Patent Publication Number: US-11036071-B2

Title: Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0054692, filed on May 3, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and U.S. Patent Application No. 15/585,357 filed on May 3, 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Display apparatuses include a substrate divided into a display area and a non-display area. In the display area, gate lines and data lines are insulated from each other and pixel areas are defined by the gate lines and the data lines that cross one another. Thin film transistors (TFTs) and pixel electrodes provided in the in the pixel areas in the display area are electrically connected to one another. Various conductive layers such as wirings transmitting electrical signals to the display area are provided in the display area. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a display apparatus is provided as follows. A substrate having a display portion on an upper surface of the substrate is prepared. A protection film having an opening is attached to a lower surface of the substrate so that the protection film overlaps the display portion. A support film is attached to the lower surface so that the support film is disposed within the opening of the protection film. A driving circuit chip is attached to the upper surface so that the driving chip is spaced apart from the display portion and the opening. At least a part of the support film is removed. The substrate is bent along a longitudinal direction of the opening. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a display apparatus is provided as follows. A substrate having a first area, a second area and a bending area between the first area and the second area is provided. The bending area is bent to have a curved lower surface. A display portion is disposed on an upper surface of the first area of the substrate. A protection film is disposed on a lower surface of the first area of the substrate and comprises a protection film base and a first adhesive layer. A second adhesive layer is disposed on the curved lower surface of the bending area of the substrate. A hardness of the second adhesive layer is higher than a hardness of the first adhesive layer. The protection film has an opening exposing the curved lower surface of the bending area of the substrate. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a display apparatus is provided as follows. A substrate having a display portion on an upper surface of the substrate is prepared. A protection film having an opening is attached to a lower surface of the substrate so that the protection film overlaps the display portion. The protection film comprises a protection film base and a first adhesive layer. A support film is attached to the lower surface so that the support film is disposed within the opening of the protection film. The support film comprises a support film base and a second adhesive layer. A driving circuit chip is attached to the upper surface of the substrate so that the driving chip is spaced apart from the display portion and the opening. The support film is removed to expose the second adhesive layer so that the second adhesive layer is exposed through the opening of the protection film. The substrate is bent along a longitudinal direction of the opening so that the substrate has a curved surface overlapping the opening of the protection film. A first hardening process is performed on the exposed second adhesive layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a plan view illustrating a mother substrate of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10, 11 and 12  are schematic cross-sectional views for describing processes of manufacturing the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 13A through 13C  are schematic cross-sectional views for describing processes of manufacturing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 14A through 14D  are schematic cross-sectional views of a support film that may be applied to a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15A  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15B  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a support film that may be applied to manufacture the display apparatus of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17A  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17B  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 17C  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element or substrate, it may be directly on the other element or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled to” or “connected to” another element, it may be directly coupled to or connected to the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. Like reference numerals may refer to the like elements throughout the specification and drawings. 
     Sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation. In other words, since sizes and thicknesses of components in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of explanation, the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     In the following examples, the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are not limited to three axes of the rectangular coordinate system and may be interpreted in a broader sense. For example, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis may be perpendicular to one another or may represent different directions that are not perpendicular to one another. 
     When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific process order may be performed differently from the described order. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed substantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to the described order. 
     A display apparatus is an apparatus displaying images, for example, a liquid crystal display apparatus, an electrophoretic display apparatus, an organic light-emitting display apparatus, an inorganic light-emitting display apparatus, a field emission display apparatus, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display apparatus, a plasma display apparatus, a cathode ray display apparatus, or the like. 
     Hereinafter, the organic light-emitting display apparatus will be described as an example of a display apparatus according to an embodiment. However, the display apparatus according to the present inventive concept is not limited thereto and may include various types of display apparatus. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. The display apparatus includes a substrate  100  that are partially bent as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The substrate  100  of the display apparatus includes a bending area BA extending in a first direction (a +y direction). The bending area BA is located between a first area  1 A and a second area  2 A, in a second direction (a +x direction) crossing the first direction. The substrate  100  is bent with respect to a bending axis BAX extending in the first direction (the +y direction). The substrate  100  may include various materials having flexible or bendable characteristics, for example, a polymer resin such as polyethersulfone (PES), polyarylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naplithalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), or cellulose acetate propionate (CAP). The substrate  100  may have a single-layer or multi-layer structure. The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the substrate  100  may have variously modified structures such as a structure in which a resin layer including a resin and a barrier layer including an inorganic material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride are alternately stacked, a structure further including an intermediate layer including amorphous silicon between the resin layer and the barrier layer, etc. 
     The bending area BA has a curved surface along the bending axis BAX. For example, the bending area BA has a curved lower surface along the bending axis BAX. 
       FIG. 2A  is a plan view illustrating a mother substrate of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2B, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10, 11 and 12  are schematic cross-sectional views for describing processes of manufacturing the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , a plurality of display portions DU is formed on an upper surface of a mother substrate  100 M. Other processes may be performed before the plurality of display portions DU are formed. For example, a process of forming a buffer layer on an entire surface of the mother substrate  100 M, etc. may be performed. In addition, when the plurality of display portions DU is formed, electronic devices such as thin film transistors that may be electrically connected to display devices, etc., may also be formed. The electronic devices may also be formed in peripheral areas outside a display area in which display devices are positioned. When the plurality of display portions DU is formed, an encapsulation layer for protecting display devices may also be formed. A detailed configuration of the display portion DU will be described below. 
     When the plurality of display portions DU is formed as shown in  FIG. 2A , the plurality of display portions DU may be formed on the mother substrate  100 M. The mother substrate  100 M is positioned on a carrier substrate CS as shown in  FIG. 2B . The carrier substrate CS may include, for example, glass having a sufficient thickness to support the mother substrate  100  in the manufacturing process of the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 . The carrier substrate CS may have a sufficient hardness to prevent the mother substrate  100 M including a flexible or bendable characteristic from being bent or deformed during the manufacturing process of the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 . For example, the mother substrate  100 M may be formed on the carrier substrate CS having the sufficient hardness, and the plurality of display portions DU may be formed on the mother substrate  100 M. 
     After the display portions DU are formed as described above, the mother substrate  100 M is separated from the carrier substrate CS and as shown in  FIG. 2C , a temporary protection film  20  is attached to a lower surface of the mother substrate  100 M from which the carrier substrate CS is separated in a z direction. The temporary protection film  20  may serve to prevent the lower surface of the mother substrate  100 M from being damaged during the manufacturing process of the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 . The temporary protection film  20  may be removed during the manufacturing process as will be described below, and thus adhesion between the temporary protection film  20  and the mother substrate  100 M need not be strong. 
     After the temporary protection film  20  is attached to the lower surface of the mother substrate  100 M, the mother substrate  100 M and the temporary protection film  20  may be simultaneously cut. For example, the mother substrate  100 M and the temporary protection film  20  may be cut so that each of the plurality of display portions DU is separated from each other. In this case, the mother substrate  100 M is separated into a plurality of substrates  100  as shown in  FIG. 2D . Each of the display portions DU may form a display panel and thus a plurality of display panels may be obtained through the cutting operation of the temporary protection film  20  and the substrate  100 M. The mother substrate  100 M and the temporary protection film  20  may be cut using various methods, for example, by irradiating a laser beam on the mother substrate  100 M and/or the temporary protection film  20  or by placing a cutting wheel in contact with the mother substrate  100 M and/or the temporary protection film  20 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of one of a plurality of display panels obtained through the cutting operation described above. 
     The first area  1 A of the substrate  100  includes a display area DA. The first area  1 A also includes a part of a non-display area outside the display area DA as shown in  FIG. 3 . The second area  2 A includes the non-display area. A display portion including a display device such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)  300  or a thin film transistor (TFT)  210 , etc. is in the first area  1 A. The display portion may include elements disposed within the display area DA and may also include elements belonging to the first area  1 A and disposed inside the non-display area. The substrate  100  includes the bending area BA between the first area  1 A and the second area  2 A. The substrate  100  may be bent in the bending area BA afterward and may have the shape illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     A plurality of pixels may be disposed in the display area DA of the display panel so that an image may be displayed. The display area DA may include devices such as the display device such as the OLED  300 , the TFT  210 , and a capacitor, etc. The display area DA may further include signal wirings such as a gate line for transferring a gate signal, a data line for transferring a data signal, a driving power line for supplying power, a common power line, etc. A pixel may be formed by electrically coupling the TFT  210 , the capacitor, the display device such as the OLED  300 , etc. that are connected to the gate line, the data line, and the driving power line so that an image may be displayed. The pixel may emit light with brightness corresponding to a driving current passing through the OLED  300  in response to the data signal according to driving power and common power supplied to the pixel. A plurality of pixels may be configured and disposed in various ways, such as a stripe layout, a PenTile layout, etc. 
     A configuration in which the OLED  300  is electrically connected to the TFT  210  may be construed as a configuration in which a pixel electrode  310  is electrically connected to the TFT  210 . A TFT (not shown) may also be disposed in a peripheral area outside the display area DA of the substrate  100  when needed. The TFT disposed in the peripheral area may be, for example, a part of a circuit portion for controlling an electric signal applied to the display area DA. 
     The TFT  210  may include a semiconductor layer  211 , a gate electrode  213 , a source electrode  215   a , and a drain electrode  215   b . The semiconductor layer  211  may include amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, an oxide semiconductor, or an organic semiconductor material 
     The gate electrode  213  may be connected to a gate wiring (not shown) for sending on and off signals are to the TFT  210 . The gate electrode  213  may include a low-resistive conductive material. For example, the gate electrode  213  may be a single layer or a multilayer including a conductive material including, for example, molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti) or a combination thereof. 
     Each of the source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  may be a single layer or a multilayer including a conductive material having high conductivity. The source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  may be respectively connected to a source area and a drain area of the semiconductor layer  211 . For example, each of the source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  may be a single layer or a multilayer including a conductive material including, for example, Ad, Cu, Ti or a combination thereof. 
     The source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  may be connected to the semiconductor layer  211  via contact holes C 1  and C 2 . The contact holes C 1  and C 2  may be formed by simultaneously etching an interlayer insulating layer  130  and a gate insulating layer  120 . 
     The TFT  210  is a top gate type TFT in which the gate electrode  213  is disposed on an upper surface of the semiconductor layer  211 . The upper surface of the semiconductor layer  211  faces toward the OLED  300 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the TFT  210  may be a bottom gate type TFT in which the gate electrode  213  is disposed on a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer  211 . The bottom surface of the semiconductor layer  211  faces toward the substrate  100 . 
     To obtain an insulating property between the semiconductor layer  211  and the gate electrode  213 , the gate insulating layer  120  may include an inorganic material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or a combination thereof. The gate insulating layer  120  may be disposed between the semiconductor layer  211  and the gate electrode  213 . In addition, the interlayer insulating layer  130  including an inorganic material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or a combination thereof may be disposed on the gate electrode  213 . The source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  may be disposed on the interlayer insulating layer  130 . The insulating layer including the inorganic material described above may be formed by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process or an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The same applies to the embodiments described below and modifications thereof. 
     A buffer layer  110  including an inorganic, material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or a combination thereof may be disposed between the TFT  210  having the above structure and the substrate  100 . The buffer layer  110  may have a single-layer or multi-layer structure. The buffer layer  110  may increase smoothness of an upper surface of the substrate  100 . The buffer layer  110  may also serve to prevent or minimize infiltration of impurities from the substrate  100 , etc. into the semiconductor layer  211  of the TFT  210 . 
     A planarization layer  140  may be disposed on the TFT  210 . For example, when the OLED  300  is disposed on the TFT  210  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the planarization layer  140  may cover the TFT  210 , providing a planarized surface for manufacturing the OLED  300  on the TFT  210 . The planarization layer  140  may include an organic material, for example, benzocyclobutene (BCB) or hexamethyldisiloxane (HMSO). The planarization layer  140  of  FIG. 3  has a single-layered structure. The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the planarization layer  140  may have variously modified structures such as a multi-layered structure. 
     The planarization layer  140  has an opening O 1  outside the display area DA so that a portion of the planarization layer  140  within the display area DA and a portion of the planarization layer  140  outside the display area DA are physically separated from each other through the opening O 1 . For example, the planarization layer  140  includes an inner planarization layer  140 A disposed within the display area DA and an outer planarization layer  140 B disposed outside the display area DA. The inner planarization layer  140 A and the outer planarization layer  140 B are separated from each other by the opening O 1  which is interposed between the inner and outer planarization layers  140 A and  140 B. 
     Thus, impurities from the outer planarization layer  140 B may be prevented from infiltrating the display area DA by the opening O 1 . The outer planarization layer  140 B is partially disposed with the second area  2 A. 
     In the display area DA of the substrate  100 , the OLED  300  including a pixel electrode  310 , an opposite electrode  330 , and an intermediate layer  320  disposed between the pixel electrode  310  and the opposite electrode  330 . The intermediate layer  320  may include an emission layer. The OLED  300  is positioned on the planarization layer  140 . The pixel electrode  310  may be electrically connected to the TFT  210  by contacting one of the source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  via an opening formed in the inner planarization layer  140 A. 
     A pixel defining layer  150  may be disposed on the planarization layer  140 . The pixel defining layer  150  may have an opening O 2  corresponding to each of sub-pixels. For example, the opening O 2  of the pixel defining layer  150  exposes at least a center portion of the pixel electrode  310  to define a pixel. The pixel defining layer  150  may increase a distance between an edge of the pixel electrode  310  and the opposite electrode  330  above the pixel electrode  310  to prevent an electric arc from being generated from an end portion  310 E of the pixel electrode  310 . For example, the opening O 2  of the pixel defining layer  150  increases upwardly so that the distance between the end portion  310 E of the pixel electrode  310  and the opposite electrode  330  increase upwardly along the opposite electrode  330 . The pixel defining layer  150  may include, for example, an organic material such as PI or HMDSO. 
     The intermediate layer  320  of the OLED  300  may include a low-molecular weight material or a polymer material. When the intermediate layer  320  includes the low-molecular weight material, the intermediate layer  320  may have a single or multiple-layered structure including a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), an emission layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL), and an electron injection layer (EIL) and may include various organic materials including copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), N,N′-Di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N′-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB), and tris-8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq 3 ). The layers may be formed by using a vacuum deposition method. 
     When the intermediate layer  320  includes the polymer material, the intermediate layer  320  may have a structure including an HIL and an EML. In this regard, the HTL may include Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophenc):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and the EML may include a polymer material such as a poly-phenylenevinylene (PPV)-based material and a polyfluorene-based material. The intermediate layer  320  may be formed using a screen printing method, an inkjet printing method, a laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) method, or the like. 
     The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the intermediate layer  320  may include a layer that is continuously formed on a plurality of pixel electrodes  310  or a layer that is patterned to correspond to each of the plurality of pixel electrodes  310 . 
     The opposite electrode  330  may be disposed on the display area DA, covering the display area DA. The opposite electrode  330  may be continuously formed in a plurality of OLEDs and thus may overlap the plurality of pixel electrodes  310 . 
     Since the OLED  300  may be easily damaged by external moisture or oxygen, an encapsulation layer  400  covers and protects the OLED  300 . The encapsulation layer  400  covers the display area DA and extend to the outside of the display area DA. The encapsulation layer  400  may include a first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 , an organic encapsulation layer  420 , and a second inorganic encapsulation  430 . 
     The first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  covers the opposite electrode  330 . The first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride a combination thereof. Other layers such as a capping layer may be disposed between the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the opposite electrode  330 . Since the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  is conformally formed on the opposite electrode  330 , an upper surface of the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  need not be flat as shown in  FIG. 3 . The organic encapsulation layer  420  covers the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 . Unlike the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 , an upper surface of the organic encapsulation layer  420  is flat. For example, the organic encapsulation layer  420  has a flat upper surface at a portion corresponding to the display area DA. For example, the organic encapsulation layer  420  fills the opening of the pixel defining layer  150 . The organic encapsulation layer  420  may include PET, PEN, PC, PI, polyethylene sulfonate, polyoxymethylene, PAR, or HMDSO. 
     The second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  is disposed on the organic encapsulating layer  420 , covering the organic encapsulation layer  420 . The second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or a combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, an edge of the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430  outside the display area DA may contact the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  so that the organic encapsulation layer  420  is not exposed to the outside. 
     Since the encapsulation layer  400  includes the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410 , the organic encapsulation layer  420 , and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 , a crack created in the encapsulation layer  400  need not propagate between the first inorganic encapsulation layer  410  and the organic encapsulation layer  420  or between the organic encapsulation layer  420  and the second inorganic encapsulation layer  430 . Accordingly, formation of a path through which external moisture or oxygen infiltrates into the display area DA may be prevented or minimized. The formation of the path may be formed when the crack is propagated through the encapsulation layer  400 . 
     A polarization plate  520  is attached to the encapsulation layer  400  by using an optically clear adhesive (OCA)  510 . The polarization plate  520  may reduce reflection of external light. For example, when the external light having passed through the polarization plate  520  is reflected from an upper surface of the opposite electrode  330  and then passes through the polarization plate  520  again, a phase of the reflected external light may be changed as the incoming external light passes through the polarization plate  520  twice. As a result, a phase of reflected external light may be different from the phase of the incoming external light entering the polarization plate  520  to the extent that a destructive interference occurs, and accordingly, the reflection of external light may be reduced to increase visibility. The OCA  510  and the polarization plate  520  may cover the opening O 2  of the planarization layer  140 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the polarization plate  520  may be omitted or other configurations of the polarization plate  520  may be used. For example, if the polarization plate  520  is omitted, a black matrix and a color filter may serve to reduce the reflection of incoming external light. 
     A process of forming a touch electrode of various patterns for a touch screen function or a touch protection layer for protecting the touch electrode over the encapsulation layer  400  may be further performed. 
     The buffer layer  110 , the gate insulating layer  120 , and the interlayer insulating layer  130 , all of which include an inorganic insulating material, may be referred to as an inorganic insulating layer  900 . For example, the inorganic insulating layer may include silicon oxide or silicon nitride,  FIG. 3 , the inorganic insulating layer may have a flat upper surface which overlaps an organic material layer  160  that will be described below. 
     The display apparatus includes a first conductive layer  215   c  disposed on the inorganic insulating layer. The first conductive layer  215   c  is disposed on the first area  1 A, the second area  2 A and the bending area BA. The first conductive layer  215   c  may serve as a wiring via which an electrical signal is transmitted to the display area DA. The first conductive layer  215   c  may be formed simultaneously with the source electrode  215   a  or the drain electrode  215   b  by using the same material as a material of the source electrode  215   a  or the drain electrode  215   b.    
     The display apparatus includes the organic material layer  160 . The organic material layer  160  is disposed between the interlayer insulating layer  130  and the first conductive layer  215   c  and may overlap with the bending area BA. The interlayer insulating layer  130  may include an inorganic insulating material. The organic material layer  160  may buffer or absorb a tensile stress created when the substrate  100  and the inorganic insulating layer  900  are bent through the bending area BA. The tensile stress transferred to the first conductive layer  215   c  is minimized. 
     A stacked structure of the first conductive layer  215   c , the organic material layer  160  and the inorganic insulating layer  900  is formed on the bending area BA. For example, the first conductive layer  215   c , the organic material layer  160  and the inorganic insulating layer  900  are stacked on each other in the listed order to prevent a crack from propagating to OLED  300 , for example. 
     Without the organic material layer  160 , the first conductive layer  215   c  is in contact with the inorganic insulating layer  900 . The tensile stress created when the substrate  100  is bent may be, without being reduced by the organic material layer  160 , applied to the first conductive layer  215   c . The inorganic insulating layer  900  has a higher hardness than a hardness of the organic material layer  160 , and accordingly, a crack is more likely to occur and propagate in the inorganic insulating layer  900  in the bending area BA. When a crack occurs in the inorganic insulating layer  900 , the crack may propagate into the first conductive layer  215   c . Accordingly, a defect such as a disconnection in the first conductive layer  215   c  may occur due to the crack in the first conductive layer  215   c.    
     According to an exemplary embodiment, such crack propagation into the first conductive layer  215   c  due to the bent of the substrate  100  may be prevented by using the organic material layer  160  interposed between the first conductive layer  215   c  and the inorganic insulating layer  900  in the bending area BA. The organic material layer  160  may serve to buffer or absorb the tensile stress which is generated when the substrate  100  and the inorganic insulating layer  900  are bent. The tensile stress transferred to the first conductive layer  215   c  may be minimized by the organic material layer  160 . Accordingly, the occurrence of a crack in a portion of the first conductive layer  215   c  that corresponds to the bending area BA, wherein the first conductive layer  215   c  is positioned on the organic material layer  160 , may be prevented or minimized. 
     The organic material layer  160  overlaps the bending area BA, covering a portion of a non-bending area. For example, the organic material layer  160  having a predetermined width ORW is formed on the inorganic insulating layer, covering the bending area BA. For example, the organic material layer  160  completely covers the bending area BA. In this case, the width ORW of the organic material layer  160  is greater than a width of the bending area BA. A thickness of a portion of the organic material layer  160  that overlaps with the bending area BA may be greater than a thickness of a non-overlapping area thereof. The thickness difference may be set considering the stress generated due to the bending. The organic material layer  160  may include PI, acryl, BCB, HMDSO or a combination thereof. 
     The display apparatus further includes second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  and a third conductive layer  215   d . The third conductive layer  215   d  may be disposed in the same layer level as a layer of the first conductive layer  215   c . The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  are disposed in the first area  1 A and the second area  2 A, respectively. The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  are located at a different layer level from a layer of the first conductive layer  215   c . The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may be electrically connected to the first conductive layer  215   c  or the third conductive layer  215   d.    
     The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may be located at the same layer level as a layer of the gate electrode  213  of the TFT  210 . For example, the second conductive layers  213  and  213   b  are in contact with the gate insulating layer  120  and include the same material as a material of the gate electrode  213 . The first conductive layer  215   c  may contact the second conductive layer  213   a  disposed in the first area  1 A via a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating layer  130 . The third conductive layer  215   d  is connected to the second conductive layer  213   b  located in the second area  2 A. The first conductive layer  215   c  is connected to the second conductive layer  213   a  located in the first area  1 A. 
     The second conductive layer  213   a  located in the first area  1 A may be electrically connected to a TFT in the display area DA, and thus, the first conductive layer  215   c  may be electrically connected to the TFT in the display area DA via the second conductive layer  213   a . The second conductive layer  213   b  located in the second area  2 A may also be electrically connected to the TFT in the display area DA. As described above, the second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  located outside the display area DA may be electrically connected to components located in the display area DA. The present invention is not limited thereto. The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may extend toward the display area DA so as to be located at least partially in the display area DA. 
     The first conductive layer  215   c  that extends across the bending area BA may include a material having a elongation rate to the extent that the occurrence of a crack in the first conductive layer  215   c  or a defect such as a disconnection in the first conductive layer  215   c  may be prevented. 
     The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may include a material having a lower elongation rate than an elongation rate of the first conductive layer  215   c  and electrical/physical characteristics different from electrical/physical characteristics of the first conductive layer  215   c . The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may be formed in the first area  1 A and the second area  2 A, respectively. Accordingly, efficiency of transmitting an electrical signal in the display apparatus may increase, or a defect rate during the manufacturing processes may be reduced. For example, the second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may include molybdenum, and the first conductive layer  215   c  may include aluminum. The first conductive layer  215   c  and the second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may have multi-layered structures. 
     The first conductive layer  215   c  and the third conductive layer  215   d  may be simultaneously formed when the source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  are formed. The second conductive layers  213   a  and  213   b  may be simultaneously formed when the gate electrode  213  is formed. 
     The temporary protection film  20  may be removed before a protection film  175  and a support film  175   s  that will be described below are attached to a lower surface (−z direction) of the substrate  100 . The temporary protection film  20  may be configured as an adhesive and a temporary protection film base so that the temporary protection film base may be attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100  by using the adhesive. Thus, when the temporary protection film  20  is removed from the substrate  100 , the temporary protection film  20  may be wholly removed, and the adhesive may partially remain. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  are prepared. The protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  are supported by a lower film  195 . The protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  may be attached to one surface of the substrate  100 . The support film  175   s  may be attached to the bending area BA of the substrate  100 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the support film  175   s  and the protection film  175  may be formed of different materials from each other. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a method of manufacturing the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4A , a preparatory protection film  1757  may be formed on the lower film  195 . For example, the preparatory protection film  175   p  may be attached to the lower film  195  by using a third adhesive layer  191 . The preparatory protection film  175   p  may include a preparatory protection film base  170   p  and a preparatory adhesive layer  180   p . A protection film (not shown) may be further formed on the preparatory adhesive layer  180   p  to protect the preparatory adhesive layer  180   p  during a manufacturing procedure. 
     The preparatory protection film  175   p  formed on the lower film  195  may be cut along a cutting line CL by using a blade BL and/or laser. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the preparatory protection film  175   p  is separated into the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s . Since the preparatory protection film  175   p  is cut, the protection film  175  includes an opening  175 OP. The support film  175   s  is disposed in the opening  175 OP. The support film  175   s  is spaced apart from sidewalls of the opening  175 OP at predetermined gaps g 1  and g 2 . The gaps g 1  and g 2  may be determined by a width of the blade BL or a laser beam. For example, the gaps g 1  and g 2  may range from several micrometer (um) to several tens um. The support film  175   s  may be attached to the bending area BA of the substrate  100  later. An area of the support film  175   s  and an area of the opening  175 OP may be greater than an area of the bending area BA. For example, a width  175 OPW of the opening  175 OP is greater than a width of the bending area BA in  FIG. 4 . 
     The opening  175 OP may be extended along the y-axis in parallel to the bending axis BAX of  FIG. 1 . For example, the opening  175 OP may be extended along the opening&#39;s longitudinal direction (y-axis, for example). 
     Since the preparatory protection film  175   p  is cut, the protection film  175  includes a protection film base  170  and a first adhesive layer  180 , and the support film  175   s  includes a support film base  171  and a second adhesive layer  181 . The support film  175   s  may include the same material as a material of the protection film  175 . The protection film base  170  and the support film base  171  may be attached to a lower surface of the substrate  100  by using the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181 , respectively. 
     The protection film base  170  and the support film base  171  may include PET (Polyethylene terephtahalate) or PI (polymide), PMMA (Poly(methyl methacrylate)) or PC (Polycarbonate). According to an exemplary embodiment, the protection film base  170  and the support film base  171  may be formed of different materials. The first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  may include a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The PSA may include acrylics, silicon rubbers, butyl rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate or styrene block copolymers. The first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  may include different properties. For example, the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  may be different in adhesion, hardness, and/or colors, etc. To make the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  have different properties, a hardening process may be performed on the second adhesive layer  181 . The hardening process may use an ultraviolet (UV) rays, a laser beam or a heat treatment. Hereinafter, the hardening process performed on the second adhesive layer  181  may be referred to as a first hardening process. 
     The preparatory adhesive layer  180   p  is formed and then separated into the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the protection film base  170  and the support film base  171  may be formed on the lower film  195  and then the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  may be individually formed on the protection film base  170  and the support film base  171 , respectively. In this case, the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  may also have different properties. 
     The preparatory protection film  175   p  is cut by the blade BL, and is separated into the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s . The present invention is not limited to. For example, the preparatory protection film  175   p  may be cut by a laser or a combination of a blade cutting process and a laser cutting process. The preparatory protection film  175   p  may also be separated into the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  by using an etching process. 
     The protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  are supported by the lower film  195  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this case, the temporary protection film  20  attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100  of the display panel may be removed and then the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  may be attached. The lower surface of the substrate  100  is a surface in an opposite direction (a −z direction) to a direction (a +z direction) in which a display portion is to be positioned. 
     The protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  are attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100 . The lower film  195  is attached to the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  using the third adhesive layer  191 . An attaching process described above may be performed by pressing a lower surface of the lower film  195  in a direction (+z direction) of an upper surface of the substrate  100  by using a roller, etc. The protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  may be respectively attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100  by the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181 . As described above, the support film  175   s  is attached to the bending area BA of the substrate  100 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  are respectively attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100  via the lower film  195 . A driving circuit chip  810  and/or a printed circuit board (PCB)  820  may be attached to the second area  2 A. The driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820  may be connected to the first conductive layer  215   c , the second conductive layer  213   b , and the third conductive layer  215   d  that are disposed in the second area  2 A and/or other conductive layers electrically connected to the first conductive layer  215   c , the second conductive layer  213   b , and the third conductive layer  215   d . The driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820  may provide driving signals to the display area DA through the above conductive layers. The driving signals may represent various signals driving the display apparatus such as a driving voltage, a gate signal, a data signal, etc. The driving, circuit chip  810  is mounted in an end of the first conductive layer  215   c , and the PCB  820  is connected to an edge of the third conductive layer  215   d . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the driving circuit chip  810  and the PCB  820  may be connected to the second conductive layer  213   b  or other conductive layers. 
     The driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820  may be attached to the above conductive layers by applying pressure and heat thereto by a pressure bonding apparatus PB. In this case, an anisotropic conducting film (ACF) may be used as an adhesive for the driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820 . The ACF may include an adhesive agent cured by heat. The AFC may be configured as a double-sided tape including fine conducting particles containing the adhesive agent. The fine conducting particles are mixed and distributed in the double-sided tape. Thus, if pressure is applied to upper and lower portions of the ACF, the fine conducting particles may burst and the adhesive agent in the fine conducting particles may cover the double-sided tape so that the ACF may simultaneously have conductive and adhesive properties. 
     The support film  175   s  may serve to minimize deformation of the substrate  100  during a process of bonding the driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820 . During the bonding process, a heat treatment may be applied so that without the support film  175   s , the substrate  100  may droop in the direction (−z direction) in which the display portion is not disposed. If the drooped substrate  100  is hardened with the temperature cooled down, the drooped substrate  100  may have a curvature to the extent that a crack occurs in the bending area BA in a bending process later. If a bending protection layer (BPL)  600  that will be described below is formed on the drooped substrate  100 , the thickness of the BPL  600  may be ununiform, and thus the radius of curvature need not be uniformly formed and a crack occurs in the bending area BA when the substrate  100  is bent. 
     The support film  175   s  is attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100  in the bending area BA, thereby preventing or minimizing drooping of the substrate  100  in the process of bonding the driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the BPL  600  is brined on an upper surface of the substrate  100 , overlapping the bending area BA. The BPL  600  may be formed after the process of bonding the driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820  is performed. The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the BPL  600  may be formed before the process of bonding the driving circuit chip  810  and/or the PCB  820  is performed. 
     The BPL  600  is formed on a portion of the first conductive layer  215   c . The portion of the first conductive layer  215   c  overlaps the bending area BA. When the stack structure of  FIG. 7  is bent, there is a stress neutral plane in the stack structure. If the BPL  600  does not exist, as will be described below, an excessive tensile stress may be applied, when the substrate  100  is bent, to the first conductive layer  215   c  in the bending area BA because the first conductive layer  215   c  need not be in the stress neutral plane. 
     The location of the stress neutral plane may be adjusted to be around the first conductive layer  215   c  by forming the BPL  600 . For example, the thickness and modulus of the BPL  600  may be controlled so that the location of the stress neutral plane in the stack structure including the substrate  100 , the first conductive layer  215   c , the BPL  600 , etc. may be around the first conductive layer  215   c . Accordingly, a tensile stress applied to the first conductive layer  215   c  may be minimized, thereby protecting a bending portion in the bending area BA. 
     The BPL  600  is in contact with the polarization plate  520  without covering the polarization plate  520  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, an end of the BPL  600  may partially cover an upper surface at an edge of the polarization plate  520 . For example, the end of the BPL  600  in the direction (the −x direction) toward the display area DA need not contact the polarization plate  520  and/or a light-transmitting adhesive  510 . 
     The BPL  600  may be formed by applying and hardening a liquid phase material or a paste-type material. The volume of the BPL  600  may be reduced during a hardening process. The BPL  600  is in contact with the polarization plate  520  and/or the light-transmitting adhesive  510  to the extent that the BPL  600  is fixed at the boundary between the BPL  600  and the polarization plate  520 , and thus, the volume reduction occurs in the remaining portion of the BPL  600  which is not in contact with the polarization plate  520 . As a result, a thickness of the portion of the BPL  600  in the direction (−x direction) toward the display area DA may be greater than thicknesses of the remaining portions of the BPL  600 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the lower film  195  and the support film  175   s  attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100  are removed. For example, the lower film  195  may be separated and removed from the protection film  175  and the support film  175   s  and then the support film base  171  that is a part of the support film  175   s  is removed. 
     The support base film  171  may be removed by using an isolation tape. In this case, an adhesive force of the isolation tape may be higher than an adhesive force of the second adhesive layer  181  to the extent that the support film base  171  may be more strongly combined with the isolation tape than the support film base  171  is attached to the substrate  100  by using the second adhesive layer  181 . Accordingly, when the isolation tape is pulled off from the support film base  171 , the support film base  171  may be separated from the substrate  100 . In this case, the second adhesive layer  181  remains on the lower surface of the substrate  100 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, at least a part of the second adhesive layer  181  may be separated from the support film base  171 , remaining on the lower surface of the substrate  100 , in this case, only a part of the second adhesive layer  181  may be detached along with the support film base  171 . 
       FIGS. 9B and 9C  are enlarged views of part A of  FIG. 9A  and illustrate various shapes of an inner portion of the opening  175 OP of the protection film  175 . Referring to  FIG. 9B , a thickness t 2  of at least a part of the second adhesive layer  181  is smaller than a thickness t 1  of the first adhesive layer  180 . The thickness difference may be made when only a part of the second adhesive layer  181  is detached in a thickness direction when the support film base  171  is detached or a thickness of the second adhesive layer  181  may be smaller than that of the first adhesive layer  180  before the support film  170   s  is attached to a lower surface of the substrate  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9C , the second adhesive layer  181  does not remain in an inner portion of the opening  1750 OP of the protection film  175 . In this case, the second adhesive layer  181  and the support film base  171  completely removed. In an exemplary embodiment, the second adhesive layer  181  need not be formed before the support film  1705  is attached to the lower surface of the substrate  100 . 
     As described with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9A , the lower film  195  and the support film base  171  are sequentially removed. The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the lower film  195  and the support film base  171  may be simultaneously removed. In this case, adhesion of the second adhesive layer  181  may be weaker than adhesion of the first adhesive layer  180  and adhesion of the third adhesive layer  191 . The second adhesive layer  181  may include a material having a different adhesion characteristic from a material of the first adhesive layer  180 . The second adhesive layer  181  may include the same material as a material of the first adhesive layer  180  and may have a different adhesion characteristic from adhesion characteristic of the first adhesive layer  180  by performing later a process of weakening the adhesion of the second adhesive layer  181 . The adhesion of the first adhesive layer  180  may be the same as or stronger than that of the third adhesive layer  191 . 
     For example, the adhesion of the second adhesive layer  181  may be weaker than the adhesion of the first adhesive layer  180  by irradiating ultraviolet (UV) rays on the second adhesive layer  181 . For reference, the adhesion of a PSA may be generally weakened when UV rays are irradiated thereon. The amplitude of the UV rays irradiated to the second adhesive layer  181  so as to weaken the adhesion of the second adhesive layer  181  may be less than the amplitude of the UV rays irradiated to the first adhesive layer  180  so as to increase hardness of a specific part of the second adhesive layer  181 , which will be described later. 
     As described above, when the adhesion of the second adhesive layer  181  is weaker than the adhesion of the third adhesive layer  191 , the support film base  171  may be removed simultaneously with the lower film  195  using an isolation tape. The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the support film base  171  may be removed by irradiating a laser beam or by an etching process. 
     After the lower film  195  and the support film base  171  are removed, the substrate  100 , etc. may be bent in the bending area BA to have a resulting structure as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Hereinafter, it will be described that the second adhesive layer  181  remains in the opening  175 OP of the protection film  175  for the convenience of description. The description that will be made below may be also applicable when as described with reference to  FIGS. 9B and 9C , the second adhesive layer  181  is partially disposed or is not disposed. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the substrate  100  and the protection film  175  of the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 . The substrate  100  is in the status of being bent in the bending area BA. The protection film base  170  of the protection film  175  may have rigidity sufficient to protect a lower surface of the substrate  100  in the process of bending the substrate  100 . However, if the protection film has the rigidity sufficient to protect the lower surface of the substrate  100 , the protection film base  170 , if not having the opening  175 OP, may be separated from the substrate  100  in the process of bending the substrate  100 . The opening  175 OP overlapping the bending area BA may prevent the protection film base  170  from being separated from the substrate  100  in the process of bending the substrate  100 . 
     The bending area BA has a curved surface along a longitudinal direction of the opening  1750 P. For example, the bending area BA has a lower curved surface along the longitudinal direction of the opening  175 OP. 
     The second adhesive layer  181  is disposed in the opening  175 OP, spaced apart from the first adhesive layer  180  by the predetermined gaps g 1  and g 2 . For example, the second adhesive layer  181  overlaps the bending area BA. 
     Hardness of the second adhesive layer  181  may be adjusted after the second adhesive layer  181  is bent in the process of bending the substrate  100 . The hardness of the second adhesive layer  181  may be adjusted by using various methods. For example, an UV ray or a laser beam may be irradiated to the second adhesive layer  181  or a heat treatment process may be applied to the second adhesive layer  181 . For reference, a general PSA has increased hardness when an UV ray or a laser beam is irradiated or heat is applied thereto. Accordingly, the hardness of the second adhesive layer  181  may be greater than the hardness of the first adhesive layer  180 . The second adhesive layer  181  may have the increased hardness to the extent that the substrate  100  bent after the process of bending the substrate  100  keeps the bent shape of  FIG. 10 . For example, the second adhesive layer  181  may have the increased hardness sufficient to prevent or minimize returning of the substrate  100  to a state before being bent. For example, the second adhesive layer has a hardness to the extent that the substrate is prevented from losing a curved surface formed after the bending area BA is bent. 
     Since the UV ray or the laser beam is irradiated to the second adhesive layer  181 , adhesion and/or a color of the second adhesive layer  181  may also be changed differently from adhesion and/or a color of the first adhesive layer  180 . 
     In  FIG. 11 , a cushion layer  190  is formed in an area between the first area  1 A and the second area  2 A. For example, the cushion layer  190  is in contact with a part of the first area  1 A and a part of the second area  2 A of the protection film base  170 . The cushion layer  190  fills a space between the first area  1 A and the second area  2 A to support a display panel and buffer an external shock applied to the substrate  100 . The cushion layer  190  may include an elastic material to the extent that the cushion layer  190  protects the substrate  100  from the external shock by absorbing the external shock. According to an exemplary embodiment, the cushion layer  190  may be formed of polyurethane or other polymer to absorb the external shock. 
     In  FIG. 12 , a filler  193  is formed in the opening  175 OP of the protection film  175 . The filler  193  may be formed by injecting and hardening a liquid phase material or a paste-type material into the opening  175 OP of the protection film  175 . The filler  193  may be hardened by irradiating an UV ray or applying a heat treatment thereto. The filler  193  may include a material having adhesion. Since the filler  193  is hardened by irradiating the UV ray or applying heat, deformation of the substrate  100  by restoring force that restores the substrate  100  to a state before being bent may be effectively prevented or minimized in collaboration with the second adhesive layer  181 . If the second adhesive layer  181  does not exist in the opening  175 OP, the filler  193  may prevent or minimize the returning of the substrate  100  to a state before being bent. Hereinafter, the hardening process performed on the filler may be referred to as a second hardening process. 
     The filler  193  is injected after the substrate  100 , etc. is bent in  FIG. 12 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 13A through 13C , after the support film base  171  is removed and then a liquid phase or paste-type filler  193  is injected ( FIG. 13A ) and before the liquid phase or paste-type filler  193  is hardened, the substrate  100 , etc, may be bent as shown in  FIG. 13B . Thereafter, the liquid phase filler  193  may be hardened to form the filler  193  by a second hardening process including irradiating an UV ray or applying heat to the liquid phase filler  193 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 13C , the cushion layer  190  may be disposed and then the liquid phase filler  193  may be hardened. According to an exemplary embodiment, the liquid phase filler  193  may be formed of acryl-based polymer. The liquid phase filler  193  may also include a hardener. 
       FIGS. 14A through 14D  are schematic cross-sectional views of a shape of the support film  175   s  according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 14A , a surface of the support film  175   s  attached to the substrate  100  may have a convex shape in a direction (+z direction) of an upper surface of the substrate  100 . For example, an upper surface of the support film  175   s  has the convex shape. 
     Since the upper surface of the  175   s  has the convex shape, an inorganic insulating layer and a conductive layer formed in the bending area BA of the substrate  100  may have convex shapes before the substrate  100  is bent, thereby minimizing cracks that may occur when the substrate  100  is bent. 
     In some embodiments, the upper surface of the support film  175   s  may have a uniform radius of curvature with respect to a bending axis. In some embodiments, a first radius of curvature of the upper surface of the support film  175   s  with respect to the bending axis may be greater than a second radius of curvature of the substrate  100 . Accordingly, after the substrate  100  is bent, the bending area BA may have a curved shape with the second radius of curvature. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14B , the support film  175   s  may include a different material from a material of the protection film  175 . In this case, after the opening  1750 P of the protection film  175  is formed, the support film  175   s  may be inserted into the opening  1750 P. 
     Various modifications may be made such as the support film  175   s  may be configured as only the support film base  171  as shown in  FIG. 14C , and the second adhesive layer  181  of the support film  175   s  may have a smaller thickness than that of the first adhesive layer  180  of the protection film  175  as shown in  FIG. 14D . In this case, the support film base  171  may include the same material as or a different material from a material of the protection film base  181 . 
     In  FIGS. 14B through 14D , the upper surface of the support film  175   s  is flat. The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the upper surface of the support film  175   s  may have the convex shape as shown in  FIG. 14A . 
     A case where the protection film  175  includes the opening  1750 P corresponding to the bending area BA and is attached to a lower surface of the substrate  100  in the first area  1 A and the second area  2 A is described above but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the protection film  175  may correspond to only at least a part of the first area  1 A of the substrate  100 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 15A  that is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment, the protection film  175  is not be formed in the second area  2 A of the substrate  100 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 15B , the protection film  175  is formed on the first area  1 A, and the support film  175   s  is formed on the bending area BA and the second area  2 A. The support film base  171  may be removed before the substrate  100 , etc. is bent, and then the substrate  100 , etc. may be bent in the bending area BA. Accordingly, the structure shown in  FIG. 15A  may be obtained after the substrate  100  is bent. In this case, the second adhesive layer  181  is spaced apart from the first adhesive layer  180  by the predetermined gap g 1  and disposed in the bending area BA and the second area  2 A. As described above, the second adhesive layer  181  may have a different property from a property of the first adhesive layer  180 . For example, the second adhesive layer  181  may be different from the first adhesive layer  180  in adhesion, hardness, or colors, etc. In the display apparatus according to the present embodiment, the filler  193  and/or the cushion layer  190  described above may also be formed. 
     The substrate  100  is bent along a bending axis so that a part of a lower surface of the first area  1 A and at least a part of a lower surface of the second area  2 A face each other in  FIGS. 1, 10 through 12, 13B, 13C, and 15 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the substrate  100  may be bent to the extent that the lower surface of the second area  2 A need not face the lower surface of the first area  1 A. In this case, a curvature of the bending area BA is smaller than the curvature of the bending area as shown in  FIGS. 1, 10 through 12, 13B, 13C , and  15  or an area of the bending area BA may be small. 
     In  FIG. 16 , the BPL  600  may extend to an end of the substrate  100  of a display apparatus, covering the first conductive layer  215   c , the second conductive layer  213   b , and/or other conductive layers electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers  215   c  and  213   b  which are not covered at least partially by the interlayer insulating layer  130  or the planarization layer  140 , etc. but may be electrically connected to the driving circuit chip  810  or the PCB  820 , etc. The electrically connected portions covered by the BPL  600  may be protected from impurities such as external moisture. In this case, the BPL  600  may serve as a protection layer of the electrically connected portions. The BPL  600  also covers the driving circuit chip  810  and a part of the PCB  820 . The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the BPL  600  may cover the driving circuit chip  810  without covering the PCB  820 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the BPL  600  may be formed of acryl-based polymer. 
       FIG. 17A  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment  FIG. 17E  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a periphery of the bending area BA. The inorganic insulating, layer  900  including the buffer layer  110 , the gate insulating layer  120  and the interlayer insulating layer  130  may include a groove  800  at a location corresponding to the bending area BA. 
     The buffer layer  110  is continuously formed throughout the first area  1 A, the bending area BA, and the second area  2 A. The gate insulating layer  120  has an opening  120   a  corresponding to the bending area BA. The interlayer insulating layer  130  has an opening  130   a  corresponding to the bending area BA. Accordingly, the inorganic insulating layer  900  including the buffer layer  110 , the gate insulating layer  120 , and the interlayer insulating layer  130  have a groove  800  formed of the openings  120   a  and  130   a . The groove  800  is formed on the bending area BA so that the groove  800  overlaps the bending area BA. 
     The inorganic insulating layer  900  may include a groove of a different type. For example, an upper surface of the buffer layer  110  (in +z direction) may be partially removed, or a lower surface of the gate insulating layer  120  (in −z direction) may remain. With reference to  FIGS. 17A and 3 , the groove  900  may be formed simultaneously with a patterning process for forming the contact holes C 1  and C 2  for connecting the source electrode  215   a  and the drain electrode  215   b  of the TFT  210  to the semiconductor layer  211 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 17A , an area of the groove  800  may be greater than an area of the bending area BA. In this case, a width GW of the groove  800  is shown to be greater than a width of the bending area BA in  FIG. 17A . In this regard, the area of the groove may be defined as an area of the opening having the smallest area, between the openings  120   a  and  130   a  in the gate insulating layer  120  and the interlayer insulating layer  130 . For example, the area of the groove  800  is defined by the area of the opening  120   a  in the gate insulating layer  120 . In the display apparatus according to the present embodiment, the organic material layer  160  may be disposed between the inorganic insulating layer and the first conductive layer  215   c  and may fill the groove  800 . 
     Although  FIG. 17A  shows that the display apparatus is not bent for convenience of description, the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may be in a state in which the substrate  100 , etc. is bent in the bending area BA as shown in  FIG. 1 . During manufacturing processes, the display apparatus may be manufactured in a state in which the substrate  100  is flat, and then, the substrate  100 , etc. may be bent in the bending area BA so that the display apparatus may have the shape as shown in  FIG. 1 . In this regard, a tensile stress may be applied to the first conductive layer  215   c  while the substrate  100 , etc. is bent at the bending area BA, but in the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment, the inorganic insulating layer  900  may have the groove  800  in the bending area BA, and a portion of the first conductive layer  215   c  that corresponds to the bending area BA may be located on the organic material layer  160  at least partially filling the groove in the inorganic insulating layer  900 . Accordingly, the occurrence of cracks in the portion of the first conductive layer  215   c  that corresponds to the bending area BA may be prevented or minimized. The first conductive layer  215   c  is located on the organic, material layer  160 . 
     Since the inorganic insulating layer  900  has a higher hardness than the organic material layer  160 , the inorganic insulating layer  900  in the bending area BA is highly likely to have cracks. When the inorganic insulating layer cracks, there is a high possibility that the cracks may spread to the first conductive layer  215   c . Although the organic material layer  160  may block the cracks from spreading, the groove formed in the inorganic insulating layer may further reduce the possibility of the inorganic insulating layer having cracks. Therefore, a minimum amount of tensile stress may concentrate on the first conductive layer  215   c.    
       FIG. 17B  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 17B , an inorganic insulating layer  900  includes an opening  800 ′ at a location corresponding to the bending area BA. For example, the opening  800 ′ overlap the bending area BA or the second adhesive layer  181 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17B , the buffer layer  110 , the gate insulating layer  120 , and the interlayer insulating layer  130  may respectively have the openings  110   a ,  120   a , and  130   a  corresponding to the bending area BA. That an opening  800 ′ overlaps the bending area BA or the second adhesive layer  181 . In this regard, an area of the opening may be greater than that of the bending area BA. For example, the width GW of the opening is shown to be greater than a width of the bending area BA in  FIG. 17B . In this regard, the area of the opening may be defined as an area of the opening having the smallest area, between the openings  110   a ,  120   a , and  130   a  in the gate insulating layer  120  and the interlayer insulating layer  130 . For example, in  FIG. 17B , the area of the opening is defined by the area of the opening  110   a  in the buffer layer  110 . 
     When a display portion described above is formed, the organic material layer  160  filling at least a part of the opening  800 ′ of the inorganic insulating layer  900  may be formed. The inorganic insulating layer  900  has the opening  800 ′ in the bending area BA, and a portion of the first conductive layer  215   c  that corresponds to the bending area BA may be located on the organic material layer  160  at least partially filling the opening  800 ′ in the inorganic insulating layer  900 . Since the inorganic insulating layer  900  has the opening  800 ′ in the bending area BA, there is a very low possibility that cracks occur in the inorganic insulating layer  900 . Due to a characteristic of the organic material layer  160  including an organic material, there is a low possibility that cracks occur in the organic material layer  160 . Thus, the occurrence of cracks in the portion of the first conductive layer  215   c  that corresponds to the bending area BA, wherein the first conductive layer  215   c  is located on the organic material layer  160 , may be prevented or minimized. Since the organic material layer  160  has a lower hardness than the inorganic insulating layer  900 , the organic material layer  160  may buffer a tensile stress generated by bending the substrate  100 , etc., thereby effectively minimizing an amount of the tensile stress that concentrates on the first conductive layer  215   c.    
       FIG. 17C  is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 17C , the organic material layer  160  may have a corrugated surface  160   s  at least partially in an upper surface thereof (+z direction). Since the organic material layer  160  includes the corrugated surface  160   s , the first conductive layer  215   c  located on the organic material layer  160  may have an upper surface and/or a lower surface having a shape corresponding to the corrugated surface  160   s  of the organic material layer  160 . 
     As described above, since tensile stress may be applied to the first conductive layer  215   c  when the substrate  100 , etc. is bent at the bending area BA during a manufacturing process, the upper surface and/or the lower surface of the first conductive layer  215   c  may have the shape corresponding to the corrugated surface  160   s  of the organic material layer  160 , and thus an amount of the tensile stress applied to the first conductive layer  215   c  may be minimized. That is, the tensile stress which may be generated during a bending process may be reduced via deformation of the shape of the organic material layer  160  having a smaller hardness. In this regard, the first conductive layer  215   c  having a corrugated shape at least before the bending process is performed may be deformed with the organic material layer  160  in the bending process. Accordingly, the occurrence of a defect such as a disconnection in the first conductive layer  215   c  may be prevented. 
     The corrugated surface  160   s  may be formed at least partially in the upper surface of the organic material layer  160  (+z direction), and thus, a surface area of the upper surface of the organic material layer  160  and a surface area of the upper and lower surfaces of the first conductive layer  215   c  in a first opening may be increased. Increased surface areas of the upper surface of the organic material layer  160  and the upper and lower surfaces of the first conductive layer  215   c  increase a deformation margin so that the tensile stress caused due to the bending of the substrate  100  may be reduced. 
     For reference, since the first conductive layer  215   c  is located over the organic material layer  160 , the lower surface of the first conductive layer  215   c  may have a shape corresponding to the corrugated surface  160   s  of the organic material layer  160 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the upper surface of the first conductive layer  215   c  may have a corrugate surface which does not match with the corrugated surface  160   s  of the organic material layer  160 . 
     The description may be applied to an example in which an inorganic insulating layer having an corrugated surface includes an opening, an example in which the inorganic insulating layer has a flat upper surface at an area overlapping the organic material layer  160 , and an example in which the inorganic insulating layer has a groove. 
     In a display apparatus according to the above-described embodiments, structures, manufacturing methods, and features that are described in the above-described embodiments regarding the protection film  175  including the protection film base  170  and the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  may be applied. 
     When the organic material layer  160  is not formed, structures, manufacturing methods, and features that are described in the above-described embodiments regarding the protection film  175  including the protection film base  170  and the first adhesive layer  180  and the second adhesive layer  181  may also be applied. 
     In one or more embodiments, a plurality of display panels are formed by forming a plurality of display portions on a mother substrate and simultaneously cutting the mother substrate and a temporary protection film but one or more embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the plurality of display panels may not be simultaneously formed but a substrate including a material having a flexible or bendable characteristic may be formed over a carrier substrate and one display portion may be formed on the substrate. Thereafter, various modifications may be made such as the carrier substrate may be removed from the substrate and a protection film and a support film may be attached to a lower surface of the substrate. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.