer during the hydrogenation process and fill the voids in the polycrystalline semiconductor layer. Therefore, the polycrystalline semiconductor layer can be stabilized to prevent the characteristics of the first transistor 120 from deteriorating. After the activation and hydrogenation process of the first semiconductor layer 123 of the first transistor 120, the second semiconductor layer 133 of the second transistor 130 can be formed. In this regard, the second semiconductor layer 133 can be formed of an oxide semiconductor. Because the second semiconductor layer 133 is not exposed to the high-temperature atmosphere of the activation and hydrogenation process of the first semiconductor layer 123, damage to the second semiconductor layer 133 can be prevented and reliability can be improved. After the upper interlayer insulating film 108 is formed, the first source contact hole 125S and the first drain contact hole 125D can be defined to correspond to the source region and drain region of the first transistor, respectively, and the second source contact hole 135S and the second drain contact hole 135D can be defined to correspond to the source region and drain region of the second transistor 130, respectively. (Refer to...) Figure 4The first source contact 125S and the first drain contact 125D can be continuously defined from the upper interlayer insulating film 108 to the lower gate insulating film 104, and the second source contact 135S and the second drain contact 135D can also be defined in the second transistor 130. The first source electrode 121 and the first drain electrode 124 corresponding to the first transistor 120, and the second source electrode 131 and the second drain electrode 134 corresponding to the second transistor 130 can be formed simultaneously. Therefore, the number of processes required to form the source and drain electrodes of each of the first transistor 120 and the second transistor 130 can be reduced.

[0072] The first source electrode 121 and the first drain electrode 124, as well as the second source electrode 131 and the second drain electrode 134, can be composed of a single layer or multiple layers made of one of the following: molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), gold (Au), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), and copper (Cu), or alloys thereof, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The first source electrode 121 and the first drain electrode 124, as well as the second source electrode 131 and the second drain electrode 134, can be a three-layer structure. For example, the first source electrode 121 can be composed of a first layer 121a, a second layer 121b, and a third layer 121c, and the other source electrodes and drain electrodes can have the same structure.

[0073] The storage capacitor 140 can be disposed between the first transistor 120 and the second transistor 130. For example... Figure 4 As shown, a storage capacitor 140 can be formed by overlapping a lower storage electrode 141 and a higher storage electrode 142 and inserting a first lower interlayer insulating film 105 therebetween.

[0074] The storage lower electrode 141 can be located on the lower gate insulating film 104 and can be on the same layer as the first gate electrode 122 and formed of the same material. The storage upper electrode 142 can be electrically connected to the pixel circuit via the storage supply line 143. The storage upper electrode 142 can be on the same layer as the light-blocking layer 136 and formed of the same material. Such a storage upper electrode 142 can be exposed via a storage contact hole 144 extending through the second lower interlayer insulating film 106, the upper buffer layer 107, the upper gate insulating layer 137, and the upper interlayer insulating film 108 to connect to the storage supply line 143. The storage upper electrode 142 is spaced apart from the light-blocking layer 136, as... Figure 4 As shown, however, it can be integrally formed with the light-blocking layer 136. The storage supply line 143 can be on the same plane as the first source electrode 121 and the first drain electrode 124, or the second source electrode 131 and the second drain electrode 134, and formed of the same material. For this purpose, the storage supply line 143 can be formed simultaneously with the first source electrode 121 and the first drain electrode 124, or the second source electrode 131 and the second drain electrode 134, using the same masking process.

[0075] A protective film 109 can be formed on the front side of substrate 101 where an inorganic insulating material (such as SiNx or SiOx) is deposited, on which the first source electrode 121 and the first drain electrode 124, the second source electrode 131 and the second drain electrode 134, and the storage supply line 143 are formed. A first planarization layer 110 can be formed on the substrate 101 on which the protective film 109 is formed. Specifically, the first planarization layer 110 can be formed by coating an organic insulating material, such as an acrylic resin, onto the front side of substrate 101 on which the protective film 109 is formed.

[0076] After the protective film 109 and the first planarization layer 110 are applied, a contact hole exposing the first source electrode 121 or the first drain electrode 124 of the first transistor 120 can be defined by a photolithography process. A connection electrode 145 made of a material of Mo, Ti, Cu, AlNd, Al, and Cr or alloys thereof can be disposed in the contact hole region exposing the first drain electrode 124.

[0077] The second planarization layer 111 can be disposed on the connection electrode 145, and the contact hole exposing the connection electrode 145 can be defined in the second planarization layer 111, so that the light-emitting element 150 connected to the first transistor 120 can be disposed.

[0078] The light-emitting element 150 may include an anode electrode 151 connected to a first drain electrode 124 of the first transistor 120, at least one organic light-emitting layer 152 formed on the anode electrode 151, and a cathode electrode 153 formed on the organic light-emitting layer 152.

[0079] The organic light-emitting stack 152 may include a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer, and a charge generation layer may be additionally disposed between the light-emitting layers in the cascaded structure of multiple overlapping light-emitting layers. The light-emitting layers may emit different colors of light for each sub-pixel. For example, separate light-emitting layers for red, green, and blue may be formed for each sub-pixel. However, a common light-emitting layer may be formed to emit white light without color differentiation for each pixel, and color filters for color differentiation may be provided individually. Such light-emitting layers may be classified as real RGB type or white OLED (WOLED). While the light-emitting layers may be formed individually, the injection or transport layers may be formed as a common layer and may be equally provided for each sub-pixel.

[0080] The anode electrode 151 can be connected to a connection electrode 145 exposed through a contact hole extending through the second planarization layer 111. The anode electrode 151 can be formed as a multilayer structure comprising a transparent conductive film and an opaque conductive film with high reflectivity. The transparent conductive film is made of a material with a relatively high work function value (such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO)), while the opaque conductive film is formed as a single layer or multilayer structure containing Al, Ag, Cu, Pb, Mo, Ti, or alloys thereof. For example, the anode electrode 151 can be formed as a structure in which a transparent conductive film, an opaque conductive film, and a transparent conductive film are sequentially stacked, or as a structure in which a transparent conductive film and an opaque conductive film are sequentially stacked. This anode electrode 151 is disposed on the second planarization layer 111 to overlap not only with the light-emitting area defined by the embankment 154, but also with the pixel circuit area where the first transistor 120, the second transistor 130, and the storage capacitor 140 are disposed, thereby increasing the light-emitting area.

[0081] An organic light-emitting stack 152 can be formed by stacking a hole transport layer, an organic light-emitting layer, and an electron transport layer in sequence or in reverse order on the anode electrode 151. Additionally, the organic light-emitting stack 152 may also include a charge-generating layer, and may include a first light-emitting stack and a second light-emitting stack opposite to each other, with the charge-generating layer interposed therebetween.

[0082] The dam 154 can be formed to expose the anode electrode 151. This dam 154 can be made of an organic material such as photoacrylic acid, or it can be made of a translucent material, but it can also be made of an opaque material to prevent light interference between sub-pixels, but is not limited thereto.

[0083] The cathode electrode 153 can be formed on the top surface of the organic light-emitting stack 152, opposite to the anode electrode 151, and the organic light-emitting stack 152 is inserted therebetween. When the cathode electrode 153 is applied to a top-emitting organic light-emitting display device, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or magnesium silver (Mg-Ag) can be formed in a thin layer to form a transparent conductive film.

[0084] An encapsulation layer 170 for protecting the light-emitting element 150 can be formed on the cathode electrode 153. The light-emitting element 150 can react with external moisture or oxygen, causing dark spots or pixel shrinkage due to the properties of the organic light-emitting laminate 152. The encapsulation layer 170 can be disposed on the cathode electrode 153 to prevent this phenomenon. The encapsulation layer 170 can consist of a first inorganic insulating film 171, a foreign matter compensation layer 172, and a second inorganic insulating film 173.

[0085] The touch portion can be disposed on the upper portion of the encapsulation layer 170. The touch portion may include a first touch planarization layer, a touch electrode, and a second touch planarization layer. The first touch planarization layer and the second touch planarization layer can be configured to eliminate steps at the point where the touch electrode is disposed and to provide good electrical insulation.

[0086] Figure 5A yes Figure 1 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the sliding region B in a foldable display device. (Refer to...) Figure 1 and Figure 5A This allows for the identification of a state where the display area decreases and the display panel 100 is rolled back into the display device 10. For ease of description, only the display panel 100 is shown, and other details are omitted. Figure 2 The plate, polarizing film 240, and cover window 250 are included.

[0087] Reference Figure 5A It can be seen that the display panel 100 extends inward along the angular shape of the edge 330 and has its far end located on the opposite side of the display area.

[0088] Reference Figure 5A As can be seen, the display panel 100 has a portion disposed on the first support member 310 and the remaining portion disposed on the bellows 400. The bellows 400 is commonly referred to as a spiral tube and has the property of being compressible or stretchable by external force. Generally, a bellows can have properties similar to a spring; however, in the embodiments of this disclosure, unlike a spring, a bellows that can be compressed or stretched to a specific position by external force and can maintain that state is preferred. Specifically, the embodiments of this disclosure are applicable to accordion-type bellows. The accordion-type bellows can be given elasticity by being made of a brittle plastic nylon-based material and formed into a bellows shape. Due to the elasticity generated from the shape of the bellows, the bellows can be compressed and expanded as needed, and can maintain this compressed and expanded state.

[0089] Reference Figure 5A As can be seen, one end of the bellows 400 is connected to the distal end of the first support 310, while the other end is connected to the edge 330. The bellows 400 can be disposed on each of the front side having the display area and the back side opposite the front side to allow the edge 330 to remain connected without twisting or being separated from the display device 10. In addition to having the function of expanding or shrinking the display area, the bellows 400 can also simultaneously serve to support the display panel 100.

[0090] An empty space may exist inside the first support member 310, and this space may be referred to as the first receiving portion 340. In the first receiving portion 340, components required for the display panel 100 to be driven, such as batteries and circuit drivers, may be disposed. Furthermore, an empty space may exist between the two opposing bellows 400, and this space may be referred to as the second receiving portion 350. The second receiving portion 350, together with the first receiving portion 340, may also provide additional space for disposing of components required for the display panel 100 to be driven.

[0091] Figure 5B This illustrates a display device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the display area has been reduced. Figure 5A The status view expands to show the cross-sectional view of the expanded display area. Further reference... Figure 5B It can be seen that the 400 bellows and Figure 5A The bellows expands and unfolds, and the display panel 100 is positioned as far forward as possible relative to the edge 330, thereby expanding the display area.

[0092] Reference Figure 5B It can be seen that the area between the two opposing bellows 400 and Figure 5A The area in the middle has been expanded, therefore, the second accommodating section 350 has been expanded.

[0093] Figure 6 yes Figure 5A An enlarged cross-sectional view of region C in the diagram. (Refer to...) Figure 6 It shows that in Figure 5A and Figure 5B The upper and lower layers of the display panel 100 are omitted. A base plate 210 exists that is in direct contact with the bellows 400. The top plate 220, back plate 230, display panel 100, polarizing film 240, and cover window 250 can be sequentially arranged on the base plate 210. It can be seen that the aforementioned display panel 100 and its adjacent layers extend inward from the semi-rounded corner of the edge 330 to the non-display area on the opposite side.

[0094] The base plate 210 can be made of rigid PET material, allowing it to directly contact the bellows 400 and protect the display panel 100 while providing durability against the contraction and expansion movements of the bellows 400. Furthermore, the base plate 210 can have a large thickness and can have a through-hole (not shown) defining the portion of the base plate 210, allowing the display panel 100 of the display device 10 to be folded or rolled up while withstanding the contraction and expansion movements of the bellows 400.

[0095] Reference Figure 6It can be recognized that a bellows guide rod 410 in the form of a rod is provided in a portion of the bellows 400. The bellows guide rod 410 can be used to guide the bellows 400 to have uniformity in the x-direction when it contracts and expands to shrink and expand the display area of ​​the display device 10.

[0096] Reference Figure 7 The display panel 100 and its upper and lower layers are omitted, and a first support member 310, an edge 330, a bellows 400, and a bellows guide rod 410 are arranged. As can be seen from the perspective view, a panel through-hole 360 ​​is defined, allowing the display panel 100, its upper and lower layers, and the cover window 250 to enter through the side of the edge 330. The panel through-hole 360 ​​is defined in the upper and lower portions of the side of the edge 330, so that the display panel 100 and its upper and lower layers can move smoothly when the display area is reduced or expanded.

[0097] Additionally, a second support 320 is placed between the first support 310 and the edge 330, and the LM guide 420 can be attached to the second support 320.

[0098] The guide fastener 430 and the bellows guide rod 410 may be disposed on the LM guide 420. The LM guide 420 may include a linear motor, and the guide fastener 430 may move relative to the LM guide 420 in response to the operation of the linear motor.

[0099] Specifically, when the guide fastener 430 moves along the drive shaft of the LM guide 420, the bellows guide rod 410 connected to the guide fastener 430 can move along the drive shaft of the LM guide 420.

[0100] Reference Figure 7 The guide fastener 430 can be driven in the x-axis direction, and the LM guide 420 can be set parallel to the x-axis direction.

[0101] The bellows guide rod 410 can be arranged parallel to the z-axis, and the bellows guide rod 410 is evenly arranged to guide the bellows 400 to move continuously for each region during contraction / expansion in the x-axis direction. Due to the characteristics of the bellows 400, the folded and unfolded portions may vary locally during contraction and expansion. Because of this phenomenon, when the LM guide 420, the bellows guide rod 410, and the guide fastener 430 are not present, the movement positions of the second support 320 and the edge 330 on the left and right sides may differ.

[0102] Figure 8 The embodiments according to this disclosure are shown in a plan view. Figure 7 A plan view of the structure. (Refer to...) Figure 8 You can see that it is omitted. Figure 7The display panel 100 and upper and lower components, such as the first support 310, the second support 320, the edge 330 and the bellows 400, are shown, and it can be seen that the bellows guide rod 410 is disposed inside the bellows 400.

[0103] The outer portion of the second support 320 can be moved to be covered by or placed within the first support 310. Since one end of the bellows 400 is fixed to the first support 310 and the other end of the bellows 400 is fixed to the edge 330, the edge 330 can move repeatedly toward and away from the first support 310.

[0104] Reference Figure 8 The bellows guide rod 410 can be disposed inside the bellows 400, and when the bellows 400 is not fully extended, a portion of the bellows guide rod 410 can be disposed below the first support member 310.

[0105] like Figure 7 As described, the LM guide 420 can be placed on the inner surface of the second support 320, and the LM guide 420 and the guide fastener 430 are connected to each other for driving. The guide fastener 430 and the bellows guide rod 410 can be connected to each other such that the bellows guide rod 410 can be constantly driven in the x-axis direction, which is the setting direction of the LM guide 420. When the bellows 400 expands from the contracted state, the bellows guide rod 410 disposed in the bellows 400 is pushed out together.

[0106] Figure 9A and Figure 9B A deformable use scheme of a foldable display device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 9A The implementation method can fold all the bellows 400 to allow the display panel 100 to be exposed to a minimum, thus minimizing the display area. Figure 9B Embodiments according to this disclosure are shown. Figure 9B The foldable display device 10 folds at approximately 90 degrees relative to the hinge 370 at its center. Because the foldable display device 10 has a small size, this form is suitable for mobile environments. Specifically, in Figure 9B In this case, the advantage is that, due to the 370° fold around the hinge, the display device can be stably gripped while recognizing images from the camera mounted on the back in real time.

[0107] Figure 10A and Figure 10BA method of utilizing the foldable display device 10 with its screen size increased by the expansion of the bellows 400 is illustrated. As the bellows 400 expands, the display panel 100 can be exposed as much as possible, which is suitable for wide-screen environments with table or mounting space rather than mobile environments, to accommodate the increased screen size. (See reference...) Figure 10B The foldable display device 10 can be folded around the hinge 370 degrees and can be used in a lap-style configuration.

[0108] The display device according to embodiments of this disclosure can achieve flexibility and spring-like elasticity while expanding and contracting solely through geometry by employing an accordion-like bellows. Therefore, a sliding display device for expanding and shrinking the display screen can be implemented using minimal space without requiring a separate dynamic driver.

[0109] The display according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and a quantum dot display.

[0110] The display according to embodiments of this disclosure may also include a complete product (or final product) including LCM, OLED modules, etc., such as a laptop computer, television, computer monitor, or an equipment display including an in-vehicle display or other displays of a vehicle, or a mobile electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet.

[0111] The display device according to embodiments of this disclosure can be described as follows.

[0112] A first aspect of this disclosure provides a foldable display device comprising: a display panel having light-emitting elements disposed thereon; a cover window disposed on top of the display panel; a base plate disposed below the display panel; a corrugated tube for supporting at least a portion of the base plate; a first support member connected to one end of the corrugated tube; and an edge connected to the other end of the corrugated tube.

[0113] In one implementation of the first aspect, the foldable display device further includes a second support member disposed between the first support member and the edge.

[0114] In one implementation of the first aspect, the foldable display device further includes: an LM guide disposed inwardly from the second support; and a guide fastener movable relative to the LM guide.

[0115] In one implementation of the first aspect, the foldable display device further includes a bellows guide rod disposed inside the bellows and connected to the guide fastener.

[0116] In one implementation of the first aspect, the foldable display device further includes: a first receiving portion defined below a first support member and a second receiving portion defined below a bellows; and a driver for a light-emitting element disposed in at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion.

[0117] In one implementation of the first aspect, a panel through-hole is defined on one side of the edge for sliding the display panel, the cover window, and the base plate.

[0118] In one implementation of the first aspect, the panel through-hole is defined on each of at least two faces of the edge.

[0119] In one implementation of the first aspect, a hinge is provided on the other side of the display device where the first support and the bellows are connected to each other.

[0120] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a foldable display device comprising a base plate, a display panel, and a cover window arranged sequentially. The foldable display device includes: a corrugated tube for supporting at least a portion of the base plate; a first support member for supporting another portion of the base plate; and an edge disposed at one end of the base plate.

[0121] In one implementation of the second aspect, a panel through-hole is defined on one side of the edge for sliding the display panel, cover window, and base plate.

[0122] In one implementation of the second aspect, the panel through-hole is defined in each of at least two faces of the edge.

[0123] In one implementation of the second aspect, the foldable display device further includes a second support member disposed between the first support member and the edge.

[0124] In one implementation of the second aspect, the foldable display device further includes: an LM guide disposed inwardly from the second support; and a guide fastener movable relative to the LM guide.

[0125] In one implementation of the second aspect, the foldable display device further includes a bellows guide rod disposed inside the bellows and connected to the guide fastener.

[0126] In one implementation of the second aspect, the foldable display device further includes: a first receiving portion defined below a first support member and a second receiving portion defined below a bellows; and a driver for a light-emitting element disposed in at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion.

[0127] The features, structures, effects, etc., described in the examples of this application described above are included in at least one example of this application, and are not necessarily limited to one example. Furthermore, those skilled in the art to which this application pertains can combine or modify the features, structures, effects, etc., exemplified in at least one example of this application relative to other examples. Therefore, content related to these combinations and modifications should be interpreted as being included within the scope of this application.

[0128] The present disclosure as described above is not limited to the embodiments and drawings presented. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and variations can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and all variations or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A foldable display device, the foldable display device comprising: Display panel; A cover window is disposed above the display panel; A base plate, wherein the base plate is disposed below the display panel; A corrugated pipe for supporting at least a portion of the base plate; A first support member is connected to one end of the bellows; The edge is connected to the other end of the bellows; as well as A first receiving portion and a second receiving portion, the first receiving portion being defined below the first support member, and the second receiving portion being defined below the bellows. The corrugated tube is disposed on each of the front and back sides having the display area.

2. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, The display panel has light-emitting elements disposed on the display panel.

3. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, The bellows has the property of being able to be compressed or stretched by external force and maintain its state.

4. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, When the display area of ​​the display panel is reduced or expanded, the edge repeatedly moves to move closer to and away from the first support.

5. The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising: A second support member is disposed between the first support member and the edge.

6. The foldable display device according to claim 5, further comprising: An LM guide, wherein the LM guide is disposed inwardly from the second support member; as well as The guide fastener is movable relative to the LM guide.

7. The foldable display device according to claim 6, further comprising: A bellows guide rod, which is disposed inside the bellows and connected to the guide fastener.

8. The foldable display device according to claim 7, wherein, When the guide fastener moves along the drive shaft of the LM guide, the bellows guide rod connected to the guide fastener moves along the drive shaft of the LM guide.

9. The foldable display device according to claim 7, wherein, The LM guide is placed on the inner surface of the second support, and the LM guide and the guide fastener are connected to each other for driving.

10. The foldable display device according to claim 1, further comprising a driver for the display panel, the driver for the display panel being disposed in at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion.

11. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, A panel through-hole is defined on one side of the edge for sliding through the display panel, the cover window, and the base plate.

12. The foldable display device according to claim 11, wherein, The panel through-hole is defined in each of at least two faces of the edge.

13. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, A hinge is provided on the other side of the display device where the first support and the bellows are connected to each other.

14. A foldable display device, the foldable display device comprising a base plate, a display panel, and a cover window arranged sequentially, the foldable display device comprising: A corrugated pipe for supporting at least a portion of the base plate; A first support member is used to support another part of the base plate; An edge, wherein the edge is disposed at one end of the base plate; as well as A first receiving portion and a second receiving portion, the first receiving portion being defined below the first support member, and the second receiving portion being defined below the bellows. One end of the bellows is connected to the first support member, and the other end of the bellows is connected to the edge. The corrugated tube is disposed on each of the front and back sides having the display area.

15. The foldable display device according to claim 14, wherein, A panel through-hole is defined on one side of the edge for sliding through the display panel, the cover window, and the base plate.

16. The foldable display device according to claim 15, wherein, The panel through-hole is defined in each of at least two faces of the edge.

17. The foldable display device according to claim 14, further comprising: A second support member is disposed between the first support member and the edge.

18. The foldable display device according to claim 17, further comprising: An LM guide, wherein the LM guide is disposed inwardly from the second support member; as well as The guide fastener is movable relative to the LM guide.

19. The foldable display device according to claim 18, further comprising: A bellows guide rod, which is disposed inside the bellows and connected to the guide fastener.

20. The foldable display device of claim 14, further comprising a driver for the display panel, the driver for the display panel being disposed in at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion.

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