Protective window for display device and display device including the same

A display device and a protective window, the device including a display unit displaying an image; a first protective window on the display unit; and a second protective window unit on the first protective window, the second protective window unit including a display area displaying the image and a peripheral area around the display area, wherein the second protective window unit includes a second protective window; an ink layer in the peripheral area on one surface of the second protective window, the ink layer showing a color; and a second protective window adhesive layer on the one surface of the second protective window and on the ink layer, the second protective window unit is adhered on the first protective window by the second protective window adhesive layer, and the second protective window adhesive layer has an adhesion to the first protective window of about 10 g/25 mm to about 100 g/25 mm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0093659, filed on Aug. 7, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Protective Window For Display Device and Display Device With The Same,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments relate to a protective window for a display device and a display device including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable terminals, e.g., mobile phones or personal information terminals, may include a display unit to display an image, and may use a protective window for protecting the display unit from an impact from outside and inflow of foreign matters.

Such a protective window may not only protect the display device, but may also show a color in an area excluding (e.g., around) an area where an image is displayed.

SUMMARY

Embodiments are directed to a protective window for a display device and a display device including the same.

The embodiments may be realized by providing a display device including a display unit displaying an image; a first protective window on the display unit; and a second protective window unit on the first protective window, the second protective window unit including a display area displaying the image and a peripheral area around the display area, wherein the second protective window unit includes a second protective window; an ink layer in the peripheral area on one surface of the second protective window, the ink layer showing a color; and a second protective window adhesive layer on the one surface of the second protective window and on the ink layer, the second protective window unit is adhered on the first protective window by the second protective window adhesive layer, and the second protective window adhesive layer has an adhesion to the first protective window of about 10 g/25 mm to about 100 g/25 mm.

The second protective window adhesive layer may include an acryl adhesive, a urethane adhesive, a polyimide adhesive, a polyethylene adhesive, or an epoxy adhesive.

The display device may further include a pattern layer between the second protective window adhesive layer and the second protective window and between the ink layer and the second protective window, the pattern layer having a pattern formed at a region overlying the peripheral area.

The pattern layer may be adhered on the one surface of the second protective window by a pattern adhesive layer.

The first and second protective windows may be made of transparent glass or plastic.

The color may be a first color.

The color may be a second color.

The display unit may include a liquid crystal display panel.

The embodiments may be realized by providing a protective window for a display device including a protective window; an ink layer on one surface of the protective window, the ink layer showing a color; and a protective window adhesive layer on the one surface of the protective window and on one surface of the ink layer, wherein the protective window adhesive layer has an adhesion to glass or plastic of about 10 g/25 mm to about 100 g/25 mm.

The protective window adhesive layer may include an acryl adhesive, a urethane adhesive, a polyimide adhesive, a polyethylene adhesive, or an epoxy adhesive.

The protective window may further include a pattern layer between the protective window adhesive layer and the protective window and between the ink layer and the protective window, the pattern layer having a pattern formed therein.

The pattern layer may be adhered on the one surface of the protective window by a pattern adhesive layer.

The protective window may be made of transparent glass or plastic.

The color may be a first color.

The color may be a second color.

The embodiments may be realized by providing a display device system including a display unit that displays an image; a first protective window on the display unit; and at least two second protective window units, the at least two second protective window units being alternatively attachable to the first protective window such that only one of the second protective window units is on the first protective window at one time, wherein each second protective window unit includes a display area that displays the image and a peripheral area around the display area, a second protective window; an ink layer in the peripheral area on one surface of the second protective window, the ink layer showing a color; and a second protective window adhesive layer on the one surface of the second protective window and on one surface of the ink layer, each second protective window unit being adhered on the first protective window by the second protective window adhesive layer, and each second protective window adhesive layer has an adhesion to the first protective window of about 10 g/25 mm to about 100 g/25 mm.

The ink layer of one of the second protective window units may show a first color, the ink layer of another one of the second protective window units may show a second color, and the first color may be different from the second color.

Each second protective window adhesive layer may include an acryl adhesive, a urethane adhesive, a polyimide adhesive, a polyethylene adhesive, or an epoxy adhesive.

The first and second protective windows may be made of transparent glass or plastic.

The display unit may include a liquid crystal display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. Further, in the specification, the word “on” means positioning on or below the object portion, but does not essentially mean positioning on the upper side of the object portion based on a gravity direction.

FIG. 1illustrates an exploded perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 1, the display device100according to the present embodiment may include a backlight assembly20(that supplies light) and a display panel assembly70(that receives the light and displays an image). The display panel assembly70may be, e.g., a liquid crystal panel assembly including a liquid crystal layer.

The display device100may include a top chassis60, a mold frame22, and a bottom chassis28for fixing and supporting the backlight assembly20and the display panel assembly70. In the present embodiment, the display device100may include the top chassis60. In an implementation, the display device100may not include the top chassis60, e.g., the top chassis60may be omitted.

The display panel assembly70may include a display panel75, an integrated circuit chip77, and a flexible printed circuit board79.

The display panel75may include a thin film transistor display panel73(including a plurality of thin film transistors), a color filter display panel71(on or over the thin film transistor display panel73), and liquid crystal (not illustrated) injected between the display panels.

A polarizing plate (not illustrated) may be attached on or over the color filter display panel71and under the thin film transistor display panel73, in order to polarize light passing through the display panel75.

The integrated circuit chip77may be on or over the thin film transistor display panel73so as to control the display panel75.

The thin film transistor display panel73may include a transparent glass substrate having the thin film transistors formed in a matrix shape. The thin film transistor may have a source terminal connected to a data line, a gate terminal connected to a gate line, and a drain terminal connected to a pixel electrode made of transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) as a conductive material.

The data line and the gate line of the display panel75may be connected to the flexible printed circuit board79. When an electrical signal is inputted from the flexible printed circuit board79, an electrical signal may be provided to the source and gate terminals of the thin film transistor, and the thin film transistor may be turned on or off according to the input of the electrical signals, and an electrical signal for pixel formation or display is outputted to the drain terminal.

The flexible printed circuit board79may receive an image signal from outside the display panel75, and may apply a driving signal to the data line and the gate line of the display panel75.

The color filter display panel71may be on or over the thin film transistor display panel73so as to face the thin film transistor display panel73. The color filter display panel71may be a substrate having a color filter (formed through a thin film process), and an entire surface of the color filter display panel71may be coated with a common electrode made of ITO. When light passes through the color filter, the color filter may show a predetermined color.

When the thin film transistor is turned on in response to power applied to the gate and source terminals thereof, an electric field may be formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode of the color filter display panel. An orientation angle of liquid crystal (between the thin film transistor display panel73and the color filter display panel71) may be changed by the electric field. Then, light transmittance may be varied according to the changed orientation angle, thereby obtaining a desired image.

The flexible printed circuit board79may generate a data signal and a gate driving signal (for driving the display device100) and a plurality of timing signals (for applying the data signal and the gate driving signal at an appropriate time), and may apply the gate driving signal and the data driving signal to the gate line and the data line of the display panel75, respectively.

Under the display panel75, the backlight assembly20may uniformly provide light to the display panel75.

The backlight assembly20may include one or more light sources12fixed to the mold frame22and supplying light to the display panel75and a light source substrate14to supply power to the light sources12. The light source12may be a light emitting diode.

In addition, the backlight assembly20may include a light guide panel16(that guides light emitted from the light source12and supplies the guided light to the display panel75), a reflecting sheet26(under the light guide panel16so as to reflect light), and optical sheets24(that are on or over the light guide panel16, that help secure a luminance characteristic of the light from the light source12, and that help provide the secured luminance characteristic to the display panel75).

Top and bottom surfaces of the mold frame22may be opened, and the mold frame22may surround the backlight assembly20. The mold frame22may support the display panel75.

The bottom chassis28may receive and support the backlight assembly20and the mold frame22.

The top chassis60may be on or over the display panel assembly70so as to protect and support the display panel assembly70while bending the flexible printed circuit board79to the outside of the mold frame22.

In addition, a touch screen panel may be on or over the display panel75so as to receive a capacitive touch pressure.

Although not illustrated inFIG. 1, an inverter board (serving as a printed circuit board for power supply) and/or a printed circuit board (for signal conversion) may be disposed on a rear surface of the bottom chassis28. The inverter board may transform an external voltage into a predetermined voltage level and may provide the transformed voltage into the light source12, and the printed circuit board for signal conversion may be connected to the flexible printed circuit board79, may convert an analog data signal into a digital data signal, and may provide the converted signal to the display panel75.

Now, referring toFIGS. 2 to 4, the display device using a protective window according to an embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of the display device using a protective window according to an embodiment, andFIG. 3illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line ofFIG. 2.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, a first protective window unit200and a second protective window unit300may be sequentially disposed on or over the display device100.

The first and second protective window units200and300may protect the display device100from an impact from outside and/or inflow of foreign materials. in an implementation, the second protective window unit300may not only protect the display device100, but may also show a color.

The first protective window unit200on the display device100may include a first protective window210and a first protective window adhesive layer220.

The first protective window210may be made of or may include, e.g., transparent glass, plastic, or the like. The first protective adhesive layer220may be made of or may include, e.g., transparent adhesive, and the first protective window210may be adhered on the display device100.

The second protective window unit300on the first protective window unit200may include a display area D and a peripheral area P (positioned around the display area D). The display area D may be an area through which an image displayed on the display device100is seen or transmitted, and the peripheral area P may be an area that shows a color, e.g., a bezel.

The second protective window unit300may include a second protective window310, a first ink layer320, and a second protective window adhesive layer330.

The second protective window310may be made of or may include, e.g., transparent glass, plastic, or the like.

The first ink layer320may show a first color, and may be on one, e.g., inner, surface of the second protective window310. The first ink layer320may be in the peripheral area P.

The second protective window adhesive layer330may be on the one surface of the second protective window310and on the first ink layer320, and may adhere the second protective window310(having the first ink layer320thereon) onto the first protective window unit200.

The second protective window adhesive layer330may be made of or may include, e.g., a transparent adhesive such as acryl adhesive, urethane adhesive, polyimide adhesive, polyethylene adhesive, or epoxy adhesive.

The second protective window adhesive layer330may have a relatively low adhesion, and the second protective window unit300may be easily detached from the first protective window unit200. The adhesion or adhesive strength of the second protective window adhesive layer330may be set to, e.g., about 500 g/25 mm or less. In an implementation, the adhesion of the second protective window adhesive layer330may be set to, e.g., about 10 g/25 mm to about 100 g/25 mm.

The protective window unit300may be easily detached from the first protective window unit200, and/or a protective window unit including an ink layer showing a different color may be adhered on the first protective window unit200, instead of the second protective window unit300including the first ink layer320showing the first color.

Now, referring toFIG. 4, protective window units displaying different colors will be described.

FIG. 4illustrates a diagram showing that protective window units displaying different colors may be detachably attached to, e.g., attached to or detached from, the display device using a protective widow according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 4, the second protective window adhesive layer330(for adhering the second protective window310having the first ink layer320thereon onto the first protective window unit200) may have relatively low adhesion, and the second protective window unit300may be easily attached to and/or detached from the first protective window unit200.

Thus, instead of the second protective window unit300, a third protective window unit400may be adhered on the first protective window unit200.

The third protective window unit400may include, e.g., a third protective window410, a second ink layer420, and a third protective window adhesive layer430.

The third protective layer410may be made of or may include, e.g., transparent glass, plastic, or the like.

The second ink layer420may show a second color that is different from the first color, and may be on one surface of the third protective window410. The second ink layer420may be in the peripheral area P, e.g., a bezel.

The third protective window adhesive layer430may be on the one surface of the third protective window410and on the second ink layer420, and the third protective window410(having the second ink layer420thereon) may be adhered on the first protective window unit200.

The third protective window adhesive layer430may have a relatively low adhesion, and the third protective window unit400may be easily detached from the first protective window unit200. The adhesion of the second protective window adhesive layer330may be set to, e.g., about 500 g/25 mm or less. In an implementation, the adhesion of the second protective window adhesive layer330may be set to, e.g., about 10 g/25 mm to 100 g/25 mm.

The third protective window adhesive layer430may be made of or may include, e.g., a transparent adhesive such as acryl adhesive, urethane adhesive, polyimide adhesive, polyethylene adhesive or epoxy adhesive.

The second protective window adhesive layer330and the third protective window adhesive layer430may have low adhesion, and the second protective window unit300including the first ink layer320(to show the first color) and the third protective window unit400including the second ink layer420(to show the second color) may be easily detached from the first protective window unit200.

For example, the second and third protective window units300and400showing the different first and second colors may be easily attached to or detached from the first protective window unit200, and a consumer may easily change the color of the protective window unit attached on the display device100into a desired color.

Hereafter, referring toFIG. 5, a display device using a protective window according to another embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5illustrates a cross-sectional view of a display device using a protective window according to another embodiment.

The display device using a protective window according to the present embodiment may have the same structure as the display device using a protective window according to the embodiment ofFIG. 2, except for the second protective window unit300. Thus, repeated detailed descriptions of the same components may be omitted herein.

Referring toFIG. 5, the first protective window unit200and the second protective window unit300may be sequentially disposed on or over the display device100. The second protective window unit300may include a display area D (through which an image displayed on the display device100may be seen) and a peripheral area P (that shows a color).

The second protective window unit300may include a second protective window310, a pattern adhesive layer311, a pattern layer312, a first ink layer320, and a second protective window adhesive layer330.

The second protective window310may be made of or may include, e.g., transparent glass, plastic, or the like.

The pattern adhesive layer311may be on one surface of the second protective window310and may be made of or may include, e.g., a transparent adhesive.

The pattern layer312may be on one surface of the pattern adhesive layer311, and may have a predetermined pattern formed therein. The predetermined pattern may be formed at a region corresponding to or overlying the peripheral area P. The pattern layer312may be adhered on the one surface of the second protective layer310by the pattern adhesive layer311.

The first ink layer320may show a first color, and may be on one surface of the pattern layer312. The first ink layer320may be in the peripheral area P.

The second protective window adhesive layer330may be on the one surface of the pattern layer312and on one surface of the first ink layer320. The second protective window adhesive layer330may adhere the second protective window310on the first protective window unit200(the second protective window310including the pattern adhesive layer311, the pattern layer312, and the first ink layer320disposed thereon).

The second protective window adhesive layer330may be made of or may include, e.g., a transparent adhesive such as acryl adhesive, urethane adhesive, polyimide adhesive, polyethylene adhesive, or epoxy adhesive.

The second protective window adhesive layer330may have relatively low adhesion, and the second protective window unit300may be easily detached from the first protective window unit200. The adhesion of the second protective window adhesive layer330may be set to, e.g., about 500 g/25 mm or less. In an implementation, the adhesion of the second protective window adhesive layer330may be set to, e.g., about 10 g/25 mm to 100 g/25 mm.

The second protective window unit300(showing the color and the predetermined pattern) may be easily detached from the first protective window unit200, and another protective window unit (showing a different color and a different pattern) may be adhered on the first protective window unit200.

By way of summation and review, an ink layer may be formed on a protective window and may show a color, or an ink layer showing a color may be formed on a film and the film may be attached on the protective window such that the protective window shows the color. In such a method, a color that may show through the protective window may be fixed or limited to one color.

The embodiments may provide a technique for facilitating attachment/detachment of a protective window showing a color in a display device including a protective window.

According to an embodiment, the protective window adhesive layer (having a relatively low adhesion) may facilitate attachment/detachment of the protective window unit showing a color. Thus, a consumer may easily change the color of the protective window unit attached to the display device into a desired color.

<Description of symbols>100: Display device200: First protective window unit210: First protective window300: Second protective window unit310: Second protective window311: Pattern adhesive layer312: Pattern layer320: First ink layer330: Second protective window adhesive layer400: Third protective window unit410: Third protective window420: Second ink layer430: Third protective window adhesive layer