Patent Publication Number: US-2015062466-A1

Title: Display device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0102940, filed on Aug. 29, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Display Device,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a display device and components for the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As interest in information display devices and demand for portable information media increases, research and commercialization on light, thin film type flat panel display devices (FPD devices) replacing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) that are existing display devices is actively being conducted. Particularly, among these FPD devices, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device is a device which displays an image using optical anisotropy of liquid crystals. The LCD device is actively being applied to notebook computers, desktop monitors or the like because it has an excellent resolution, color rendering capability and picture quality. An organic light emitting display (OLED) device displays images using organic light emitting diodes that emit light through recombination of electrons and holes. The organic light emitting display device has a fast response speed and is driven with low power consumption. Thus, the OLED device has been actively applied. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a display device including a display module, a driving circuit unit, a window positioned on the display module, a first flexible circuit board, and a shielding unit. The driving circuit unit may supply a driving signal to the display module. The first flexible circuit board may be configured to have a touch sensor at one end portion thereof, wherein the one end portion is attached to the window. The shielding unit may extend to protrude toward the driving circuit unit from the one end portion of the first flexible circuit board, to shield the driving circuit unit. 
     The shielding unit may cover a side surface of the driving circuit unit. 
     The shielding unit may have a quadrangular box shape having an opened bottom surface or opened top and bottom surfaces. 
     The shielding unit may include a material having conductivity. 
     The shielding unit may be electrically coupled to a ground terminal of the first flexible circuit board. 
     One side of the shielding unit may be coupled to the first flexible circuit board, and the other side of the shielding unit may be adjacent to the display module on which the driving circuit unit is positioned. 
     The one end portion of the first flexible circuit board may have first and second surfaces opposite to each other. The touch sensor may be positioned on the first surface, and the shielding unit may be extended from the second surface. 
     The driving circuit unit may be positioned in a non-display area of the display module. 
     The touch sensor may be provided at a position corresponding to the non-display area of the display module. 
     The display module may include a first substrate, and a second substrate positioned opposite to the first substrate, the second substrate being positioned more distant from the window than the first substrate, and the second substrate may be wider than the first substrate and include a protruding area. The driving circuit unit may be positioned on the protruding area. 
     The display may further include a second flexible circuit board configured to have one end portion electrically coupled to the driving circuit unit. 
     The second flexible circuit board may be bent to surround a side of the display module, so that the other end portion opposite to the one end portion of the second flexible circuit board is positioned on an opposite surface of the display module to a surface on which the driving circuit unit is positioned. 
     The first flexible circuit board may be bent so that the other end portion opposite to the one end portion of the first flexible circuit board is coupled to the other end portion of the second flexible circuit board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
       Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. 
       In the drawing figures, dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, it can be the only element between the two elements, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view showing a portion of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of a display device module in the display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of one end portion of a first flexible circuit board in the display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a shielding unit in the display device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view showing a state in which the one end portion of the first flexible circuit board shown in  FIG. 3  is coupled to the shielding unit shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art. 
     In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being “on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. When a first element is described as being coupled to a second element, the first element may be not only directly coupled to the second element but may also be indirectly coupled to the second element via a third element. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view showing a portion of a display device  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of a display module  110  in the display device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . Hereinafter, the display device  100  according to this embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the display device  100  according to this embodiment includes a display module  110 , a window  150 , a first flexible circuit board  130  and a shielding unit  160 . The shielding unit  160  may cover a driving circuit unit  120  to shield the driving circuit unit  120  from EMI/ESD. 
     The display module  110  is a member that displays an image. The display module  110  may include a display area  113  in which the image is displayed, and a non-display area  114  in which the image is not displayed. 
     Here, a plurality of pixels is formed in the display area  113  to display an image, and the image need not be displayed in the non-display area  114 . The display module  110  may be an organic light emitting display module including an organic light emitting element or a liquid crystal display module including a liquid crystal layer, or the like. In this case, the plurality of pixels is provided between first and second substrates  111  and  112  opposite to each other, so that the image can be displayed in the display area  113 . 
     Meanwhile, the first and second substrates  111  and  112  may be insulative substrates made of glass, quartz, ceramic, plastic or the like. The first substrate  110  may be an encapsulation substrate that is more adjacent to the window  150  than the second substrate  112 , and the second substrate  112  may be a low temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) substrate that is formed wider than the first substrate  111  to have a protruding area  115 . In this case, the protruding area  115  may be a portion of the non-display area  114 , and the driving circuit unit  120  may be positioned on the protruding area  115 . 
     The driving circuit unit  120  is a member that supplies a driving signal to the display module  110 . The driving circuit module  120  may be provided to the display module  110 . For example, the driving circuit unit  120  may be positioned on the protruding area  115  of the second substrate  112  in the non-display area  114  of the display module  110 , and accordingly, the first substrate  111  can be positioned at a side of the driving circuit unit  120  in a state in which the first substrate  111  is opposite to the second substrate  112 . Meanwhile, the driving circuit unit  120  may be electrically coupled to a second flexible circuit board  140  and the display module  110 . The driving circuit unit  120  may receive a control signal provided through the second flexible circuit board  140  to supply various signals a data or gate line of the display module  110 , in response to the received control signal. 
     In this case, the second flexible circuit board  140  may have a bend shape to surround a side of the second substrate  112 . One end portion  141  of the second flexible circuit board  140  may face a direction adjacent to the driving circuit unit  120  so as to be electrically coupled to the driving circuit unit  120 , and the other end portion  142  of the second flexible circuit board  140  may be positioned on the other surface of the second substrate  112 , opposite to one surface of the second substrate  112 . The second flexible circuit board  140  may be electrically coupled directly to the driving circuit unit  120 , or may be electrically coupled to the driving circuit unit  120  through a circuit pattern formed on the second substrate  112 . 
     The window  150  is a member positioned on the display module  110 . The window  150  protects the display module  110 , the driving circuit unit  120 , the first flexible circuit board  130 , and the like from the outside of the display device  100 . 
     Here, a window display area  151  of the window  150 , corresponding to the display area  113  of the display module  110  may be implemented transparent or translucent so that a user can see an image displayed by the display module  110 . A printing layer is provided in a window non-display area  152  of the window  150 , corresponding to the non-display area  114  of the display module  110 , so that internal electronic components including the driving circuit unit  120 , the flexible circuit boards  130  and  140 , and the like cannot be seen by the user. Meanwhile, the window  150  may be adhered to the display module  110  through a transparent adhesive layer  153 . In this case, a polarizing plate  154  may be interposed between the transparent adhesive layer  153  and the display module  110 . The size of the transparent adhesive layer  153  or the polarizing plate  154  may be formed identical to or smaller than that of the first substrate  111  narrower than the second substrate  112 . Therefore, the transparent adhesive layer  153  and the polarizing plate  154  need not be positioned above the driving circuit unit  120  on the second substrate  112 . Thus, the window  150  can be positioned above the driving circuit unit  120  in a state in which the window  150  is spaced apart from the driving circuit unit  120 , and one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130  can enter into a space between the driving circuit unit  120  and the window  150 . 
     The first flexible circuit board  130  is a member that has a touch sensor  135  at the one end portion  131  to transmit/receive an electrical signal to/from the touch sensor  135 . The one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130  may be attached to a bottom surface of the window  150 . 
     The first flexible circuit board  130  may have first and second surfaces  133  and  134  opposite to each other, and the touch sensor  135  may be electrically coupled to the first surface  133  of the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130 . Therefore, the second surface  134  of the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130  may be in a state in which the second surface  134  faces the driving circuit unit  120  exposed below the window  150  and a top surface of the second substrate  112 . The touch sensor  135  may be in a state in which the touch sensor  135  is attached to or spaced apart from the bottom surface of the window  150 . When the user touches the window non-display area  152  of the window  150 , corresponding to the position of the touch sensor  135 , the touch sensor  135  can sense the touched position and transmit an electrical signal to the first flexible circuit board  130 . In this case, the position of the touch sensor  135  may be a position corresponding to the non-display area  114  of the display module  110 . The touch sensor  135  may be implemented as, for example, a capacitive touch sensor. The touch sensor  135  may be configured with a plurality of touch sensors to provide several touch buttons. The touch sensor  135  may have a light emission portion such as an LED so that the user can detect a portion to be touched while viewing the window  150 . In this case, the first flexible circuit board  130  may include the touch sensor  135 , and hence a driving circuit unit for controlling the touch sensor  135  may be separately provided. Alternatively, the touch sensor  135  may be controlled using the driving circuit unit  120  of the display module  110 . 
     Like the second flexible circuit board  140 , the first flexible circuit board  130  may have a bent shape to surround a side of the display module  110 , and the other end portion  132  of the first flexible circuit board  130  may be positioned adjacent to the other end portion  142  of the second flexible circuit board  140  so as to be electrically coupled to the other end portion  142  of the second flexible circuit board  140 . Thus, the display device  100  can have a shape in which the other end portion  142  of the second flexible circuit board  140  and the other end portion  132  of the first flexible circuit board  130  are sequentially coupled to the bottom surface of the second substrate  112 . In addition, a member such as a chassis can be provided beneath the shape to protect the first and second flexible circuit boards  130  and  140 . 
     The driving circuit unit  120  may be exposed in the display having the structure described above. Therefore, if ESD is flowed in the display device  100  from the outside of the display device  100 , the driving circuit unit  120  may be damaged. If EMI of the driving circuit unit  120  is discharged to the outside of the display device  100 , another component of the display device  100  may be influenced by the EMI. In order to solve such a problem, the display device  100  according to this embodiment may further include the shielding unit  160 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130  in the display device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the shielding unit  160  in the display device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view showing a state in which the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130  shown in  FIG. 3  is coupled to the shielding unit  160  shown in  FIG. 4 . Hereinafter, the shielding unit according to this embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3  to  5 . 
     The shielding unit  160  is a member that covers the driving circuit unit  120  by being protruded toward the driving circuit unit  120  from the second surface  134  of the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130 . The shielding unit  160  may have, for example, a quadrangular box shape having opened top and bottom surfaces as shown in  FIG. 4 , and one side of the shielding unit  160  may be coupled to the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130  so that the top surface of the shielding unit  160  can be blocked by the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130 . In this case, the shielding unit  160  does not necessarily have the shape shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, the bottom surface of the shielding unit  160  may be opened without opening other portions so that the driving circuit unit  120  can inserted into the shielding unit  160  through the bottom surface of the shielding unit  160 . In addition, the shielding unit  160  may have the shape of a circular box, a triangular box or the like. 
     The other side of the shielding unit  160 , opposite to one side coupled to the one end portion  130  of the first flexible circuit board  130 , may be coupled or adjacent to the top surface of the second substrate  112  of the display module  110  on which the driving circuit unit  120  is positioned. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the driving circuit unit  120  from being exposed to the outside. In a case where the other side of the shielding unit  160  is coupled to the top surface of the second substrate  112 , the circuit pattern of the second substrate  112  through which the second flexible circuit board  140  is coupled to the driving circuit unit  120  may be positioned at the other lower portion of the shielding unit  160 . 
     The shielding unit  160  may include a conductive material such as metal. The shielding unit  160  may include a main body portion  161  configured to form a sidewall substantially vertical to the second surface  134  of the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130 , and a protruding portion  162  extended to protrude from the main body  161 . In this case, the protruding portion  162  may be bent to be substantially parallel to the second surface  134  of the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130 . 
     The one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130  may be implemented wider than another area so that the shielding unit  160  that covers the driving circuit unit  120  can be sufficiently positioned. One or more ground terminals  136  may be provided in the second surface  134  of the one end portion  131  of the first flexible circuit board  130 . For example, the ground terminal  136  may be implemented by cutting a coverlay positioned at the outermost side of the first flexible circuit board  130  and exposing a conduction wire inside the coverlay. In this case, the protruding portion  162  of the shielding unit  160  may be provided with one or more protruding portions to be electrically coupled to the respective ground terminals  136 , and accordingly, the shielding unit  160  can maintain a grounded state. 
     According to this embodiment, the shielding unit  160  in the grounded state may shield the side surface of the driving circuit  120 , and the first flexible circuit board  130  may shield the top surface of the driving circuit unit  120 . Alternatively, the shielding unit  160  in the grounded state may shield the side and top surfaces of the driving circuit unit  120 . Thus, the driving circuit unit  120  can be shielded from ESD/EMI. For example, although ESD/EMI generated from an outside of the display device  100  or an internal component of the display device  100  faces the driving circuit unit  120 , the generated ESD/EMI is induced to the ground terminal  136  by the shielding unit  160 , and accordingly, it is possible to prevent the driving circuit unit  120  from being damaged or erroneously operated. Further, ESD/EMI generated from the driving circuit unit  120  is induced to the ground terminal  136  by the shielding unit  160 , and accordingly, it is possible to prevent the internal component of the display device  100  from being damaged or erroneously operated by the ESD/EMI generated from the driving circuit unit  120 . Thus, the display device  100  can be stably driven, and it is possible to reduce cost spent in replacing a damaged component, and the like. 
     By way of summation and review, when a display device is used, ESD/EMI generated from an outside of the display device or an internal component of the display device also has influence on other internal components, and therefore, the internal components may be damaged or erroneously operated. According to the display device of the present disclosure, the driving circuit unit is shielded using the shielding unit extended from the first flexible circuit board, and it is possible to protect the driving circuit unit and internal components of the display device from ESD/EMI. Embodiments provide a display device that can protect a driving circuit unit and other internal components of the display device from electrostatic discharge/electromagnetic interference (ESD/EMI) by shielding the driving circuit unit. 
     Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the following claims.