Image display apparatus

An image display apparatus includes a display panel that displays an image and a window layer disposed on the display panel and including a display area transmitting the image and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The window layer includes a window cover disposed to face the display panel, a decorated printed layer disposed on a lower surface of the window cover in the non-display area, and a polarization layer disposed on the lower surface of the window cover in the display area and disposed in the non-display area to cover the decorated printed layer. An inner side surface of the decorated printed layer makes contact with a side surface of the polarization layer at a boundary surface between the display area and the non-display area.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0014964, filed on Feb. 12, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an image display apparatus, and more particularly, to an image display apparatus capable of improving defects caused by a step difference at a window layer thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, electronic devices, such as a smart phone, a digital camera, a notebook computer, a navigation system, a smart television set, etc., include an image display apparatus to display an image. The image display apparatus includes a display panel that generates and displays the image and a window layer disposed on the display panel to protect the display panel.

As the display panel, various display panels, e.g., a liquid crystal display panel, an organic light emitting display panel, an electrowetting display panel, an electrophoretic display panel, etc., have been developed. The display panel is provided with a touch input function. For instance, the smart phone provided with the touch input function includes the organic light emitting display panel and a touch panel disposed on the organic light emitting display panel. Responsive to an input signal input by the touch panel, the organic light emitting display panel provides a user with the image corresponding to the input signal.

The image generated by the display panel is provided to the user after passing through the window layer. The window layer includes a display area displaying the image and a non-display area disposed adjacent to the display area. The non-display area of the window layer is designed to have various colors using a decorated printed layer. However, a step difference occurs between the display area and the non-display area due to the decorated printed layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides an image display apparatus capable of improving defects caused by a step difference at a window layer thereof.

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide an image display apparatus including a display panel that displays an image and a window layer disposed on the display panel and including a display area transmitting the image and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The window layer includes a window cover disposed to face the display panel, a decorated printed layer disposed on a lower surface of the window cover in the non-display area, and a polarization layer disposed on the lower surface of the window cover in the display area and disposed in the non-display area to cover the decorated printed layer. An inner side surface of the decorated printed layer makes contact with a side surface of the polarization layer at a boundary surface between the display area and the non-display area.

The decorated printed layer has a first thickness, the polarization layer has a second thickness in the display area and a third thickness in the non-display area, and a sum of the first thickness and the third thickness is equal to the second thickness.

The polarization layer includes a first adhesive film disposed on the lower surface of the window cover in the display area, a polarization film disposed under the first adhesive film in the display area, a second adhesive film disposed on a lower surface of the decorated printed layer and a lower surface of the polarization film, and a retardation film disposed on a lower surface of the second adhesive film. The lower surface of the window cover is attached to an upper surface of the polarization film in the display area by the first adhesive film, the lower surface of the decorated printed layer and the lower surface of the polarization film are attached to an upper surface of the retardation film by the second adhesive film, and the inner side surface of the decorated printed layer makes contact with a side surface of the first adhesive film and a side surface of the polarization film at the boundary surface.

A sum of a thickness of the first adhesive film and a thickness of the polarization film is equal to the first thickness, a sum of the thickness of the first adhesive film, the thickness of the polarization film, a thickness of the second adhesive film, and a thickness of the retardation film is equal to the second thickness, and a sum of the thickness of the second adhesive film and the thickness of the retardation film is equal to the third thickness.

Each of the first and second adhesive films is an acrylic adhesive.

The image display apparatus further includes an adhesive member disposed between the polarization layer and the display panel, and the polarization layer is attached to the display panel by the adhesive member.

The decorated printed layer includes a plurality of printed layers each having a predetermined color.

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide an image display apparatus includes a display panel that displays an image and a window layer disposed on the display panel and including a display area transmitting the image and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The window layer includes a window cover disposed to face the display panel, a decorated printed layer disposed on a lower surface of the window cover in the non-display area, and a polarization layer disposed on the lower surface of the window cover in the display area. An inner side surface of the decorated printed layer makes contact with a side surface of the polarization layer at a boundary surface between the display area and the non-display area, and the polarization layer has a thickness thicker than a thickness of the decorated printed layer.

The polarization layer includes a first adhesive film disposed on the lower surface of the window cover, a polarization film disposed under the first adhesive film, a second adhesive film disposed on a lower surface of the polarization film, and a retardation film disposed under the second adhesive film, the lower surface of the window cover is attached to an upper surface of the polarization film in the display area by the first adhesive film. The lower surface of the polarization film and an upper surface of the retardation film are attached to each other by the second adhesive film, and the inner side surface of the decorated printed layer makes contact with a side surface of the first adhesive film and a side surface of the polarization film at the boundary surface.

According to the above, the image display apparatus may improve the defects caused by the step difference on the window layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a top plan view showing an image display apparatus constructed as an embodiment according to the principles of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, the image display apparatus300includes a display area DA and a non-display area NDA surrounding the display area DA in a top plan view. The display area DA displays an image provided to a viewer and the non-display area NDA does not display the image.

The non-display area NDA is printed in a black color, but it should not be limited to the black color. That is, the non-display area NDA may be printed in various colors except for the black color, e.g., a white color.

An upper surface area of the image display apparatus300shown inFIG. 1corresponds to a surface area of a window layer, and this will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 2.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ shown inFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 2, the image display apparatus300includes a display panel100, a window layer200disposed on the display panel100, and an adhesive member10attaching the display panel100and the window layer200.

The display panel100generates the image. The image generated by the display panel100is provided to the viewer after passing through the window layer200. The window layer200is disposed on the display panel100to protect the display panel100from an external scratch.

The upper surface of the display panel100is attached to a lower surface of the window layer200by the adhesive member10. The adhesive member10may be, but not limited to, an ultraviolet ray curable resin. That is, the adhesive member10may be an optically clear adhesive (OCA).

An external light is provided to the display panel100through the window layer200. The external light provided to the display panel100is reflected by metal layers (not shown) disposed inside the display panel100. The external light reflected by the display panel100is absorbed by the window layer200to block the reflected external light. Accordingly, the external light reflected by the display panel100is not provided to the viewer.

As described above, the plane surface of the window layer200includes the display area DA and the non-display area NDA surrounding the display area DA. The plane surface of the display panel100includes a pixel area PX and a non-pixel area NPX disposed adjacent to the pixel area PX. The pixel area PX of the display panel100corresponds to the display are DA of the window layer200, and the non-pixel area NPX of the display panel100corresponds to the non-display area NDA of the window layer200.

The image generated by the display panel100is displayed in the pixel area PX of the display panel100and not displayed in the non-pixel area NPX. Although not shown in figures, the display panel100includes a plurality of pixels arranged in the pixel area PX. In addition, the display panel100includes a driver arranged in the non-pixel area NPX to drive the pixels. The pixels are driven by the driver to generate the image. The image generated by the display panel100is provided to the viewer through the display area DA of the window layer200.

The window layer200includes a window cover210, a decorated printed layer220, and a polarization layer230. A plane surface of the window cover210includes the display area DA and the non-display area NDA surrounding the display area DA as the plane surface of the window layer200. The window cover210is disposed to face the display panel100.

The window cover210may be, but not limited to, a transparent film that transmits the light. Thus, the image generated in the pixel area PX of the display panel100transmits through the polarization layer230and the window cover210in the pixel area PX, and then is provided to the viewer.

The decorated printed layer220is disposed in the non-display area NDA of the lower surface of the window cover210, which faces the display panel100. The decorated printed layer220is formed of an organic material having a predetermined color. Therefore, the color of the decorated printed layer220is provided to the viewer in the non-display area NDA of the window layer200.

The non-pixel area NPX of the display panel100corresponds to the non-display area NDA of the window layer200. Accordingly, the driver disposed in the non-pixel area NPX of the display panel100is covered by the decorated printed layer220disposed in the non-display area NDA of the window layer200, and thus the driver is not perceived to the viewer.

The decorated printed layer220may have a black color, but it should not be limited to the black color. That is, the decorated printed layer220may have various colors, e.g., a white color. The decorated printed layer220has a first thickness T1.

The polarization layer230is disposed on the lower surface of the window cover210to cover the decorated printed layer230. In detail, the polarization layer230is disposed on the lower surface of the window cover210in the display area DA and disposed to cover the decorated printed layer220in the non-display area NDA. An inner surface of the decorated printed layer220makes contact with a side surface of the polarization layer230at a boundary surface BL between the display area DA and the non-display area NDA.

The polarization layer230has a second thickness T2in the display area DA and a third thickness T3smaller than the second thickness T2in the non-display area NDA. The first thickness T1is smaller than the second thickness T2, and a sum of the first thickness T1and the third thickness T3is equal to the second thickness T2.

The external light EX_L provided to the image display apparatus300is reflected by the metal layers disposed inside the display panel100. The reflected light of the external light EX_L by the display panel100is absorbed by the polarization layer230to block the reflected external light. Thus, the external light EX_L reflected in the display panel100is not provided to the viewer. This configuration will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 3.

The adhesive member10is disposed between the polarization layer230and the display panel100. The polarization layer230and the display panel100are attached to each other by the adhesive member10. The adhesive member10is cured by the ultraviolet ray.

However, when the adhesive member10is disposed between the window cover210and the polarization layer230, adhesion defects occur at the boundary surface BL. In detail, when the ultraviolet ray curable resin is coated on the lower surface of the window cover210as the adhesive member10to cover the decorated printed layer220and the upper surface of the polarization layer230is attached to the adhesive member10, the adhesive member10is not coated in a vertical boundary area BA defined by the lower surface of the window cover210and the inner side surface of the decorated printed layer220. That is, unwanted space, such as a gap, is formed in the vertical boundary area BA, and thus the adhesion defects occur. This is because of the step difference between the decorated printed layer220and the window cover210, which is formed by the thickness of the decorated printed layer220disposed in the non-display area NDA.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the polarization layer230makes contact with the inner side surface of the decorated printed layer220at the boundary surface BL between the display area DA and the non-display area NDA. Accordingly, the unwanted space, such as a gap, is not formed in the vertical boundary area BA, and thus the defects caused by the step difference between the decorated printed layer220and the window cover210may be improved.

FIG. 3is a partially enlarged view of a portion Al shown inFIG. 2. In detail,FIG. 3shows detailed configuration of the decorated printed layer220and the polarization layer230.

Referring toFIG. 3, the decorated printed layer220includes a plurality of printed layers221,222, and223. The printed layers221,222, and223include a first printed layer221disposed on the lower surface of the window cover210in the non-display area NDA, a second printed layer222disposed on a lower surface of the first printed layer221, and a third printed layer223disposed on a lower surface of the second printed layer222. A sum of thicknesses of the first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223corresponds to the first thickness T1. The first thickness T1may at least have a predetermined thickness which is sufficient to prevent the non-pixel area NPX of the display panel from being seen by the viewer. The predetermined thickness may be determined by the color of the decorated printed layer220.

The first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223have the black color. When the plural printed layers having the black color are disposed on the lower surface of the window cover210in the non-display area, the black color is more clearly displayed when compared to the black color obtained by only one printed layer disposed on the lower surface of the window cover210. Therefore, the black color may be displayed in the non-display area NDA by three printed layers, e.g., first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223.

InFIG. 3, three printed layers221,222, and223have been shown, but the number of the printed layers should not be limited to three. That is, three or more printed layers may be disposed on the window cover210in the non-display area NDA.

The polarization layer230includes a first adhesive film231, a polarization film232, a second adhesive film233, and a retardation film234. Each of the first adhesive film231and the polarization film232has the same area as the display area DA. The first adhesive film231and the polarization film232are disposed in the display area DA.

The first adhesive film231is disposed on the lower surface of the window cover210in the display area DA and the polarization film232is disposed on a lower surface of the first adhesive film231. In the display area DA, the lower surface of the window cover210and the upper surface of the polarization film232are attached to each other by the first adhesive film231. The first adhesive film231may be, but not limited to, an acrylic adhesive.

A sum of thicknesses of the first adhesive film231and the polarization film232is equal to the first thickness T1, and a sum of thicknesses of the first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223is equal to the first thickness T1. Accordingly, the inner side surface of the first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223makes contact with a side surface of the first adhesive film231and a side surface of the polarization film232.

The second adhesive film233is disposed on a lower surface of the third printed layer233and a lower surface of the polarization film232, and the retardation film234is disposed under the second adhesive film233. The lower surfaces of the third printed layer223and the polarization film232are attached to an upper surface of the retardation film234by the second adhesive film233. The second adhesive film233may be, but not limited to, an acrylic adhesive.

The adhesive member10is disposed under the retardation film234and the display panel100is disposed under the adhesive member10. The upper surface of the display panel100and a lower surface of the retardation film234are attached to each other by the adhesive member10.

A sum of thicknesses of the first adhesive film231, the polarization film232, the second adhesive film233, and the retardation film234is set to the second thickness T2. A sum of thicknesses of the second adhesive film233and the retardation film234is set to the third thickness T2.

The external light EX_L is provided to the image display apparatus300. The external light EX_L is polarized while passing through the polarization film232. That is, the polarization film232transmits the external light that vibrates in only the same direction as a polarization axis of the polarization film232.

A light axis of the external light EX_L is twisted by the retardation film234. The external light EX_L having the twisted light axis by the retardation film234is reflected by the metal layers in the display panel100. The light axis of the reflected light of the external light EX_L in the display panel100is twisted again by the retardation film234.

The light axis of the reflected light of the external light EX_L, in which the light axis is twisted again by the retardation film234, is substantially vertical to the polarization axis of the polarization film232. Thus, the reflected light of the external light EX_L reflected by the display panel100does not transmit through the polarization film232. That is, the external light EX_L reflected in the display panel100is absorbed by the polarization film232. Therefore, the external light EX_L reflected in the display panel100is not provided to the viewer.

The side surfaces of the first adhesive film231and the polarization film232of the polarization layer230make contact with the inner side surface of the first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223at the boundary surface BL. Accordingly, the predetermined space, such as a gap, is not formed in the vertical boundary area BA.

Consequently, the image display apparatus300may improve the defects caused by the step difference on the window layer200.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view showing an image display apparatus constructed as another embodiment according to the principles of the present disclosure andFIG. 5is a partially enlarged view of a portion A2shown inFIG. 4.

In the present exemplary embodiment, an upper plane surface of an image display apparatus400is the same as the upper plane surface of the image display apparatus300. Accordingly,FIG. 4shows the cross-sectional view of the image display apparatus400, which is taken along the line I-I′ shown inFIG. 1.

The image display apparatus400shown inFIGS. 4 and 5have the same structure and function as those of the image display apparatus300shown inFIGS. 2 and 3except for the polarization layer230. Therefore, inFIGS. 4 and 5, the same reference numerals denote the same elements inFIGS. 2 and 3, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, a polarization layer230′ is disposed under the window cover210in the display area DA. The inner side surface of the decorated printed layer220makes contact with a side surface of a polarization layer230′ at the boundary surface between the display area DA and the non-display area NDA. The polarization layer230′ has a thickness thicker than a thickness of the decorated printed layer220. The decorated printed layer220has a first thickness T1and the polarization layer has a second thickness T2thicker than the first thickness T1.

The polarization layer230′ includes the first adhesive film231, the polarization film232, a second adhesive film233′, and a retardation film234′. Each of the first adhesive film231, the polarization film232, the second adhesive film233′, and the retardation film234′ has the same area as that of the display area DA.

The first adhesive film231is disposed on the lower surface of the window cover210in the display area DA, and the polarization film232is disposed under the first adhesive film231. The lower surface of the window cover210makes contact with the upper surface of the polarizing film232by the first adhesive film231in the display area DA.

A sum of thicknesses of the first adhesive film231and the polarization film232is set to the first thickness T1and a sum of thicknesses of the first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223is set to the first thickness T1. Thus, the inner side surface of the first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223makes contact with the side surface of the first adhesive film231and the side surface of the polarization film232at the boundary surface BL.

The second adhesive film233′ is disposed on the lower surface of the polarization film232in the display area DA, and the retardation film234′ is disposed on the lower surface of the second adhesive film233′. The upper surface of the retardation film234′ is attached to the lower surface of the polarization film232by the second adhesive film233′.

An adhesive member10′ is disposed on the lower surface of the retardation film234′ in the display area DA, and the display panel100is disposed on the lower surface of the adhesive member10′. The lower surface of the retardation film234′ is attached to the upper surface of the display panel100by the adhesive member10′ in the display area DA.

A sum of thicknesses of the first adhesive film231, the polarization film232, the second adhesive film233′, and the retardation film234′ is set to the second thickness T2. A sum of thicknesses of the second adhesive film233′ and the retardation film234′ is set to a third thickness T3.

The side surfaces of the first adhesive film231and the polarization film232of the polarization layer230′ make contact with the inner side surface of the first, second, and third printed layers221,222, and223at the boundary surface BL. Accordingly, the predetermined space, such as a gap, is not formed in the vertical boundary area BA.

Consequently, the image display apparatus400may improve the defects caused by the step difference on the window layer200′.