Patent Abstract:
A display apparatus that facilitates shielding of electromagnetic waves and heat dissipation is disclosed. The display apparatus may include: i) a substrate, ii) a sealing member disposed to face the substrate, iii) a display unit disposed between the substrate and the sealing member, iv) a driving chip disposed on the substrate and transmitting an electric signal to the display unit and v) a circuit board including a signal line that is electrically connected to the driving chip, and a conductive cover layer disposed to cover the driving chip. In one embodiment, the circuit board includes a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the driving chip.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0103672, filed on Oct. 22, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The described technology generally relates to flat panel displays, and more particularly, to displays that may readily block electromagnetic waves and may facilitate heat dissipation from a driving chip. 
     2. Description of the Related Technology 
     With the recently increased interest in displays that employ flat panels, much research has been conducted in relation to different emission technologies. Among the display apparatuses, liquid crystal displays or organic light-emitting displays have drawn particular attention since they can be manufactured as portable thin flat displays. 
     A display system generally includes a display unit that emits light, and a driving chip that applies electrical signals to the display unit. The signals are generally generated on a flexible circuit board. 
     SUMMARY 
     One inventive aspect is a display apparatus that may readily block electromagnetic waves and may facilitate heat dissipation from a driving chip. 
     Another aspect is a display apparatus including: a substrate; a sealing member disposed to face the substrate; a display unit disposed between the substrate and the sealing member; a driving chip disposed on the substrate and transmitting an electric signal to the display unit; and a circuit board including a signal line that is electrically connected to the driving chip, and a conductive cover layer disposed to cover the driving chip, wherein the circuit board includes a heat dissipating unit that dissipates heat generated by the driving chip. 
     The display apparatus may further include an insulating layer that insulates the signal wire and the conductive cover layer from each other. The conductive cover layer may include a metal. The conductive cover layer may be spaced apart from the driving chip. The substrate may include an extension unit that extends beyond the sealing member, and the driving chip may be disposed in the extension unit. The display apparatus may further include a protecting layer on the conductive layer, the protecting layer including an insulating material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a display unit in  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In a high-resolution display apparatus using high-frequency signals, due to the complicated structure of applying electric signals, electromagnetic waves are generated near a driving chip. These electromagnetic waves may cause the driving chip to generate heat, which may damage other components near the driving chip and degrade image quality. 
     Embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus  100  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the display apparatus  100  includes a substrate  101 , a sealing member  102 , a display unit  150 , a driving chip  105 , and a circuit board  140 . 
     The substrate  101  may include a transparent glass material containing SiO 2  as a main component. The substrate  101  may include, but is not limited to, a transparent plastic material. The plastic material for forming the substrate  101  may include an insulating organic material selected from the group consisting of polyethersulphone (PES), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethyelenen napthalate (PEN), polyethyeleneterepthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyallylate, polyimide, polycarbonate (PC), cellulose triacetate (TAC), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP). 
     The sealing member  102  is disposed on the substrate  101 . The sealing member  102 , which may protect the display unit  150  from external moisture or oxygen, may have an alternating structure of multiple layers including glass and plastic, or organic and inorganic materials. The sealing member  102  may include a material that is the same as that of the substrate  101 . 
     An extension unit  101   a  extends beyond the sealing member  102  on a side of the substrate  101 . Signal interconnects (not shown) that are electrically connected to the display unit  150  may be disposed on the extension unit  101   a.    
     The display unit  150  is arranged between the substrate  101  and the sealing member  102 , which are bound together by a sealant  103 . If the sealing member  102  has a thin film structure of alternating organic and inorganic materials, the sealing member  102  may be directly bound to the substrate  101  without using the sealant  103 . 
     The driving chip  105  may be disposed on the extension unit  101   a . The driving chip  105  may transmit an electric signal to the display unit  150 . The driving chip  105  may be a driver IC. The driving chip  105  includes an output pin (not shown) and an input pin (not shown) via which the signal interconnects on the extension unit  101   a  are electrically connected to the driving chip  105 . The driving chip  105  is electrically connected to the display unit  150  via the signal interconnects of the extension unit  1010 . The driving chip  105  and the signal interconnects of the extension unit  101   a  may be connected by, for example, an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). 
     The circuit board  104  is disposed on the substrate  101  to be electrically connected to one end of the driving chip  105 . The circuit board  140  may transmit an external driving signal to the driving chip  105 . The circuit board  140  may include a material that provides flexibility so that the circuit board  140  can bend to reach a rear surface of the substrate  101 . 
     The circuit board  140  may be a flexible circuit board. The circuit board  140  may include a signal wire  142 , a conductive cover layer  144 , and a heat dissipating unit  160 . The signal wire  142  may be connected to the driving chip  105  to transmit a signal to the driving chip  105 . The signal wire  142  may be arranged on a base film  141 . The base film  141 , which may be formed of an insulating, flexible material, protects the signal wire  142 . The base film  141  may enhance the overall durability of the circuit board  140 . 
     An insulating layer  143  is disposed on the signal wire  142 . The signal wire  142  and the conductive cover layer  144  may be insulated from each other by the insulating layer  143 . The insulating layer  143  may include any of various insulating materials. 
     The conductive cover layer  144  may be disposed on the signal wire  142  to extend beyond the signal wire  142 . The conductive cover layer  144  may extend to substantially entirely cover the driving chip  105 . In one embodiment, the conductive cover layer  144  extends to be spaced apart from the driving chip  105 . The conductive cover layer  144  may include any of various conductive materials. In one embodiment, the conductive cover layer  144  includes a metal in consideration of conductivity, flexibility, and durability. 
     Electromagnetic waves are generated around the driving chip  105  due to electrical signals. In particular, in the case of a high-resolution image display, the display apparatus  100  may need to process great amounts of data, and thus, may use high-frequency electric signals. High-frequency signals may cause generation of many electromagnetic waves near the driving chip  105 . 
     In one embodiment, the conductive cover layer  144  is disposed to cover the driving chip  105 . The conductive cover layer  144  may shield the electromagnetic waves generated around the driving chip  105 . That is, the conductive cover layer  144  may serve as a kind of ground to reduce the electromagnetic waves. 
     As a result, degradation in image quality caused due to the electromagnetic waves may be prevented. Also, damage of components of the display apparatus  100  due to heat generated from the electromagnetic waves damages may be prevented. 
     Furthermore, the conductive cover layer  144 , which is disposed to cover the driving chip  105 , may protect the driving chip  105  from being damaged by an external impact. 
     A protecting layer  145  containing an insulating material may be further disposed on the conductive cover layer  144 . 
     The circuit board  140  may further include the heat dissipating unit  160 . The heat dissipating unit  160  may externally dissipate the heat generated by the driving chip  105 . The heat dissipating unit  160  may include at least one hole  160   a  that penetrates through opposite surfaces of the circuit board  140 . The hole  160   a  may penetrate through the insulating layer  143 , the conductive cover layer  144 , and the protecting layer  145 . The hole  160   a  may correspond to the driving chip  105  to externally expose a portion of the driving chip  105 . Consequently, the heat generated by the driving chip  105  may be readily externally dissipated through the hole  160   a.    
       FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus according to another embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the heat dissipating unit  160  may include a plurality of holes  160   a  and  160   b  arranged in two rows. At least two rows of holes may be arranged in the heat dissipating unit  160 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus according to another embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the heat dissipating unit  160  may include a plurality of holes  160   a  and  160   b  having different shapes. For examples, the holes  160   a  may have a substantially circular shape, while the holes  160   b  may have a substantially rectangular or square shape. Alternatively, a plurality of holes having various other polygonal shapes may be arranged in the heat dissipating unit  160 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus according to another embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the heat dissipating unit  160  may have a mesh structure. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the display unit  150  in  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the display unit  150  of the display apparatus  100  includes an organic light-emitting device. In another embodiment, the display unit  150  includes a liquid crystal display device. 
     A structure of the display unit  150  will now be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , one organic light-emitting device  120  is disposed between the substrate  101  and the sealing member  102 . Although only one organic light-emitting device  120  is illustrated in  FIG. 6  for convenience of explanation, the display unit  150  may include a plurality of organic light-emitting devices  120 . 
     A buffer layer  111  is disposed on the substrate  101 . The buffer layer  111  may be disposed to planarize an upper surface of the substrate  101  and prevent moisture and foreign materials from permeating into the substrate  101 . An active layer  112  having a predetermined pattern is disposed on the buffer layer  111 . The active layer  112  may include an inorganic semiconductor material, such as amorphous silicon or polysilicon, or an organic semiconductor material. The active layer  221  may include a source region, a drain region, and a channel region between the source and drain regions. 
     The source and drain regions may be formed by doping the active layer  112  formed of an amorphous silicon or polysilicon with impurities. A Group 3 element, for example, boron (B), may be doped to form a P-type semiconductor. A Group 5 element, for example, nitrogen (N), may be doped to form a N-type semiconductor. 
     A gate insulating layer  113  is disposed on the active layer  112 , and a gate electrode  114  is disposed in a predetermined region of the gate insulating layer  113 . The gate insulating layer  113 , which insulates the active layer  112  and the gate electrode  114  from each other, may include an organic material, or an inorganic material, for example SiN X , or SiO 2 . 
     The gate electrode  114  may include a metal or a metal alloy, for example, selected from among gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), Al:Nd, and Mo:W. However, the material of the gate electrode  114  is not limited thereto, and various appropriate materials may be used in consideration of adhesion, flatness, electric resistance, processability, and the like. The gate electrode  114  is connected to a gate line (not shown) that applies an electric signal. 
     An interlayer insulating layer  115  is disposed on the gate electrode  114 . The interlayer insulating layer  115  and the gate insulating layer  113  may be formed to expose the source and drain regions of the active layer  112 . A source electrode  116  and a drain electrode  117  are disposed to contact the exposed regions of the active layer  112 . 
     The source electrode  116  and the drain electrode  117  may each independently include a metal or an alloy of at least two metals, for example, may each include, but not limited to, among gold (Au), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), osmium (Os), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), an Al:Nd alloy, or an MoW alloy. 
     A passivation layer  118  is disposed to cover the source electrode  116  and the drain electrode  117 . The passivation layer  118  may include at least one of an inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer. The inorganic insulating layer may include at least one SiO 2 , SiNx, SiON, Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 , HfO 2 , ZrO 2 , BST, or PZT. The organic insulating layer may include at least one a common polymer for example, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polystyrene (PS), a polymer derivative having a phenol group, an acryl-based polymer, an imide-based polymer, an acrylether-based polymer, an amide-based polymer a fluorine-based polymer, a p-xylene-based polymer, a vinylalcohol-based polymer, or a blend thereof. The passivation layer  118  may include a composite stack of an inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer. 
     The passivation layer  118  may be formed to expose the drain electrode  117 , and the organic light-emitting device  120  is disposed to be connected to the exposed drain electrode  117 . The organic light-emitting device  120  may include a first electrode  121 , a second electrode  122 , and an intermediate layer  123 . In particular, the first electrode  121  may contact the drain electrode  117 . 
     The intermediate layer  123  may include an organic emission layer, and may emit visible light when a voltage is applied between the first electrode  121  and the second electrode  122 . 
     A pixel define layer  119  that includes an insulating material may be disposed on the first electrode  121 . The pixel define layer  119  may be formed to have a predetermined opening that exposes the first electrode  121 . The intermediate layer  123  is disposed on the exposed first electrode  121 . The second electrode  122  is disposed to contact the intermediate layer  123 . 
     The first electrode  121  and the second electrode  122  may function, respectively, as an anode and a cathode. Alternatively, the first electrode  121  and the second electrode  122  may function, respectively, as a cathode and an anode. The sealing member  102  is disposed on the second electrode  122 . 
     As described above, according to at least one of the disclosed embodiments, the conductive cover layer  144  is disposed to cover the driving chip  105 , thereby facilitating shielding of the electromagnetic waves generated around the driving chip  105 , and thus, improving image quality of the display apparatus  100  and preventing the components from damaging. The conductive cover layer  144  may prevent the driver chip  105  from damaging due to external pressure or foreign materials. 
     Furthermore, a display apparatus may facilitate blocking of electromagnetic waves and externally dissipating heat generated in a driving chip. 
     While embodiments have been shown and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7