Abstract:
Provided is a display device including: a display panel configured to generate an image; a touch screen panel formed on the display panel; and a window formed on the touch screen panel and extending over a side edge of the touch screen panel to facilitate a covering and sealing of the touch screen panel. According to the present invention, by providing a display device having a laminated structure in which the edge of the touch screen panel is sealed so as to prevent moisture from permeating from the outside, occurrence of product defects may be prevented.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0028562 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 27, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to display devices, and more particularly to display devices having fewer defects and greater moisture resistance. 
         [0004]    (b) Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, flat panel displays have found application in both large- and small-sized electronic products. Generally, the term “display device” refers to a device that converts electronic information to images that are visually recognized by humans. Various such display devices include an organic light emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, and a plasma display device. 
         [0006]    Further, many of these display devices operate by a touch method in which information input through a user&#39;s touch or other input devices is recognized as an input signal. 
         [0007]    A display device having a touch type input system may have a laminated structure in which a touch screen panel is formed on the display panel and a window is formed on the touch screen panel, for protecting both the display panel and the touch screen panel. 
         [0008]    This laminated structure has a structure vulnerable to external moisture, because a burning defect is generated at edges of each layer during laser cutting, and the edge of each layer is exposed to the environment after cutting. 
         [0009]    The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a display device that is more resistant to defects generated by permeation of foreign substances such as moisture. 
         [0011]    Further, a technical object to be achieved in the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned technical objects, and other technical objects besides those discussed will be understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. 
         [0012]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a display device including: a display panel configured to generate an image; a touch screen panel formed on the display panel; and a window formed on the touch screen panel and including a first bent part of which one end is extended and bent to seal one end of the touch screen panel. 
         [0013]    The display device may further include a polarization layer formed between the display panel and the touch screen panel. 
         [0014]    The polarization layer and the touch screen panel may be disposed so that a side edge of the polarization layer is substantially aligned with the side edge of the touch screen panel. 
         [0015]    The display device may further include a first adhesive layer formed on the touch screen panel and including a second bent part of which one end is extended and bent to correspond to the first bent part to seal one end of the touch screen panel. 
         [0016]    The first adhesive layer may further include a third bent part extended and bent from the second bent part and attached onto the display panel. 
         [0017]    The display device may further include a second adhesive layer interposed between the first adhesive layer and the display panel, and having a higher adhesion with the display panel than the first adhesive layer. 
         [0018]    The first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer may comprise heterogeneous materials, and at least one of the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer may include an acryl-based resin or a silicon-based resin. 
         [0019]    The first bent part may be bent in a direction crossing an extending direction of one end of the touch screen panel disposed in parallel with the display panel to cover and seal one end of the exposed touch screen panel so as to block a contact with the outside. 
         [0020]    The window may be made of a glass or a plastic. 
         [0021]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a display device, the method including: receiving a display panel configured to generate an image; positioning a touch screen panel on the display panel; positioning a window on the touch screen panel; and sealing the touch screen panel by a first bent part formed by extending and bending one end of the window. 
         [0022]    The method may further include positioning a polarization layer on the display panel. 
         [0023]    The positioning a polarization layer may further comprise positioning the polarization layer so that an edge of the polarization layer is substantially aligned with the side edge of the touch screen panel. 
         [0024]    The method may further include forming a first adhesive layer interposed between the touch screen panel and the window, in which the sealing of the touch screen panel by the window layer may include forming a second bent part of which one end of the first adhesive layer is extended and bent to correspond to the first bent part to seal one end of the touch screen panel. 
         [0025]    The sealing of the touch screen panel by the window layer may further include forming a third bent part extended and bent from the second bent part and attached onto the display panel. 
         [0026]    The method may further include forming a second adhesive layer having higher adhesion with the display panel than the first adhesive layer, the second adhesive layer being interposed between the first adhesive layer and the display panel. 
         [0027]    The bending one end of the window may further comprise heating and pressing the window. 
         [0028]    The sealing of the touch screen panel by the window layer may further include forming a first bent part by bending one end of the window in a direction crossing an extending direction of one end of the touch screen panel disposed in parallel with the display panel to cover and seal one end of the exposed touch screen panel and block so as to block a contact with the outside. 
         [0029]    According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently prevent foreign substances such as moisture from permeating into a touch screen panel. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a defect occurrence rate of products and contribute to increasing a lifespan of the products. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a display device which further includes a second adhesive layer according to a modified example of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 4 to 10  are diagrams illustrating a process of manufacturing the display device of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing the present invention, a description of already known functions or configurations will be omitted so as to make the subject matter of the present invention clear. 
         [0035]    The various Figures are not to scale. All numerical values are approximate, and may vary. All examples of specific materials and compositions are to be taken as nonlimiting and exemplary only. Other suitable materials and compositions may be used instead. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a display device which further includes a second adhesive layer according to a modified example of the present invention.  FIGS. 4 to 10  are diagrams illustrating a process of manufacturing the display device of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 2 , a display device to which a display driving device B is coupled is illustrated. Such devices B are known, and accordingly a detailed description of the display driving device B will be omitted. 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides display devices including respective display panels  110  and  210 , touch screen panels  130  and  230 , and windows  150  and  250 . 
         [0039]    The display panels  110  and  210  are panels receiving an electric signal to implement an image, and may for example be panels implementing an organic light emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, or a plasma display device. So long as the display panels  110  and  210  are panels that can convert an electric signal to an image, the display panels  110  and  210  may be included in the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, in the Figures, in order to represent that the scope of the present invention is not limited with respect to the specific type of display panels  110  and  210 , detailed configuration of the display panels  110  and  210  will be omitted. 
         [0040]    Further, the display panels  110  and  210  according to the exemplary embodiment may be flat panel types, but are not limited thereto, and may for instance be curved or foldable display panels  110  and  210 . Accordingly, a substrate forming the display panels  110  and  210  may be a rigid material or a flexible material. 
         [0041]    The touch screen panels  130  and  230  are panels that convert an input signal generated by contact from a part of a user&#39;s body or an electronic device, that is, a touch, into an electric signal. 
         [0042]    The touch screen panels  130  and  230  are disposed on the display panels  110  and  210  respectively, and the user inputs information to the display device by pressing a body against the touch screen panels  130  and  230  according to an image displayed by the display panels  110  and  210 , to operate the display device. 
         [0043]    The touch screen panels  130  and  230  according to the exemplary embodiment may each include transparent electrodes such as ITO and CNT, but are not limited thereto, and touch screen panels  130  and  230  that apply various materials such as metal mesh, nano wire, a conductive polymer and any other suitable materials may be included. Further, the touch screen panels  130  and  230  may be any panels capable of converting a touch by the user&#39;s contact to electric signals. 
         [0044]    The windows  150  and  250  are disposed on the touch screen panels  130  and  230  respectively, to protect the touch screen panels  130  and  230  and the display panels  110  and  210 . 
         [0045]    The windows  150  and  250  according to the exemplary embodiment may be transparent materials so as to pass an image from the display panels  110  and  210  to the outside. Further, the windows  150  and  250  may be made of rigid or flexible materials according to a physical property of the display panels  110  and  210 . As an example, the windows  150  and  250  according to the exemplary embodiment may be made of a transparent rigid material such as glass or a flexible transparent plastic material. In addition, the windows  150  and  250  may be made of various other materials as desired. 
         [0046]    In this case, the windows  150  and  250  according to the exemplary embodiment include first bent parts  162  and  262 , respectively. 
         [0047]    The first bent parts  162  and  262  are formed by extending and bending one end of the windows  150  and  250  respectively, and act to prevent foreign substances such as moisture from permeating into their respective display devices by sealing one end of the touch screen panels  130  and  230 . 
         [0048]    The first bent parts  162  and  262  according to the exemplary embodiment may be bent in directions parallel to side edges of the touch screen panels  130  and  230 . Accordingly, the first bent parts  162  and  262  may cover one end of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  so as to seal at least one end of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  from contact with the environment. 
         [0049]    Meanwhile, the display device according to the exemplary embodiment may further include polarization layers  120  and  220 . The polarization layers  120  and  220  are formed between the display panels  110  and  210  and the touch screen panels  130  and  230  respectively, according to the exemplary embodiment to control an intensity of light emitted from the respective display panels  110  and  210 . 
         [0050]    In this case, the polarization layers  120  and  220  according to the exemplary embodiment may be disposed so that edges thereof coincide with the edges of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  in order to improve alignment with the touch screen panels  130  and  230  and thereafter, improve a sealing effect of the windows  150  and  250 . 
         [0051]    Further, the display device according to the exemplary embodiment may include first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . The first adhesive layers  140  and  240  are formed on the touch screen panels  130  and  230  and may include second bent parts  164  and  264  in order to increase adhesion with the windows  150  and  250 . 
         [0052]    The second bent parts  164  and  264  have shapes corresponding to the first bent parts  162  and  262  formed on the windows  150  and  250 , and are formed by extending and bending one end of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  to seal one end of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  together with the first bent parts  162  and  262 . 
         [0053]    In this case, one end of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  may be sealed by directly contacting the second bent parts  164  and  264 . That is, the second bent parts  164  and  264  may be folded over the sides of the touch screen panels  130  and  230 , so as to contact and cover the panels  130  and  230 , thus sealing their sides and preventing moisture and other impurities from contacting the panels  130  and  230 . 
         [0054]    Meanwhile, the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  according to the exemplary embodiment may further include third bent parts  166  and  266 . The third bent parts  166  and  266  are extended and bent from the second bent parts  164  and  264  respectively, and the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  may be directly attached to the display panels  110  and  210  by the third bent parts  166  and  266 . 
         [0055]    In the detailed description of the present invention, the first bent parts  162  and  262  of the windows  150  and  250 , the second bent parts  164  and  264  and the third bent parts  166  and  266  of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  are together referred to as “sealing parts  160  and  260 ”. 
         [0056]    In the display device according to the exemplary embodiment, one end of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  may be sealed by the sealing parts  160  and  260  formed by extending and bending one end of each of the windows  150  and  250  and the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . The sealing parts  160  and  260  allow the windows  150  and  250  to seal the display panels  110  and  210 , as well as the touch screen panels  130  and  230 , so as to prevent foreign substances such as moisture from permeating into the display device from the outside. Accordingly, the number and frequency of defects may be reduced. 
         [0057]    Meanwhile, the display device according to the exemplary embodiment may further include a second adhesive layer  270  in order to ensure more improved adhesion. 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 3 , according to the exemplary embodiment, a display device which further includes a second adhesive layer  270  is illustrated. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the second adhesive layer  270  is formed between the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  and the display panels  110  and  210 . In this case, the second adhesive layer  270  may be formed between the third bent parts  166  and  266  of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  and the display panels  110  and  210 , but is not limited thereto and may be formed on all or a part of one surface of each of the display panels  110  and  210  or the touch screen panels  130  and  230 . 
         [0059]    The second adhesive layer  270  according to the exemplary embodiment may be made of heterogeneous materials having higher adhesion than the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 , and in this case, one or more of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  and the second adhesive layer  270  may include an acryl-based resin or a silicon-based resin. 
         [0060]    The second adhesive layer  270  is made of a material having higher adhesion than the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 , to improve adhesion between the sealing parts  160  and  260  and the display panels  110  and  210  according to the exemplary embodiment. Further, the second adhesive layer  270  is formed to reduce external force (i.e. to dampen shock) applied to the windows  150  and  250  and the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  in in the process of forming the sealing parts  160  and  260 . That is, the second adhesive layer  270  assists in preventing damage to the display device during formation of the sealing parts  160  and  260 . 
         [0061]    Hereinabove, the display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described. Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the aforementioned display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, a detailed description of already-described elements will be omitted here. 
         [0062]    In  FIGS. 4 to 10 , processes of manufacturing the display device according to the exemplary embodiment are illustrated in sequence. However, the processes illustrated above are merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and other sequences and configurations may be employed, as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0063]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 10 , another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing the display device including preparing display panels  110  and  210 , forming touch screen panels  130  and  230 , forming windows  150  and  250 , and sealing the touch screen panels  130  and  230 . 
         [0064]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the display panels  110  and  210  are prepared and fabricated for implementing an electric signal as an image. For example, each display panel  110  and  210  is fabricated as an organic light emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display device, or the like. The preparing of the display panels  110  and  210  varies according to the type of display used for the panels  110  and  210 , and since such construction is well-known, detailed description will be omitted in this specification. 
         [0065]    Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the method of manufacturing the display panels  110  and  210  according to the exemplary embodiment may further include forming polarization layers  120  and  220 . The polarization layers  120  and  220  according to the exemplary embodiment are formed on the display panels  110  and  210  to control the intensity of light emitted from the display panels  110  and  210  as described above. 
         [0066]    In this case, the polarization layers  120  and  220  according to the exemplary embodiment may improve alignment with the touch screen panels  130  and  230  subsequently formed thereon, in order to improve the sealing of these layers and thus reduce the amount of moisture and other materials that may permeate and cause damage. Accordingly, edges of the polarization layers  120  and  220  and the touch screen panels  130  and  230  may be disposed to coincide with each other. 
         [0067]    The touch screen panels  130  and  230  are then formed on the polarization layers  120  and  220 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The touch screen panels  130  and  230  convert an input signal generated by contact with a foreign body (i.e. a touch) to signals that indicate that the touch has occurred, and are fabricated in known manner using various materials such as a transparent electrode, a metal mesh, a nano wire, and a conductive polymer as described above. 
         [0068]    Meanwhile, the method of manufacturing the display device according to the exemplary embodiment may further include forming first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . 
         [0069]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  are formed between the touch screen panels  130  and  230  and the windows  150  and  250 . That is, first adhesive layers  140  and  240  are formed on the respective touch screen panels  130  and  230 , and windows  150  and  250  are subsequently formed thereover. 
         [0070]    In this case, the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  may include second bent parts  164  and  264 , and the sealing of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  may include forming the second bent parts  164  and  264 . 
         [0071]    In the formation of second bent parts  164  and  264 , one end of each of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  is formed to extend out over the edge of the corresponding touch screen panel  130 / 230 , where these extensions are sized and shaped to correspond to the shape of the first bent parts  162  and  262  of the windows  150  and  250 . According to the exemplary embodiment, one end of the windows  150  and  250  and one end of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  are simultaneously heated and pressurized or pressed so as to be extended and bent, and thus the first bent parts  162  and  262  of the windows  150  and  250  and the second bent parts  164  and  264  of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  may be formed together. 
         [0072]    In this case, the forming of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  according to the exemplary embodiment may further include forming third bent parts  166  and  266 . 
         [0073]    The third bent parts  166  and  266  are extended and bent from the second bent parts  164  and  264 , and are formed from ends of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . According to the exemplary embodiment, the third bent parts  166  and  266  may be formed together with the first bent parts  162  and  262  and the second bent parts  164  and  264  by heating and pressurizing or pressing the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  along with the windows  150  and  250 . 
         [0074]    According to the exemplary embodiment, the first bent parts  162  and  262 , the second bent parts  164  and  264 , and the third bent parts  166  and  266  may be commonly referred to as “sealing parts  160  and  260 ”. Therefore, it can be understood that the sealing of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  is performed by forming the sealing parts  160  and  260 , where these sealing parts  160 / 260  are formed by heating and pressurizing/pressing the windows  150  and  250  and the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. 
         [0075]    The forming of the windows  150  and  250 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , is performed in order to protect the display panels  110  and  210  and the touch screen panels  130  and  230 . In this case, the windows  150  and  250  according to the exemplary embodiment may be made of a transparent material in order to pass an image transferred from the display panels  110  and  210  to the outside. The transparent material is also a rigid material such as glass or a material such as a flexible plastic, as described above. 
         [0076]    The sealing of the touch screen panels  130  and  230 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , is performed as above by extending and bending one end of the windows  150  and  250  to form the first bent parts  162  and  262 . 
         [0077]    According to the exemplary embodiment, in order to form the first bent parts  162  and  262 , the overhanging end of each of the windows  150  and  250  is heated and pressurized/pressed to be extended and bent. Like  FIG. 9 , heat and pressure may be simultaneously transferred to one end of the windows  150  and  250  by a hot pressing apparatus A, and as a result, ends of the windows  150  and  250  are extended and bent to form the first bent parts  162  and  262 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 10  illustrates the touch screen panels  130  and  230  after sealing by the first bent parts  162  and  262 . The first bent parts  162  and  262  according to the exemplary embodiment may be extended and bent downward (perpendicular to the upper surfaces of the touch screen panels  130 / 230 , parallel to edges thereof) to cover ends of the touch screen panels  130  and  230 . Accordingly, since side edges of the touch screen panels  130  and  230  are covered, the touch screen panels  130  and  230  are sealed from exposure to outside elements. 
         [0079]    The sealed display device of  FIG. 10  may then be used in the display device illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  by coupling to the display driving apparatus B, as shown. 
         [0080]    Meanwhile, the method of manufacturing the display device according to the exemplary embodiment may further include forming a second adhesive layer  270 . 
         [0081]    The second adhesive layer  270  has higher adhesion than the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 , and is interposed between the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  and the display panels  110  and  210  to improve adhesion between the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  and the respective display panels  110  and  210 . 
         [0082]    Accordingly, according to the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the second adhesive layer  270  is coated on a part of the display panels  110  and  210  and may be coated below the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . Further, the second adhesive layer  270  may be made of heterogeneous materials having higher adhesion than the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . In particular, one or more of the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  and the second adhesive layer  270  may include an acryl-based resin or a silicon-based resin as described above. 
         [0083]    The second adhesive layer  270  may be heated along with the windows  150  and  250  and the first adhesive layers  140  and  240  when these latter elements are heated and pressed in the forming of the sealing parts  160  and  260 . Accordingly, the second adhesive layer  270  may be melted and, if desired, hardened, together with the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . The presence of an additional adhesive layer  270  acts to cushion loads applied to the windows  150  and  250  and the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 , thus reducing physical stress applied to the windows  150  and  250  and the first adhesive layers  140  and  240 . As a result, it is possible to also ensure high adhesion and simultaneously prevent the damage to the display device as described above. 
         [0084]    In summary, and according to the exemplary embodiments, the windows  150  and  250  forming the display device are directly extended and bent to seal the ends of the touch screen panels  130  and  230 , thereby more efficiently preventing foreign substances such as moisture from permeating from the outside. Therefore, it is thereby possible to reduce a defect occurrence rate of products and contribute to increasing a lifespan of the products. 
         [0085]    Although the specific exemplary embodiments have been described and illustrated as above, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein, and it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made to these embodiments without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Therefore, the changed example and modified examples should not be individually appreciated from the technical spirit or the viewpoint of the present invention and it should be appreciated that modified exemplary embodiments will be included in the appended claims of the present invention. Furthermore, different features of the various embodiments, disclosed or otherwise understood, can be mixed and matched in any manner to produce further embodiments within the scope of the invention. 
       DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
       [0086]      100 ,  200 : Display device 
         [0087]      110 ,  210 : Display panel 
         [0088]      120 ,  220 : Polarization layer 
         [0089]      130 ,  230 : Touch screen panel 
         [0090]      140 ,  240 : First adhesive layer 
         [0091]      150 ,  250 : Window 
         [0092]      160 ,  260 : Sealing part 
         [0093]      162 ,  262 : First bent part 
         [0094]      164 ,  264 : Second bent part 
         [0095]      166 ,  266 : Third bent part 
         [0096]      270 : Second adhesive layer 
         [0097]    A: Hot pressing apparatus 
         [0098]    B: Display driving apparatus