Patent Publication Number: US-2007103407-A1

Title: Display device

Description:
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0100397, filed on Oct. 24, 2005 and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device in which an organic light emitting diode panel is slidably inserted into a case.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Among flat panel displays, an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) device has been highlighted due to advantages in terms of low voltage driving, light weight, a thin profile or type, a wide viewing angle, high speed response and the like.  
      Since an OLED panel forming images in the OLED device is only about 1 millimeter (mm) to 1.5 millimeters (mm) in thickness, a structure for supporting the OLED panel is required. Conventionally, a top chassis and a bottom chassis are used as such a structure. The OLED panel is housed between the top chassis and the bottom chassis, and the chassis are fixed to each other using a screw or the like.  
      However, such a conventional supporting method has a disadvantage in that a display device becomes very thick in thickness and heavy in weight due to use of the chassis and the assembling of the top and the bottom chassis is complicated.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An exemplary embodiment provides a display device wherein its thickness is thin, and its assembling is simple.  
      An exemplary embodiment provides a display device including a case in which a storage space is formed and an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) panel inserted into the storage space. The case includes a front and a rear face, whereby one of front and rear face includes an opening defining a display region. and a slit for communicating the storage space and an outside of the OLED panel formed at one side of the case. The slit accommodates the OLED panel during insertion into the case.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the display device further includes a driving part connected to the OLED panel and at least a part of the driving part is exposed out of the case through the slit.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the case includes a stopper fixing the OLED panel such that movement of the inserted OLED panel is restricted in a reverse direction to an insertion direction.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the stopper is contacted with a side face of the OLED panel adjacent to the slit.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the stopper includes a stopping protrusion protruded toward the storage space from the rear face of the case.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the stopper pressurizes the OLED panel in a direction perpendicular to the OLED panel.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the stopper includes a projection protruded towards the storage space from the front face of the case.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the case further includes a guide part for guiding opposite sides of the OLED panel parallel with an insertion direction when the OLED panel is inserted.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the front or the rear face other than where the display region is formed includes a shielding region for shielding the OLED panel.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, through-holes are formed on the shielding region.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the display region is formed on both the front and rear faces.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the case is formed in a single body.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the case is made of a plastic material.  
      In an exemplary embodiment a display device includes a case, an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) panel and a stopper. The case includes a storage space therein, a front surface, a rear surface, a first side, a second side opposite to the first side and an opening disposed in the first side. The OLED panel is accommodated by the opening in a direction of insertion and disposed in the storage space. The stopper contacts a face of the OLED panel and restricts movement of the OLED panel in a direction opposing the direction of insertion. The front surface includes a first opening part forming a display region and covers peripheral. edges of the OLED panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the prevent invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the present invention;  
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exploded and enlarged perspective views of the display device in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in  FIG. 2A ;  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a display device according to present invention; and  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of a finished display set using a display device according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout, and descriptions for the like reference numerals may be omitted in other embodiments except a representative first embodiment. The embodiments are described below so as to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
      The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary 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 invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.  
      It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on” or “connected to” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly on or connected to another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.  
      It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.  
      Spatially relative terms, such as “lower,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “lower” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented “upper” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.  
      The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.  
      Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.  
      For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
      Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.  
      Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      An exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.  1  to  5 .  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the present invention,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exploded and enlarged perspective views of the display device in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in  FIG. 2A .  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a display device  1  includes a case  100  shaped substantially like a rectangular plate and a display assembly  200 , such as an OLED assembly received inside the case  100 . Here, a portion of the OLED assembly  200  is exposed out of the case  100 .  
      The case  100  forms a storage space  150  having a display panel  210 , such as an OLED panel, inserted therein. The storage space  150  has a shape substantially corresponding in shape and dimension to the OLED panel  210 . In exemplary embodiments, the case  100  may be made in a single body and/or the material thereof may be plastic.  
      The case  100  includes a substantially plate-shaped rear face  121 , first, second and third side faces  131   a ,  131   b  and  131   c , respectively, vertically extended from the rear face  121 , and a front face  111  horizontally extended from each of the side faces  131   a ,  131   b  and  131   c  and substantially parallel with the rear face  121 .  
      A center portion of the front face  111  is removed so that an opening part  112  defining a display region is formed. The rear face  121  effectively forms a shielding region for shielding the OLED panel  210 . At one side of the case  100  is formed a slit  141  for inserting the OLED assembly  200 . The slit  141  is dimensioned and structured to accommodate the OLED panel  210  during insertion.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the OLED assembly  200  includes the OLED panel  210  and a driving part  220  connected to one side of the OLED panel  210 . The driving part  220  receives a signal from an external circuit (not shown) and then drives the OLED panel  210 . A portion of the driving part  220  is exposed from the case  100  while being connected to the OELD panel  210 .  
      The OLED panel  210  includes an insulation substrate  211 , a light emitting part  212  formed on the insulation substrate  211 , a passivation layer  213  covering the light emitting part  212  and a protection substrate  214  attached on an upper surface of the passivation layer  213 . In exemplary embodiments, the light emitting part  212  generates light using the combination of electrons and holes and may include a low molecular polymer material. The passivation layer  213  and the protection substrate  214  reduce or effectively prevent an external impact from being transmitted to the light emitting part  212  and protect the light emitting part  212  from moisture and air.  
      In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , the OLED panel  210  is of a bottom emission type in which light generated from the light emitting part  212  is emitted toward a surface of the insulation substrate  211 .  
      The OLED panel  210  includes a first surface  230   a  from which light is emitted to the outside, a second surface  230   b  facing the first surface  230   a , a third surface  230   c  and a fourth surface  230   d  substantially parallel with a insertion direction of the OLED panel  210  while facing to each other, a fifth surface  230   e  located at the front of the insertion direction and a sixth surface  230   f  adjacent to the driving part  220  while opposing (and facing) the fifth surface  230   e.    
      The driving part  220  includes a driving chip  221  mounted on the insulation substrate  211 , a connecting FPC (flexible printed circuit)  222  connected to the driving chip  221 , a driving FPC  223  connected to the driving chip  221  via the connecting FPC  222  and an external connecting part  224  connected to the external circuit for transmitting a signal to the driving FPC  223 . In exemplary embodiments, the connecting FPC  222  may be bent to extend toward the rear face  121  of the case  100 .  
      In one exemplary embodiment, the driving chip  221  may be formed through a Chip On Glass (“COG”) method. In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, may include the driving chip  221  mounted on the OLED panel  210  through the Chip On Film (“COF”) method or any other method suitable for the purpose described herein.  
      The OLED assembly  200  is arranged such that the first surface  230   a  emitting light therefrom faces the opening part  112  formed on the front face  111  of the case  100  when the OLED assembly  200  is inserted in the storage space  150  while sliding.  
      In an exemplary embodiment of a method of insertion of the OLED assembly  200  into the case  100 , the third and the fourth surfaces  230   c  and  230   d  of the OLED panel  210  become parallel with the insertion direction. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in a state of insertion, a portion of the (peripheral) edge of the first surface  230   a  of the OLED panel  210  is covered with the front face  111  of the case  100 .  
      The case  100  has a guide part  113  for stably executing the insertion of the OLED panel  210  and a stopper  125   a  for preventing the inserted OLED panel  210  from being separated from the case  100 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the guide part  113  is protruded toward the storage space  150  from the front face  111  adjacent to each of the third and the fourth surfaces  230   c  and  230   d  of the OLED panel  210 . The guide part  113  minimizes an interval between opposite ends of the OLED panel  210  and the case  100  so that the OLED panel  210  is stably inserted.  
      The guide part  113  may be effective where the height of the storage space  150  is relatively larger than the thickness of the OLED panel  210 . The guide part  113  may not be separately formed in a case where the height of the storage space  150  is similar to the thickness of the OLED panel  210 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2B , the stopper  125   a  is formed on the rear face  121  of the case  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the stopper may be formed on the front face  111 . The stopper  125   a  includes a connecting part  126  extended outward from the rear face  121  and a catching part  127  protruded toward the front face  111  from the connecting part  126 . One side A of the connecting part  126  is connected with the rear face  121 . Side B of the connecting part  126  is not connected with the rear face  121 . Since side A is connected to the rear face and side B is not connected with the rear face, is possible to deform or modify the connecting part  126  to a certain extent.  
      The catching part  127  is extended from the side B of the connecting part  126  and includes an inclination surface C making an acute angle with the rear face  121 . The catching part  127  includes a substantially vertical surface D extended toward the rear face  121  from the top of the inclination surface C.  
      During insertion of the OLED panel  210  as shown in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 2A , the catching part  127  is modified downward due to the contact with the second surface  230   b  of the OLED panel  210 . When the insertion of the OLED panel  210  is completed as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the sixth surface  230   f  of the OLED panel  210  passes through the catching part  127  and is then located on the connecting part  126 . The modification of the stopper  125   a  is released and returns to the original state. The vertical surface D of the catching part  127  confronts or corresponds to the sixth surface  230   f  of the OLED panel  210 .  
      When the OLED panel  210  is ultimately inserted into the case, if the OLED panel  210  proceeds to the reverse direction of the insertion direction, e.g., if it is separated from the case  100 , the catching part  127  is contacted with the sixth surface  230   f  of the OLED panel  210  so that the movement of the OLED panel  210  is restricted.  
      In alternative exemplary embodiments, the stopper  125   a  may be formed on the front face  111  and/or the shape of the catching part  127  may be modified in various forms of a hemisphere or the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the stopper  125   a  may be manufactured separately from the case  100  and then coupled to the case  100 .  
      The illustrated embodiment of the display device has the following advantages.  
      Assembling of the case  100  and the OLED assembly  200  is simple. That is, the assembling is completed by means of sliding the OLED assembly  200  to be inserted in the case  100 . This is a simpler method as compared with a method including coupling a chassis using a screw or the like.  
      The overall thickness (t 1  in  FIG. 3 ) of the display device  1  can be reduced. The OLED assembly  200  of the illustrated embodiment has a further advantage in that there is required no backlight contrary to a liquid crystal display so that the OLED assembly  200  is of a relatively thin type. In a case where the OLED assembly  200  is stored in a chassis, it may be difficult to take full advantage of a thin type OLED assembly  200  so as to guarantee a space for coupling the screw to the chassis. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, there is required no screw when manufacturing the display device  1  so that the thickness of the display device  1  can be minimized.  
      The case  100  may be simply manufactured, such as through plastic molding, so that manufacturing costs can be reduced. Further, the weight of the display device  1  can be reduced as compared with a chassis made of a metallic material.  
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are cross-sectional views of exemplary embodiments of display devices according to the present invention.  
      In the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a stopper  125   b  is a projection protruded toward a rear face  121  from a front face  111 . The stopper  125   b  may have the shape of a hemisphere or semicylinder. An OLED panel  210  is located between the stopper  125   b  and the rear face  121  and the stopper  125   b  effectively “pressurizes” the OLED panel  210  in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto so that the movement of the OLED panel  210  is restricted.  
      The stopper  125   b  is located to be adjacent to a side face  131   c  of a case  100  located at the front of an insertion direction, which is for the purpose that the stopper  125   b  does not influence on the OLED panel  210  in an intermediate process of insertion thereof. That is, the stopper  125   b  essentially operates when the insertion of the OLED panel  210  is completed.  
      In the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , a stopper  125   c  is a projection protruded toward a rear face  121  from a front face  111 . The stopper  125   c  may have the shape of a hemisphere or semicylinder. The stopper  125   c  is located to be adjacent to each of the opposite side faces  131   a  and  131   b  of a case  100 , which are opposing to each other.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the stopper  125   c  is formed to be relatively close to a side face  131   c  of the case  100 , which is for the purpose that the stopper  125   c  does not influence on the OLED panel  210  in insertion process thereof. The stopper  125   c  proximate the side faces  131   a  and  131   b  may be at a similar distance from the side faces or one stopper  125   c  may be closer to its respective side face than the other stopper  125   c.    
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of additional exemplary embodiments of display devices according to the present invention, respectively.  
      According to the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the front face  111  of the case includes the opening part  112  forming the display region. A plurality of through-holes  122  are formed on a rear face  121  of the case  100 . The portion of the rear face  121  where the through-holes are formed, such as an area within inner edges of the front face  111  when viewed on a plane, may be considered the shielding region.  
      When an OLED panel  210  is driven, heat may be generated. Unless the heat is appropriately radiated, devices including the OLED panel  210  may be degraded so that display quality is deteriorated. The through-holes  122  formed on the rear face  121  allow the heat generated from the OLED panel  210  to be radiated to the outside of the display device through convection. The through-holes may be formed in any of a number of shapes suitable for the purpose described herein, such as substantially rectilinear, circular, semi-circular and the like.  
      According to the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , a portion of the rear face  121  of the case  100  is partly removed so that an opening part  123  is formed and the opening part  123  forms another display region. The display regions are formed on the front and the rear surfaces  111  and  121  of the case  100 . In an exemplary embodiment, the display region may be formed on an entirety of the front and the rear surfaces  111  and  121 .  
      Light emitted from a light emitting part  212  of an OLED panel  210  progresses in all directions. In exemplary embodiments, where components located on the upper and the lower portions of the light emitting part  212  are transparent, it is possible to implement screens on both faces of the OLED panel  210 .  
      A display device  1  as in the illustrated exemplary embodiments may be used for portable electronic devices such as a mobile phone, monitors of computers, televisions and the likes, and a form of a finished display set and a signal input to the display device  1  are variously modified depending on use.  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of a finished display set using a display device according to the present invention.  
      The display device  1  is housed between a front cover  310  and a rear cover  320 .  
      An opening part  311  is formed on the front cover  310  such that the display region of the display device  1  is exposed, and a coupling projection  312  of the front cover  310  is formed on a portion of the front cover  310  facing the rear cover  320 .  
      Through-holes  321  for eliminating heat generated from the display device  1  are formed on the rear cover  320  and a coupling groove (not shown) corresponding to the coupling projection  312  of the front cover  310  is formed thereon. The front cover  310  and the rear cover  320  are joined with each other by the coupling projection  312  and the coupling groove.  
      An external connecting part  224  extended to the rear of the display device  1  is connected to an external source (not shown) via a connecting part  330 . The connecting part  330  includes a connecting jack  331  connected to a connecting cable  332 . The display device is coupled with a connecting jack  331  connected to a connecting cable  332  so as to receive a signal from the external source. In one exemplary embodiment, the connecting cable  332  may be connected to a computer main body.  
      As in the illustrated exemplary embodiments, there is provided a display device wherein its thickness is thin and its assembling is simple.  
      Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.