KR102442043B1 - Foldable display device - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a foldable display device, and more particularly, to a cover member, a first adhesive layer disposed under the cover member, a display panel disposed under the first adhesive layer, and disposed under the display panel a second adhesive layer and a back plate disposed under the second adhesive layer, wherein the foldable display includes a folding area and a non-folding area located on both sides of the folding area, and at least one side of the cover member The present invention relates to a foldable display having a folding area and a cover member groove in at least one of a boundary area between the folding area and the non-folding area. According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the foldable display from being cracked while allowing the foldable display to be folded inside and outside.

Description

Foldable display device {FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a foldable display device.

As the information society develops, the demand for a display device for displaying an image is increasing in various forms, and in recent years, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting Various display devices such as an organic light emitting diode display device (OLED) are being used.

Such display devices are being applied to various fields such as TVs (Televisions), automobile displays, and wearable devices as well as mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs. In order to be applied to various fields, structural modifications are required.

Recently, bendable, foldable, curved, rollable, and flexible foldable display devices (hereinafter, bendable, foldable curved, rollable and flexible) A foldable display device that can be bent or folded like a foldable display device (which is named after a unified term) is in the spotlight.

As the display device begins to be applied to various fields, research on a bendable or foldable foldable display device has been continuously conducted. Such a bendable or foldable foldable display device may include a cover member, an optical layer, a display panel, and a back plate. A foldable display device that can be bent or folded should be capable of bending or folding the components constituting the foldable display device.

However, when the foldable display device is bent or folded, stress is generated in the cover member, the optical layer, the display panel, and the back plate. When a stress greater than the breaking strength is generated in the cover member, the optical layer, the display panel, and the back plate, cracks are generated in each component.

In particular, there is a problem in that the size of the stress transmitted to the cover member, the optical layer, the display panel, and the back plate varies according to the direction in which the foldable display is bent or folded, so that the configuration in which the crack starts also varies.

Against this background, it is an object of the embodiments of the present invention to provide a foldable display having a structure capable of preventing a crack from occurring in a cover member in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded in an outward direction.

Another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a foldable display having a structure capable of preventing cracks from occurring in an optical layer and a display panel in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded in an inward direction.

Another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a foldable display having a structure that can prevent cracks in components included in the foldable display in a foldable display that can be bent or folded in the outer and inner layer directions. To provide a display device.

In one aspect, in the foldable display device according to the embodiments of the present invention, a cover member, a first adhesive layer disposed under the cover member, a display panel disposed under the first adhesive layer, and a first adhesive layer disposed under the display panel 2 , and a back plate disposed under the second adhesive layer, wherein the foldable display includes a folding area and a non-folding area located on both sides of the folding area, and at least one side surface of the cover member in the folding area There may be at least one cover member groove.

In such a foldable display device, a cover member groove may be provided at at least one of a boundary area of the folding area of at least one side of the cover member and a point within the folding area.

In addition, an optical layer may be further disposed between the cover member and the first adhesive layer, and at least one optical layer groove may be formed on at least one side of the optical layer in the folding area.

Also, in the folding region, at least one first adhesive layer groove may be formed on at least one side surface of the first adhesive layer.

Here, the cover member groove, the optical layer groove, and the first adhesive layer groove may have external appearances corresponding to each other at positions corresponding to each other.

In another aspect, in the foldable display device of the embodiments of the present invention, a cover member, a first adhesive layer disposed under the cover member, a display panel disposed under the first adhesive layer, and a first adhesive layer disposed under the display panel a second adhesive layer and a back plate disposed under the second adhesive layer, wherein the cover member, the second adhesive layer, the display panel, the second adhesive layer and the back plate are foldable, and at least one cover member is provided on at least one side of the cover member There may be grooves.

According to the above-described embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a foldable display having a structure that can prevent cracks from occurring in the cover member in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded outward. .

According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a foldable display having a structure capable of preventing cracks in an optical layer and a display panel in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded in an inward direction.

According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a foldable display having a structure capable of preventing cracks in the optical layer and the display panel in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded in an outward and inward direction. have.

1A to 1B are diagrams schematically illustrating a foldable display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
2 is a diagram illustrating a shape in which a foldable display device is folded in an outward direction according to embodiments of the present invention.
3 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 3 .
5 is a graph illustrating a tendency of stress applied to the foldable display device of FIG. 3 when the foldable display device including the cover member and the foldable display device according to the comparative example are folded outward.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 3 .
7 is a plan view showing a cover member according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 8 .
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 8 .
11 is a diagram illustrating an inwardly folded shape of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 12 .
FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating the tendency of stress applied to the foldable display device of FIG. 12 and the foldable display device according to the comparative example having the cover member when folded inward.
15 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 12 .
16 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
17 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 16 .
18 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 16 .
19 and 20 are plan views showing a cover member according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
21 to 24 are perspective views of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
25 is a diagram illustrating a cover member of a foldable display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
26 and 27 are diagrams schematically illustrating a foldable display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to components of each drawing, the same components may have the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated in different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description may be omitted.

In addition, in describing the components of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the elements from other elements, and the essence, order, order, or number of the elements are not limited by the terms. When it is described that a component is “connected”, “coupled” or “connected” to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but other components may be interposed between each component. It should be understood that each component may be “interposed” or “connected,” “coupled,” or “connected” through another component.

Reference to an element or layer to another element or “on” or “on” includes not only directly on the other element or layer, but also with other layers or other elements interposed therebetween. do. On the other hand, reference to an element "directly on" or "directly on" indicates that there are no intervening elements or layers.

The spatially relative terms "below, beneath", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. are one element or component as shown in the drawings. and can be used to easily describe the correlation with other devices or components. Spatially relative terms should be understood as terms including different directions of the device during use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the drawings. For example, when an element shown in the figures is turned over, an element described as "beneath" or "beneath" another element may be placed "above" the other element. Accordingly, the exemplary term “below” may include both directions below and above.

In addition, in describing the components of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the elements from other elements, and the essence, order, order, or number of the elements are not limited by the terms.

1A to 1B are diagrams schematically illustrating a foldable display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1A , a foldable display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention includes a foldable display device including at least one folding area BA and at least two non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2. 100). Although FIG. 1A shows that the foldable display 100 has a structure including one folding area BA and two non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2, the foldable display 100 of the present invention does not It is not limited, and may include a plurality of folding areas BA, may not include non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2, or may include three or more non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2.

The foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention may be a foldable display 100 that can be stably driven even in a bent state by an external force. Meanwhile, although FIG. 1A illustrates the configuration of the foldable display device 100 of the foldable display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, this is only an example and a folder according to embodiments of the present invention. The flexible display device 100 may be various display devices such as a bendable display device, a curved display device, a rollable display device, and a flexible display device.

Although not shown separately, the foldable display 100 according to the present invention includes large electronic devices such as televisions or external billboards, mobile phones, personal computers, notebook computers, personal digital terminals, car navigation units, game consoles, and portable electronic devices. It can be used for small and medium-sized electronic devices such as devices, wrist watch-type electronic devices, and cameras.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A , the display surface IM on which the image is displayed is parallel to the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 . The normal direction of the display surface is parallel to the third direction DR3 . That is, the third direction DR3 is perpendicular to the first and second directions DR1 and DR2 . The third direction DR3 may indicate a thickness direction of the foldable display 100 . A front surface and a rear surface of each member may be divided by the third direction DR3 .

As shown in FIG. 1A , the foldable display 100 includes a plurality of regions that are divided on the display surface. The foldable display 100 may be divided into a display area (A/A) and a non-display area (N/A) depending on whether the corresponding area displays an image.

The display device 100 displays an image through the display area A/A. The non-display area (N/A) does not display an image. A driver and/or wirings for driving the display area A/A may be disposed in the non-display area N/A. The non-display area N/A may be disposed outside the display area A/A.

As described above, the foldable display 100 includes a folding area BA that is bent according to an applied external force, a first non-folding area NBA1 that is not bent according to an applied external force, and a second non-folding area NBA2 ) can be distinguished. The folding area BA may be positioned between the first and second non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2.

The folding area BA may be curved, for example, based on the folding axis BX parallel to the second direction DR2 .

In addition, first and second folding boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 may be positioned in both boundary areas of the folding area BA. For example, the first folding boundary area BA-NBA1 is positioned between the first non-folding area NBA1 and the folding area BA, and a portion of the second non-folding area NBA2 and the folding area BA are disposed. A second folding boundary area BA-NBA2 may be positioned between the portions.

Here, the first folding boundary area BA-NBA1 and the second folding boundary area BA-NBA2 are not included in both the folding area BA and the first and second non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2, or are folded It may be an area included only in the area BA, only in the first and second non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2, or only in the folding area BA and the first and second non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2. have.

Meanwhile, the "folding area" described herein may mean an area that is different from a state before the folding process by a folding process by a user or the like.

One or two or more of these folding regions may exist, and when there are two or more folding regions, the folding state (eg, folding curvature, folded surface state, etc.) may be the same or different.

In addition, the position of the folding area may be a fixed position in the foldable display device, or may vary according to a folding processing position of a user or the like.

In addition, the size of the folding area may always be the same or may vary according to a folding processing method of a user or the like.

Meanwhile, the “non-folding area” is a non-folding area and may refer to an area in which a state prior to the folding process is maintained.

The number, positions, and sizes of the non-folding regions may be determined by the number, positions, and sizes of the folding regions as described above.

On the other hand, the folding shape may be generally a gentle curved shape, but may include a bent shape.

As shown in FIG. 1B , the foldable display 100 includes a cover member 110 , an optical layer 160 disposed under the cover member 110 , and a first adhesive layer disposed under the optical layer 160 . 120 , the display panel 130 disposed under the first adhesive layer 120 , the second adhesive layer 140 disposed under the display panel 130 , and the back plate 150 disposed under the second adhesive layer 140 . ) is included.

Here, the cover member 110 may be positioned on the display panel 130 to protect the display panel 130 .

The optical layer 160 may be configured to change the direction of light, adjust the intensity of light, or secure visibility. For example, the optical layer 160 may be a polarization layer composed of at least one layer.

The first and second adhesive layers 120 and 140 may be an optically clear adhesive film (OCA), but the first and second adhesive layers 120 and 140 according to embodiments of the present invention However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Also, the display panel 130 may include an upper substrate and a lower substrate.

The display panel 130 according to embodiments of the present invention may further include a touch panel disposed on a lower substrate. In this case, the touch panel includes all configurations of a built-in touch panel or an external touch panel.

In the following description, for convenience of description, the built-in or external touch panel will be described as a configuration included in the display panel 130 . That is, in the description to be described later, the display panel 130 may be a configuration including a touch panel.

The display panel 130 may be a liquid crystal display panel, an organic light emitting display panel, an electrophoretic display panel, or the like, and the type thereof is not limited. However, in the following description, for convenience of explanation, the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention will be mainly described as an organic light emitting foldable display.

The back plate 150 may be disposed under the display panel 100 , such as a cover bottom and a back cover, to protect the display panel 100 .

Meanwhile, the foldable display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention includes a cover member 110 , an optical layer 160 , a first adhesive layer 120 , a display panel 130 , a second adhesive layer 140 , and The back plate 150 may be bent in the folding area BA.

Specifically, the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , the first adhesive layer 120 , the display panel 130 , the second adhesive layer 140 , and the back plate 150 are outside with respect to the folding axis BX. It may be folded in an (outer) direction or an inner (inner) direction.

2 is a diagram illustrating a shape in which a foldable display device is folded in an outward direction according to embodiments of the present invention. When the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention is folded outward with respect to the folding axis BX, the display surfaces IM of the first and second non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2 are shown. They can be folded to be exposed to the outside.

To this end, the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , the first adhesive layer 120 , the display panel 130 , the second adhesive layer 140 , and the back plate 150 are all made of a material that can be bent or folded. can be

In detail, most of the components included in the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention may be made of an organic material to be easily bent or folded, or may have a very thin thickness.

However, since a plurality of thin film transistors and a plurality of organic light emitting devices are present in the display panel 130 , when excessive folding is performed, the thin film transistors and organic light emitting devices may be damaged.

Accordingly, when the foldable display device 100 is folded, the display panel 130 may be designed to have a plurality of neutral surfaces. Here, the neutral plane is defined as the point at which the external force applied to the configuration becomes zero. For example, the display panel 130 may be designed to have a neutral plane in a region in which the thin film transistor is positioned, and a region in which the organic light emitting diode is positioned may also be designed to have a neutral plane.

When designed as described above, when the foldable display device 100 is folded outward, stress is applied to the cover member 110 positioned above the display panel 130 , which may cause damage to the cover member 110 . have.

Specifically, when the foldable display device 100 is folded outwardly, the greatest tensile stress is applied to the cover member 110 in the configuration of the foldable display device 100 , and in particular, the folding area ( The greatest tensile stress can be applied at the central point of BA).

And, when the cover member 110 is damaged, it is common that cracks occur at the edge of the cover member 110 and propagate inward.

That is, when the foldable display 100 is folded outwardly due to a large external force or is repeatedly folded (when an external force is continuously applied), a cover located in an area corresponding to the central point of the folding area BA Cracks may occur at the edge of the member 110 , which may eventually lead to breakage.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a structure capable of preventing cracks from starting at the edge of the cover member 110 when the foldable display 100 is folded outward.

This will be reviewed with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 as follows.

3 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , at least one cover member groove 311 may be provided on at least one side surface of the cover member 110 of the foldable display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Specifically, the cover member groove 311 may be located in the folding area BA. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3 , the cover member groove 311 may be located at a central point in the folding area BA.

In this case, the cover member groove 311 may be provided at a position corresponding to the folding axis BX of the foldable display device.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration in which the cover member groove 311 is positioned only at a central point within the folding area BA, the foldable display 100 according to the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the cover member 110 includes a cover member groove 311 positioned at a central point in the folding area BA, and additionally at least one cover further disposed in the folding area BA (excluding the central point). It may include a member groove 311 .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3 , the appearance of the cover member groove 311 may have a wavy shape. That is, the cover member groove 311 may have a shape without a corner on a plane.

When the cover member 110 includes the cover member groove 311 having a corner shape, when the foldable display device 100 including the cover member 110 is folded, the edge of the cover member groove 311 is folded. Cracks start from there, and eventually the cover member 110 may be damaged. However, since the appearance of the cover member groove 311 according to the embodiments of the present invention is a wavy shape, it is possible to solve the above-described problem of the shape of the groove having an edge.

The structure and effect of the foldable display device including the cover member 110 shown in FIG. 3 will be reviewed in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a tendency of stress applied to the foldable display device of FIG. 3 when the foldable display device including the cover member and the foldable display device according to the comparative example are folded outward. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 3 .

Here, the foldable display device according to the comparative example may be a foldable display device that does not include the cover member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 4 , the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention includes a cover member 110 having at least one cover member groove 311 on at least one side thereof. An optical layer 160 , a first adhesive layer 120 , a display panel 130 , a second adhesive layer 140 , and a back plate 150 are sequentially disposed under the cover member 110 .

The modulus of the cover member 110 and the optical layer 160 is higher than that of the first adhesive layer 120 , the modulus of the first adhesive layer 120 is lower than that of the display panel 130 , and the display panel 130 . ) may be higher than the modulus of the second adhesive layer 140 , and the modulus of the second adhesive layer 140 may be lower than the modulus of the back plate 150 .

Here, the modulus is the elastic modulus representing the ratio of stress and strain.

In the foldable display device 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention, a configuration having a high modulus and a configuration having a low modulus are alternately arranged, so that when the foldable display 100 is bent, the cover member 110 having a relatively high modulus; Distribution of tensile stress (when folded in an outward direction) generated in the optical layer 160 and the back plate 150 may be controlled.

Specifically, the first adhesive layer 120 having a low modulus is disposed between the cover member 110 and the optical layer 160 and the display panel 130 , and the modulus is disposed between the display panel 130 and the back plate 150 . Since the second adhesive layer 140 having a low α is positioned, a neutral plane may be formed between the cover member 110 and the optical layer 160 , and a neutral plane may be formed on the display panel 130 and the back plate 150 , respectively.

On the other hand, when the touch panel is included in the display panel 130 , the first adhesive layer 120 having a relatively low modulus is disposed between the display panel 130 and the optical layer 160 , thereby providing a neutral surface even for the touch panel vulnerable to cracking. It is possible to control the distribution of tensile stress to have

As described above, between the cover member 110 and the optical layer 160 , the display panel 130 (including the touch panel) and the back plate 150 each have a neutral plane with zero stress for bending, so that the foldable display device Even when bending (100), it is possible to suppress the phenomenon of being damaged by an external force.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4 , a portion of the upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be exposed by the cover member groove 311 . The exposed upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be located in a region where the cover member groove 311 is located. That is, the exposed upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be located in the folding area BA, and specifically, may be located at a central point in the folding area BA.

Meanwhile, a phenomenon in which cracks occur at the edge of the cover member 110 mainly located in an area corresponding to the central point of the folding area BA when the foldable display 100 is folded outward has been described.

In order to prevent this phenomenon, the cover member 110 may have a cover member groove 311 on at least one side of the cover member 110 in an area corresponding to the central point of the folding area BA. The cover member groove 311 prevents cracks from occurring at the edge of the cover member 110 positioned in an area corresponding to the central point of the folding area BA when the foldable display 100 is folded outward. do. This is because the thickness of the foldable display 100 is changed due to the cover member groove 311 .

Specifically, the thickness T1 of the foldable display 100 in the area where the cover member groove 311 is located is the thickness (T1) of the foldable display 100 in the area where the cover member groove 311 is not located. It may be thinner than T2). At this time, the thickness difference between the area where the cover member groove 311 is located and the area where the cover member groove 311 is not located is the same as the thickness of the cover member 110 .

Here, the thickness T1 of the foldable display 100 in the region where the cover member groove 311 is located is the length from the rear surface of the back plate 150 to the upper surface of the optical layer 160 , and the cover member groove ( The thickness T2 of the foldable display 100 in the region where 311 is not located is the length from the rear surface of the back plate 150 to the upper surface of the cover member 110 .

On the other hand, in order to bend or fold an object, an external force sufficient to bend the object must be applied to the object. As the thickness of the object increases, the external force required to bend or fold the object increases. And, as the magnitude of the external force applied to the object increases, the magnitude of the stress generated in the object increases, and thus the probability of damage to the object increases.

Conversely, the smaller the thickness of the object, the smaller the external force required to bend or fold the object. And, as the magnitude of the external force applied to the object decreases, the probability that the object is damaged due to bending decreases.

In the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, at least one cover member groove 311 is provided at a central point in the folding area BA, and the cover member groove 311 is located in the area where the cover member groove 311 is located. The thickness of the foldable display 100 is made thinner than the area in which the 311 is not located.

Therefore, when bending or folding the foldable display device 100 in the area where the cover member groove 311 is located, the foldable display device 100 without the cover member groove 311 can be bent with a smaller external force than when bending. there will be

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 , in the foldable display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, the magnitude of the external force for bending or folding the foldable display device 100 due to the cover member groove 311 . may be smaller than the magnitude of an external force for bending or folding the foldable display according to the comparative example.

Accordingly, when the foldable display 100 is folded outward, the magnitude of the tensile stress (stress corresponding to point A) applied to the cover member 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention is also the folder according to the comparative example. The magnitude of the tensile stress (stress corresponding to point B) applied to the cover member of the display device may be reduced.

That is, it is possible to prevent cracks from occurring in the cover member 110 at the central point of the folding area BA due to the tensile stress.

Meanwhile, in the foldable display device 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the cover member groove 311 may be in a part of at least one side surface of the cover member 110 as shown in FIG. 4 . In this case, the cover member groove 311 may be in an area corresponding to the non-display area N/A of the foldable display 100 . That is, the cover member groove 311 does not affect the display area A/A.

In addition, since the cover member groove 311 is only on a part of at least one side of the cover member 110 , when the area where the cover member groove 311 is located in FIG. 4 is viewed from the front, the foldable display 100 is The cross-sectional shape may be the shape of FIG. 6 .

In other words, as shown in FIG. 6 , when one side of the foldable display 100 having the cover member groove 311 is viewed from the front, the cover member groove 311 is one of the cover member 110 . Since it does not have a shape from one side to the other, it may appear that the cover member 110 is not dug even in the region where the cover member groove 311 is located.

Meanwhile, although FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate a configuration in which at least one cover member groove 311 is provided on one side of the cover member 110, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the configuration shown in FIG. may be

7 is a plan view showing a cover member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the cover member 110 according to another embodiment of the present invention has at least one cover member groove 311 on two side surfaces, respectively.

At this time, since the cover member grooves 311 are provided at two sides of the cover member 110 facing each other, the foldable display device is located in the folding area BA to which an external force is intensively applied when the foldable display device 100 is bent. The region where the thickness of (100) becomes thinner may be symmetrically positioned.

For this reason, since the external force may be symmetrically distributed in the folding area BA, it is possible to further prevent damage to the cover member 110 receiving the greatest external force when folding in the outward direction.

On the other hand, in the above description, the cover member groove 311 has been mainly described with a configuration provided in a partial area of at least one side of the cover member 110 in the folding area BA, but the cover member groove 311 of the present invention. location is not limited thereto.

Another embodiment will be reviewed with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 as follows. In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

8 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the cover member 110 included in the foldable display device according to other embodiments of the present invention may have one cover member groove 311 on at least one side thereof.

Here, the width W1 of the cover member groove 311 may correspond to the width W2 of the folding area BA.

Therefore, when an external force is applied to the foldable display to bend or fold the foldable display in an outward direction, not only the area corresponding to the center point of the folding area BA but also the entire folding area BA is displayed as a foldable display. Since the magnitude of the tensile stress applied to the device 100 can be reduced, it is possible to prevent cracks from occurring in the cover member 110 when folded.

In addition, the outer appearance of the cover member groove 311 provided in the cover member 110 may be a wavy shape and a shape without corners. Through this, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon that a crack starts at the edge of the cover member groove 311 and propagates to the inside of the cover member 110 .

8 shows a configuration in which the cover member grooves 311 are located on one side of the cover member 110 , but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cover member grooves 311 are formed on a plurality of sides of the cover member 110 . there may be

The structure of the foldable display device including the cover member 110 shown in FIG. 8 will be reviewed in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 .

9 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 8 . FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 8 .

9 and 10 , the foldable display 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cover member 110 having one cover member groove 311 on at least one side thereof. In this case, the width of the cover member groove 311 may correspond to the width of the folding area BA.

In addition, the thickness T1 of the foldable display 100 in the area where the cover member groove 311 is located is the thickness T2 of the foldable display 100 in the area where the cover member groove 311 is not located. ) is thinner than

As described above, since one cover member groove 311 is located in the entire folding area BA, the thickness T1 of the foldable display 100 in the folding area BA is reduced to the non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2. It may be thinner than the thickness T2 of the foldable display 100 in .

Accordingly, an external force required to bend or fold the foldable display 100 in the entire area of the folding area BA is reduced, and accordingly, cracks occur at the edge of the cover member 110 located in the folding area BA. can be restrained

And, since the cover member groove 311 is provided in a part of the folding area BA of at least one side of the cover member 110, when the area provided with the cover member groove 311 in FIG. 9 is viewed from the front, The cross-sectional shape of the foldable display 100 may be the shape of FIG. 10 .

2 to 10 , when the foldable display 100 is folded outward, it is possible to prevent the cover member 110 of the foldable display 100 from being cracked due to tensile stress. Examples have been described.

Next, when the foldable display 100 is folded inward with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14 , the cover member 110 of the foldable display 100 is cracked due to compressive stress. Embodiments that can prevent this phenomenon will be described. In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

11 is a diagram illustrating an inwardly folded shape of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When the foldable display 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is folded inward with respect to the folding axis BX, the display surfaces of the first and second non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2 ( IMs) may be folded to be positioned inside the foldable display 100 in a folded state.

As described above, when the foldable display device 100 is folded in the inner direction, when the optical layer 160 and the display panel 130 include the touch panel in the configuration of the foldable display device 100 , the touch panel is the most suitable for the touch panel. A large compressive stress may be applied, and in particular, the largest compressive stress may be applied to the optical layer 160 and the touch panel at a boundary region between the folding area BA and the non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2.

In other words. When the foldable display 100 is folded inwardly by applying an external force, or when folding is repeatedly performed (or when an external force is continuously applied), the boundary between the folding area BA and the non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2 In the region, cracks may occur at the edges of the optical layer 160 and the touch panel, which may eventually lead to breakage.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a structure capable of preventing cracks from starting at the edge of the cover member 110 when the foldable display 100 is folded inwardly.

This will be reviewed with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15 as follows. In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

12 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12 , the cover member 110 of the foldable display according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have two cover member grooves 311 on at least one side thereof.

Specifically, on at least one side of the cover member 110, the cover member groove 311 is formed in each of both boundary areas (first and second folding boundary areas, BA-NBA1, BA-NBA2) of the folding area BA. can be located

12 shows a configuration in which the cover member grooves 311 are located on one side of the cover member 110 , but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cover member grooves 311 are formed on a plurality of sides of the cover member 110 . there may be

The exterior of the cover member groove 311 may have a wavy shape, as shown in FIG. 12 . That is, the cover member groove 311 may have a shape without a corner on a plane.

When the cover member 110 includes the cover member groove 311 having a corner shape, when the foldable display device 100 including the cover member 110 is folded, the edge of the cover member groove 311 is folded. Cracks start from there, and eventually the cover member 110 may be damaged.

The structure and effects of the foldable display device including the cover member 110 shown in FIG. 12 will be reviewed in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15 .

13 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 12 . FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating the tendency of stress applied to the foldable display device of FIG. 12 and the foldable display device according to the comparative example inwardly when the foldable display device including the cover member is folded. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 12 .

Here, the foldable display device according to the comparative example may be a foldable display device that does not include a cover member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 13 , in at least one side of the foldable display 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA, respectively. It includes a cover member 110 having a cover member groove 311 located in the.

A portion of the upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be exposed by the cover member groove 311 . The exposed upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be located in a region where the cover member groove 311 is located. That is, the exposed upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be positioned in each of both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA.

On the other hand, when the foldable display 100 is folded in the inward direction, cracks are formed at the edges of the touch panel and the optical layer 160 mainly located in both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA. This phenomenon has been described.

In order to prevent this phenomenon, the cover member 110 has a cover member groove ( 311) may exist.

The thickness T1 of the foldable display device 100 in the region where the cover member groove 311 is located is greater than the thickness T2 of the foldable display device 100 in the region where the cover member groove 311 is not located. can be thin.

That is, in the foldable display device 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention, at least one cover member groove 311 is positioned in the folding area BA, and the cover member groove 311 is provided in the area provided with the cover member groove 311 . The thickness of the foldable display 100 may be thinner than an area where the 311 is not located.

Therefore, when the foldable display 100 is bent or folded in the area where the cover member groove 311 is located, it is possible to bend the foldable display device 100 without the cover member groove 311 with a smaller external force than when bending the foldable display device 100 . be able to For this reason, there is an effect that can significantly lower the probability that cracks occur in the optical layer 160 and the touch panel.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 , in the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, the magnitude of the external force for bending or folding the foldable display 100 due to the cover member groove 311 . may be smaller than the magnitude of an external force for bending or folding the foldable display according to the comparative example.

Accordingly, when the foldable display 100 is folded in the inward direction, the magnitude of the compressive stress (stress corresponding to point C) applied to the cover member 110 according to another embodiment of the present invention is also different from that of the comparative example. Accordingly, the magnitude of the compressive stress applied to the cover member of the foldable display device (the stress corresponding to the point D) may be reduced.

That is, it is possible to prevent cracks in the optical layer 160 and the touch panel due to the large compressive stress.

In addition, since the cover member groove 311 is only on a part of at least one side of the cover member 110 , when the area with the cover member groove 311 is viewed from the front in FIG. 13 , the foldable display 100 is The cross-sectional shape may be the shape of FIG. 15 .

In other words, as shown in FIG. 15 , when one side of the foldable display 100 provided with the cover member groove 311 is viewed from the front, the cover member groove 311 is the cover member 110 . Since the shape does not exist from one side to the other, it may appear that the cover member 110 is not dug even in the area where the cover member groove 311 is located.

The foldable display according to still other embodiments of the present invention is not limited thereto, and may have a structure as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 . In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

16 is a plan view illustrating a cover member in the configuration of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16 , the cover member 110 of the foldable display device according to another exemplary embodiment may have three cover member grooves 311 on at least one side thereof.

Specifically, on at least one side of the cover member 110 , a cover member groove 311 is provided in each of both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA, and within the folding area BA. A cover member groove 311 may also be provided at the central point.

16 shows a configuration in which the cover member grooves 311 are provided on one side of the cover member 110 , but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cover member grooves 311 are provided on a plurality of sides of the cover member 110 . This may be provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16 , the cover member groove 311 is located at each of the boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 on both sides of the folding area BA and the center point within the folding area BA, so that the folder Even when the display device is folded inward or outward, cracks may be prevented from occurring in the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , and the touch panel.

The structure and effect of the foldable display device including the cover member 110 shown in FIG. 16 will be reviewed in detail with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18 .

17 is a perspective view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 16 . 18 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable display device including the cover member of FIG. 16 .

First, referring to FIG. 17 , the foldable display 100 according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed on both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA from at least one side. It includes a cover member 110 having a cover member groove 311 located therein, and also having a cover member groove 311 at a central point in the folding area BA.

A portion of the upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be exposed by the cover member groove 311 . The exposed upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be located in a region in which the cover member groove 311 is provided. That is, the exposed upper surface of the optical layer 160 may be positioned at each of both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA and a central point of the folding area BA.

Meanwhile, in the foldable display 100 according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the area in which the cover member groove 311 is provided in both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA, The thickness of the foldable display 100 may be thinner than a region where the cover member groove 311 is not located.

Accordingly, when the foldable display 100 is bent or folded inward in an area in which the cover member groove 311 is provided, the foldable display 100 is moved inside in an area in which the cover member groove 311 is not provided. It becomes possible to bend with a smaller external force than when bending in the direction. Through this, there is an effect that can significantly lower the probability that cracks occur in the optical layer 160 and the touch panel.

In addition, in the foldable display device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cover member groove 311 is positioned at a central point in the folding area BA. Accordingly, when the foldable display device 100 is bent or folded in an outward direction, it is possible to bend the foldable display device 100 without the cover member groove 311 with a smaller external force than when bending the foldable display device 100 . Through this, there is an effect that can significantly lower the probability that a crack occurs in the cover member 110 .

That is, even when the foldable display 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention is repeatedly bent alternately in the inward and outward directions, the external force applied to the optical layer 160 , the touch panel, and the cover member 110 . It can be prevented that this becomes small and breakage occurs.

On the other hand, the structure of the cover member 110 according to the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the above-described structures, and may be formed as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 .

19 and 20 are plan views showing a cover member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

First, referring to FIG. 19 , the cover member groove 311 located at the central point in the folding area BA, and the cover member groove 311 located in the folding area BA, but located in an area other than the central point. further includes

As described above, since the plurality of cover member 311 grooves are disposed in the area including the central point in the folding area BA, when the foldable display 100 is bent or folded in the outward direction, the entire folding area BA is formed. The applied stress can be relieved.

In addition, at least one cover member groove 311 may be provided on at least one side surface of the cover member 110 in the non-folding area BA.

Accordingly, when the foldable display 100 is bent or folded, it is possible to prevent cracks in the cover member 110 due to residual stress that may be applied even to the non-folding area BA.

However, when the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention is a rollable foldable display, the first and second non-folding areas NBA1 and NBA2 shown in FIG. 19 are all folding areas. can That is, the entire area of the foldable display 100 may be the folding area BA.

In addition, in FIG. 20, a plurality of cover member grooves 311 located in both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA and a plurality of cover member grooves 311 located in the folding area BA. further includes Here, any one of the plurality of cover member grooves 311 positioned in the folding area BA may be positioned at a central point, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

In this way, the plurality of cover member grooves 311 are located in both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA, and, with this, the plurality of cover member grooves 311 in the folding area BA. Due to this location, when the foldable display 100 is bent or folded in the inward direction, both boundary areas BA-NBA1 and BA-NBA2 of the folding area BA as well as the overall folding area BA are applied. stress can be relieved.

2 to 20 , when the foldable display 100 is folded outwardly or inwardly, cracks may occur due to tensile stress of the cover member 110 of the foldable display 100 or the optical layer ( 160) and at least one cover member groove 311 provided on at least one side of the cover member 110 in order to prevent cracks from occurring due to compressive stress in the touch panel have been described.

Next, a perspective view of a foldable display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be reviewed with reference to FIGS. 21 to 24 . In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

21 to 24 are perspective views of a foldable display device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 21 , at least one optical layer groove 2111 provided on at least one side surface of the optical layer 160 is included.

Specifically, the cover member groove 311 provided in the folding area BA and the cover member groove 311 provided at both boundaries of the folding area BA are provided. In addition, at least one optical layer groove 2111 is provided in at least one of the boundary between the folding area BA and the folding area BA on at least one side surface of the optical layer 160 .

At this time, the optical layer groove 2111 may be provided at a position corresponding to each of the cover member grooves 311 . In addition, a portion of the upper surface of the first adhesive layer 160 may be exposed through the optical layer groove 2111 . That is, the cover member 110 and the optical layer 160 are not located in the region where the optical layer groove 2111 is located.

On the other hand, the thickness T3 of the display panel in the region provided with the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 is the thickness of the display panel in the region where the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 are not provided. It may be thinner than (T2). That is, by positioning the optical layer groove 2111 to correspond to the cover member groove 311 , the thickness of the foldable display 100 is further increased through the optical layer groove 2111 in the area where the cover member groove 311 is located. can be made thin.

Accordingly, when the foldable display 100 is bent or folded in an outward or inward direction in an area in which the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 are provided, the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 are formed. ), it is possible to bend the foldable display 100 with a smaller external force than when bending the foldable display 100 in an outward or inward direction.

Through this, it is possible to prevent cracks from occurring in the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , and the touch panel when the foldable display device is bent or folded.

Meanwhile, the appearance of the optical layer groove 2111 may correspond to the appearance of the cover member groove 311 . Specifically, the outer appearance of the optical layer groove 211 may be in the same wavy shape as the outer appearance of the cover member groove 311 . That is, the optical layer groove 2111 may also have a shape without an edge on a plane.

Accordingly, even when the foldable display 100 having the optical layer groove 2111 is bent or folded, the optical layer groove 211 has no corner, and thus cracking can be suppressed.

In addition, since the optical layer groove 2111 is positioned at a position corresponding to the cover member groove 311 and has a corresponding shape, the optical layer groove 2111 and the cover member groove 311 can be formed in the same process.

For example, after the components constituting the foldable display 100 are stacked, the outer edge is cut or trimmed using a laser. Through this, the foldable display 100 may be formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In this laser cutting or trimming step, a groove may be formed in the cover member 110 and the optical layer 160 .

Specifically, by adjusting the laser intensity, the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 may be positioned at corresponding positions and formed at the same time to have corresponding shapes. Accordingly, the process of forming the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 can be simplified.

In FIG. 22 , at least one adhesive layer groove 2211 provided on at least one side surface of the first adhesive layer 120 is included.

Specifically, a cover member groove 311 , an optical layer groove 2111 , and a first adhesive layer groove 2211 are provided in the folding area BA of the foldable display 100 . In addition, a cover member 311 , an optical layer groove 2111 , and a first adhesive layer groove 2211 are provided in the folding area BA of the foldable display 100 .

The optical layer groove 2111 and the first adhesive layer groove 2211 are located at positions corresponding to the cover member groove 311, and the outer appearance of the optical layer groove 2111 and the first adhesive layer groove 2211 is the cover member groove 311. ) can correspond to the appearance of

A portion of the upper surface of the display panel 130 disposed under the first adhesive layer 120 may be exposed through the first adhesive layer groove 2211 . That is, in the region where the first adhesive layer groove 2211 is located, the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , and the first adhesive layer 120 are not positioned.

Accordingly, in the region provided with the cover member groove 311 , the optical layer groove 2111 , and the first adhesive layer groove 2211 , the thickness T4 of the display panel is the cover member groove 311 , the optical layer groove 2111 , and In a region where the first adhesive layer groove 2211 is not provided, it may be thinner than the thickness T2 of the display panel. That is, by positioning the first adhesive layer groove 2211 to correspond to the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111, the first adhesive layer groove in the area where the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 are located. Through 2211 , the thickness of the foldable display 100 may be made thinner.

Accordingly, when the foldable display 100 is bent or folded in an outward or inward direction in an area in which the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 are provided, the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 are formed. ), it is possible to bend the foldable display 100 with a smaller external force than when bending the foldable display 100 in an outward or inward direction.

Through this, it is possible to prevent cracks from occurring in the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , and the touch panel when the foldable display device is bent or folded.

Next, referring to FIG. 23 , when the foldable display device 100 includes the external touch panel 2330 , the structure to which the configurations of the foldable display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention are applied will be reviewed. same as

Referring to FIG. 23 , the foldable display 100 includes a cover member 110 , an optical layer 160 disposed under the cover member 110 , and a first adhesive layer 120 disposed under the optical layer 160 . , a touch panel 2330 disposed under the first adhesive layer 120, an adhesive member 2331 disposed under the touch panel 2330, a display panel 130a disposed under the adhesive member 2331, a display panel ( 130a) includes a second adhesive layer 140 disposed below and a back plate 150 disposed under the second adhesive layer 140 .

The touch panel 2330 positioned between the display panel 130a and the first adhesive layer 120 may be attached to the upper substrate included in the display panel 130a through the adhesive member 2331 .

In addition, a cover member groove 311 , an optical layer groove 2111 , and a first adhesive layer groove 2211 are provided in the folding area BA of the foldable display 100 . In addition, a cover member 311 , an optical layer groove 2111 , and a first adhesive layer groove 2211 are provided in the folding area BA of the foldable display 100 .

A portion of the upper surface of the touch panel 2330 may be exposed through the first adhesive layer groove 2211 . That is, in the region where the first adhesive layer groove 2211 is located, the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , and the first adhesive layer 120 are not positioned.

Therefore, since the thickness of the foldable display 100 becomes thinner in the region where the cover member groove 311, the optical layer groove 2111, and the first adhesive layer groove 2211 are provided, as the thickness decreases, the foldable display device ( 100), the force required to bend or fold is reduced.

Since a small force is applied to bend or fold the foldable display 100 , the stress applied to the components of the foldable display 100 , in particular, the optical layer 160 and the touch panel 2330 is also reduced to prevent damage. less likely to happen

In FIG. 23, a configuration in which the touch panel 2330 is an external touch panel has been described as an example, but in the case of a built-in touch panel, the structure of the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, and FIG. 9 , 10 , 13 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 21 , and 22 .

In addition, in the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 24 , a third adhesive layer 2420 may be disposed between the cover member 110 and the optical layer 160 . . In addition, at least one third adhesive layer groove 2411 may be formed on at least one side surface of the third adhesive layer 2420 in the folding area BA.

The third adhesive layer groove 2411 may be provided at a position corresponding to the cover member groove 311 . In this case, the outer appearance of the third adhesive layer groove 2411 may correspond to the outer appearance of the cover member groove 311 .

In addition, an optical layer groove 2411 may be provided at a position corresponding to the third adhesive layer groove 2411 . That is, the cover member 110 , the third adhesive layer 2420 , and the optical layer 160 do not exist in the region in which the third adhesive layer groove 2411 is provided.

Accordingly, in the region provided with the cover member groove 311 , the third adhesive layer groove 2411 , and the optical layer groove 2111 , the thickness T5 of the display panel is the cover member groove 311 , the optical layer groove 2111 and In a region where the first adhesive layer groove 2211 is not provided, it may be thinner than the thickness T2 of the display panel. That is, by positioning the third adhesive layer groove 2411 to correspond to the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111, the third adhesive layer groove in the area where the cover member groove 311 and the optical layer groove 2111 are located. Through 2411 , the thickness of the foldable display 100 may be made thinner.

As described above, since the thickness of the foldable display 100 is reduced in a portion of the folding area BA, the force required to bend or fold the foldable display 100 is reduced, and the configuration of the foldable display 100 is reduced. The stress on the rods is also reduced and the probability of failure is reduced.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 24 , the foldable display 100 has a configuration including the cover member groove 311 , the third adhesive layer groove 2411 , and the optical layer groove 2111 , but embodiments of the present invention are limited thereto. not, and may further include a first adhesive layer groove provided under the optical layer groove 2111 .

Next, with reference to FIG. 25 , an arrangement relationship between the cover member and other components (eg, the second cover member, etc.) of the foldable display will be reviewed. In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

25 is a diagram illustrating a cover member of a foldable display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 25 , the second cover member 2500 is located under the back plate 150 , the back plate 150 , the second adhesive layer 140 , the display panel 130 , the first adhesive layer 120 , and the optical It is positioned on the side surfaces of the layer 160 and the cover member 110 , and may be positioned to surround a portion of the upper portion of the cover member 110 .

Through this, the second cover member 2500 may protect the configuration of the cover member 110 , the optical layer 160 , the display panel 130 , and the back plate 150 .

The second cover member 2500 may be located on the cover member groove 311 . That is, the second cover member 2500 is disposed to overlap the cover member groove 311 . Since the cover member groove 311 is covered by the second cover member 2500 , the aesthetics of the foldable display device 100 may be improved. In addition, it is possible to prevent a direct external impact or the like applied to the cover member groove (311).

The cover member groove 311 and the second cover member 2500 may be located in the non-display area of the foldable display 100 . That is, the cover member groove 311 and the second cover member 2500 do not affect the display area.

Accordingly, even in the folding area BA, an image may be displayed regardless of the mechanism and structure of the foldable display 100 . In addition, when the display panel 130 includes a touch panel, a touch is also possible in the folding area BA.

Meanwhile, in FIGS. 1 to 25 , a configuration in which the foldable display device 100 has one folding area BA and two non-folding areas NBA has been mainly described, but a folder according to embodiments of the present invention The foldable display device is not limited thereto, and may be a foldable display device having the structure shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 .

26 and 27 are diagrams schematically illustrating a foldable display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, content overlapping with the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

Referring first to FIG. 26 , the foldable display 100 according to still another exemplary embodiment includes a first folding area BA1 and a second folding area BA2 . The first folding area BA1 and the second folding area BA2 may be disposed adjacent to each other. In this case, the first folding area BA1 and the second folding area BA2 may be folded in different directions.

In each of the first and second folding areas BA1 and BA2, the cover member may have at least one cover member groove at at least one side thereof.

Further, the optical layer and the first adhesive layer may also have an optical layer groove and a first adhesive layer groove, respectively, at positions corresponding to the cover member grooves.

Since the cover member groove is provided in the foldable display device 100 having a plurality of folding areas shown in FIG. 26 , the components constituting the foldable display device 100 are damaged due to external force when the foldable display device 100 is folded. can be prevented from becoming

The foldable display 100 illustrated in FIG. 27 may include only one folding area BA. The foldable display device 100 of FIG. 27 may be a rollable foldable display device.

In the folding area BA of the foldable display 100 , the cover member may have at least one cover member groove at at least one side thereof. In addition, the optical layer and the first adhesive layer may also have an optical layer groove and a first adhesive layer groove, respectively, in a position corresponding to the cover member groove.

As described above, since the foldable display 100 according to embodiments of the present invention may have at least one folding area BA, the bendable foldable display, the foldable display, and the curved display It can be applied to various foldable display devices 100 such as a device, a rollable foldable display device, and a flexible foldable display device.

According to the above-described embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a foldable display having a structure that can prevent cracks from occurring in the cover member in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded outward. .

According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a foldable display having a structure capable of preventing cracks in an optical layer and a display panel in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded in an inward direction.

According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a foldable display having a structure capable of preventing cracks in the optical layer and the display panel in a foldable display capable of being bent or folded in an outward and inward direction. have.

The above description and the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can combine configurations within a range that does not depart from the essential characteristics of the present invention. , various modifications and variations such as separation, substitution and alteration will be possible.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be construed by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

100: foldable display
110: cover member
120: first adhesive layer
130: display panel
140: second adhesive layer
150: back plate
160: optical layer

Claims (18)

In the foldable display device,
cover member;
a first adhesive layer disposed under the cover member;
a display panel disposed under the first adhesive layer;
a second adhesive layer disposed under the display panel;
a back plate disposed under the second adhesive layer; and
and a second cover member positioned under the back plate,
The foldable display includes a folding area and non-folding areas located on both sides of the folding area,
a cover member groove is formed on at least one side of the cover member corresponding to at least one of the folding area, the boundary area between the folding area and the non-folding area;
The second cover member surrounds a portion of the back plate, the second adhesive layer, the display panel, the first adhesive layer, side surfaces of the cover member and an upper portion of the cover member, and the second cover member includes the cover member groove. A foldable display located at the top.
According to claim 1,
At least one side of the cover member,
A foldable display having a cover member groove in each of both boundary areas of the folding area.
According to claim 1,
At least one side of the cover member,
A foldable display device having a cover member groove at a central point within the folding area.
According to claim 1,
At least one side of the cover member,
A foldable display having a cover member groove in each of both boundary areas of the folding area, and a cover member groove at a central point in the folding area.
According to claim 1,
In the folding area, at least one side of the cover member has one cover member groove,
A width of the one cover member groove corresponds to a width of the folding area.
According to claim 1,
The appearance of the cover member groove is a wavy foldable display device.
According to claim 1,
An optical layer is further disposed between the cover member and the first adhesive layer,
In each of the folding area or both boundary areas of the folding area,
A foldable display having at least one optical layer groove in at least one side surface of the optical layer.
8. The method of claim 7,
In each of the folding area or both boundary areas of the folding area,
A foldable display having at least one first adhesive layer groove formed on at least one side of the first adhesive layer.
9. The method of claim 8,
The cover member groove, the optical layer groove and the first adhesive layer groove are positioned to correspond to each other,
Appearances of the optical layer groove and the first adhesive layer groove correspond to an appearance of the cover member groove.
9. The method of claim 8,
A foldable display in which a portion of an upper surface of the display panel is exposed by the groove of the first adhesive layer.
9. The method of claim 8,
Further comprising a touch panel positioned between the display panel and the first adhesive layer,
A portion of an upper surface of the touch panel is exposed by the groove of the first adhesive layer.
8. The method of claim 7,
Further comprising a third adhesive layer disposed between the cover member and the optical layer,
In each of the folding area or both boundary areas of the folding area,
A foldable display having at least one third adhesive layer groove formed on at least one side surface of the third adhesive layer.
13. The method of claim 12,
The cover member groove, the optical layer groove and the third adhesive layer groove are positioned to correspond to each other,
Appearances of the optical layer groove and the third adhesive layer groove correspond to the appearance of the cover member groove.
According to claim 1,
In the non-folding area,
A foldable display having at least one cover member groove on at least one side surface of the cover member.
According to claim 1,
The modulus (Modulus) of the cover member is higher than the modulus (Modulus) of the first adhesive layer,
a modulus of the first adhesive layer is lower than a modulus of the display panel;
A modulus of the display panel is higher than a modulus of the second adhesive layer,
A modulus of the second adhesive layer is lower than a modulus of the back plate.
delete According to claim 1,
The foldable display device includes two or more folding areas.
In the foldable display device,
cover member;
a first adhesive layer disposed under the cover member;
a display panel disposed under the first adhesive layer;
a second adhesive layer disposed under the display panel;
a back plate disposed under the second adhesive layer; and
and a second cover member positioned under the back plate,
the cover member, the first adhesive layer, the display panel, the second adhesive layer, and the back plate are foldable;
At least one side of the cover member has at least one cover member groove,
The second cover member surrounds a portion of the back plate, the second adhesive layer, the display panel, the first adhesive layer, side surfaces of the cover member and an upper portion of the cover member, and the second cover member includes the cover member groove. A foldable display located at the top.

Images