JP2018025636A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device that has an increased mobile property by a simple configuration, which suppresses reduction of a manufacturing yield and increase of cost.SOLUTION: The display device includes: a first display panel 10 with rigidity and no flexibility; and a second display panel 58 with flexibility. The first display panel 10 has a first junction part 68 electrically and mechanically jointed to a second display panel 58 in a position distant from a first display region 12 in a first direction. The second display panel 58 has a second junction part 70 electrically and mechanically jointed to the first display panel 10 in a position distant from a second display region 60 in a second direction. The first and second junction parts 68 and 70 are electrically and mechanically jointed to each other while a first display region 12 and a second display region 60 overlap with each other with display surfaces where a first image is displayed and a display surface where a second image is displayed facing each other. Bending the second display panel 58 at the second display region 60 to be adjacent to the second junction part 70 allows the first image and the second image to be displayed adjacent to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device.

  A flexible display having a structure in which a display element is laminated on a bendable flexible substrate has been developed. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, if a flexible display is folded and portable, even a relatively large monitor can be carried.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-15618

  Since the display of the foldable flexible display is deteriorated when it is folded and a crease is formed, a structure that regulates the curvature when folded so as not to be excessively large is necessary. In addition, since one display is expanded to form one screen, the entire display becomes defective even if there is a defect only on one side of the fold. As a result, there is a problem that the yield decreases and the cost increases.

  An object of the present invention is to increase mobility with a simple structure and suppress a decrease in manufacturing yield and an increase in cost.

  In the display device according to the present invention, a rigid first display panel having a first display area on which a first image is displayed and a first peripheral area surrounding the first display area, and a second image are displayed. A flexible second display panel having a second display area and a second peripheral area surrounding the second display area, wherein the first display panel is first from the first display area. There is a first electrical and mechanical joint with the second display panel at a position biased in the direction, and the second display panel is at a position biased in the second direction from the second display region, The first display panel includes the first display area and the first display panel, each having a second electrical and mechanical joint with the first display panel, the display surfaces on which the first image and the second image are respectively displayed facing each other. When the two display areas overlap, the first joint and the second joint are electrically and mechanically The first display panel does not have flexibility, and the second display panel is bent in the second display area adjacent to the second joint portion, whereby the first image is displayed. And the second image is displayed next to each other.

  According to the present invention, when the second display panel is bent, the first image and the second image are displayed side by side, while the first display area and the second display area can be overlapped. Therefore, since the size can be reduced with a simple structure, the mobility is high. In addition, since the first display panel and the second display panel are used, if only one of them is replaced, a decrease in manufacturing yield and an increase in cost can be suppressed.

It is a top view of the display apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of the display apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by III in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by IV in FIG. 2.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof, and is not construed as being limited to the description of the embodiments exemplified below.

  In order to make the explanation clearer, the drawings may be schematically represented with respect to the width, thickness, shape, and the like of each part as compared to the actual embodiment, but are merely examples and limit the interpretation of the present invention. Not what you want. In this specification and each drawing, elements having the same functions as those described with reference to the previous drawings may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

  Further, in the detailed description of the present invention, when the positional relationship between a certain component and another component is defined, “up” and “down” are used only when the component is positioned directly above or directly below a certain component. Unless otherwise specified, the case where another component is further interposed is included.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of the display device shown in FIG. An organic electroluminescence display device is taken as an example of the display device. For example, the display device is configured to combine a plurality of color unit pixels (sub-pixels) made of red, green, and blue to form a full-color pixel and display a full-color image.

  The display device includes a first display panel 10 that is rigid and not flexible. Since at least a part of the display device has rigidity, the display device can be easily mounted on a housing (not shown). The first display panel 10 has a first display area 12 in which a first image is displayed. The first display panel 10 has a first peripheral region 14 that surrounds the first display region 12.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by III in FIG. The first display panel 10 has a first substrate 16. The first substrate 16 is made of, for example, glass and has rigidity. An undercoat layer 18 is formed on the first substrate 16 as a barrier against impurities contained in the first substrate 16. The undercoat layer 18 is made of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, or the like, and may have a laminated structure thereof. A semiconductor layer 20 is formed on the undercoat layer 18. A source electrode 22 and a drain electrode 24 are electrically connected to the semiconductor layer 20, and a gate insulating film 26 is formed to cover the semiconductor layer 20. A gate electrode 28 is formed on the gate insulating film 26, and an interlayer insulating film 30 is formed so as to cover the gate electrode 28. The source electrode 22 and the drain electrode 24 penetrate the gate insulating film 26 and the interlayer insulating film 30. The semiconductor layer 20, the source electrode 22, the drain electrode 24, and the gate electrode 28 constitute a thin film transistor 32. A passivation film 34 is provided so as to cover the thin film transistor 32.

  A planarization layer 36 is provided on the passivation film 34. A plurality of pixel electrodes 38 (for example, anodes) configured to correspond to the plurality of unit pixels (sub-pixels) are provided on the planarization layer 36. The planarization layer 36 is formed so that at least the surface on which the pixel electrode 38 is provided is flat. As the planarization layer 36, an organic material such as a photosensitive acrylic resin is often used. The pixel electrode 38 is electrically connected to one of the source electrode 22 and the drain electrode 24 on the semiconductor layer 20 through a contact hole 40 that penetrates the planarization layer 36 and the passivation film 34.

  An insulating layer 42 is formed on the planarizing layer 36 and the pixel electrode 38. The insulating layer 42 is formed on the periphery of the pixel electrode 38 so as to open a part (for example, the center) of the pixel electrode 38. A bank surrounding a part of the pixel electrode 38 is formed by the insulating layer 42.

  A light emitting layer 44 is provided on the pixel electrode 38. The light emitting layer 44 is provided separately (separated) for each pixel electrode 38 and is also placed on the insulating layer 42. In this case, the light emitting layer 44 emits light in blue, red, and green corresponding to each pixel. The color corresponding to each pixel is not limited to this, and may be, for example, yellow or white. These layers are formed by vapor deposition, for example. Further, these layers may be formed on the entire surface covering the display region or over a plurality of pixels. That is, in FIG. 3, the light emitting layer 44 may be continued on the insulating layer 42. In this case, the light emitting layer 44 is formed by coating by solvent dispersion. In the case of solid formation, white light is obtained in all subpixels, and a color filter is provided on a first counter substrate 56 described later, whereby a desired color wavelength portion can be extracted.

  A common electrode 46 (for example, a cathode) is provided on the light emitting layer 44. The common electrode 46 is formed so as to be placed above the insulating layer 42 serving as a bank. The light emitting layer 44 is sandwiched between the pixel electrode 38 and the common electrode 46 and emits light with its luminance controlled by a current flowing between them. Between the light emitting layer 44 and the pixel electrode 38, at least one of a hole transport layer and a hole injection layer (not shown) may be provided. Between the light emitting layer 44 and the common electrode 46, at least one of an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer (not shown) may be provided.

  The light emitting layer 44 is sealed by being covered with a sealing layer 48 stacked on the common electrode 46 and is shielded from moisture. The sealing layer 48 includes an inorganic film such as SiN and may have a laminated structure. For example, a structure in which an organic film 53 such as a resin is sandwiched between a pair of inorganic layers 50 and 52 may be employed. In FIG. 3, the sealing layer 48 has a step or unevenness on the side opposite to the common electrode 46, but may have a flat surface if it has a sufficient thickness.

  A first counter substrate 56 is attached to the sealing layer 48 via an adhesive layer 54. The first counter substrate 56 is made of, for example, glass, has rigidity, and does not have flexibility. If one of the first substrate 16 and the first counter substrate 56 has rigidity, the other may be a flexible film such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device includes a second display panel 58 having flexibility. The second display panel 58 has a second display area 60 in which a second image is displayed. The second display panel 58 has a second peripheral area 62 that surrounds the second display area 60.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by IV in FIG. The second display panel 58 has a second substrate 64. The second substrate 64 is flexible and may be a flexible film such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate. The second substrate 64 may be formed of a plurality of layers.

  The structure described on the first display panel 10 corresponds to the structure laminated on the second substrate 64. However, the second counter substrate 66 attached to the adhesive layer 54 has flexibility, and a flexible film such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate may be used. The second counter substrate 66 may be formed of a plurality of layers.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first display panel 10 and the second display panel 58 are electrically and mechanically joined. For this purpose, the first display panel 10 has a first electrical and mechanical joint 68 with the second display panel 58. The first joint portion 68 is located at a position offset from the first display area 12 in the first direction (right direction in FIG. 2). In addition, the second display panel 58 includes an electrical and mechanical second joint portion 70 with the first display panel 10. The second joint portion 70 is located at a position offset from the second display region 60 in the second direction (right direction in FIG. 2). The 1st junction part 68 and the 2nd junction part 70 are facing.

  In FIG. 2, when the second display panel 58 is in a state indicated by a two-dot chain line, the display surfaces on which the first image and the second image are displayed face each other, and the first display region 12 and the second display region are displayed. 60 overlap. In this state, the first joint 68 and the second joint 70 are electrically and mechanically joined. Since the first display panel 10 and the second display panel 58 are electrically connected, they can be driven by a single integrated circuit chip 72 as shown in FIG. The integrated circuit chip 72 is mounted on the first display panel 10 (first peripheral region 14).

  If the second display panel 58 is extended without being bent as shown by a two-dot chain line, the display device can be miniaturized and portable. As shown by the solid line, the second display panel 58 is bent adjacent to the second joint portion 70 in the second display region 60, whereby the first image and the second image are displayed adjacent to each other (FIG. 1). reference). The second image is also displayed in the bent region (FIG. 2) of the second display region 60 when the first image and the second image are displayed next to each other. The first image and the second image are combined into one image. It is desirable that the first image and the second image are continuously connected in the same size so that the first image and the second image are continuously connected without a sense of incongruity and can display a continuous image as a unit. Alternatively, the first display panel 10 and the second display panel 58 may be used as a two-screen monitor.

  Switching may be enabled by opening / closing operations (bending and extending operations) of the second display panel 58. For example, a switch function can be realized by providing a pressure sensor or a bending sensor inside the second display panel 58.

  According to the present embodiment, when the second display panel 58 is bent, the first image and the second image are displayed adjacent to each other, while the first display area 12 and the second display area 60 are overlapped. ing. Therefore, since the size can be reduced with a simple structure, the mobility is high. In addition, since the first display panel 10 and the second display panel 58 are used, if only one of them is replaced, a decrease in manufacturing yield and an increase in cost can be suppressed.

  Note that the display device is not limited to the organic electroluminescence display device, and may be a display device including a light emitting element such as a quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED) in each pixel. A liquid crystal display device may be used.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, the configuration described in the embodiment can be replaced with substantially the same configuration, a configuration that exhibits the same operational effects, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose.

  10 first display panel, 12 first display region, 14 first peripheral region, 16 first substrate, 18 undercoat layer, 20 semiconductor layer, 22 source electrode, 24 drain electrode, 26 gate insulating film, 28 gate electrode, 30 Interlayer insulating film, 32 thin film transistor, 34 passivation film, 36 planarization layer, 38 pixel electrode, 40 contact hole, 42 insulating layer, 44 light emitting layer, 46 common electrode, 48 sealing layer, 50 inorganic layer, 52 inorganic layer, 53 Organic film, 54 Adhesive layer, 56 First counter substrate, 58 Second display panel, 60 Second display region, 62 Second peripheral region, 64 Second substrate, 66 Second counter substrate, 68 First junction, 70 First 2 junctions, 72 integrated circuit chips.

Claims (3)

A first display panel having a first display area on which a first image is displayed and a first peripheral area surrounding the first display area and having rigidity;
A flexible second display panel having a second display area in which a second image is displayed and a second peripheral area surrounding the second display area;
Have
The first display panel has an electrical and mechanical first joint with the second display panel at a position offset in the first direction from the first display area,
The second display panel has an electrical and mechanical second joint with the first display panel at a position offset in the second direction from the second display region,
In a state where the display surfaces on which the first image and the second image are respectively displayed face each other and the first display region and the second display region overlap, the first joint portion and the second joint portion are electrically connected. Mechanically and mechanically,
The first display panel does not have flexibility,
The display device, wherein the first image and the second image are displayed adjacent to each other by bending the second display panel in the second display area adjacent to the second joint portion. . The display device according to claim 1,
The display device, wherein the second image is also displayed in a bent region of the second display region when the first image and the second image are displayed adjacent to each other. The display device according to claim 1 or 2,
The display device, wherein the first image and the second image are combined into one image.

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