Flexible Multilayer Cover Lens Laminate for Foldable Display

Abstract

To provide flexible or foldable display devices, and more specifically, to flexible cover lens assemblies.SOLUTION: A flexible cover lens assembly disclosed herein comprises a glass layer, an adhesion promotion layer provided on the glass layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promotion layer, a dry hard coat layer with a nano-indentation hardness in a range of 1 to 5 GPa disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and an anti-fingerprint coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The embodiments described herein generally relate to flexible or foldable display devices, and more particularly, to flexible or foldable cover lenses.

Background Art

[0002] Description of Related Art

[0002] Electronic devices often have displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, and quantum dot (QD) displays. Such displays are fragile and can be sensitive to moisture, pressure, or particulate contamination. Generally, in display devices, several layers of optical devices are used to color light from a light source, polarize the light, and block the light. A hard display cover lens layer is mounted over the other layers to prevent damage to the underlying layers. Including a hard display cover lens can add an undesirable weight to the electronic device. It is possible to reduce the size and weight of the device by eliminating the cover lens, but eliminating the cover lens can make the display more susceptible to damage from scratching.

[0003]

[0003] As the demand for new functionality of products increases and new and broad applications are developed, there is a need for thinning and weight reduction of lens substrates with new characteristics such as flexibility. Generally, cover lenses for the above-mentioned new flexible or foldable displays are desired to have three main characteristics: 1) optical performance, 2) high hardness, and 3) flexibility. Good optical performance ensures good transmission of light with very little haze. High hardness is related to scratch resistance and abrasion resistance. The foldability (e.g., high flexibility) of the cover lens avoids breakage due to cracking or delamination when repeatedly bent and folded, from the perspective that the critical strain is sufficiently high.

[0004]

[0004] Conventionally, cover lenses have been excellent at addressing the first two characteristics (e.g., optical performance and hardness), but due to the brittle nature of cover lenses, cover lenses have been poor in a third characteristic, e.g., flexibility or foldability. To improve flexibility, significant efforts have been made to increase the critical strain at glass breakage mainly by reducing the glass thickness or by chemical modification of the material. Nevertheless, it has been found that glass as a cover lens material requires the entire cover to be replaced when the glass breaks. Alternative solutions for cover lenses may offer excellent optical performance and flexibility, but are generally vulnerable to abrasion and / or scratching. Once damaged by scratching, the entire cover must be replaced. Replacing the cover lens requires specific expertise, time, and is costly.

[0005]

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved display cover lens for flexible or foldable displays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]

[0006] The embodiments described and illustrated herein generally relate to flexible or foldable display devices, and more specifically to flexible cover lens assemblies. In one or more embodiments, a flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer on the glass layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint resistant coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0007]

[0007] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer having a porosity of about 1% to about 7% and disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0008]

[0008] In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer.

[0009]

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the glass layer, a dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0010]

[0010] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, a dry hard coat layer having a porosity of about 1% to about 7% and disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0011]

[0011] In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer and having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and a porosity of about 1% to about 7%, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0012]

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a substrate, a fingerprint prevention coating layer, and an adhesion promoting layer disposed between the substrate and the fingerprint prevention coating layer.

[0013]

[0013] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer and having a porosity of about 1% to about 7% and a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0014]

[0014] In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a substrate, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, a dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0015]

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, an impact-absorbing layer disposed on the glass layer, a moisture-proof layer disposed on the impact-absorbing layer, a substrate disposed on the moisture-proof layer, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0016]

[0016] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a first adhesion promoting layer disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the first adhesion promoting layer, a second adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, a dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and disposed on the second adhesion promoting layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0017]

[0017] In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a first adhesion promoting layer disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer having a porosity in the range of about 6% to about 10% and disposed on the first adhesion promoting layer, a second adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, a dry hard coat layer having a porosity in the range of about 1% to about 7% and disposed on the second adhesion promoting layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer, and the flexible cover lens assembly has a critical strain of 1% to about 15%.

[0018]

[0018] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a substrate, an anti-fingerprint coating layer, and an adhesion promoting layer disposed between the substrate and the anti-fingerprint coating layer. In some examples, the flexible cover lens assembly also includes a dry hard coat layer disposed between the adhesion promoting layer and the anti-fingerprint coating layer. In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes an anti-fingerprint coating layer, an adhesion promoting layer, and a dry hard coat layer disposed between the adhesion promoting layer and the anti-fingerprint coating layer.

[0019]

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a substrate, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and an anti-fingerprint coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0020]

[0020] In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the glass layer, a second or dry hard coat disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and an anti-fingerprint coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer. In one or more examples, the flexible cover lens assembly also includes a substrate disposed between the glass layer and the adhesion promoting layer. In other examples, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a wet hard coat layer disposed between the substrate and the adhesion promoting layer.

[0021]

[0021] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes an adhesion promoting layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and an anti-fingerprint coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer. In some examples, the flexible cover lens assembly further includes a glass layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and the adhesion promoting layer is disposed between the glass layer and the anti-reflection layer. In other examples, the flexible cover lens assembly also includes a substrate disposed between the glass layer and the adhesion promoting layer.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer.

[0023] In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a substrate, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0024] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a glass layer, a shock-absorbing layer disposed on the glass layer, a substrate disposed on the shock-absorbing layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer. In some examples, the flexible cover lens assembly further includes a wet hard coat layer disposed between the substrate and the adhesion promoting layer.

[0026]

[0026] In other embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a shock-absorbing layer, a substrate disposed on the shock-absorbing layer, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer. In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly further includes a glass layer disposed between the shock-absorbing layer and the substrate.

[0027]

[0027] In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a moisture-proof layer, a substrate disposed on the moisture-proof layer, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer. In some embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a shock-absorbing layer disposed between the moisture-proof layer and the substrate.

[0028]

[0028] In one or more embodiments, the flexible cover lens assembly includes a moisture-proof layer, a shock-absorbing layer disposed on the moisture-proof layer, a substrate disposed on the shock-absorbing layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0029]

[0029] In one or more embodiments, the flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate includes a first flexible cover lens, a second flexible cover lens, and a sacrificial adhesive layer disposed between the first flexible cover lens and the second flexible cover lens. Each of the first flexible cover lens and the second flexible cover lens is any one of or includes the flexible cover lens assemblies described and explained herein, and the first and second cover lenses are different.

[0030]

[0030] In other embodiments, the display device includes any one of the flexible cover lens assemblies described and explained herein, and a flexible display structure such as, for example, an OLED display or an LCD display.

[0031]

[0031] To understand the above-described features of the present disclosure in detail, a more specific description of the present disclosure briefly summarized above can be obtained by referring to the implementations, and some implementations are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, since the present disclosure may also admit other equally effective embodiments, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings show only typical embodiments of the present disclosure and are therefore not considered to limit the scope of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033]

[0057] For ease of understanding, the same reference numbers are used, where possible, to refer to the same elements common to the figures. The elements and features of one implementation are intended to be advantageously incorporated into other implementations, even without specific description.

[0034]

[0058] The implementations described herein generally relate to flexible display devices, and more specifically to covering a lens assembly that includes a flexible cover lens having a multilayer stack.

[0035]

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 100 including a flexible cover lens assembly 102 disposed on a flexible display structure or flexible display stack (FDS) 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 102 includes a glass layer 110, an impact absorbing layer (IAL) 120 disposed on the glass layer 110, a moisture barrier layer 130 disposed on the impact absorbing layer 120, a substrate 140 disposed on the moisture barrier layer 130, a first or wet hard coat (HC) layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140, an adhesion promoting layer (APL) 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150, an anti-reflection (ARF) layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a second or dry hard coat (HC) layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint preventing coating (AFC) layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In one or more examples, the wet hard coat layer 150 can have a pencil hardness in the range of about 2H to about 9H, a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa, and a porosity in the range of about 6% to about 10%, and the dry hard coat layer 180 can have a pencil hardness in the range of about 2H to about 9H, a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, and a porosity in the range of about 1% to about 7%.

[0036] Flexible display structure (FDS) and glass layer

[0060] FDS 104 is a flexible display structure or a flexible display laminate, and may be, or may include, one or more light-emitting diode (LED) displays, one or more organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, one or more liquid crystal displays (LCDs), one or more quantum dot (QD) displays, and other types of displays. FDS 104 may be, or may include, one or more flexible displays and / or one or more rigid displays. FDS 104 may be, or may include, other types of devices, and may be included in, or be part of, a monitor, a display, a screen, a television, a phone (e.g., a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a cellular phone), a computer or laptop, a tablet, a watch, or other electronic devices. In some embodiments, FDS 104 may be, or may include, a foldable screen or a foldable display on a flip phone or a foldable phone. In other embodiments, FDS 104 may be, or may include, a foldable screen or a foldable display on a foldable laptop computer or a foldable tablet.

[0037]

[0061] In one or more embodiments, FDS 104 may or may not have a display glass layer as the top surface. In some embodiments, FDS 104 does not have a display glass layer as the top surface and instead includes glass layer 110. In other embodiments, FDS 104 has a display glass layer (not shown) as the top surface, and glass layer 110 is omitted in flexible cover lens assembly 102 or other flexible cover lens assemblies described and explained herein. In some embodiments, FDS 104 has a display glass layer (not shown) as the top surface, and glass layer 110 is disposed on the display glass layer of FDS 104 within flexible cover lens assembly 102 or on other flexible cover lens assemblies described and explained herein.

[0038]

[0062] The glass layer 110 is or includes one or more layers of optically clear or transparent glass. In some embodiments, the glass layer 110 includes one or more ultrathin glass layers. The glass layer 110 has a thickness ranging from about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 15 μm, about 20 μm, or about 30 μm to about 40 μm, about 50 μm, about 60 μm, about 70 μm, about 80 μm, about 90 μm, about 100 μm, about 120 μm, about 150 μm, about 200 μm, or more. For example, the glass layer 110 has a thickness of about 5 μm to about 200 μm, about 10 μm to about 200 μm, about 20 μm to about 200 μm, about 50 μm to about 200 μm, about 80 μm to about 200 μm, about 100 μm to about 200 μm, about 150 μm to about 200 μm, about 5 μm to about 100 μm, about 10 μm to about 100 μm, about 20 μm to about 100 μm, about 50 μm to about 100 μm, about 80 μm to about 100 μm, about 100 μm to about 120 μm, about 5 μm to about 80 μm, about 10 μm to about 80 μm, about 20 μm to about 80 μm, or about 50 μm to about 80 μm.

[0039] Impact Absorbing Layer (IAL)

[0063] The shock-absorbing layer 120 can be one or more layers, or may include them, which are bendable, flexible, and / or foldable and are used to absorb shock or impact. The shock-absorbing layer 120 contains one or more materials that can be, or may include, ether urethane, ester urethane, aliphatic urethane, aliphatic polyurethane, aliphatic polyester urethane, thermosetting polysulfide, polyamide, their copolymers, their elastomers, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the shock-absorbing layer 120 can be deposited by solution processing or formed by other methods, including using techniques such as bar coater, slot die, or other methods. In one or more embodiments, the shock-absorbing layer 120 can be formed, processed, and / or processed by other methods on a sheet-to-sheet processing system or a roll-to-roll processing system. For example, the shock-absorbing layer 120 can be deposited, coated, or formed by other methods on a underlying surface, layer, or device by one or more sheet-to-sheet or roll-to-roll processing methods.

[0040]

[0064] The shock-absorbing layer 120 has a light transmittance within the visible range in the range from about 82%, about 85%, about 86%, about 88%, or about 90% to about 92%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, or about 99%. For example, the shock-absorbing layer 120 has a visible light transmittance in the range of about 82% to about 99%, about 85% to about 99%, about 88% to about 99%, about 90% to about 99%, about 92% to about 99%, about 95% to about 99%, about 97% to about 99%, about 82% to about 98%, about 85% to about 98%, about 88% to about 98%, about 90% to about 98%, about 92% to about 98%, about 95% to about 98%, about 97% to about 98%, about 82% to about 96%, about 85% to about 96%, about 88% to about 96%, about 90% to about 96%, about 92% to about 96%, or about 95% to about 96%.

[0041]

[0065] The shock-absorbing layer 120 has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 μm, about 1 μm, about 2 μm, about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 15 μm, about 20 μm, or about 25 μm to about 30 μm, about 40 μm, about 50 μm, about 60 μm, about 70 μm, about 80 μm, about 90 μm, about 100 μm, about 120 μm, about 150 μm, about 200 μm, or more. The shock-absorbing layer 120 has a thickness of, for example, 0.5 μm to about 200 μm, about 1 μm to about 200 μm, about 5 μm to about 200 μm, about 10 μm to about 200 μm, about 20 μm to about 200 μm, about 35 μm to about 200 μm, about 50 μm to about 200 μm, about 80 μm to about 200 μm, about 100 μm to about 200 μm, about 150 μm to about 200 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 150 μm, about 1 μm to about 150 μm, about 5 μm to about 150 μm, about 10 μm to about 150 μm, about 20 μm to about 150 μm, about 35 μm to about 150 μm, about 50 μm to about 150 μm, about 80 μm to about 150 μm, about 100 μm to about 150 μm, about 125 μm to about 150 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 100 μm, about 1 μm to about 100 mm, about 5 μm to about 100 mm, about 10 μm to about 100 μm, about 20 μm to about 100 μm, about 35 μm to about 100 μm, about 50 μm to about 100 μm, or about 80 μm to about 100 μm.

[0042]

[0066] In one or more embodiments, the shock-absorbing layer 120 can include an elastomeric layer having a thickness of less than 100 μm, such as about 75 μm or less. In some embodiments, the shock-absorbing layer 120 can be slot-die coated or cast.

[0043] Moisture barrier layer (MBL)

[0067] The moisture barrier layer 130 can be one or more membranes, coatings, or other layers that have inherent moisture-proof or waterproof properties and are bendable, flexible, and / or foldable. In some embodiments, the moisture barrier layer 130 includes one or more layers such as a moisture-proof and / or waterproof vapor layer, a high surface energy layer (e.g., hydrophilic), a planarization layer, a encapsulation layer, a portion of those layers, or a combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the moisture barrier layer 130 includes one or more materials that are, or can include, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, their dopants, or any combination thereof.

[0044]

[0068] In some embodiments, the moisture barrier layer 130 includes a single layer, but can also include multiple layers, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more sub-layers. For example, the moisture barrier layer 130 can include multiple sub-layers internally, such as from about 2 sub-layers to about 5 sub-layers. In one or more embodiments, the moisture barrier layer 130 includes a film laminate having three or more sub-layers, such as a first sub-layer, a second sub-layer, and a third sub-layer, and the second sub-layer is disposed between the first sub-layer and the third sub-layer. In one embodiment, the film laminate is a SiN / SiO / SiN laminate, the first sub-layer can be silicon nitride or can include silicon nitride, the second sub-layer can be silicon oxide or can include silicon oxide, and the third sub-layer includes silicon nitride. The moisture barrier layer 130 is deposited or otherwise produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma CVD (PE-CVD), high density plasma CVD (HDP-CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasma enhanced ALD (PE-ALD), other vacuum or vapor deposition processes, or one or more vapor deposition processes that can be or include any combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the moisture barrier layer 130 can be formed, processed, and / or otherwise processed on a sheet-to-sheet processing system or a roll-to-roll processing system. For example, the moisture barrier layer 130 can be deposited, coated, or otherwise formed on an underlying surface, layer, or device by one or more sheet-to-sheet or roll-to-roll processing methods.

[0045]

[0069] The moisture-proof layer 130 has a thickness ranging from about 5 nm, about 10 nm, about 20 nm, about 30 nm, about 40 nm, or about 50 nm to about 60 nm, about 80 nm, about 100 nm, about 150 nm, about 200 nm, about 250 nm, about 300 nm, about 400 nm, about 500 nm, about 600 nm, about 700 nm, or more. For example, the moisture-proof layer 130 has a thickness of about 5 nm to about 700 nm, about 5 nm to about 500 nm, about 5 nm to about 400 nm, about 5 nm to about 350 nm, about 5 nm to about 300 nm, about 5 nm to about 250 nm, about 5 nm to about 200 nm, about 5 nm to about 150 nm, about 5 nm to about 100 nm, about 5 nm to about 80 nm, about 5 nm to about 50 nm, about 5 nm to about 30 nm, about 20 nm to about 500 nm, about 20 nm to about 400 nm, about 20 nm to about 350 nm, about 20 nm to about 300 nm, about 20 nm to about 250 nm, about 20 nm to about 200 nm, about 20 nm to about 150 nm, about 20 nm to about 100 nm, about 20 nm to about 80 nm, about 20 nm to about 50 nm, about 20 nm to about 30 nm, about 50 nm to about 500 nm, about 50 nm to about 400 nm, about 50 nm to about 350 nm, about 50 nm to about 300 nm, about 50 nm to about 250 nm, about 50 nm to about 200 nm, about 50 nm to about 150 nm, about 50 nm to about 100 nm, or about 50 nm to about 80 nm.

[0046]

[0070] The moisture-proof layer 130 is about 1×10 -6 g / m 2 / day, about 1×10 -5 g / m 2 / day, about 1×10 -4 g / m 2 / day, or about 1×10 -3 g / m 2 / day to about 1×10 -2 g / m 2 / day, about 0.1 g / m 2 / day, about 0.5 g / m 2 / day, about 1 g / m 2 / day, about 5 g / m 2 / day, or about 10 g / m 2 / day and has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). For example, the moisture-proof layer 130 has a WVTR of about 1×10 -6 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -5 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -4 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -3 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -2 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 0.1 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 0.5 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1 g / m 2 / day to approximately 10 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -6 g / m 2 / day to approximately 1 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -5 g / m 2 / day to approximately 1 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -4 g / m 2 / day to approximately 1 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -3 g / m 2 / day to approximately 1 g / m 2 / day, approximately 1×10 -2 g / m 2 / day to approximately 1 g / m 2 / day, approximately 0.1 g / m 2 / day to approximately 1 g / m 2 / day, or approximately 0.5 g / m 2 / day to approximately 1 g / m 2 / day.

[0047]

[0071] The moisture-proof layer 130 has a light transmittance within the visible range from about 82%, about 85%, about 86%, about 88%, or about 90% to about 92%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, or about 99%. For example, the moisture-proof layer 130 has a light transmittance within the visible range of about 82% - about 99%, about 85% - about 99%, about 88% - about 99%, about 90% - about 99%, about 92% - about 99%, about 95% - about 99%, about 97% - about 99%, about 82% - about 98%, about 85% - about 98%, about 88% - about 98%, about 90% - about 98%, about 92% - about 98%, about 95% - about 98%, about 97% - about 98%, about 82% - about 96%, about 85% - about 96%, about 88% - about 96%, about 90% - about 96%, about 92% - about 96%, or about 95% - about 96%.

[0048] substrate

[0072] The substrate 140 may be or may include one or more flexible plastic or polymer substrates. The substrate 140 may be transparent and / or colorless. The substrate 140 includes one or more of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), triacetyl cellulose, polycarbonate, polyimide, colorless polyimide (CPI), polyamide, polysulfide, polymethyl methacrylate, polyether ether ketone, polyaryl ether ketone, transparent conductive polyester, copolymers thereof, elastomers thereof, or any combination thereof, or may include one or more materials that can include them.

[0049]

[0073] The substrate 140 has a thickness ranging from about 1 μm, about 2 μm, about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 15 μm, about 20 μm, or about 25 μm to about 30 μm, about 40 μm, about 50 μm, about 60 μm, about 70 μm, about 80 μm, about 90 μm, about 100 μm, about 120 μm, about 150 μm, about 200 μm, or more. For example, the substrate 140 has a thickness of about 5 μm to about 200 μm, about 10 μm to about 200 μm, about 20 μm to about 200 μm, about 50 μm to about 200 μm, about 80 μm to about 200 μm, about 5 μm to about 100 μm, about 10 μm to about 100 μm, about 20 μm to about 100 μm, about 30 μm to about 100 μm, about 50 μm to about 100 μm, about 80 μm to about 100 μm, about 5 μm to about 80 μm, about 10 μm to about 80 μm, about 20 μm to about 80 μm, about 30 μm to about 80 μm, about 50 μm to about 80 μm, about 60 μm to about 80 μm, about 5 μm to about 50 μm, about 10 μm to about 50 μm, about 20 μm to about 50 μm, or about 30 μm to about 50 μm.

[0050] The first or wet hard coat (wHC) layer

[0074] In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 may be or may include one or more wet hard coat layers. The wet hard coat layer 150 may be or may include one or more acrylates, one or more sol-gels, one or more siloxanes, one or more copolymers thereof, one or more elastomers thereof, or any combination thereof. In one or more examples, the wet hard coat layer 150 is or may include a radiation-curable acrylate, an aliphatic urethane acrylate, a copolymer thereof, an elastomer thereof, or any combination thereof, or an acrylate that may include or be those. For example, the wet hard coat layer 150 includes or is a thermosetting acrylate and / or a UV-curable acrylate.

[0051]

[0075] The wet hard coat layer 150 is deposited or formed by a liquid deposition process that uses a liquid type of medium or starting material, and thus includes the word "wet" in part of its name. Once deposited or otherwise formed, the wet hard coat layer 150 becomes a solid layer that is completely dry or substantially dry. The wet hard coat layer 150 can be manufactured from a gel, spin coating, solution, suspension, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the gel, solution, or suspension contains one or more solvents, and in other embodiments, the gel, solution, or suspension does not contain a solvent, such as being completely or substantially free of a solvent. In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 can be formed, processed, and / or otherwise processed on a sheet-to-sheet processing system or a roll-to-roll processing system. For example, the wet hard coat layer 150 can be deposited, coated, or otherwise formed on an underlying surface, layer, or device by one or more sheet-to-sheet or roll-to-roll processing methods.

[0052]

[0076] In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 contains a plurality of inorganic nanoparticles or other fine particles disposed within or otherwise arranged within an organic or inorganic matrix. In some examples, the wet hard coat layer 150 contains a thermoset or UV-curable acrylate or sol-gel having an organic matrix in which the inorganic nanoparticles are dispersed or distributed, embedded as a filler, or covalently bonded to the organic matrix. Exemplary inorganic particles can be, or include, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide, or any combination thereof. The inorganic particles can be nanoparticles and can have a particle size of about 1 nm to about 500 nm, about 5 nm to about 100 nm, or about 10 nm to about 50 nm. The wet hard coat layer 150 can include from about 40 wt%, about 45 wt%, or about 50 wt% to about 55 wt%, about 60 wt%, about 65 wt%, about 70 wt%, or about 75 wt% of inorganic particles or other particles. For example, the wet hard coat layer 150 can include from about 40 wt% to about 75 wt%, from about 40 wt% to about 70 wt%, or from about 45 wt% to about 65 wt% of inorganic particles or other particles.

[0053]

[0077] The wet hard coat layer 150 has a refractive index ranging from about 1.40, about 1.42, about 1.43, about 1.45, or about 1.46 to about 1.48, about 1.50, about 1.51, about 1.52, about 1.54, about 1.55, or more. For example, the wet hard coat layer 150 has a refractive index of about 1.40 to about 1.55, about 1.40 to about 1.53, about 1.40 to about 1.51, about 1.40 to about 1.50, about 1.40 to about 1.48, about 1.40 to about 1.46, about 1.40 to about 1.45, about 1.40 to about 1.43, about 1.43 to about 1.55, about 1.43 to about 1.53, about 1.43 to about 1.51, about 1.43 to about 1.50, about 1.43 to about 1.48, about 1.43 to about 1.46, about 1.43 to about 1.45, about 1.45 to about 1.55, about 1.45 to about 1.53, about 1.45 to about 1.51, about 1.45 to about 1.50, about 1.45 to about 1.48, or about 1.45 to about 1.46. In some embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 has a refractive index of about 1.40 to about 1.55, or about 1.43 to about 1.51.

[0054]

[0078] The wet hard coat layer 150 can have a thickness ranging from about 0.1 μm, about 0.2 μm, about 0.5 μm, about 0.6 μm, about 0.8 μm, about 1 μm, about 1.2 μm, about 1.5 μm, about 1.8 μm, about 2 μm, about 3 μm, about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 15 μm, or about 20 μm to about 25 μm, about 30 μm, about 35 μm, about 40 μm, about 50 μm, or more. For example, the wet hard coat layer 150 can have a thickness in the range of about 0.1 μm to about 50 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 40 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 35 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 30 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 25 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 20 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 15 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 5 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 2 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 1 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 50 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 40 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 35 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 30 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 25 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 20 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 10 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 2 μm, about 1 μm to about 50 μm, about 1 μm to about 40 μm, about 1 μm to about 35 μm, about 1 μm to about 30 μm, about 1 μm to about 25 μm, about 1 μm to about 20 μm, about 1 μm to about 10 μm, about 1 μm to about 5 μm, about 1 μm to about 3 μm, about 5 μm to about 50 μm, about 5 μm to about 40 μm, about 5 μm to about 35 μm, about 5 μm to about 30 μm, about 5 μm to about 25 μm, about 5 μm to about 20 μm, about 10 μm to about 50 μm, about 10 μm to about 40 μm, about 10 μm to about 35 μm, about 10 μm to about 30 μm, about 10 μm to about 25 μm, or about 10 μm to about 20 μm. In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 μm to about 40 μm.

[0055]

[0079] The wet hard coat layer 150 has a porosity ranging from about 5%, about 6%, about 6.5%, about 7%, or about 7.5% to about 8%, about 8.5%, about 9%, about 9.5%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, or about 15% as measured using ellipsometry porosity. For example, the wet hard coat layer 150 has a porosity of about 5% to about 12%, about 6% to about 12%, about 6% to about 11%, about 6% to about 10.5%, about 6% to about 10%, about 6% to about 9.5%, about 6% to about 9%, about 6% to about 8.5%, about 6% to about 8%, about 6% to about 7.5%, about 6% to about 7%, about 7% to about 12%, about 7% to about 11%, about 7% to about 10.5%, about 7% to about 10%, about 7% to about 9.5%, about 7% to about 9%, about 7% to about 8.5%, about 7% to about 8%, about 7% to about 7.5%, about 8% to about 12%, about 8% to about 11%, about 8% to about 10.5%, about 8% to about 10%, about 8% to about 9.5%, about 8% to about 9%, or about 8% to about 8.5% as measured using ellipsometry porosity.

[0056]

[0080] The wet hard coat layer 150 can have a pencil hardness ranging from about 2H, about 3H, about 4H, about 5H, or about 6H to about 7H, about 8H, or about 9H based on the pencil hardness scale. For example, the wet hard coat layer 150 can have a pencil hardness of about 2H to about 9H, about 3H to about 9H, about 4H to about 9H, about 5H to about 9H, about 6H to about 9H, about 7H to about 9H, about 2H to about 8H, about 3H to about 8H, about 4H to about 8H, about 5H to about 8H, about 6H to about 8H, about 7H to about 8H, about 2H to about 7H, about 3H to about 7H, about 4H to about 7H, about 5H to about 7H, about 6H to about 7H, about 6H to about 9H, about 7H to about 9H, about 8H to about 9H, about 6H to about 8H, or about 7H to about 8H based on the pencil hardness scale. In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 has a pencil hardness of about 6H to about 9H.

[0057]

[0081] In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 can have a nanoindentation hardness in the range from about 0.1 GPa, about 0.5 GPa, about 0.8 GPa, about 1 GPa, about 1.2 GPa, about 1.5 GPa, or about 1.8 GPa to about 2 GPa, about 2.2 GPa, about 2.5 GPa, about 2.8 GPa, about 3 GPa, about 3.5 GPa, about 4 GPa, about 4.5 GPa, about 5 GPa, or more, as measured by a nanoindentation method according to the Oliver-Pharr indentation method for evaluation of mechanical properties of materials, across the thickness of the wet hard coat layer 150. In some examples, the wet hard coat layer 150 can have a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.1 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 2 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 2.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 3 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 3.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 4 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 4.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 4.5 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 3.5 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 2 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 2.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 3 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 3.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 2 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 2.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, or about 1 GPa to about 2 GPa, as measured by a nanoindentation method, across the thickness of the wet hard coat layer 150.

[0058]

[0082] The wet hard coat layer 150 has a bending inner radius of about 1 mm to about 5 mm, a bending outer radius of about 5 mm to about 20 mm, a transmittance of about 85% to about 98%, about 88% to about 95%, or about 90% to about 92%, and a thermal resistance of about -20 °C to about 80 °C. In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 can be cured using ultraviolet radiation, heat curing treatment, electron beam treatment, and / or vacuum deposition treatment by plasma. The dry hard coat layer 150 can have a transmittance of about 90% to about 99.99% according to ASTM D1003, a haze of less than 1% according to ASTM D10003, and a sandpaper abrasion of less than 0.5% according to ASTM D1044.

[0059] Adhesion Promoting Layer (APL)

[0083] The adhesion promoting layer 160 can be a single layer, can include a single layer, or can include a plurality of layers. In embodiments where the adhesion promoting layer 160 includes two or more layers, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can have a consistent composition across the thickness of the layer or can have a gradient composition across the thickness. The gradient composition across the thickness provides gradient properties (e.g., hardness, elastic modulus, or carbon concentration) across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160. In one or more embodiments, the hardness value of the adhesion promoting layer 160 is about 10% to about 15% of the elastic modulus value of the adhesion promoting layer 160.

[0060]

[0084] Next, the adhesion promoting layer 160 includes one or more materials that are silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, or any combination thereof, or can include them. The adhesion promoting layer 160 is deposited by one or more vapor deposition processes that are physical vapor deposition (PVD), sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma enhanced CVD (PE-CVD), high density plasma CVD (HDP-CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasma enhanced ALD (PE-ALD), other vacuum or vapor phase deposition processes, or any combination thereof, or can include them, or can be otherwise generated. In one or more embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can be formed, processed, and / or otherwise processed on a sheet-to-sheet processing system or a roll-to-roll processing system. For example, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can be deposited, coated, or otherwise formed on the underlying surface, layer, or device by one or more sheet-to-sheet or roll-to-roll processing methods.

[0061]

[0085] In one or more examples, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can be deposited or otherwise generated from one or more silicon precursors and one or more oxidants during a vapor deposition process. The ratio of the silicon precursor to the oxidant can be adjusted during the vapor deposition process after each sublayer of the laminate is deposited. These adjustments are used to control the desired gradient characteristics. The silicon precursor is one or more alkylsilanes, alkoxysilanes, alkylsiloxanes, alkylsilazanes, or any combination thereof, or can include them. The oxidant is oxygen, ozone, plasma oxygen, atomic oxygen, water or steam, nitrous oxide, peroxide, or any combination thereof, or can include them.

[0062]

[0086] In one or more embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can be a non-gradient layer or film. In other embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can be a gradient layer or film that includes two or more sub-layers therein. For example, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can include from 2, 3, 4, or 5 sub-layers to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more sub-layers. In some embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 160 can include from 2 to 10 sub-layers, from 2 to 8 sub-layers, from 2 to 7 sub-layers, from 2 to 6 sub-layers, from 2 to 5 sub-layers, from 2 to 4 sub-layers, from 2 to 3 sub-layers, from 3 to 10 sub-layers, from 3 to 8 sub-layers, from 3 to 7 sub-layers, from 3 to 6 sub-layers, from 3 to 5 sub-layers, from 3 to 4 sub-layers, from 4 to 10 sub-layers, from 4 to 8 sub-layers, from 4 to 7 sub-layers, from 4 to 6 sub-layers, or from 4 to 5 sub-layers.

[0063]

[0087] In some embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 160 has a gradient of carbon concentration across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160. The adhesion promoting layer 160 includes a plurality of sub-layers contained therein. The adhesion promoting layer 160 can include from 2, 3, 4, or 5 sub-layers to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, or more sub-layers. In some embodiments, the plurality of sub-layers includes a gradient of carbon concentration across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160, and / or a gradient of hardness across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160, and / or a gradient of elastic modulus across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160.

[0064]

[0088] In one or more embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 160 includes five sub-layers of varying hardness (H) to create a gradient across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160. In one or more embodiments, the five sub-layers include the following. First layer: H = about 0.5 - 0.9 GPa; Second layer: H = about 0.8 - 1.3 GPa; Third layer: H = about 1.2 - 2.4 GPa; Fourth layer: H = about 2.0 - 2.8 GPa; and Fifth layer: H = about 2.0 - 2.9 GPa. In other embodiments, the five sub-layers include the following. First layer: H = about 0.7 - 0.9 GPa; Second layer: H = about 1.1 - 1.3 GPa; Third layer: H = about 1.9 - 2.4 GPa (another example H = about 2.2 - 2.4 GPa); Fourth layer: H = about 2.6 - 2.8 GPa; and Fifth layer: H = about 2.7 - 2.9 GPa.

[0065]

[0089] In one or more embodiments, each of the plurality of sub-layers can independently have a nanoindentation hardness in the range from about 0.1 GPa, about 0.5 GPa, about 0.8 GPa, or about 1 GPa to about 1.5 GPa, about 2 GPa, about 2.5 GPa, about 3 GPa, about 3.5 GPa, about 4 GPa, about 4.5 GPa, about 5 GPa, or more, across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160, as measured by a nanoindentation method that follows the Oliver-Pharr indentation method for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of materials. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of sub-layers can independently have a nanoindentation hardness in the range from about 0.1 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 2 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 1 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 4.5 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 3.5 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 2.5 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 2 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 1.5 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 1 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 2 GPa, across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 160, as measured by a nanoindentation method.

[0066]

[0090] Next, the adhesion promoting layer 160 has a refractive index ranging from about 1.35, about 1.38, about 1.40, about 1.42, about 1.43, about 1.45, or about 1.46 to about 1.48, about 1.50, about 1.51, about 1.52, about 1.54, about 1.55, or more. For example, the adhesion promoting layer 160 has a refractive index of about 1.40 to about 1.55, about 1.40 to about 1.53, about 1.40 to about 1.51, about 1.40 to about 1.50, about 1.40 to about 1.48, about 1.40 to about 1.46, about 1.40 to about 1.45, about 1.40 to about 1.43, about 1.43 to about 1.55, about 1.43 to about 1.53, about 1.43 to about 1.51, about 1.43 to about 1.50, about 1.43 to about 1.48, about 1.43 to about 1.46, about 1.43 to about 1.45, about 1.45 to about 1.55, about 1.45 to about 1.53, about 1.45 to about 1.51, about 1.45 to about 1.50, about 1.45 to about 1.48, or about 1.45 to about 1.46. In some embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 160 has a refractive index of about 1.40 to about 1.55, or about 1.43 to about 1.51.

[0067]

[0091] The adhesion promoting layer 160 has a thickness ranging from about 0.01 μm, about 0.02 μm, about 0.04 μm, about 0.08 μm, about 0.1 μm, about 0.2 μm, about 0.5 μm, about 0.8 μm, or about 1 μm to about 1.5 μm, about 2 μm, about 5 μm, about 8 μm, about 10 μm, about 15 μm, about 20 μm, about 25 μm, about 30 μm, about 35 μm, about 40 μm, about 50 μm, or more. The adhesion promoting layer 160 has a thickness in the range of about 0.01 μm to about 50 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 50 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 30 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 20 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 10 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 8 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 5 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 1 μm, about 0.04 μm to about 0.1 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 30 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 20 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 8 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 5 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 1 μm, about 1 μm to about 30 μm, about 1 μm to about 20 μm, about 1 μm to about 10 μm, about 1 μm to about 8 μm, about 1 μm to about 5 μm, or about 1 μm to about 3 μm.

[0068]

[0092] FIG. 24 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an adhesion promoting layer (APL) 260 including a plurality of sub-layers 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, and 228 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. In one or more embodiments, the adhesion promoting layer 260 can replace the adhesion promoting layer 160 according to any of the embodiments described and explained herein. The adhesion promoting layer 260 is shown with 10 sub-layers (sub-layers 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, and 228), but the adhesion promoting layer 260 can include from 2, 3, 4, or 5 sub-layers to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, or more sub-layers. In some examples, the plurality of sub-layers includes a gradient of carbon concentration across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 260 and / or a gradient of hardness across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 260. The carbon concentration can be varied across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer 260 by decreasing the carbon content from the bottom (i.e., the bottom layer) to the top (i.e., the top layer) within the plurality of sub-layers.

[0069]

[0093] In some examples of the adhesion promoting layer 260, the carbon content of the bottom (i.e., the bottom layer) can be from about 20 atomic percent (at%) to about 65 at%, and the carbon content of the top (i.e., the top layer) can be from about 5 at% to about 15 at%. In one or more embodiments of the adhesion promoting layer 260 including 5 sub-layers (layers 1 to 5 from the bottom to the top), the plurality of sub-layers includes the following carbon concentrations. Layer 1 is from about 20 at% to about 65 at% (from about 20 at% to about 43 at% in another example), layer 2 is from about 15 at% to about 35 at%, layer 3 is from about 10 at% to about 30 at%, layer 4 is from about 7 at% to about 20 at%, and layer 5 is from about 5 at% to about 15 at%. The carbon content can be measured using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) elemental analysis.

[0070] Anti-reflection (ARF) layer

[0094] The anti-reflection layer 170 includes one or more layers for reducing or preventing light reflection. The anti-reflection layer 170 can be or include silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon carbonitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, or any combination thereof, or one or more materials that can include them. The anti-reflection layer 170 can be deposited by one or more vapor deposition processes or generated by other methods. For example, the anti-reflection layer 170 can be deposited or generated by sputtering, PVD, CVD, PE-CVD, HDP-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, other vacuum or vapor deposition processes, or any combination thereof, or vapor deposition processes that can include them. In one or more embodiments, the anti-reflection layer 170 includes silicon nitride deposited by one or more vapor deposition processes. In one or more embodiments, the anti-reflection layer 170 can be formed, processed, and / or otherwise processed on a sheet-to-sheet processing system or a roll-to-roll processing system. For example, the anti-reflection layer 170 can be deposited, coated, or otherwise formed on a underlying surface, layer, or device by one or more sheet-to-sheet or roll-to-roll processing methods.

[0071]

[0095] In some embodiments, the anti-reflection layer 170 is formed or otherwise deposited by a vapor deposition process using one or more of the following precursors, namely, one or more organic polymer precursors (liquid and / or gas), hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), ppHMDSO, tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TOMCAT), hexamethyldisilazane (HMDSN), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), silane, disilane, trisilane, or any combination thereof. In other embodiments, the anti-reflection layer 170 is formed or otherwise deposited by a sputtering process using silica or quartz.

[0072]

[0096] The antireflection layer 170 has a refractive index ranging from about 1.5, about 1.7, about 1.8, about 1.9, or about 2.0 to about 2.1, about 2.2, about 2.3, about 2.4, or about 2.5. For example, the antireflection layer 170 has a refractive index of about 1.5 to about 2.5, about 1.5 to about 2.3, about 1.5 to about 2.1, about 1.5 to about 2.0, about 1.5 to about 1.8, about 1.5 to about 1.7, about 1.7 to about 2.5, about 1.7 to about 2.3, about 1.7 to about 2.1, about 1.7 to about 2.0, about 1.8 to about 2.5, about 1.8 to about 2.3, about 1.8 to about 2.1, about 1.8 to about 2.0, about 2.0 to about 2.5, or about 2.0 to about 2.3.

[0073]

[0097] The antireflection layer 170 has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 nm, about 1 nm, about 2 nm, about 3 nm, about 4 nm, about 5 nm, about 8 nm, about 10 nm, about 20 nm, about 30 nm, about 40 nm, or about 50 nm to about 60 nm, about 80 nm, about 100 nm, about 120 nm, about 150 nm, about 180 nm, about 200 nm, about 250 nm, or more. For example, the antireflection layer 170 has a thickness of about 2 nm to about 250 nm, about 2 nm to about 200 nm, about 2 nm to about 150 nm, about 2 nm to about 100 nm, about 2 nm to about 80 nm, about 2 nm to about 50 nm, about 2 nm to about 30 nm, about 2 nm to about 25 nm, about 2 nm to about 20 nm, about 2 nm to about 15 nm, about 2 nm to about 10 nm, about 2 nm to about 8 nm, about 5 nm to about 250 nm, about 5 nm to about 200 nm, about 5 nm to about 150 nm, about 5 nm to about 100 nm, about 5 nm to about 80 nm, about 5 nm to about 50 nm, about 5 nm to about 30 nm, about 5 nm to about 25 nm, about 5 nm to about 20 nm, about 5 nm to about 15 nm, about 5 nm to about 10 nm, about 5 nm to about 8 nm, about 20 nm to about 250 nm, about 20 nm to about 200 nm, about 20 nm to about 150 nm, about 20 nm to about 100 nm, about 20 nm to about 80 nm, about 20 nm to about 50 nm, about 20 nm to about 30 nm, about 50 nm to about 250 nm, about 50 nm to about 200 nm, about 50 nm to about 150 nm, about 50 nm to about 100 nm, or about 50 nm to about 80 nm.

[0074]

[0098] The antireflection layer 170 has a light transmittance within the visible range from about 82%, about 85%, about 86%, about 88%, or about 90% to about 92%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, or about 99%. For example, the antireflection layer 170 has a light transmittance within the visible range of about 82% - about 99%, about 85% - about 99%, about 88% - about 99%, about 90% - about 99%, about 92% - about 99%, about 95% - about 99%, about 97% - about 99%, about 82% - about 98%, about 85% - about 98%, about 88% - about 98%, about 90% - about 98%, about 92% - about 98%, about 95% - about 98%, about 97% - about 98%, about 82% - about 96%, about 85% - about 96%, about 88% - about 96%, about 90% - about 96%, about 92% - about 96%, or about 95% - about 96%.

[0075] The second or dry hard coat (dHC) layer

[0099] In one or more embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 can be or include one or more dry hard coat layers. The dry hard coat layer 180 includes one or more materials that can be or include silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, or any combination thereof. In some examples of the dry hard coat layer 180 containing carbon, the carbon content can be from about 1 at%, about 2 at%, about 3 at%, about 4 at%, about 5 at%, or about 6 at% to about 7 at%, about 8 at%, about 10 at%, about 12 at%, about 15 at%, about 18 at%, or about 20 at%. For example, the dry hard coat layer 180 can have a carbon content of about 1 at% - about 20 at%, about 5 at% - about 15 at%, about 5 at% - about 10 at%, about 8 at% - about 20 at%, or about 8 at% - about 12 at%. The carbon content can be measured using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) elemental analysis method.

[0076]

[0100] Since the dry hard coat layer 180 is formed by one or more types of vapor deposition processes, its name has the part "dry". Once deposited or formed by other means, the dry hard coat layer 180 becomes a solid layer that is completely dry or substantially dry. The dry hard coat layer 180 can be deposited, formed, or otherwise produced by PVD, CVD, PE-CVD, HDP-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, other vacuum or vapor deposition processes, or any combination thereof, or by vapor deposition processes that can include them. In some embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 is produced, deposited, coated, or otherwise formed by vacuum processing, atmospheric processing, solution processing, or other deposition or coating methods, and then optionally processed or cured by heat and / or UV exposure. In one or more embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 can be formed, processed, and / or otherwise processed on a sheet-to-sheet processing system or a roll-to-roll processing system. For example, the dry hard coat layer 180 can be deposited, coated, or otherwise formed on a underlying surface, layer, or device by one or more sheet-to-sheet or roll-to-roll processing methods.

[0077]

[0101] The dry hard coat layer 180 has a refractive index ranging from about 1.40, about 1.42, about 1.43, about 1.45, or about 1.46 to about 1.48, about 1.50, about 1.51, about 1.52, about 1.54, about 1.55, or more. For example, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a refractive index of about 1.40 to about 1.55, about 1.40 to about 1.53, about 1.40 to about 1.51, about 1.40 to about 1.50, about 1.40 to about 1.48, about 1.40 to about 1.46, about 1.40 to about 1.45, about 1.40 to about 1.43, about 1.43 to about 1.55, about 1.43 to about 1.53, about 1.43 to about 1.51, about 1.43 to about 1.50, about 1.43 to about 1.48, about 1.43 to about 1.46, about 1.43 to about 1.45, about 1.45 to about 1.55, about 1.45 to about 1.53, about 1.45 to about 1.51, about 1.45 to about 1.50, about 1.45 to about 1.48, or about 1.45 to about 1.46. In some embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a refractive index of about 1.42 to about 1.55, or about 1.45 to about 1.51.

[0078]

[0102] The dry hard coat layer 180 can have a thickness ranging from about 0.1 μm, about 0.2 μm, about 0.5 μm, about 0.6 μm, about 0.8 μm, about 1 μm, about 1.2 μm, about 1.5 μm, about 1.8 μm, about 2 μm, about 3 μm, about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 15 μm, or about 20 μm to about 25 μm, about 30 μm, about 35 μm, about 40 μm, about 50 μm, or more. For example, the dry hard coat layer 180 can have a thickness in the range of about 0.1 μm to about 50 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 40 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 35 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 30 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 25 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 20 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 15 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 5 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 2 μm, about 0.1 μm to about 1 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 50 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 40 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 35 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 30 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 25 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 20 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 10 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm, about 0.5 μm to about 2 μm, about 1 μm to about 50 μm, about 1 μm to about 40 μm, about 1 μm to about 35 μm, about 1 μm to about 30 μm, about 1 μm to about 25 μm, about 1 μm to about 20 μm, about 1 μm to about 10 μm, about 1 μm to about 5 μm, about 1 μm to about 3 μm, about 5 μm to about 50 μm, about 5 μm to about 40 μm, about 5 μm to about 35 μm, about 5 μm to about 30 μm, about 5 μm to about 25 μm, about 5 μm to about 20 μm, about 10 μm to about 50 μm, about 10 μm to about 40 μm, about 10 μm to about 35 μm, about 10 μm to about 30 μm, about 10 μm to about 25 μm, or about 10 μm to about 20 μm. In one or more embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a thickness within the range of about 0.5 μm to about 40 μm.

[0079]

[0103] The dry hard coat layer 180 has a porosity ranging from about 0.5%, about 1%, about 1.5%, about 2%, about 2.5%, or about 3% to about 3.5%, about 4%, about 4.5%, about 5%, about 5.5%, about 6%, about 6.5%, about 7%, or about 8% as measured using ellipsometry porosity. For example, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a porosity of about 0.5% to about 8%, about 1% to about 8%, about 1% to about 7%, about 1% to about 6.5%, about 1% to about 6%, about 1% to about 5.5%, about 1% to about 5%, about 1% to about 4.5%, about 1% to about 4%, about 1% to about 3.5%, about 1% to about 3%, about 1% to about 2.5%, about 1% to about 2%, about 2% to about 8%, about 2% to about 7%, about 2% to about 6.5%, about 2% to about 6%, about 2% to about 5.5%, about 2% to about 5%, about 2% to about 4.5%, about 2% to about 4%, about 2% to about 3.5%, about 2% to about 3%, about 2% to about 2.5%, about 3% to about 8%, about 3% to about 7%, about 3% to about 6.5%, about 3% to about 6%, about 3% to about 5.5%, about 3% to about 5%, about 3% to about 4.5%, about 3% to about 4%, or about 3% to about 3.5% as measured using ellipsometry porosity.

[0080]

[0104] In one or more embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a porosity of less than about 0.5% to 7%, and the wet hard coat layer 150 has a porosity of 7% to about 12%. In other embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a porosity of less than about 0.5% to 6%, and the wet hard coat layer 150 has a porosity of 6% to about 12%. In some embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a porosity of less than about 1% to 7%, and the wet hard coat layer 150 has a porosity of 7% to about 10%. In other embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a porosity of less than about 1% to 6%, and the wet hard coat layer 150 has a porosity of 6% to about 10%.

[0081]

[0105] The dry hard coat layer 180 can have a pencil hardness ranging from about 2H, about 3H, about 4H, about 5H, or about 6H to about 7H, about 8H, or about 9H based on the pencil hardness scale. For example, the dry hard coat layer 180 can have a hardness of about 2H to about 9H, about 3H to about 9H, about 4H to about 9H, about 5H to about 9H, about 6H to about 9H, about 7H to about 9H, about 2H to about 8H, about 3H to about 8H, about 4H to about 8H, about 5H to about 8H, about 6H to about 8H, about 7H to about 8H, about 2H to about 7H, about 3H to about 7H, about 4H to about 7H, about 5H to about 7H, about 6H to about 7H, about 6H to about 9H, about 7H to about 9H, about 8H to about 9H, about 6H to about 8H, or about 7H to about 8H based on the pencil hardness scale. In one or more embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 has a pencil hardness of about 6H to about 9H.

[0082]

[0106] In one or more embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 can have a nanoindentation hardness in the range from about 0.1 GPa, about 0.5 GPa, about 0.8 GPa, about 1 GPa, about 1.2 GPa, about 1.5 GPa, or about 1.8 GPa to about 2 GPa, about 2.2 GPa, about 2.5 GPa, about 2.8 GPa, about 3 GPa, about 3.5 GPa, about 4 GPa, about 4.5 GPa, about 5 GPa, or more, as measured by a nanoindentation method according to the Oliver-Pharr indentation method for evaluation of the mechanical properties of materials, across the thickness of the dry hard coat layer 180. In some examples, the dry hard coat layer 180, when measured by the nanoindentation method, can have a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.1 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 2 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 2.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 3 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 3.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 4 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 4.5 GPa to about 5 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 2 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 2.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 3 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 3.5 GPa to about 4 GPa, about 0.1 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 1.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 2 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 2.5 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 1 GPa to about 2 GPa, about 0.4 GPa to about 3 GPa, about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa, about 0.4 GPa to about 1.2 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 2 GPa, about 0.5 GPa to about 1.2 GPa, or about 0.5 GPa to about 1 GPa across the thickness of the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0083]

[0107] The dry hard coat layer 180 has a bending inner radius of about 1 mm to about 5 mm, a bending outer radius of about 5 mm to about 20 mm, a transmittance of about 85% to about 98%, about 88% to about 95%, or about 90% to about 92%, and a thermal resistance of about -20 °C to about 80 °C. In one or more embodiments, the dry hard coat layer 180 can be cured using ultraviolet radiation, electron beam treatment, and / or vacuum deposition treatment by plasma. The dry hard coat layer 180 can have a transmittance of about 90% to about 99.99% according to ASTM D1003, a haze of less than 1% according to ASTM D10003, and a sandpaper abrasion of less than 0.5% according to ASTM D1044.

[0084] Anti-fingerprint coating (AFC) layer

[0108] The anti-fingerprint coating layer 190, also known as an anti-smudge layer, includes one or more layers, films, or coatings and provides an overall top surface for the flexible cover lens assembly 202 described and explained herein or other flexible cover lens assemblies. The anti-fingerprint coating layer 190 reduces or prevents fingerprints, smudges, scratches, and other contaminants on the outer surface and / or top surface of the anti-fingerprint coating layer 190. The anti-fingerprint coating layer 190 includes one or more materials that can be or include fluorosilane, perfluoropolyether-containing silane polymer, chlorosilane,oxysilane, fluoroethylene, perfluoropolyether, nitrogen fluoride or nitrogen-fluorine-containing compound, their polymers, their dopants, or any combination thereof.

[0085]

[0109] The fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 is deposited or otherwise generated by one or more deposition processes that are or can include physical vapor deposition (PVD), ion beam evaporation, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), spin coating, spray coating, dip coating, thermosetting, or any combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 can be formed, processed, and / or otherwise processed on a sheet-to-sheet processing system or a roll-to-roll processing system. For example, the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 can be deposited, coated, or otherwise formed on an underlying surface, layer, or device by one or more sheet-to-sheet or roll-to-roll processing methods.

[0086]

[0110] The fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 has a surface energy ranging from about 5 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm, about 15 dyne / cm, about 18 dyne / cm, or about 20 dyne / cm to about 25 dyne / cm, about 30 dyne / cm, about 40 dyne / cm, about 50 dyne / cm, about 60 dyne / cm, about 70 dyne / cm, about 80 dyne / cm, or about 100 dyne / cm. For example, the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 has a surface energy within the range of about 5 dyne / cm to about 100 dyne / cm, about 5 dyne / cm to about 80 dyne / cm, about 5 dyne / cm to about 70 dyne / cm, about 5 dyne / cm to about 50 dyne / cm, about 5 dyne / cm to about 40 dyne / cm, about 5 dyne / cm to about 30 dyne / cm, about 5 dyne / cm to about 20 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm to about 100 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm to about 80 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm to about 70 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm to about 50 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm to about 40 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm to about 30 dyne / cm, about 10 dyne / cm to about 20 dyne / cm, about 30 dyne / cm to about 100 dyne / cm, about 30 dyne / cm to about 80 dyne / cm, about 30 dyne / cm to about 70 dyne / cm, about 30 dyne / cm to about 50 dyne / cm, or about 30 dyne / cm to about 40 dyne / cm.

[0087]

[0111] The fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 nm, about 1 nm, about 2 nm, about 3 nm, about 4 nm, about 5 nm, about 8 nm, or about 10 nm to about 12 nm, about 15 nm, about 18 nm, about 20 nm, about 25 nm, about 30 nm, about 35 nm, about 40 nm, about 50 nm, about 60 nm, about 80 nm, about 100 nm, or more. For example, the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 has a thickness of about 1 nm to about 100 nm, about 1 nm to about 80 nm, about 1 nm to about 50 nm, about 1 nm to about 40 nm, about 1 nm to about 35 nm, about 1 nm to about 30 nm, about 1 nm to about 25 nm, about 1 nm to about 20 nm, about 1 nm to about 15 nm, about 1 nm to about 10 nm, about 1 nm to about 8 nm, about 1 nm to about 5 nm, about 3 nm to about 100 nm, about 3 nm to about 80 nm, about 3 nm to about 50 nm, about 3 nm to about 40 nm, about 3 nm to about 35 nm, about 3 nm to about 30 nm, about 3 nm to about 25 nm, about 3 nm to about 20 nm, about 3 nm to about 15 nm, about 3 nm to about 10 nm, about 3 nm to about 8 nm, about 3 nm to about 5 nm, about 5 nm to about 100 nm, about 5 nm to about 80 nm, about 5 nm to about 50 nm, about 5 nm to about 40 nm, about 5 nm to about 35 nm, about 5 nm to about 30 nm, about 5 nm to about 25 nm, about 5 nm to about 20 nm, about 5 nm to about 15 nm, about 5 nm to about 10 nm, about 5 nm to about 8 nm, about 10 nm to about 100 nm, about 10 nm to about 80 nm, about 10 nm to about 50 nm, about 10 nm to about 40 nm, about 10 nm to about 35 nm, about 10 nm to about 30 nm, about 10 nm to about 25 nm, about 10 nm to about 20 nm, about 10 nm to about 15 nm, about 20 nm to about 50 nm, about 20 nm to about 30 nm, about 50 nm to about 250 nm, about 50 nm to about 200 nm, about 50 nm to about 150 nm, about 50 nm to about 100 nm, or about 50 nm to about 80 nm.

[0088]

[0112] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 200 including a flexible cover lens assembly 202 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 202 includes a moisture-proof layer 130, a shock-absorbing layer 120 disposed on the moisture-proof layer 130, a substrate 140 disposed on the shock-absorbing layer 120, and a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 202 also includes an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150, an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In some examples, the shock-absorbing layer 120 is disposed in contact with the moisture-proof layer 130 and the substrate 140 therebetween.

[0089]

[0113] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 300 including a flexible cover lens assembly 302 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 302 includes a moisture-proof layer 130, a shock-absorbing layer 120 disposed on the moisture-proof layer 130, a substrate 140 disposed on the shock-absorbing layer 120, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 302 also includes an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0090]

[0114] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 400 including a flexible cover lens assembly 402 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 402 includes a moisture-proof layer 130, a substrate 140 disposed on the moisture-proof layer 130, and a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 402 also includes an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150, an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0091]

[0115] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 500 including a flexible cover lens assembly 502 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 502 includes a glass layer 110, a shock absorbing layer 120 disposed on the glass layer 110, a substrate 140 disposed on the shock absorbing layer 120, and a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 502 also includes an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150, an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In some examples, the wet hard coat layer 150 is disposed in contact between the substrate 140 and the adhesion promoting layer 160.

[0092]

[0116] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 600 including a flexible cover lens assembly 602 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 602 includes a shock absorption layer 120, a glass layer 110 disposed on the shock absorption layer 120, a substrate 140 disposed on the glass layer 110, and a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 602 also includes an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150, an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In one or more examples, the glass layer 110 is disposed in contact between the shock absorption layer 120 and the substrate 140.

[0093]

[0117] FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 700 including a flexible cover lens assembly 702 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 702 includes a glass layer 110, a shock absorption layer 120 disposed on the glass layer 110, a substrate 140 disposed on the shock absorption layer 120, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 702 also includes an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0094]

[0118] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 800 including a flexible cover lens assembly 802 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 802 includes a shock absorption layer 120, a substrate 140 disposed on the shock absorption layer 120, a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150. The flexible cover lens assembly 802 also includes an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0095]

[0119] FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 900 including a flexible cover lens assembly 902 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 902 includes a glass layer 110, a substrate 140 disposed on the substrate 140, a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150. The flexible cover lens assembly 902 also includes an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0096]

[0120] FIG. 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1000 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1002 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1002 includes a substrate 140, a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150. The flexible cover lens assembly 1002 also includes an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0097]

[0121] FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1100 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1102 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1102 includes a glass layer 110, a substrate 140 disposed on the glass layer 110, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 1102 also includes an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In some examples, the substrate 140 is disposed in contact between the glass layer 110 and the adhesion promoting layer 160.

[0098]

[0122] Figure 12 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1200 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1202 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1202 includes a glass layer 110, a substrate 140 disposed on the glass layer 110, and a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140. The flexible cover lens assembly 1202 also includes an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150, an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160.

[0099]

[0123] Figure 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1300 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1302 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1302 includes a glass layer 110, an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the glass layer 110, an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In some examples, the adhesion promoting layer 160 is disposed in contact between the glass layer 110 and the anti-reflection layer 170.

[0100]

[0124] Figure 14 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1400 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1402 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1402 includes an adhesion promoting layer 160, an anti-reflection layer 170 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the anti-reflection layer 170, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0101]

[0125] FIG. 15 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1500 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1502 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1502 includes a glass layer 110, a substrate 140 disposed on the glass layer 110, a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150. The flexible cover lens assembly 1502 also includes a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160 and an anti-fingerprint coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In one or more embodiments, the wet hard coat layer 150 is disposed in contact between the substrate 140 and the adhesion promoting layer 160.

[0102]

[0126] FIG. 16 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1600 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1602 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1602 includes a glass layer 110, a substrate 140 disposed on the glass layer 110, an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the substrate 140, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, and an anti-fingerprint coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In one or more embodiments, the substrate 140 is disposed in contact between the glass layer 110 and the adhesion promoting layer 160.

[0103]

[0127] FIG. 17 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1700 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1702 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1702 includes a glass layer 110, an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the glass layer 110, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, and an anti-fingerprint coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0104]

[0128] FIG. 18 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1800 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1802 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1802 includes a substrate 140, a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the substrate 140, an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180.

[0105]

[0129] FIG. 19 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 1900 including a flexible cover lens assembly 1902 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 1902 includes a substrate 140, a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190, and an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed between the substrate 140 and the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190.

[0106]

[0130] FIG. 20 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 2000 including a flexible cover lens assembly 2002 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 2002 includes a substrate 140, an adhesion promoting layer 160 disposed on the substrate 140, a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the adhesion promoting layer 160, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In some examples, the adhesion promoting layer 160 and / or the dry hard coat layer 180 are disposed between the substrate 140 and the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190. Also, the dry hard coat layer 180 is disposed in contact between the adhesion promoting layer 160 and the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190.

[0107]

[0131] FIG. 21 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 2100 including a flexible cover lens assembly 2102 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 2002 includes an anti-fingerprint coating layer 190, an adhesion promoting layer 160, and a dry hard coat layer 180. The second hard coat or dry hard coat layer 180 is disposed in contact with and between the adhesion promoting layer 160 and the anti-fingerprint coating layer 190.

[0108]

[0132] In one or more embodiments, any two, three or more of the FDS 104, glass layer 110, shock absorbing layer 120, moisture-proof layer 130, substrate 140, wet hard coat layer 150, adhesion promoting layer 160, anti-reflection layer 170, dry hard coat layer 180, and / or anti-fingerprint coating layer 190 can be connected, joined, adhered, bonded, attached, or otherwise held together by one or more adhesive layers (not shown). Each adhesive layer can independently be or include one or more optically clear adhesives (OCA) and / or pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA). In one or more examples, each of the adhesive layers is applied as a liquid-based adhesive that dries and bonds two adjacent surfaces together. In some examples, each of the adhesive layers is an OCA double-sided tape that bonds two adjacent surfaces to each other.

[0109]

[0133] In other embodiments, any two, three or more of the FDS 104, glass layer 110, shock absorption layer 120, moisture-proof layer 130, substrate 140, wet hard coat layer 150, adhesion promotion layer 160, anti-reflection layer 170, dry hard coat layer 180, and / or fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 can be held together by connection, joining, adhesion, bonding, attachment, or other means without using an adhesive. Therefore, any or all of the adhesive layers can be excluded, and adjacent components or layers can be held together by their inherent bonding force. For example, any two, three or more of the FDS 104, glass layer 110, shock absorption layer 120, moisture-proof layer 130, substrate 140, wet hard coat layer 150, adhesion promotion layer 160, anti-reflection layer 170, dry hard coat layer 180, and / or fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 can be connected, joined, adhered, bonded, attached, or held together in other ways to adjacent layers, films, or devices, and the adhesive layer does not exist at the interface between them. Any adjacent layer, film, or device can be directly deposited or formed in other ways on another adjacent layer, film, or device.

[0110]

[0134] FIG. 22 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 2200 including a flexible cover lens assembly 2202 disposed on an FDS 104 according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible cover lens assembly 2202 includes a glass layer 110, a first adhesion promotion layer 160 disposed on the glass layer 110, a wet hard coat layer 150 disposed on the first adhesion promotion layer 160, and a second adhesion promotion layer 160 disposed on the wet hard coat layer 150. The flexible cover lens assembly 2202 also includes a dry hard coat layer 180 disposed on the second adhesion promotion layer 160 and a fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 disposed on the dry hard coat layer 180. In some examples, each of the first and second adhesion promotion layers 160 may be different from each other independently. In other examples, the first and second adhesion promotion layers 160 are identical to each other. In one or more examples, the fingerprint prevention coating layer 190 can have an inorganic-organic-inorganic laminate.

[0111]

[0135] FIG. 23 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 2300 including a flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate 2302 disposed on an FDS 104, according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate 2302 includes a first flexible cover lens assembly 2310, a second flexible cover lens assembly 2330, and a sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 disposed between the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330. Each of the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 may independently be, or may include, any one of the flexible cover lens assemblies (e.g., flexible cover lens assemblies 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1302, 1402, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1802, 1902, 2002, 2102, or 2202) described and explained herein, and the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 are different from each other.

[0112]

[0136] In one or more embodiments, if it is desirable to remove and replace the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 (e.g., due to being scratched or otherwise damaged), the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 can be selectively degraded, broken, or otherwise removed in order to separate the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 from the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 or other display structure. The first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 can be separated from the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 by exposing the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 to a predetermined temperature, a predetermined wavelength and / or dose of ultraviolet (UV) light, and / or a predetermined mechanical removal mechanism, as described and explained below.

[0113]

[0137] The sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 includes one or more polymeric or oligomeric materials that are, or can include, acrylates, silicones, thermoplastic adhesives, elastomeric adhesives, and combinations thereof. The sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposable at a temperature of about 60°C to about 120°C. The sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposable when exposed to ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 350 nm to about 375 nm for a period of about 0.5 seconds to about 30 seconds.

[0114]

[0138] In some embodiments, the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 includes one or more OCAs. The sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is, or can include, one or more polymeric materials or oligomeric materials such as one or more acrylates, silicones, thermoplastic adhesives, elastomeric adhesives, or any combination thereof. The sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 provides a low shear modulus of elasticity and enables the layer above the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 to shear or slide relative to the layer below the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320. In one or more embodiments, the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 can be formed from an optically clear liquid adhesive (LOCA) that is dispensed in various ways and can be cured by UV exposure, or is thermosensitive, hygrosensitive, and / or pressure sensitive and can be cured by adjusting or controlling them. In some embodiments, the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposable at a predetermined temperature. For example, the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposable at a temperature from about 40°C, about 50°C, or about 60°C to about 80°C, about 100°C, or about 120°C. In other embodiments, the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposable when exposed to UV light of a predetermined wavelength and / or a predetermined dose. For example, the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposable when exposed to UV light having a wavelength of about 350 nm to about 375 nm, such as about 365 nm. The sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposable by exposing the adhesive to UV light for a period from about 0.5 seconds, about 1 second, or about 5 seconds to about 30 seconds, about 60 seconds, or about 90 seconds.

[0115]

[0139] The sacrificial adhesive layer 2320, if there is an adhesive layer in the flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate 2302, includes an adhesive different from the adhesives of other adhesive layers. The adhesive within the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 can have a composition different from the adhesives within any other adhesive layer if there are adhesive layers within the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330. The adhesive within the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320 is decomposed or destroyed when exposed to UV light of a predetermined temperature or wavelength. Thus, the adhesion or bonding between the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 is broken, and then the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 can be separated from each other. During the same period, any (if any) of the adhesive layers within the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 are not decomposed or destroyed even when exposed to UV light of the same predetermined temperature or wavelength, and the adhesion or bonding between the components within the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the components within the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 is maintained.

[0116]

[0140] In one or more embodiments, the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 can each independently have flexibility over repeated cycles of bending up to about 1 mm inside the radius of curvature or up to about 4 mm outside the radius of curvature. In some embodiments, during the bending operation of the display device that houses the cover lens assembly 2300, the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 can move independently of the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 by a sliding, shearing, and / or sliding mechanism provided by the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320. Such a sliding, shearing, and / or slide plane that separates the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 can be designed with the material of the sacrificial adhesive layer 2320. The first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 can each independently have impact resistance, with or without an impact absorbing layer, as measured by a standard ball drop test, and can support a steel ball weighing up to 130 g dropped from a height of 100 cm, and in some examples, from a height exceeding 100 cm, such as 120 cm to about 150 cm. In some examples, the first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 each independently have scratch resistance as measured by a standard steel wool test with a load of up to 1 kg applied, and can withstand a large number of cycles, for example, from about 100 cycles to about 4,000 cycles. The first flexible cover lens assembly 2310 and the second flexible cover lens assembly 2330 can each independently have a total transmittance of about 85% to about 95%, a haze of less than 1%, a yellowness of B * <1, and high fracture toughness.

[0117]

[0141] FIG. 25 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a flexible display structure 304 that can be used as the flexible display structure 104 included in display devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, and 2300 (FIGS. 1-23) according to one or more embodiments described and explained herein. The flexible display structures 104, 304 can be or include a flexible display, a rigid display, or other devices, and can be included within a monitor, a display, a screen, a television, a phone (e.g., a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a cellular phone), a computer or laptop, a tablet, a watch, or other electronic devices. In one or more embodiments, the flexible display structure 304 includes a contrast enhancement layer or polarizer layer 320, a touch panel 330, a display layer 340, a substrate 350, and a backing film 360. The polarizer layer 320 is or includes a multifunctional film layer that includes a polarizer film. The polarizer layer 320 is used to reduce unwanted reflections by a reflective metal that constitutes an electrode line or a metal structure within the flexible display structure 304. The polarizer layer 320 can include a quarter-wave retarder and a linear polarizer formed from a flexible lens film having a thickness of less than 0.2 mm.

[0118]

[0142] The touch panel 330 can include a touch sensor IC board and a touch sensor (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the touch sensor IC board is a flexible, metal-based printed circuit board. The display layer 340 can be or include one or more light-emitting diode (LED) displays, one or more liquid crystal displays (LCDs), or other suitable display devices. In some embodiments, the display layer 340 is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. In some embodiments, the display layer 340 is a quantum dot (QD) display. In one or more embodiments, the display layer 340 can include thin film encapsulation (TFE), an organic light-emitting layer, a driver IC board, and thin film transistors (TFTs).

[0119]

[0143] The substrate 350 can be or include a flexible plastic or polymer substrate. The substrate 350 can be transparent and / or colorless and, in some embodiments, can be conductive. The substrate 350 can be or include one or more polyimide materials, polyethylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone, transparent conductive polyester, polycarbonate, polyaryl ether ketone, or any combination thereof. The substrate film 360 can be or include one or more heat sink layers and / or one or more protective barrier layers.

[0120]

[0144] Each component of the flexible display structure 104 can be adhered, bonded, or otherwise held together by one or more adhesives. For example, the polarizer layer 320 and the touch panel 330 are bonded to each other by an adhesive layer 325 disposed therebetween. The touch panel 330 and the display layer 340 are bonded by an adhesive layer 335 disposed therebetween. The display layer 340 and the substrate 350 are bonded to each other by an adhesive layer 345 disposed therebetween. The substrate 350 and the base film 360 are bonded to each other by an adhesive layer 355 disposed therebetween. Each of the adhesive layers 325, 335, 345, 355 can independently be or include one or more OCAs. In one or more embodiments, each of the adhesive layers 325, 335, 345, 355 is applied as a liquid-based adhesive that dries and bonds two adjacent surfaces together. In some embodiments, each of the adhesive layers 325, 335, 345, 355 is an OCA double-sided tape that bonds two adjacent surfaces to each other. In other embodiments, each of the adhesive layers 325, 335, 345, 355 is not independently disposed between the respective adjacent layers that are held together by other bonding methods. For example, any of the layers or components within the flexible display structure 104 can be deposited or otherwise formed on an adjacent layer or component.

[0121]

[0145] Flexible cover lens assemblies 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1302, 1402, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1802, 1902, 2002, 2102, 2202, and 2310, and / or 2330, display devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, and / or 2300 (Figs. 1 - 23), flexible display structures 104, 304, and / or any of their layers, films, or coatings can be manufactured using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma CVD (PE - CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasma enhanced ALD (PE - ALD), physical vapor deposition (PVD) or sputtering, sheet - to - sheet processing, roll - to - roll processing, photolithography, etching, other film coating and curing processes, and / or other suitable manufacturing processes. Suitable manufacturing equipment is available for purchase from Applied Materials, Inc. of Santa Clara, California.

[0122]

[0146] Flexible cover lens assemblies (including flexible cover lens assemblies 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1302, 1402, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1802, 1902, 2002, 2102, 2202, and 2310, and / or 2330, display devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, and / or 2300 (Figs. 1 - 23)), flexible display structures (including flexible display structures 104, 304), and / or any of their layers, films, or coatings may have a critical strain exceeding 1%, for example, from about 1.5%, about 2%, about 2.5%, about 3%, about 4%, or about 5% to about 5.5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 15%, or more. For example, the flexible cover lens assembly, flexible display structure, and / or any of their layers, films, or coatings may have a critical strain of 1% - about 15%, about 2% - about 15%, about 3% - about 15%, about 5% - about 15%, about 6% - about 15%, about 8% - about 15%, about 10% - about 15%, about 2% - about 12%, about 3% - about 12%, about 5% - about 12%, about 6% - about 12%, about 8% - about 12%, about 10% - about 12%, about 2% - about 10%, about 3% - about 10%, about 5% - about 10%, about 6% - about 10%, about 8% - about 10%, about 2% - about 7%, about 3% - about 7%, about 4% - about 7%, or about 5% - about 7%. The critical strain is measured at a predetermined elongation of the flexible cover lens assembly or other laminated body using an ultimate tensile testing machine. The maximum tensile elongation remaining without crack failure in the flexible cover lens assembly or other laminated body is defined as the critical strain of the flexible cover lens assembly or other laminated body.

[0123]

[0147] The flexible cover lens and the flexible cover lens assembly described and explained in this specification can be used for any type of display device. The flexible cover lens and the flexible cover lens assembly have strong strength, flexibility, elasticity, light transmissibility, abrasion resistance, and / or thermal stability. By utilizing a sacrificial adhesive layer containing a decomposable optically transparent adhesive between the first flexible cover lens and the second flexible cover lens, or between the first flexible cover lens and the display structure or display device, in case of damage, the first flexible cover lens can be easily removed (and replaced with a new cover lens) without damaging the underlying structure or device.

[0124]

[0148] In one or more embodiments, the flexibility requirement depends on a specific foldable display design and product configuration. Generally, as described and explained in this specification, the foldable cover lens has sufficient flexibility to sustain repetitive folding cycles that fold the flexible cover lens to a radius of curvature of 5 mm or less per cycle. Regarding the critical strain, the flexibility of the cover lens can be indicated by the critical strain that the cover lens can withstand, a critical strain exceeding 1%.

[0125]

[0149] Embodiments of the present disclosure further relate to any one or more of paragraphs 1 to 93 below.

[0126]

[0150] Paragraph 1. A flexible cover lens assembly including a glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer on the glass layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0127]

[0151] Paragraph 2. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer having a porosity of about 1% to about 7% and disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0128]

[0152] Paragraph 3. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer.

[0129]

[0153] Paragraph 4. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the glass layer, a dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0130]

[0154] Paragraph 5. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, a dry hard coat layer having a porosity of about 1% to about 7% and disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0131]

[0155] Paragraph 6. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer and having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa and a porosity of about 1% to about 7%, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0132]

[0156] Paragraph 7. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a substrate, a fingerprint prevention coating layer, and an adhesion promoting layer disposed between the substrate and the fingerprint prevention coating layer.

[0133]

[0157] Paragraph 8. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer and having a porosity of about 1% to about 7% and a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0134]

[0158] Paragraph 9. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a substrate, a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa and disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer and having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, and a fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0135]

[0159] Paragraph 10. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, an impact absorption layer disposed on the glass layer, a moisture-proof layer disposed on the impact absorption layer, a substrate disposed on the moisture-proof layer, having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promotion layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promotion layer, having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0136]

[0160] Paragraph 11. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, a first adhesion promotion layer disposed on the glass layer, having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the first adhesion promotion layer, a second adhesion promotion layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the second adhesion promotion layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0137]

[0161] Paragraph 12. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a glass layer, a first adhesion promotion layer disposed on the glass layer, having a porosity in the range of about 6% to about 10%, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the first adhesion promotion layer, a second adhesion promotion layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, having a porosity in the range of about 1% to about 7%, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the second adhesion promotion layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer, the flexible cover lens assembly having a critical strain of 1% to about 15%.

[0138]

[0162] Paragraph 13. A flexible cover lens assembly comprising a fingerprint-proof coating layer, an adhesion promotion layer, and a dry hard coat, wherein the dry hard coat layer is disposed between the adhesion promotion layer and the fingerprint-proof coating layer.

[0139]

[0163] Paragraph 14. A flexible cover lens assembly including a substrate, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0140]

[0164] Paragraph 15. A flexible cover lens assembly including a glass layer, a substrate disposed on the glass layer, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0141]

[0165] Paragraph 16. A flexible cover lens assembly including a glass layer, a shock absorbing layer disposed on the glass layer, a substrate disposed on the shock absorbing layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0142]

[0166] Paragraph 17. The flexible cover lens assembly according to Paragraph 16, further including a wet hard coat layer, wherein the wet hard coat layer is disposed between the substrate and the adhesion promoting layer.

[0143]

[0167] Paragraph 18. A flexible cover lens assembly including a shock absorbing layer, a substrate disposed on the shock absorbing layer, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0144]

[0168] The flexible cover lens assembly according to paragraph 18, further comprising a glass layer disposed between the shock absorption layer and the substrate.

[0145]

[0169] Paragraph 20. A flexible cover lens assembly including a moisture-proof layer, a substrate disposed on the moisture-proof layer, a wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the wet hard coat layer, an antireflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the antireflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0146]

[0170] The flexible cover lens assembly according to paragraph 20, further comprising a shock absorption layer disposed between the moisture-proof layer and the substrate.

[0147]

[0171] Paragraph 22. A flexible cover lens assembly including a moisture-proof layer, a shock absorption layer disposed on the moisture-proof layer, a substrate disposed on the shock absorption layer, an adhesion promoting layer disposed on the substrate, an antireflection layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the antireflection layer, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the dry hard coat layer.

[0148]

[0172] Paragraph 23. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 22, wherein the flexible cover lens assembly has a critical strain of 1% to about 15%.

[0149]

[0173] Paragraph 24. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 23, wherein the flexible cover lens assembly has a critical strain of about 2% to about 12%.

[0150]

[0174] The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 24, further comprising a substrate disposed between the glass layer and the adhesion promoting layer.

[0151]

[0175] Paragraph 26. The glass layer is an ultra-thin glass layer and has a thickness in the range of about 20 μm to about 100 μm, and the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 25.

[0152]

[0176] Paragraph 27. The dry hard coat layer contains a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, and the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 26.

[0153]

[0177] Paragraph 28. The dry hard coat layer is formed by a vapor deposition process and has a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1.5 GPa to about 4.5 GPa, and the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 27.

[0154]

[0178] Paragraph 29. The dry hard coat layer has a porosity in the range of about 1% to about 7%, and the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 28.

[0155]

[0179] Paragraph 30. The dry hard coat layer has a refractive index in the range of about 1.42 to about 1.55, and the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 29.

[0156]

[0180] Paragraph 31. The dry hard coat layer has a refractive index in the range of about 1.45 to about 1.51, and the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 30.

[0157]

[0181] Paragraph 32. The dry hard coat layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 μm to about 40 μm, and the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 31.

[0158]

[0182] Paragraph 33. The dry hard coat layer is a flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 32, manufactured by a vapor deposition process.

[0159]

[0183] Paragraph 34. The dry hard coat layer is a flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 33, manufactured by a vapor deposition process selected from the group consisting of PVD, CVD, PE-CVD, HDP-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, and any combination thereof.

[0160]

[0184] Paragraph 35. The wet hard coat layer is a flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 34, including acrylate, sol-gel, siloxane, their copolymers, their elastomers, or any combination thereof.

[0161]

[0185] Paragraph 36. The wet hard coat layer contains acrylate, and the acrylate includes radiation-curable acrylate, aliphatic urethane acrylate, their copolymers, their elastomers, or any combination thereof, which is a flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 35.

[0162]

[0186] Paragraph 37. The wet hard coat layer is a flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 36, manufactured from gel, spin coating, solution, suspension, or any combination thereof.

[0163]

[0187] Paragraph 38. The wet hard coat layer has a porosity of about 6% to about 10%, which is a flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 37.

[0164]

[0188] Paragraph 39. The wet hard coat layer has a refractive index of about 1.40 to about 1.55, which is a flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 38.

[0165]

[0189] Paragraph 40. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 39, wherein the wet hard coat layer has a refractive index of about 1.43 to about 1.51.

[0166]

[0190] Paragraph 41. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 40, wherein the wet hard coat layer has a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.5 GPa to about 1.2 GPa.

[0167]

[0191] Paragraph 42. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 41, wherein the wet hard coat layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.5 μm to about 40 μm.

[0168]

[0192] Paragraph 43. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 42, further comprising a substrate disposed between the glass layer and the adhesion promoting layer.

[0169]

[0193] Paragraph 44. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 43, further comprising a wet hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.4 GPa to about 1.5 GPa, wherein the wet hard coat layer is disposed between the substrate and the adhesion promoting layer.

[0170]

[0194] Paragraph 45. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 44, further comprising a dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 1 GPa to about 5 GPa, wherein the dry hard coat layer is disposed between the adhesion promoting layer and the fingerprint-proof coating layer.

[0171]

[0195] Paragraph 46. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 45, wherein the adhesion promoting layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof.

[0172]

[0196] Paragraph 47. The adhesion promoting layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 46, having a carbon concentration gradient across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer.

[0173]

[0197] Paragraph 48. The adhesion promoting layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 47, including from about two sub-layers to about ten sub-layers.

[0174]

[0198] Paragraph 49. The adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers contained therein, and the plurality of sub-layers include a carbon concentration gradient across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 48.

[0175]

[0199] Paragraph 50. The adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers contained therein, and the plurality of sub-layers include a hardness gradient across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 49.

[0176]

[0200] Paragraph 51. The adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers contained therein, and the plurality of sub-layers have a nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 0.1 GPa to about 5 GPa across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer, as measured by the nanoindentation method. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 50.

[0177]

[0201] Paragraph 52. The hardness is measured by the nanoindentation method and is within the range of about 0.5 GPa to about 3.5 GPa. The flexible cover lens assembly according to paragraph 51.

[0178]

[0202] Paragraph 53. The adhesion promoting layer is manufactured from a vapor deposition process. The flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 52.

[0179]

[0203] Paragraph 54. The adhesion promoting layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 53, manufactured by a vapor deposition process selected from the group consisting of PVD, sputtering, CVD, PE-CVD, HDP-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, and any combination thereof.

[0180]

[0204] Paragraph 55. The adhesion promoting layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 54, manufactured from a silicon precursor and an oxidizing agent.

[0181]

[0205] Paragraph 56. The silicon precursor includes alkylsilane, alkoxysilane, alkylsiloxane, alkylsilazane, or any combination thereof, for the flexible cover lens assembly according to paragraph 55.

[0182]

[0206] Paragraph 57. The adhesion promoting layer has a refractive index of about 1.40 to about 1.55, for the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 56.

[0183]

[0207] Paragraph 58. The adhesion promoting layer has a refractive index of about 1.43 to about 1.51, for the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 57.

[0184]

[0208] Paragraph 59. The adhesion promoting layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.04 μm to about 30 μm, for the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 58.

[0185]

[0209] Paragraph 60. The moisture-proof layer includes a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, for the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 59.

[0186]

[0210] Paragraph 61. The moisture-proof layer includes from about two sub-layers to about five sub-layers, and is the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 60.

[0187]

[0211] Paragraph 62. The moisture-proof layer includes a plurality of sub-layers contained therein, and is the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 61.

[0188]

[0212] Paragraph 63. The moisture-proof layer includes a film laminate including a second sub-layer disposed between a first sub-layer and a third sub-layer, the first sub-layer includes silicon nitride, the second sub-layer includes silicon oxide, and the third sub-layer includes silicon nitride, and is the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 62.

[0189]

[0213] Paragraph 64. The moisture-proof layer is manufactured from a vapor deposition process, and is the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 63.

[0190]

[0214] Paragraph 65. The moisture-proof layer is manufactured from a vapor deposition process selected from the group consisting of PVD, CVD, PE-CVD, HDP-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, and any combination thereof, and is the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 64.

[0191]

[0215] Paragraph 66. The moisture-proof layer has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) in the range of about 1×10 -6 g / m 2 / day to about 10 g / m 2 / day, and is the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 65.

[0192]

[0216] Paragraph 67. The moisture-proof layer has a thickness in the range of about 20 nm to about 500 nm, and is the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 66.

[0193]

[0217] Paragraph 68. The moisture-proof layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 67, having a light transmittance within the visible range in the range of about 85% to about 98%.

[0194]

[0218] Paragraph 69. The shock-absorbing layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 68, including a material selected from the group consisting of ether urethane, ester urethane, aliphatic urethane, aliphatic polyurethane, aliphatic polyester urethane, thermosetting polysulfide, polyamide, their copolymers, their elastomers, and any combination thereof.

[0195]

[0219] Paragraph 70. The shock-absorbing layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 69, having a thickness in the range of about 1 μm to about 150 μm.

[0196]

[0220] Paragraph 71. The shock-absorbing layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 70, having a light transmittance within the visible range in the range of about 85% to about 98%.

[0197]

[0221] Paragraph 72. The fingerprint-proof coating layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 71, including a material selected from the group consisting of perfluoropolyether-containing silane polymer, chlorosilane,oxysilane, fluoroethylene, perfluoropolyether, their dopants, and any combination thereof.

[0198]

[0222] Paragraph 73. The fingerprint-proof coating layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 72, manufactured from a vapor deposition process.

[0199]

[0223] Paragraph 74. The fingerprint prevention coating layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 73, which is manufactured by a deposition process selected from the group consisting of PVD, ion beam evaporation, CVD, spin coating, spray coating, dip coating, thermosetting, and any combination thereof.

[0200]

[0224] Paragraph 75. The fingerprint prevention coating layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 74, which has a surface energy in the range of about 10 dyne / cm to about 80 dyne / cm.

[0201]

[0225] Paragraph 76. The fingerprint prevention coating layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 75, which has a surface energy in the range of about 30 dyne / cm to about 50 dyne / cm.

[0202]

[0226] Paragraph 77. The fingerprint prevention coating layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 76, which has a thickness in the range of about 3 nm to about 50 nm.

[0203]

[0227] Paragraph 78. The antireflection layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 77, which has a refractive index in the range of about 1.7 to about 2.3.

[0204]

[0228] Paragraph 79. The antireflection layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 78, which has a refractive index in the range of about 1.8 to about 2.1.

[0205]

[0229] Paragraph 80. The antireflection layer is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 79, which has a light transmittance in the visible range in the range of about 85% to about 98%.

[0206]

[0230] Paragraph 81. The antireflection layer has a thickness in the range of about 2 nm to about 150 nm, and is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 80.

[0207]

[0231] Paragraph 82. The antireflection layer contains a material selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon carbonitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, and is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 81.

[0208]

[0232] Paragraph 83. The antireflection layer contains silicon nitride, and is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 82.

[0209]

[0233] Paragraph 84. The antireflection layer is manufactured from a vapor deposition process, and is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 83.

[0210]

[0234] Paragraph 85. The antireflection layer is generated from a vapor deposition process selected from the group consisting of sputtering, PVD, CVD, PE-CVD, HDP-CVD, ALD, PE-ALD, and any combination thereof, and is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 84.

[0211]

[0235] Paragraph 86. The substrate has a thickness in the range of about 5 μm to about 100 μm, and is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 85.

[0212]

[0236] Paragraph 87. The substrate contains a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, triacetyl cellulose, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyamide, polysulfide, polymethyl methacrylate, their copolymers, their elastomers, and any combination thereof, and is the flexible cover lens assembly according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 86.

[0213]

[0237] Paragraph 88. A flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate, comprising a first flexible cover lens including the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 87, a second flexible cover lens including the flexible cover lens assembly described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 87, wherein the first and second cover lenses are different, and a sacrificial adhesive layer disposed between the first flexible cover lens and the second flexible cover lens.

[0214]

[0238] Paragraph 89. The flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate according to paragraph 88, wherein the sacrificial adhesive layer comprises a polymer or oligomer material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, silicones, thermoplastic adhesives, elastomeric adhesives, and combinations thereof.

[0215]

[0239] Paragraph 90. The flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate according to paragraph 88, wherein the sacrificial adhesive layer is decomposable at a temperature of about 60 °C to about 120 °C.

[0216]

[0240] Paragraph 91. The flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate according to paragraph 88, wherein the sacrificial adhesive layer is decomposable when exposed to ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 350 nm to about 375 nm for a period of about 0.5 seconds to about 30 seconds.

[0217]

[0241] Paragraph 92. A display device, comprising the flexible cover lens assembly or the flexible and replaceable cover lens laminate described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 91, and a flexible display structure.

[0218]

[0242] Paragraph 93. The display device according to paragraph 92, wherein the flexible display structure comprises an OLED display or an LCD display.

[0219]

[0243] The above description is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, but other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope of the present disclosure, and the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the following claims. All documents described herein are incorporated herein by reference, including any priority documents and / or test procedures, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the text. As is apparent from the above general description and the specific embodiments, the forms of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, but various modifications can be made without departing from the gist and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is not intended that the present disclosure be limited thereby. Similarly, the term "comprising" is considered to be synonymous with the term "including" for purposes of U.S. law. Similarly, whenever there is a transitional phrase "comprising" before a composition, element, or group of elements, a transitional phrase "consisting essentially of", "consisting of", "selected from the group of consisting of", or "is" having the same composition or group of elements is also intended prior to the recitation of the composition, element, or group of elements, and vice versa should be understood.

[0220]

[0244] Specific embodiments and features are described using combinations of numerical upper limits and combinations of numerical lower limits. It should be understood that ranges including any combination of two values, e.g., any combination of any lower value and any higher value, any combination of any two lower values, and / or any combination of any two higher values, are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Specific lower limits, upper limits, and ranges are recited in one or more of the following claims.

Claims

1. A moisture-proof layer, an impact-absorbing layer disposed on the moisture-proof layer, a substrate disposed on the impact-absorbing layer, an adhesion-promoting layer disposed directly on the substrate, the adhesion-promoting layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbide nitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, an anti-reflection layer disposed directly on the adhesion-promoting layer, a dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, the dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa, and a fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the adhesion-promoting layer and comprising, having a critical strain greater than 1%, wherein the dry hard coat layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbide nitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, a flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display.

2. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1, wherein the critical strain is 2% to 15%.

3. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1, wherein the dry hard coat layer has a nanoindentation hardness in the range of 1 GPa to 5 GPa.

4. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1, wherein the material of the adhesion-promoting layer comprises silicon oxide, silicon carbide, or silicon oxycarbide.

5. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion-promoting layer has a refractive index in the range of 1.40 to 1.

55.

6. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion-promoting layer has a carbon concentration that varies across the thickness thereof such that a gradient of carbon concentration is generated across the thickness of the adhesion-promoting layer.

7. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion-promoting layer comprises 2 to 10 sub-layers.

8. The adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers, and the plurality of sub-layers have a carbon concentration that varies across the thickness such that a gradient of carbon concentration is generated across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1.

9. The adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers, and the plurality of sub-layers have a hardness that varies across the thickness such that a gradient of hardness is generated across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1.

10. The adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers, and the plurality of sub-layers have a nanoindentation hardness in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa as measured by nanoindentation across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 1.

11. A moisture-proof layer, A substrate disposed on the moisture-proof layer, A wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, An adhesion promoting layer disposed directly on the wet hard coat layer, the adhesion promoting layer including a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, An anti-reflection layer disposed directly on the adhesion promoting layer, A dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, the dry hard coat layer including a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, and having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa, A fingerprint-proof coating layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer and including A flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display having a critical strain greater than 1%.

12. The material of the adhesion promoting layer includes silicon oxide, silicon carbide, or silicon oxycarbide, and the adhesion promoting layer has a refractive index in the range of 1.40 to 1.

55. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 11.

13. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 11, wherein the adhesion promoting layer has a carbon concentration that varies across the thickness such that a gradient of carbon concentration is generated across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer.

14. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 11, wherein the adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers, and the plurality of sub-layers have a carbon concentration that varies across the thickness such that a gradient of carbon concentration is generated across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer.

15. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 11, wherein the adhesion promoting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers, and the plurality of sub-layers have a nano-indentation hardness in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa as measured by nano-indentation across the thickness of the adhesion promoting layer.

16. A glass layer, An impact absorbing layer disposed on the glass layer, A substrate disposed on the impact absorbing layer, A wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, An adhesion promoting layer disposed directly on the wet hard coat layer, the adhesion promoting layer including a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof. An anti-reflection layer disposed directly on the adhesion promoting layer, A dry hard coat layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, the dry hard coat layer having a nano-indentation hardness in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa. A fingerprint prevention coating layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer and having a critical strain greater than 1%, wherein the dry hard coat layer includes a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, their dopants, and any combination thereof, the flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display.

17. An impact absorbing layer, A glass layer disposed on the impact absorbing layer, A substrate disposed on the glass layer, A wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate, An adhesion promoting layer directly disposed on the wet hard coat layer, the adhesion promoting layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, dopants thereof, and any combination thereof. An antireflection layer directly disposed on the adhesion promoting layer. A dry hard coat layer disposed on the antireflection layer, the dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa. A fingerprint preventing coating layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer. Including, having a critical strain greater than 1%. The dry hard coat layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, dopants thereof, and any combination thereof, a flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display.

18. A moisture-proof layer. An impact absorbing layer disposed on the moisture-proof layer. A substrate disposed on the impact absorbing layer. A wet hard coat layer disposed on the substrate. An adhesion promoting layer directly disposed on the wet hard coat layer, the adhesion promoting layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, dopants thereof, and any combination thereof. An antireflection layer directly disposed on the adhesion promoting layer. A dry hard coat layer disposed on the antireflection layer, the dry hard coat layer having a nanoindentation hardness in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa. A fingerprint preventing coating layer disposed on the adhesion promoting layer. Including, having a critical strain greater than 1%. The dry hard coat layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, dopants thereof, and any combination thereof, a flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display.

19. The wet hard coat layer has a nanoindentation hardness in the range of 0.4 GPa to 1.5 GPa. The wet hard coat layer contains acrylate, and the acrylate contains radiation curable acrylate, aliphatic urethane acrylate, copolymers thereof, elastomers thereof, or any combination thereof. The flexible cover lens assembly for a foldable display according to claim 18.

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